Debates of October 20, 2020 (day 40)

October
20
2020
Session
19th Assembly, 2nd Session
Day
40
Speaker
Frederick Blake Jr.
Word PDF
Members Present
Prayer
Assembly Members
Topics
Bill 11: Legislative Assembly Officers Standardization Act.
Committee Motion 35-19(2): Tabled Document 181-19(2): Capital Estimates 2021-2022 - Justice - Deferral of Department (page 50), Carried
Committee Motion 36-19(2): Tabled Document 181-19(2): Capital Estimates 2021-2022 - Lands - Deferral of Department (page 58), Carried
Member's Statement on Audit Report on Education, Culture and Employment
Member's Statement on Bear Attack in Hay River
Member's Statement on Cameron Hills Liabilities
Member's Statement on Eulogy for Helen (Hardisty) Edjericon
Member's Statement on Health Care Staffing
Member's Statement on Mental Health Supports during COVID-19 Pandemic
Member's Statement on Municipal Funding Gap
Member's Statement on Northwest Territories Nominee Program
Member's Statement on Passing of Constituents
Member's Statement on Residential Addictions Treatment
Minister's Statement 67-19(2): Water Monitoring
Minister's Statement 68-19(2): Supporting Municipalities
Motion 16-19(2): Referral of Tabled Documents 165-19(2): Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Committee Report 1-19(2): Report on Long-Term Post-Pandemic Recovery - Recommendations to the GNWT; 166-19(2): Government of the Northwest Te
Motion 17-19(2): Appointment to the Board of Management and Appointment of Deputy Chair to the Committee of the Whole
Motion 18-19(2): Appointment to the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment, Government Operations and Social Development
Mr. Lafferty's Reply
Question 373-19(2): Drug Offences in the Legal System
Question 374-19(2): Auditor General Report on Education, Culture and Employment
Question 375-19(2): Residential Addictions Treatment
Question 376-19(2): Protocols around Contact Tracing
Question 377-19(2): Internships in Health and Social Services
Question 378-19(2): Mental Health Supports during COVID-19 Self-Isolation
Question 379-19(2): Cameron Hills Liabilities
Question 380-19(2): Municipal Funding Gap
Question 381-19(2): Northwest Territories Nominee Program Business Stream
Question 382-19(2): Truth and Reconciliation Commission Recommendations
Question 383-19(2): Northwest Territories Nominee Program Business Stream
Question 384-19(2): Transfer of Lands to Indigenous Governments
Question 385-19(2): Protocols around Contact Tracing
Tabled Document 190-19(2): The Natural Resources Conservation Trust Fund Financial Statements for the Year Ended March 31, 2020
Tabled Document 191-19(2): NWT Resource Production 1999 to 2019
Statements

Question 385-19(2): Protocols around Contact Tracing

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Health and Social Services. Do you think that it is acceptable to notify a business moments before that they are part of a public health notification? Thank you.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Member for Great Slave. Minister of Health and Social Services.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I do not have an opinion on that. There is protocol that is followed. Thank you.

Since we are not actually able to question the CPHO in this House and you are the department that is responsible for that, perhaps you could inform us of a way that we could go about getting answers to our questions? As well, I would also like to know how you interact with the CPHO to keep yourself informed.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Member for Great Slave. Please direct your questions through me in the future. Minister of Health and Social Services.

Thank you. Myself, the Premier, and the Finance Minister meet with the CPHO weekly, and her staff, and we bring forward our questions, she brings forward hers. The CPHO historically, before your time, was invited by AOC to brief the committee on questions related to COVID, so maybe you want to speak to your committee about inviting her again.

I will. Could I ask if the Minister spent the weekend being informed and briefed by the CPHO?

I am not sure of the relevance of that question. The answer is no, I didn't spend the weekend being briefed by the CPHO. That doesn't mean I wasn't briefed by other people, but I don't feel like that is something that I need to discuss in detail here.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Great Slave.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'll clarify. I was asking because the Minister was unaware of the protocols that have been followed. As the previous Minister, that would have been the first questions I asked. Thank you.

Just to reiterate, the protocols were followed to the best of my knowledge. The CPHO has a standard practice with public advisories, contact tracing, testing, and so on. To the best of my knowledge, the acting deputy CPHO was taking care of business with respect to the presumptive cases. Thank you.