Debates of February 28, 2024 (day 12)

February
28
2024
Session
20th Assembly, 1st Session
Day
12
Speaker
Shane Thompson
Word PDF
Members Present
Hon. Caitlin Cleveland, Mr. Edjericon, Mr. Hawkins, Hon. Lucy Kuptana, Hon. Jay MacDonald, Hon. Vince McKay, Mr. McNeely, Ms. Morgan, Mr. Morse, Mr. Nerysoo, Ms. Reid, Mr. Rodgers, Hon. Lesa Semmler, Hon. R.J. Simpson, Mr. Testart, Mr. Thompson, Mrs. Weyallon Armstrong, Hon. Caroline Wawzonek, Mrs. Yakeleya
Assembly Members
Topics
Bill 3: Carbon Tax Repeal Act, Carried
Bill 6: Supplementary Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures), No. 4, 20232024
Bill 6: Supplementary Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures), No. 4, 20232024, Carried
Member’s Statement 131-20(1): Water Regulations and Red Tape Reduction
Member’s Statement 132-20(1): On-the-Land Education
Member’s Statement 133-20(1): Government of the Northwest Territories Cultural Safety Policies
Member’s Statement 134-20(1): Northwest Territories Economic Future
Member’s Statement 135-20(1): Akaitcho Agreement in Principle Negotiations
Member’s Statement 136-20(1): Addictions and Healing in Small Communities
Member’s Statement 137-20(1): Government of the Northwest Territories Indigenous Employees
Member’s Statement 138-20(1): Pink Shirt Day
Member’s Statement 139-20(1): K’atlodeeche First Nation 42nd Annual K’amba Carnival
Member’s Statement 140-20(1): Northwest Territories Capital Investment and Labour Force Statistics
Member’s Statement 141-20(1): Pink Shirt Day
Member’s Statement 142-20(1): Eulogy for Vincent James Bertrand
Minister’s Statement 27-20(1): Marine Transportation Services
Minister’s Statement 28-20(1): Celebrating Francophonie in the Northwest Territories
Minister’s Statement 29-20(1): Environment and Climate Change’s Approach to Wildfire Management
Motion 20-20(1): Affirming Housing as a Human Right, Carried
Motion 21-20(1): Taking Action to Address Housing as a Human Right, Carried
Question 128-20(1): Changes to Waters Act Regulations
Question 129-20(1): Government of the Northwest Territories Cultural Safety Training
Question 130-20(1): Possible Department of National Defence Base in the Northwest Territories
Question 131-20(1): 2SLGBTQIPA+ Safety in Northwest Territories Schools
Question 132-20(1): Akaitcho Agreement in Principle Negotiations
Question 133-20(1): Government of the Northwest Territories Policy on Indigenous Hiring
Question 134-20(1): On-the-Land Education
Question 135-20(1): Gender Affirming Healthcare
Question 136-20(1): Student Financial Assistance
Question 137-20(1): Regional Director for Department of Executive and Indigenous Affairs
Question 138-20(1): Implementation of British Columbia Curriculum in Northwest Territories Schools
Question 139-20(1): Supporting the Mining Industry with a North of 60 Tax Credit
Question 140-20(1): Support for Northwest Territories Volunteers
Question 141-20(1): Primary Healthcare Waitlist
Recorded Vote
Tabled Document 52-20(1): Annual Report to the Legislative Assembly under the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act 2023
Tabled Document 53-20(1): Package of Information regarding Policies on 2SLGBTQIPA+ Youth in the Northwest Territories
Tabled Document 54-20(1): Letter from Tlicho Government to Land and Water Boards of the Mackenzie Valley on Waters Regulations Interpretation
Tabled Document 56-20(1): Statement of Consistency for Bill 3: Carbon Tax Repeal Act
Written Question 1-20(1): Carbon Tax Revenues and Rebates
Written Question 3-20(1): Extended Health Benefits Policy
Written Question 4-20(1): Privacy Agency Nurses
Written Question 5-20(1): Municipal Funding Gap
Statements

Written Question 3-20(1): Extended Health Benefits Policy

Thank you, Mr. Speaker; you are efficient as ever.

Mr. Speaker, an estimated 2,200 Northwest Territories residents do not have access to any health benefits, do not have access to any benefits like those through employee or thirdparty insurance plans. The Minister of Health and Social Services has implemented changes to the Extended Health Benefits Policy that will impose a lowincome threshold on eligible benefits.

My questions are to the Minister of Health and Social Services:

Can the Minister explain the income assessment process to determine eligibility for all benefits, including exact income amounts in dollar values;.

Can the Minister explain the costsharing model for residents above the lowincome threshold, including defined reasonable family maximums and a list of all eligible benefits;.

Can the Minister indicate how many Northwest Territories residents will no longer receive extended health benefits after September 1, 2024;

Can the Minister provide a regional breakdown of how many Northwest Territories residents will no longer receive extended health benefits after April 1, 2024; and,

Can the Minister provide the total reduction in expenditures anticipated from the changes to Extended Health Benefits after September 1, 2024?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Member from Range Lake. Written questions. Member from Range Lake.