Debates of October 30, 2024 (day 35)

Bill 11: An Act to Amend the Motor Vehicles Act, Carried

Sheryl Yakeleya

Dehcho

Topics

Bill 12: Business Day Statute Law Amendment Act, Carried

Committee Motion 49-20(1): Tabled Document 193-20(1): 2025-2026 Capital Estimates – Industry, Tourism and Investment – Tourism and Parks – Reduce Infrastructure Investments, Defeated

Committee Motion 50-20(1): Tabled Document 193-20(1): 2025-2026 Capital Estimates – Industry, Tourism and Investment – Deferral of Department, Carried

Member’s Statement 398-20(1): Inuvik Marine Bypass Road

Member’s Statement 399-20(1): Report of the Auditor General of Canada to the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly – Stanton Territorial Hospital Renewal Project

Member’s Statement 400-20(1): Extended Health Benefits Changes

Member’s Statement 401-20(1): Norman Wells Economic Concerns

Member’s Statement 402-20(1): Dempster Highway in Summer and Fall Season

Member’s Statement 403-20(1): Report of the Auditor General of Canada to the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly – Stanton Territorial Hospital Renewal Project

Member’s Statement 404-20(1): Deficit Mentality Impacting Financial Deficit

Member’s Statement 405-20(1): Supports for Northwest Territories Residents Experiencing Fertility Issues

Member’s Statement 406-20(1): Health Promotion in Small Communities

Member’s Statement 407-20(1): Food Insecurity

Member’s Statement 408-20(1): Supporting Youth with Autism

Member’s Statement 409-20(1): Pat Rowe Memorial Golf Tournament

Minister’s Statement 78-20(1): Northwest Territories Supply Chain Challenges and Solutions

Minister’s Statement 79-20(1): Update on Education Act Modernization

Minister’s Statement 80-20(1): National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence

Motion 45–20(1): Extended Adjournment of the House to February 5, 2025

Question 386-20(1): Old Stanton Building Decision-Making

Question 387-20(1): Correctional Centre in Fort Smith

Question 388-20(1): Primary Care Teams

Question 389-20(1): Expansion of School Lunch Program

Question 390-20(1): Health Promotion in Communities

Question 391-20(1): Education Security Presentations in Sahtu

Question 392-20(1): Paving the Inuvik Bypass Road

Question 393-20(1): Extended Health Benefits Applicants Payment Plans

Question 394-20(1): Dempster Highway Conditions

Question 395-20(1): Families with Adopted Children

Question 396-20(1): Approvals in the Public Service

Question 397-20(1): Overdose-Related RCMP Calls

Question 398-20(1): Physician Workforce Plan

Tabled Document 215-20(1): NWT Carbon Tax Report 2023-2024

Tabled Document 217-20(1): United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Action Plan Committee Annual Report, August 2024

Statements

Question 397-20(1): Overdose-Related RCMP Calls

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this question is for Minister of Justice, and it's a continuation of the addiction first responder.

Mr. Speaker, we know that illicit drugs are now outpacing alcohol as a source of society's miseries. I know that some people say drug abuse is simply a personal choice. Well, that's not the case in -- that's not the case in many of the small communities where drug dealers are giving drugs to youth and even children who are tempted and treat it like a candy, you know. Our youth are vulnerable and victimized. We need to do more for them. Our young people are dying. So I just want to ask the Minister regarding this that how many overdose related calls did the RCMP respond to in the territory in the last year? Thank you.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Minister of Justice.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don't have those numbers on hand so, unfortunately, I'm not able to provide that to the Member at this exact moment. Thank you.

Thank you. Do the RCMP in the NWT carry naloxone kits? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes.

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So what first response or medical training do the RCMP have?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So at minimum, they have first aid training. I'm not familiar with other types of medical training they might receive. But they're not paramedics, and I know they're often called on when anything happens. It doesn't matter what, the police are often your first call. So I want to make sure that they are not paramedics. Thank you.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Minister of Justice. Final supplementary. Member from Monfwi.

Thank you. Well, they are -- in small communities, we call RCMP first, you know, which is good -- yeah, it's good to know. So, Mr. Speaker, I'm going to ask this question because there are over 900 Tlicho citizens living in Yellowknife, and we have quite a few incidents in Yellowknife related to drugs -- drug issues. We even have one young man that was killed, that was murdered in Yellowknife, and that's still unsolved. So I just want to ask the Minister, he doesn't -- I know he probably won't have the answer but I would like to have it in writing later. So what is the average ambulance response time in Yellowknife currently? Thank you.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you. That probably would not be a Minister of Justice response, but if the Minister of Justice wishes to address.