Lesa Semmler, Minister of Health and Social Services, released a media statement announcing the approved Infrastructure projects for 2026-2027.

“As Minister of Health and Social Services, I am happy that the Government of the Northwest Territories is moving forward with a series of health infrastructure projects that will improve access to care and support wellness in communities across our territory. In 2026–2027, the GNWT will invest over $37 million in health and social services capital projects, including new construction, upgrades, and equipment replacement.

National Addictions Awareness Week is recognized across Canada each November. It offers an opportunity for NWT residents to raise awareness about substance use and addiction, promote prevention and harm reduction, and encourage open conversations about treatment and recovery. This year’s theme, “Anchoring Hope”, highlights the value of speaking openly about substance use, which can help foster connection, support healing, and lead to positive change.

Many residents in the Northwest Territories continue to face barriers to accessing health care. Services are not always timely, culturally safe, or designed in collaboration with communities. People continue to experience gaps in care and outcomes.

To help address these challenges, the Government of the Northwest Territories has released the Equitable Access Methodology Report, a key milestone in the journey to transform how care is delivered, experienced and supported across the territory.

Today the Minister of Health and Social Services tabled the 2024-2025 Annual Report of the Director of Child and Family Services (CFS) in the Legislative Assembly.

The Annual Report provides a detailed summary of services delivered in the Northwest Territories (NWT) between April 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025. Services include adoption, family preservation, prevention supports, and protection. The report also shows trends that can help to identify opportunities for improvement and where positive and meaningful change has taken place.

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Mr. Speaker, today I would like to acknowledge the recent finalization of Master Service Agreements with Alberta Health Services. This is an important milestone. These agreements modernize our partnership, strengthening accountability for the essential supports and services delivered to NWT residents and funded by the GNWT.

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Mr. Speaker, ensuring that every person in the Northwest Territories has access to safe, reliable, and equitable health care is not just a priority for me and a goal of our health and social services system, it is a promise we are working every day to uphold.

The What We Heard Report on proposed Midwifery Profession Regulations is now out. Between May 8 and June 12, 2025, midwives, Indigenous governments, partners, and the public were invited to share their feedback on the proposed changes.

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Mr. Speaker, health systems across Canada are facing serious and complex challenges. The Northwest Territories is not alone in this. Every province and territory is working to respond to the growing impacts of addictions, mental health needs, workforce shortages, and service gaps. That is why collaboration with other Canadian Jurisdictions is essential.

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Mr. Speaker, ensuring residents across the Northwest Territories continue to have access to health care that is safe, reliable and equitable is a top priority for me, for this government and for the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services system. Today, I am pleased to share an update about the work we are doing within that system to improve care in small community health centres and health cabins.

The Government of the Northwest Territories has launched the School Health Promotion Fund (SHPF) to support health and wellness activities in NWT schools.

The new fund replaces the long-running Drop the Pop initiative, which supported schools for 17 years. The SHPF provides up to $5,000 per school to support projects that encourage healthy choices, build life skills, and share knowledge at school, at home, and in the community.