Earlier today, Mr. Dan Florizone, Public Administrator of the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority (NTHSSA), presented the Public Administrator Work Plan to the Standing Committee on Social Development. This work plan outlines a strategic direction to improve access to health and social services, enhance system sustainability, and strengthen governance structures to ensure long-term success for the health and social services system across the Northwest Territories (NWT).

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) is seeking input from midwives, stakeholders, and the public on the proposed key elements of the Midwifery Profession Regulations.

These regulations would modernize how midwifery is regulated in the NWT by bringing the profession under the Health and Social Services Professions Act (HSSPA). This Act supports consistent rules for licensing, registration, and professional accountability for health and social services professions.

Highlights of the proposal include:

Health and Social Services Minster Lesa Semmler issued the following media statement today regarding Emergency Department Coverage at Stanton Territorial Hospital and Support for Physicians Across the NWT.

Caroline Wawzonek, Minister of Finance and Minister Responsible for the Public Service, and Lesa Semmler, Minister of Health and Social Services, issued the following statement today regarding public service modernization and efforts to strengthen the health and social services system.

Minister Caroline Wawzonek:

“The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has been undertaking a comprehensive, multi-phase modernization of the Public Service Act to ensure it continues to meet the needs of a modern workforce and a modern public service.

The Minister of Health and Social Services, Lesa Semmler, is seeking nominations for vacancies on the Regional Wellness Councils for the Beaufort-Delta, Dehcho, Fort Smith, Hay River, Sahtu and Yellowknife regions.

The role of the Regional Wellness Council is to ensure residents from across the Northwest Territories have an opportunity to provide input into the territorial health and social services system. The councils help inform policy and programming decisions across the territory.

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) is reaching out to any Internationally Educated Nurses (IEN) who are currently residents in the NWT but not licensed to work in their trained profession as a Registered Nurse or Registered Psychiatric Nurse.

The illicit drug landscape is changing rapidly—here in the Northwest Territories and around the world. During initial surge response to opioid overdoses in the NWT, the Office of the Chief Public Health Officer engaged with many community and Indigenous leaders regarding the information needed to support community response. One gap identified was general knowledge around the newer types of drugs that are entering the NWT.

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has released updated NWT Cervical Cancer Screening Guidelines. As a key part of these updated screening guidelines, the GNWT has switched from using Papanicolaou (PAP) tests to human papillomavirus (HPV) tests.

HPV is a vaccine-preventable infection that can cause cancer. Not all HPV strains cause cancer, but there are high-risk HPV strains that can cause cells to change into cancer cells and should be monitored.

NORTHWEST TERRITORIES (March 25, 2025) – The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) is now accepting nominations for the 2025 GNWT Accessibility and Inclusion Award.

This annual award recognizes the outstanding contributions of an NWT resident who has helped improve accessibility and promote inclusion for persons with disabilities across the territory.

Check against delivery

Mr. Speaker, our government is committed to making long-term care accessible for seniors and Elders whose needs can no longer be met at home. We recognize the importance of helping residents remain in their homes and communities for as long as possible. However, when home and community care services are no longer enough, long-term care plays an important role in providing the necessary support.