The Office of the Chief Public Health Officer (OCPHO) is declaring an end to the 21-day exposure and monitoring period linked to the confirmed case of measles reported in Yellowknife earlier this month. The last public exposure occurred on May 2, 2025. No secondary cases have been identified.

The Government of the Northwest Territories thanks local public health teams and residents for their quick action and participation in response efforts.

Check against delivery.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to update this House on the work being done by the Health and Social Services system on Cultural Safety and Anti-Racism, one of my top three priorities as Minister.

Check against delivery

Mr. Speaker, making health care accessible to every NWT resident is a core mandate priority of this government. People across the NWT access our medical travel program, whether they are travelling to access health services in a regional centre, in the capital, or in the south. This means that a reliable medical travel program is vital to NWT residents and to achieving this mandate priority.

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.