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.

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) is seeking feedback from dental hygienists, the public, and other interested parties on proposed Dental Hygiene Profession Regulations.

The Office of the Chief Public Health Officer (CPHO) has lifted the Health Order previously in place at Range Lake North School, following confirmation that lead levels in drinking water no longer exceed Health Canada guidelines.

All fountains and fixtures used for drinking water and food preparation have been replaced, and follow-up testing has confirmed overall water quality. Standard operating procedures are being developed to support ongoing maintenance — including filter replacement and routine re-testing — to ensure the water remains safe over time.

The Department of Health and Social Services (HSS) has opened the 2025 Patient Experience Questionnaire to the public. The questionnaire is available to all northerners, in print and online.

The questionnaire has been designed to help the Health and Social Services system to better understand the quality of care provided to Northerners when receiving care in the Northwest Territories. Responses will help HSS improve services and monitor progress over time.