Check against delivery

Mr. Speaker, today I am pleased to recognize the accomplishments of the Health Recruitment Unit and to highlight the progress being made to strengthen staffing in nursing, social work, and allied health professions across the Northwest Territories.

The Health Recruitment Unit was established within the Management and Recruitment Services Division of the Human Resources branch of the Department of Finance, in partnership with the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority and the Tłı̨chǫ Community Services Agency. The purpose of this Unit is to coordinate and streamline recruitment efforts across health and social services positions throughout the Northwest Territories by leading proactive and streamlined approaches to recruitment.

Mr. Speaker, we know that there are persistent workforce challenges facing northern and remote jurisdictions. Across Canada, shortages of health and social service professionals continue to place pressure on health systems, driven by demographic change, and increased service demand. In the North, these pressures sometimes result in greater reliance on locum and other short-term staffing arrangements. The work of recruiting skilled professionals is critical to maintaining reliable services for residents of the Northwest Territories.

Health Recruitment Unit’s mandate is to increase the number of indeterminately staffed health profession positions by five per cent annually over the course of the 20th Legislative Assembly. Indeterminate staffing plays a key role in improving continuity of care and strengthening service stability, particularly in smaller and remote communities. 

Since the creation of the unit on August 1, 2020, 728 indeterminate staff have been hired. These hires include 66 Registered Nurse graduates from the Aurora College Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program in the last five years.  A further 215 term employees were hired during this same period, as of December 31, 2025.

Mr. Speaker, I am also pleased to report that, as of December 31, 2025, the Health Recruitment Unit has recruited 60 Registered Nurses and three Nurse Practitioners, 11 Licensed Practical Nurses, 14 social service workers, and 16 allied health professionals. Allied health professionals for example include: audiologists, speech language, occupational therapy, sonographers, med lab techs, etc. The Health Recruitment Unit also manages a growing database of over 700 Registered Nurses interested in casual employment and during this fiscal year, has hired 239 casual Registered Nurses.

Based on current projections, the Unit anticipates a 12.1 per cent increase in indeterminate staff this fiscal year alone, excluding turnover. This projected increase exceeds the Unit’s annual target and reflects progress toward the Legislative Assembly’s priority of Access to Healthcare.

Looking ahead, the Health Recruitment Unit will continue to work to refine recruitment strategies, strengthen coordination, and support government-wide efforts to build and maintain a skilled, stable, and sustainable health workforce for the Northwest Territories.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.