Check against delivery

Mr. Speaker, primary care is the first point of contact for most residents in our health system. It sets the direction for the care they receive and helps ensure people get the right care, at the right time, from the right provider.

As an Indigenous Minister with a background in health care, I understand both the frustrations of residents and the challenges our system is facing. Improving access, reducing inequities, and strengthening the way our system operates are priorities of this Legislative Assembly, and are priorities that I have been working hard to address since becoming Minister.

Through Primary Health Care Reform, we are setting the direction for a team‑based model of care that is equitable, reliable, and culturally safe. This approach supports our workforce, improves access for residents, and builds a system that communities can trust.

Mr. Speaker, we have heard from residents directly and from my colleagues on the floor of this House that many people have struggled to get primary care appointments, particularly here in Yellowknife. Those frustrations are real and understandable. That is why I am pleased to share some details about the work underway to improve access and the progress we are already seeing.

In a system with limited capacity, every appointment slot matters. We have worked with reception and program assistants at the Yellowknife Primary Care to focus on reducing no‑shows, and they have delivered meaningful results. By introducing reminder calls and clearly explaining the importance of cancelling appointments, no‑show rates have steadily declined over the past three years.

In fact, Yellowknife Primary Care is now performing better than national benchmarks, reaching a record low of five percent this December. This means more patients are being seen and fewer clinical hours are wasted.

Mr. Speaker, same‑day access is another area where we are seeing clear improvements. Earlier this fiscal year, only 70 percent of same‑day appointment requests were being met. By the third quarter, that number had increased to 82 percent.

By maintaining a waitlist and adjusting how Licensed Practical Nurses, Community Health Nurses and Nurse Practitioners are used, the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority has been able to maintain appointment availability, despite limited physician hours. These changes allow the system to respond quickly to urgent needs and help ensure residents who need immediate care can get it.

Mr. Speaker, we have also implemented the trial of new tools that support staff and reduce administrative burden. One example is the introduction of the Mika AI Scribe tool now being tested in primary care sites across the territory. This speech‑to‑text tool creates accurate clinical notes, giving providers more time with patients and less time on paperwork.

This trial responds directly to what frontline practitioners told us during engagement sessions. Early feedback has been positive, and residents may be asked to provide consent to use this tool during future appointments in Yellowknife.

Mr. Speaker, improving and strengthening team‑based care at Yellowknife Primary Care remains a key focus under my leadership. The Yellowknife Regional Team has created governance structures with Indigenous and multidisciplinary representation. Working groups are reviewing patient journeys, integrated care teams, and operational processes. They are already producing practical tools, such as standard operating procedures, intake tools, and workflow updates, that support consistent, high‑quality care.

These may not be the kinds of changes that make headlines, but they are essential to building the strong foundation we need for long‑term Primary Health Care Reform. We must take the time to do this work properly, and that means involving both clients and staff in the design process.

Mr. Speaker, I have highlighted only a few of the improvements underway. Much more work is happening behind the scenes and across the system. I am confident that, with the direction I have set, the strong teams in place, and clear accountability measures guiding this work, we will continue to see real improvements in primary care.

I look forward to updating Members as this work progresses.

Quyanainni, Mr. Speaker.