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Northwest Territories 2023 provincial election

Individual candidate responses
This section will be updated as we receive responses from individual candidates.
Katrina Nokleby – Electoral candidate for Great Slave
Spencer Tracy – Electoral candidate for Frame Lake
Shane Thompson – Electoral candidate for Nahendeh
James Lawrance – Electoral candidate for Great Slave
Nadine Delorme – Electoral candidate for Tu Nedhé-Wiilideh
Caroline Wawzonek – Electoral candidate for Yellowknife South
 Date: October 30, 2023 at 9:34:42 PM PDT
Subject: Re: Arthritis Consumer Experts Survey for Northwest Territories Election
From: Katrina

Hi Cheryl,

Thank you for the opportunity to respond to your questions, I'll try to get them back to you as soon as possible. My mom suffered from crippling osteoarthritis requiring knee and hip replacements and I too suffer with chronic pain. I am certain that down the line I will also inherit her condition so this is a relevant topic to me personally and I know it was to many of my constituents in my time as MLA.

Cheers,
Katrina
katrinanokleby.com

Date: November 1, 2023 at 9:02:24 AM PDT
Subject: Re: Arthritis Consumer Experts Survey for Northwest Territories Election
From: Katrina

Hi Cheryl,

Please see attached my answers to the Arthritis Survey. Thank you for your advocacy on this subject and for giving me an opportunity to reach constituents with my thoughts.

Kind regards,
Katrina Nokleby
Candidate for MLA Great Slave
867-446-9566
katrinanokleby.com
Date: October 30, 2023 at 9:56:49 PM PDT
Subject: Re: Arthritis Consumer Experts Survey for Northwest Territories Election
From: Spencer

HI Cheryl,
Thank you for your interest in my campaign, I have a couple questions about the survey. Would it be possible to meet in person to discuss?

Thanks,
Spencer Tracy

Date: Tuesday, October 31, 2023 at 9:19 AM
Subject: Response: Arthritis Consumer Experts Survey for Northwest Territories Election
From: Debra Richards

Good morning,

Please see the answers below.

Thank you,

Debra Richards

---------- Forwarded message --------- Date: Tue, Oct 31, 2023, 8:25 a.m.

Subject: Re: Arthritis Consumer Experts Survey for Northwest Territories Election

From: Shane Thompson

Hi Deb,

Here is the response to their survey. Please forward it to them.

Question 1. What will you do to ensure inflammatory arthritis patients in Northwest Territories receive the optimal care they require to manage their serious chronic disease?

It is my understanding that the reason the delivery of rheumatology care for IA patients in the Northwest Territories has been transferred from in-territory care from a visiting rheumatologist to IA patients have to travel to Edmonton to see a rheumatologist is because of the challenges of getting rheumatologists up to Yellowknife. As you stated in your question, you need to be seen within six weeks. This was the most efficient way for residents to be seen. The Health system is struggling to get the necessary health professionals up north and they continue to look at ways to service residents.

Moving forward, I believe that the 19 MLAs need to look at this at the beginning of the 20th Assembly and make it part of the mandate to improve Health Services to NWT residents. As well, the Standing Committee of Social Development need to look at this issue as one of their objectives and see if there are other alternatives to help support the medical system.

Question 2. Share your plan for arthritis prevention, treatment, and care in the Northwest Territories.

Similar to part of my answer to question one, the 19 MLAs need to look at this at the beginning of the 20th Assembly and make it part of the mandate to improve Health Services to NWT residents. As well, the Standing Committee of Social Development need to look at this issue as one of their objectives and see if there are other alternatives to help support the medical system.

Question 3. What will you do to ensure the continuation, improvement, and expansion of virtual care for all Northwest Territories residents and ensure access is equitable to all?

Once the mandate is developed, Accountability and Oversight Committee (11 non cabinet MLAs) can hold cabinet accountable to results of the mandate. They can do member’s statements and ask questions of the Health and Social Services Minister.

Cabinet can ask for a presentation and look at ways to address this issue as part of the Child and Family committee of cabinet.

The Standing Committee of Social Development can take this issue on one of their objectives and see if there are other alternatives to help support the medical system in addressing this issue.

Question 4. What will you do to ensure Northwest Territories patients receive hip or knee joint replacement surgery within the medically recommended time of six months?

As an MLA, constituents can reach out to me as they have done in the past and I would be an advocate for them getting the necessary medical support they require. This is part of the job as an MLA.

Shane Thompson

Date: Saturday, November 4, 2023 at 2:30 AM
Subject: Re: Arthritis Consumer Experts Survey for Northwest Territories Election
From: James

I am very supportive as we have a number of people in the family affected (including me, but much worse is my young niece with a rheumatoid form). I will do my best to achieve top notch levels of service and treatment in the Northwest Territories health system.

Thank you.
Date: Monday, November 6, 2023 at 2:15 PM
Subject: Re: Arthritis Consumer Experts Survey for Northwest Territories Election
From: Patrick Simon

Greetings,

I apologize for the delayed response, all the emails were in my spam folder. In one of the many emails from the Arthritis Society I noticed the name of a local constituent who has verbally attacked me several times. I thought the inquiries were a cruel joke until Cheryl Koehn's email was read. It made it dangerously obvious that this is one of the main reasons why my family has not had access to safe and informed arthritis care in NWT. This is one of the main reasons why I keep putting my name on the ballot-to stop the discrimination and racism, which are dangerous deterrents to access to care. I have filed complaints to the Ombuds Office of NWT since 2021 about this individual and others in relation to the assaults and neglect by nurses in our community, Yellowknife and Edmonton. I hope the Arthritis Society shall take this complaint seriously too.

The following are the answers to the questionnaire
  1. What will you do to ensure inflammatory arthritis patients in Northwest Territories receive the optimal care they require to manage their serious chronic disease?

    Currently there is a patient liaison program and patient representatives through GNWT ECE but as I have found the dangerous flaws within those “pilot” projects, I must examine why it works for some but not others. It has created margins. I shall ensure that accessibility is streamlined, not based on profiles or “discretion” of health professionals but based on legislation that aims at filling the health care gaps effectively. We need specialists direly.
  2. What will you do to ensure the continuation, improvement, and expansion of virtual care for all Northwest Territories residents and ensure access is equitable to all?

    Virtual care access for all in NWT shall become the norm as it helps attain immediate access to follow a set of health care protocols that supports the patient. I am determined to gain the same standard of care in NWT as I watched my adoptive family have access to. Virtual care can help circumvent discrimination and racism that deters accessibility to a “plan of care” locally. I am determined to gain access to health care networks like Women’s College Hospital virtual care program in Toronto.
  3. Will you introduce culturally appropriate, patient-centered policies, such as a patient care facilitator or “arthritis liaison,” to help Indigenous Peoples navigate the healthcare system and receive coordinated care within their community to manage their arthritis?

    I shall rely on international conventions to establish coordinated care for Indigenous Peoples.

    Article 31 (2007) United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples 1.

    “Indigenous Peoples have the right to maintain, control, protect and develop their cultural heritage, traditional knowledge, and traditional cultural expressions, as well as the manifestations of their sciences, technologies and cultures, including human and genetic resources, seeds, medicines, knowledge of the properties of fauna and flora, oral traditions, literatures, designs, sports and traditional games and visual and performing arts. They also have the right to maintain, control, protect and develop their intellectual property over such cultural heritage, traditional knowledge, and traditional cultural expressions.”

    I shall rely on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report’s Calls to Action as instruments to create legislation reflecting the new reality of Indigenous health care accessibility at the same standard as Canadians.

    TRC CALL TO ACTION-HEALTH

    “18. We call upon the federal, provincial, territorial, and Aboriginal governments to acknowledge that the current state of Aboriginal health in Canada is a direct result of previous Canadian government policies, including residential schools, and to recognize and implement the health-care rights of Aboriginal people as identified in international law, constitutional law, and under the Treaties. 23. We call upon all levels of government to:

    1. i. Increase the number of Aboriginal professionals working in the health-care field.
    2. ii. Ensure the retention of Aboriginal health-care providers in Aboriginal communities.
    3. iii. Provide cultural competency training for all healthcare professionals.”
    I shall rely on Canadian legislation such as Respecting Aboriginal Children and Families Act, the Implementation Act for UNDRIP, the Royal Canadian Aboriginal Commission Reports, the Penner Report that speaks of the Sixties Scoop, and Indigenous led surveys on health and wellness to mandate specialized training of all health care personnel.

    “24. We call upon medical and nursing schools in Canada to require all students to take a course dealing with Aboriginal health issues, including the history and legacy of residential schools, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Treaties and Aboriginal rights, and Indigenous teachings and practices. This will require skills-based training in intercultural competency, conflict resolution, human rights, and anti-racism.”
  4. What will you do to ensure Northwest Territories patients receive hip or knee joint replacement surgery within the medically recommended time of six months?
I shall rely on the tenets of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action to be applicable to all to access timely and informed care in NWT. I was diagnosed with arthritis in my knee at the age of 9, and my husband is a Dene Elder that was recently diagnosed with arthritis too. Neither of us have received appropriate care other than a dangerous pain management plan that we do not participate in. It does not involve a holistic approach which would help prevent further damage and invoke a health and lifestyle plan. I am determined to ensure NWT patients get streamlined access to orthopedic surgery with long-term and holistic care for arthritis. I shall also ensure a proactive approach to continuously lobby for “age-friendly” communities to reduce further injuries and to help with year-round exercise to strengthen and to help prevent.

Please call to discuss the actions that the Arthritis Society shall take to eliminate discrimination and racism on your advocates list. There was a campaign attack by this person online and they should not be representing this issue whatsoever. I shall forward these new attacks of an Arthritis Society northern advocate to the Ombuds Office of NWT and the Chief Electoral Officer of NWT. These are the steps towards Truth and Reconciliation, to create safe forums for patients to access care safely by eliminating the barriers to health and wellness.

Marsi cho,

Nadine Delorme 4 Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh NWT 2023
Official Agent Patrick Simon
867 376 0153
Campaign Email: Patrick.Dene.Simon@gmail.com

Date: November 11, 2023 at 12:02:45 PM PST
Subject: Re: Arthritis Consumer Experts Survey for Northwest Territories Election
From: Caroline Wawzonek

Good afternoon,

Please see attached my responses to the survey.

Kind regards,

Caroline Wawzonek
Candidate for Member of the Legislative Assembly Yellowknife South | Canditat pour député de Yellowknife Sud
Official Agent: (867) 446-4357
Campaign Manager: (867) 446-4380