Michael McLeod

[National Tuberculosis Elimination Strategy, April 26th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, it is World Immunization Week, and I want to discuss tuberculosis. While there is currently a vaccine against TB, it is over 100 years old and it is of limited efficiency. TB is an airborne bacterial infectious disease. It is strongly associated with social determinants of health, such as poverty, poor living conditions like overcrowded housing, and malnutrition. It disproportionately affects indigenous and newcomer populations.

In 2018, our Liberal government committed to eliminating TB across Inuit Nunangat by 2030, but we need a more national effort as unfortunately, because of COVID, there have been disruptions to programming and care for TB, and after meeting with Stop TB Canada, I understand that we are seeing an increase in TB for the first time since 2005.

I encourage Canada to build on its commitment to eliminate TB in Inuit and on-reserve areas by developing and implementing a truly national TB elimination strategy with provinces, territories and indigenous partners to make meaningful progress toward the elimination of tuberculosis.

[The Environment, March 30th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, the Mackenzie River basin drains nearly 20% of Canada's land mass. Waters in Alberta and B.C. flow north toward Great Slave Lake, down the Mackenzie River and into the Arctic Ocean.

The illegal, unreported Kearl tailings leak is just the most recent risk to one of the largest freshwater sources in the world. It is yet another industrial project south of 60 that threatens the basin. Even before this leak, NWTers had long had concerns about the impacts of these projects on our waters. Creeks and small rivers are drying out. Ice is more treacherous. Ponds and small lakes have disappeared. Water is less deep and warmer. Mammals and fish are disappearing.

Regulating this specific cleanup and developing a monitoring plan with all those impacted is necessary and important. Northern indigenous peoples and the Government of Northwest Territories are impacted and are a necessary part of the discussions. The Mackenzie River basin must not be used as another tailings pond.

[The Environment, March 22nd, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, my constituents in the Northwest Territories are very troubled by the recent news that millions of litres of oil sands tailings in northern Alberta were leaked without notifying communities at risk for nine months. It is unacceptable that neither Imperial Oil nor the Alberta regulator bothered to let northerners know about this potential threat to our water quality.

Could the Prime Minister share what the Government of Canada is doing to address the concerns of my constituents on this matter?

[Health Care, February 2nd, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, I know across Canada we are feeling the effects of a lack of health care workers. In the NWT, we have been experiencing this for some time, but recently on a much higher level.

This year, in 10 communities including my own, the health centres were able to offer only emergency services. Our territorial hospital, for a brief time this summer, was able to offer only emergency operating services, and for three months it had to close the maternity ward and fly expectant mothers to Alberta. Our vacancy rate for some health authorities has been as high as 50%.

The pool of health care workers in Canada is just not big enough. We need to train, educate and incentivize more doctors, nurses and lab specialists. This has to become a national priority. Poaching from other jurisdictions and other countries is not the way forward; expanding the pool is.

I thank all the dedicated people who are working in northern and remote areas providing these services. We see and appreciate them all.

[Fall Economic Statement Implementation Act, 2022, November 14th, 2022]

Madam Speaker, I appreciate that the member came to the Northwest Territories and the other territories to visit us. I would encourage more MPs to come and see our part of the world.

I would point out to the member that there is more to the Northwest Territories than just Yellowknife and Inuvik. He should go into some of the smaller communities, where he would see the many houses that are being erected.

Would he recognize that for the first time in our history, indigenous housing is supported through our government? During the 10 years that the Conservatives were in power, the dark decade of no housing was established. Does the member recognize how that has contributed to the crisis we have experienced over the last while with housing?

[Indigenous Affairs, October 21st, 2022]

Madam Speaker, everyone in Canada should have access to safe, clean drinking water.

Could the Minister of Indigenous Services update the House on the recent progress made in lifting long-term drinking water advisories in first nations communities?

[Small Business, October 20th, 2022]

Mr. Speaker, this week is Small Business Week. Small businesses are the backbone of our communities across the country, especially in the Northwest Territories. They create jobs and economic growth and are critical in postpandemic recovery.

Can the minister responsible for CanNor please update this House on the important work our government is doing to support small businesses in the Northwest Territories?

[Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month, June 2nd, 2022]

Madam Speaker, multiple sclerosis is Canada’s disease. More than 90,000 Canadians live with MS, one of the highest rates of MS in the world. Every day 12 more Canadians are diagnosed with MS.

I recently met with the MS Society of Canada as part of MS Awareness Month and learned about the recent research breakthrough showing the strongest evidence to date of an association between the Epstein-Barr virus and the onset of MS.

I ask that we all harness this momentum and commit to increased funding for MS research so we can answer the most fundamental questions about MS: What causes it? Who gets it? How can we stop it? Together, we can ensure that Canada maintains its position as a world leader in MS research.

[Health, May 13th, 2022]

Mr. Speaker, last week the Yellowknife-based organization, FOXY, received urgently needed federal funding from the mental health promotion innovation fund to continue and expand its culturally safe and northern-focused mental health advocacy. The $1.3-million investment will help it use the arts to focus on cultural identity and to develop social, emotional and coping skills while processing trauma.

Can the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions update the House on how this fund is supporting community-based youth mental health programs across Canada?

[Indigenous Affairs, May 9th, 2022]

Mr. Speaker, today is National Indigenous Nurses Day.

Indigenous nurses play an integral role in society for indigenous people in Canada and for Canadians nationwide. Having nurses from first nations and with Inuit and Métis ancestry helps ensure that communities have someone who understands the importance of culture in healing and who is familiar with the health care system.

Could the Minister of Indigenous Services please comment on the significant role that indigenous nurses serve in Canada?