Thank you, Mr. Clerk. To begin today, I would like to thank the residents of the Nahendeh personally and humbly for allowing me to represent and serve them for a third term. I have joined the three previous Nahendeh MLAs reaching this milestone. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you.
I would also like to thank the residents for allowing myself and my team into their homes to discuss what they feel are the priorities for the next four years.
To my team and family, I thank each of you for your support, advice, and encouragement. I realize it was difficult however you were the strength I needed to get through some of these challenges.
I would like to take this opportunity to personally congratulate everyone here for all the hard work you and your teams accomplished in being the voice to represent your riding. There are some here that were acclaimed, however, you were still actively engaged in conversations with your constituents. This is very impressive. I am very much looking forward to working with each of your for the next four years.
Furthermore, I would like to thank everyone who put their name forward to run for these positions. It takes a lot of time and commitment putting your name forward for public office.
Colleagues, each of the six communities in the Nahendeh region have similar and unique issues. This is a summary of what I heard the residents requesting for me to work on for the next four years. I will attempt to keep it high level where possible, however, some of my returning colleagues know that I do sometimes get into the weeds a little bit.
One of our many priorities is to continue working on our relationship with Indigenous governments. The region and communities would like to see the Government of the Northwest Territories come to some resolution with outstanding claims and processes. This process involves three parties and we need to work together, commit to fostering a good working relationship. A large part of this is listening attentively to what people have to share. Hearing and listening to the people often require creativity in addressing concerns, issues, and challenges. Building relationships is a cornerstone to serving which fosters respectful, trusting relationships, which then builds healthy and more productive communities.
I have experienced that trusting relationships that are built on personal and professional integrity. Trust and respect are not entitlements; they are earned. I encourage all parties to be authentic, transparent, honest, and forthright as we work for resolutions addressing issues, and concerns throughout the progress. Delivery of authentic services to the residents of the Northwest Territories is not accomplished by lip service or a box that can be checked off. Service to our residents is not a cookie cutter approach. I feel and believe personal and professional integrity needs to be the cornerstone of our work and our continuous guidepost.
I feel the Indigenous governments' processes need to be completed which will create certainty for industry and investment in the North. Colleagues, we need to work together for the well-being and self-reliance of our people and communities, valuing our knowledge-keepers and listening to them, paying special attention to their traditional knowledge and meeting their needs for care in the NWT. We need to continue to invest in infrastructure that enhances the well-being of individuals such as long-term four-plex facilities in smaller communities, the enhancement of road structures within the region including the access roads to the smaller communities, chip seal at least forty additional kilometres on Highway No. 1 and additional 20 kilometres on Highway No. 7, remove at least 20 metres of brush and trees on each side of the road.
The creation of energy efficient homes in the smaller communities like what the community of Jean Marie River did in the 18th Assembly, where the Arctic Energy Alliance helped the band and homeowners become more energy efficient.
NWT Housing needs to work with small community governments ensuring and establishing a year-round maintenance program for our elders and knowledge-keepers in their own homes. It horrendous and deplorable when I visit community members' homes and they lack the support that is there to fix their homes.
As we are all aware, the cost of living has skyrocketed, and for this reason another priority is to work with the federal government to ensure the Nutrition North program is more efficient for each of our communities. Each community should have access to this program, especially in the Nahendeh. I have heard we need to create social service positions to help and support our elders. I find this frustrating, as we speak about our elders, but we don't have a support system in place to truly honour and respect them. We need to create a bill and positions to help and support our elders. Our elders are our foundation and we need to honour and respect them. One of the ways we can do this is increasing home care positions in the communities, which will create jobs, enable us to take care of and support our most vulnerable and marginalized population.
In the last Assembly, we enhanced the seniors fuel subsidy, however, with increases in carbon taxes and fuel costs, we need to add funding to this process to make it more financially stable for our residents.
The Mackenzie Valley Highway needs to see at least an additional 60 kilometres of all-weather road completed, particularly as we see the water levels of the Mackenzie River continue to recede which is having an impact on the resupply services and the shortening of the winter road season. Additionally, we need to reach out to the federal government about expanding this highway all the way to Inuvik. This will have a direct impact on job creation and infrastructure, which will open the regions to exploration consequently reducing the cost of living.
In the last Assembly, we were able to reduce lease payments for all residents. However, the right-based cabins issue requires further examination. We need to continue working with each regional Indigenous government to come up with their definition, but it needs to get done in this Assembly.
Equity leases continue to be an issue. We have made some progress but not enough. It is very frustrating for residents that have these types of leases and this issue needs to be resolved in the next four years.
Previously, I spoke regarding Highway No. 1, this highway needs to be enhanced, bridges fixed and/or replaced, and we need to see at least 40 kilometres of chip seal (20 kilometres on the Fort Providence junction side and 20 kilometres from the Jean Marie turnoff on Highway No. 1 and 20 kilometres on Highway No. 7 from the Fort Liard Junction to Muskeg bridge).
I am aware of the struggles some of the larger centres have with their highways, however, I invite you to drive down our highways to experience the true essence of a gravel road. I give credit to the staff and the contractors who maintain the highways. The crews do a great job with the resources they are given, but we need to do better.
Colleagues, we need to respond to the NWT residents for safe and affordable housing and address the homelessness issue. Public housing units have a long waiting list and no new infrastructure occurring. When new buildings are built, old buildings are torn down, this is when we need to advocate for those buildings to be renovated which will support the homeless situation. We need to continue encouraging and working with our Indigenous governments to access federal funding. This Assembly, we saw more money and housing units come to the NWT. We need to work on our elders' housing so that their homes are enhanced and maintained to allow the elders to age in place. Elders do not want to leave their home communities, so we need to ensure we give them that opportunity. For the smaller communities, we need to build four-plexes where elders can be taken care of in the comforts of their home. They are the knowledge-keepers, the ones who hold the history and the culture and wisdom. We need to respect them, build these homes, especially for elders that are stage 1 and stage 2 care. For stages 3 to 5, we need medical services as we do not have that presently.
With the reality that our debt is approximately $1.6 billion, and it is approaching our debt ceiling of $1.8 billion, we need to do something differently.
Residents have requested to continue to have the finance minister reach out to Northerners to hear their concerns and their ideas on how to improve the GNWT economy and how to utilize the budget. The GNWT needs to examine the number of employment positions and analyze if these positions need to exist, and if they can be regionalized. This past Assembly, residents saw more contracts awarded to northern contractors which supported local northern economy, providing employment and further enhanced skills. These contractors are invested in local and our community as many of our contractors and residents themselves. Residents are looking forward to seeing the new and improved procurement policy and see how it supports the business moving forward.
Mr. Clerk, I realize that time is going fast and i have a number of pages that I need to complete to read, but with your permission I would like to have them deemed as read for the transcript. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
We need to continue to develop infrastructure and the economy in a way that we can support a positive future for our people and our land. We need creative ways to enhance tourism outside of the larger centres. The North offer a rich and diverse cultural and traditional perspective and experience, coupled with the incredible untouched landscape that few people have the pleasure of enjoying. Unfortunately, the larger centres are the only places many of our tourists can visit because of the undeveloped northern tourism industry. Moving forward, I would like to see the GNWT develop more green projects, such as geothermal, LNG and solar to reduce the demand on diesel. Essentially, the priority is to work with the communities to come up with a plan that meets their needs, along with using modern technology to enhance existing systems currently in place. We need to work with northern innovators to help us move forward. I believe the utilization of green energy products would enhance the local economy. Last Assembly, I spoke about examining the concept of geothermal in the Nahendeh; not only can it operate the power plant, but the heat can also be utilized to heat buildings and greenhouses where we could grow our own food. Geothermal creates more employment opportunities and careers, lowers the cost of living in the community, and creates a more self-reliant community.
Colleagues, we need to support education and training initiatives that provide children, youth, and adult learners opportunities for positive contributions to society and meaningful employment. We need to review and address the educational system in the North. We need to repair our educational system to ensure our students get the same education as the larger centers. The divisional education board needs to be responsible and accountable to the Minister and not only to the board. There is a role for the divisional education council and DEA to ensure local voices are heard but our overall goal must be focused on the education of our children and youth; this is our next generation. Unfortunately, many of our families have left because they were not satisfied with the quality of education their children were receiving, consequently, they have left our Northern economy. We need to put our students and communities first by offering local skills and trades training which will reduce our need for importing skilled laborers. We need to promote and stress trades and apprenticeship programs in our communities for our people. We need to develop a physical literacy strategy for the schools and communities. We need to focus on health prevention and our residents overall well-being. We are behind the rest of Canada in this area. Being respectful of the time, I will try to summarize some of the remaining ideas that I have heard for the past four years and on the campaign trail. Government renewal with all the programs identified, this work needs to be completed in the next 16 months of the new government. There are many unfunded positions within departments, and we need to see if these positions are needed. If they are, they need to be added to the budget. If not, have them removed.
MACA needs to update the NWT Emergency Plan, which requires the GNWT to enhance community government training, and increases capacity for emergency response and evacuations across all NWT communities. Organizational changes are needed but at a minimum, we need to build the regional and Headquarter capacity. There are four designate authorities in the Nahendeh. All designate authorities are approximately 95 percent Indigenous, but they are not treated the same as reserves in Canada and the NWT.
The GNWT needs to work with Indigenous Service Canada to treat these communities properly and provide them with increase funding and land. ECC developing a combination of firebreaks and prescribed burns around communities is essential. We need to work with private businesses to cut the trees for business opportunities and a prescribed burn of the left over which would build bigger firebreaks. As the elders explained to me, this was done previously to protect their community or assets. We need to reach out to the federal government to get increase funding to help with the firebreaks around the forested communities and have the Department of ECC and MACA obtain increased funding to assist them in these initiatives.
Health and social services - Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority. This Assembly needs to seriously look at realigning the Department of Health and Social Services and the NTHSSA. We need to examine how this structure is operating. The rationale was it was going to streamline the process and reduce operating costs has not worked. The reality is, health and social services/NTHSSA is so busy with patient care that areas such as child protection does not get the attention it requires. I this Assembly to seriously consider a department of health that focuses on providing health services and medical travel.
In reference to medical travel; we need to work with Indigenous Services Canada to fix the shortfall that we receive for our Indigenous population. ISC only provides a small amount of reimbursement of the total costs. We, as a government, need to hold the Government of Canada accountable in supporting the Indigenous people of the NWT. For example; they do not supply certain things like dental and medical support for smaller communities. This needs to be addressed and stopped once and for all. In regard to medivacs, we need to see an increase in service. Waiting for 5 to 12 hours for a flight is not appropriate or acceptable. We need to action this immediately; it is about our people's lives. There are several options such as, an additional plane or, work with regional airlines to provide this service, to ensure our patients get to the regional health centres, for better support until they can be transported to Yellowknife or Edmonton. The second part of this would be the development of a Department of Social Services that would be a realignment of services, child and family services, adult social work, adoption and foster care; income support, and the senior fuel subsidy program. The common denominator is serving the vulnerable population, combining the supports to address the marginalized population will ensure families have access to resources and supports necessary to help their families be healthy and happy. Infrastructure The next Assembly needs to focus its efforts and budget on one major infrastructure project. I strongly feel this is the Mackenzie Valley Highway to be constructed all the way to Tsiigehtchic. This needs to include building a bridge at Fort Simpson - the Liard River Crossing. There are many factors that makes this the perfect project: This would aid with Canadian sovereignty in the North, connecting isolated communities (all-season access route), economic diversification, increased tourism, small business potential and promoting further development and exploration of the natural resource in the region. Each community in the Nahendeh has a list of initiatives that need to address and work on, however, with permission, I would like to submit the list for the Hansard and have it deemed as read.
What I heard from the constituents that we need to work on in the next four years: Fort Simpson Continue working on improve funding for Edehzhie through the PFP process Medical Travel - address the short fall to NIHB that the Federal Government gives the GNWT and increase per diem rates, accommodations for patients and nonmedical escorts As part of the MVH project, work with the Federal and Territorial to implement the feasibility study for the bridge over the Liard River Increasing Housing Stock in the community and work with the Indigenous governments to access the rapid housing funding Advocate Housing NWT to get out of market rent business and turn those unit for low-cost housing unit. Social service positions for elder Address the education system in the community and have it accountable to the Minister of Education Support the village as they reach out to the federal government to address the bank erosion issue Advocate and stress to the GNWT to build the new long-term care facility and health centre off the island (new jobs) NTPC - Build the new LNG Plant off the island and then have the Plant moved off the island
continue to advocate and stress that the GNWT continue to enhance Highway Number 1 by adding 40 kilometres of chip seal, fix the culvert system at Redknife and replace the bridge at checkpoint Advocate that MACA continue to enhance their EMO Division/Regional staff and work with the community to enhance and build their emergency plan Work with MACA, NWTAC and ECC to help the community to work on and build a fire break Continue to address the land lease issues (equity and recreational) Work with the Department of ECE and Health and Social Services on coming up with enhanced funding to keep the LKRHS lunch program operational Bring Ministers into the community to hear the concerns, issues and ideas directly from the residents with approval from leadership Receive, review, and advocate for constituents; issues, territorial and federal and continuously be responsive to constituent needs Fort Liard Working with Health and Social Services and DHSSA to access medical services in BC (formalize agreement with the BC Government) including Medical Travel where possible Medical Travel - address the short fall to NIHB that the Federal Government gives the GNWT and increase per diem rates, accommodations for patients and nonmedical escorts Advocate that MACA continue to enhance their EMO Division/Regional staff and work with the community to enhance and build their emergency plan Work with MACA, NWTAC and ECC to help the community to work on and build a firebreak Increase home care in the community Have the Local Housing Authority O & M and office transferred to the Development Corp Increasing Housing Stock in the community and work with the Indigenous Government to access the rapid housing funding Work on LNG and geothermal pilot projects Continue to advocate for chip seal from the Fort Liard Conjunction to Muskeg and continue to have enhancement to Highway No. 7 Continue to keep the Highway No. 7 maintenance contract stay in the community Continue to work to get a full allotment of social service workers in the community Bring Ministers into the community to hear the concerns, issues and ideas directly from the residents with approval from leadership Receive, review, and advocate for constituents' issues whether they are community, regional, territorial, and federal in nature and continuously be responsive to constituent needs
Jean Marie River: Work with Department of Infrastructure on enhancements to section of the access road Work with Department of Infrastructure on the maintenance contract for the access road and airport stays with the community Work with the federal government and Department of MACA on appropriate funding for Designate Authorities such as EMO Funding, Capital, and Governance Highway No. 1 chip sealing project, an additional 20 kilometres from the community junction four-plex for elders Medical Travel - address the short fall to NIHB that the Federal Government gives the GNWT and increase per diem rates, accommodations for patients and nonmedical escorts Advocate that MACA continue to enhance their EMO Division / Regional staff and work with the community to enhance and build their emergency plan Work with MACA, NWTAC and ECC to help the community to work on to build a firebreak. Work with Department of Infrastructure, MACA, federal government, and the Band to build an emergency access road Increasing Housing Stock in the community and work with the Indigenous Government to access the rapid housing funding Work with the Council to ensure the Lue Tue Sulai (Five Fish Lakes) candidate area is being brought forth and complete in the next four years bring Ministers into the community to hear the concerns, issues and ideas directly from the residents with approval from leadership Receive, review, and advocate for constituents' issues whether they are community, regional, territorial, and federal in nature and continuously be responsive to constituent needs.
Nahanni Butte: Work with the Local DEA and Band Council to get grade 12 into the community Working with Health and Social Services and DHSSA to access medical services in BC (formalize agreement with the BC Government) including Medical Travel where possible Medical Travel - address the short fall to NIHB that the Federal Government gives the GNWT and increase per diem rates, accommodations for patients and nonmedical escorts Work with Department of Infrastructure on enhancements to section of the access road Work with Department of Infrastructure on the maintenance contract for the access road, ice crossing and airport stays with the community Advocate that MACA continue to enhance their EMO Division / Regional staff and work with the community to enhance and build their emergency plan Work with MACA, NWTAC and ECC to help the community to work on to build a firebreak. Work with Department of Infrastructure, MACA, federal government and the Band to build an extend the access road by 200 extra metres Increasing Housing Stock in the community and work with the Indigenous Government to access the rapid housing funding Work with EIA, the federal government and Band to establish municipal boundaries and get some band land Work with the federal government and Department of MACA on appropriate funding for Designate Authorities such as EMO Funding, Capital, and Governance Four-plex for elders Bring Ministers into the community to hear the concerns, issues, and ideas directly from the residents with approval from leadership Receive, review, and advocate for constituents' issues whether they are community, regional, territorial, and federal in nature and continuously be responsive to constituent needs
Sambaa Ke: Work on developing a regional wellness program for residents that have addictions Medical Travel - address the short fall to NIHB that the Federal Government gives the GNWT and increase per diem rates, accommodations for patients and non-medical escorts Work with Department of Infrastructure on enhancements to section of the access road Work with Department of Infrastructure on the maintenance contract for the access road and airport stays with the community Advocate that MACA continue to enhance their EMO Division / Regional staff and work with the community to enhance and build their emergency plan Work with the Council to ensure the candidate area is being brought forth and complete in the next four years with ECC Work with MACA, NWTAC and ECC to help the community to work on to build completing the firebreak. Work with Department of Infrastructure, MACA, federal government, and the Band to build a road to access the local gravel sources Increasing Housing Stock in the community and work with the Indigenous Government to access the rapid housing funding Work with EIA, the federal government and Band to establish municipal boundaries and get some band land Work with the federal government and Department of MACA on appropriate funding for Designate Authorities such as EMO Funding, Capital, and Governance Work with the Local DEA and Band Council to get grade 12 into the community Bring Ministers into the community to hear the concerns, issues, and ideas directly from the residents with approval from leadership Receive, review, and advocate for constituents' issues whether they are community, regional, territorial, and federal in nature and continuously be responsive to constituent needs Wrigley Work with the Department of Infrastructure to start work on the Mackenzie Valley Highway from Wrigley to Mount Gaudet for the benefit of both the residents and visitors Medical Travel - address the short fall to NIHB that the Federal Government gives the GNWT and increase per diem rates, accommodations for patients and non-medical escorts Work with Department of Infrastructure on enhancements to section of the access road and winter road Work with Department of Infrastructure on the maintenance contract for the access road and airport stays with the community Advocate that MACA continue to enhance their EMO Division / Regional staff and work with the community to enhance and build their emergency plan Work with MACA, NWTAC and ECC to help the community to work on to build completing the firebreak. Work with Department of Infrastructure, MACA, federal government, and the Band to build a road to access the local gravel sources Increasing Housing Stock in the community and work with the Indigenous Government to access the rapid housing funding Work with the federal government and Department of MACA on appropriate funding for Designate Authorities such as EMO Funding, Capital, and Governance Bring Ministers into the community to hear the concerns, issues, and ideas directly from the residents with approval from leadership Receive, review, and advocate for constituents' issues whether they are community, regional, territorial, and federal in nature and continuously be responsive to constituent needs.