Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, all around the world, students have gone on strike. What would be so important to our next generation that they would feel it important to leave their classes for a day to exercise their freedoms of speech and assembly? The answer is climate change, Mr. Speaker. Many Members have spoken about that today, and I think it's important that this is an issue that is not falling on deaf ears. When our citizens speak out, be they students, be they regular-aged adults, be they seniors, we will always listen and bring their message to the floor of this Assembly if it is important enough to future generations and to the future of our territory.
Why are our youth striking when they are expected to attend school? Sadly, to so many young people, the consequences of climate change appear to be left unaddressed or, at best, getting lip service from governments across the country and around the world. The advice of experts is being ignored and oftentimes challenged by ideological opinions and personal views or the contingencies of everyday life and the cost of living, rather than the real issue, which is the future of our planet. This has left many students feeling that there will be no future for them, either. This is the second student strike this year. The last one occurred on March 15th and saw roughly 1.6 million students striking across the globe.
Outside this House, one northern student has organized a strike. Her name is Ella Kokilj, and she says she is protesting because "we believe that climate change should be taken more seriously and that the North needs to show leadership in tackling climate change by ensuring we create an innovative and resilient society for our future."
Mr. Speaker, I hope all Members of this House will join me in passing along our encouragement to these students for their climate-change activism and take a few moments today to walk outside of the Legislature to speak to them and hear out these motivated and driven young activists.
Intergenerational equity and ensuring our lands and resources benefit future generations is a key concern for not only those students, but for all Northerners and must be at the heart of government decision making. Numerous statements have been made, numerous recommendations by standing committees, all around this topic, and yet we still find the government's plans and proposals lacking. We need to do more. It's not that nothing has been done. It's that not enough has been done because this is not an issue that can be ignored. This is a crisis that potentially will jeopardize the future of life on this planet, and we must take action today for all days to come. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.