This is page numbers 3559 - 3602 of the Hansard for the 19th Assembly, 2nd Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was know.

Members Present

Hon. Diane Archie, Hon. Frederick Blake Jr., Mr. Bonnetrouge, Hon. Paulie Chinna, Ms. Cleveland, Hon. Caroline Cochrane, Mr. Edjericon, Hon. Julie Green, Mr. Johnson, Ms. Martselos, Ms. Nokleby, Mr. O'Reilly, Ms. Semmler, Hon. R.J. Simpson, Mr. Rocky Simpson, Hon. Shane Thompson, Hon. Caroline Wawzonek. Ms. Weyallon-Armstrong

The House met at 1:30 p.m.

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Page 3559

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Ministers' statements. Minister responsible for Health and Social Services.

Julie Green

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I am providing an update on easing public health restrictions as we move toward lifting the public health emergency on April 1st. We have seen a steady decline in cases in the NWT since the mid-January peak after, but not before, Omicron produced over three times the number of new COVID-19 infections compared to all previous waves of the virus combined in the NWT.

Given the decline in cases, the Chief Public Health Officer is easing public health restrictions. Effective tomorrow, leisure travel will resume. Anyone will be able to travel into the NWT, regardless of vaccination status. All indoor and outdoor gathering restrictions will be lifted. The proof of vaccine program, which enabled businesses and organizations to apply for increased capacity, will end.

Mr. Speaker, the Chief Public Health Officer has always been guided by the most current scientific evidence to ease public health restrictions. I am confident that we have the tools in place to help keep residents safe because we all realize COVID-19 is not going away. Some restrictions will remain throughout March until the public health emergency ends, including wearing face masks in indoor public places, mandatory isolation if you have COVID-19 or are sharing a household with a person who has COVID-19, and reporting positive COVID-19 tests. In addition, any out-of-territory traveller will be required to get tested the day they enter the NWT and 72 hours later if they are going to a small community, working or volunteering with vulnerable or high-risk populations, or arriving from outside Canada.

Throughout the pandemic, we have all had to change the way we live our lives. We have missed work, school, weddings, birthday parties, feasts, and celebrations. Many of us have struggled to maintain our mental health. We grieve the loss of 19 NWT residents to the virus. I want to extend my sincere condolences to everyone who has lost a loved one or friend.

Mr. Speaker, vaccination is still the best way to protect the health of residents and prevent further disruption to our lives. I encourage everyone 12 years of age and older, who had their second dose at least six months ago, to get a booster. Boosters provide maximum protection against severe illness and death. This is very important for those at high risk, especially elderly residents, those with chronic health conditions, and pregnant women.

As of last week, 81 per cent of the eligible NWT population is now fully vaccinated and 51 per cent of adults have received boosters. I would like to thank everyone who made the decision to get vaccinated and have their children vaccinated.

Mr. Speaker, over the last two years, every NWT resident has made sacrifices to adapt to COVID-19. We are all tired of the pandemic and of the public health measures that have been necessary to keep us safe. Throughout these two years, NWT residents have learned how to protect themselves and how to manage their own risk. We are now at the point where we must turn a corner and encourage residents to evaluate risks for themselves and set their safety nets. It is time to end the public health emergency because the risks associated with COVID-19 are no longer the emergency they once were. We are in the process of determining what services and resources will be required to be ready to respond to COVID-19 outbreaks.

I want to again take this opportunity to thank health and social services staff for their tireless work in providing top quality care for NWT residents.
Mr. Speaker, I also want to thank residents for complying with the public health orders and recommendations, and for supporting each other through every outbreak, school closure, containment order, and business interruption. I ask everyone to continue to help each other and take precautions to allow us to move forward to enjoy time with family, friends, and communities after this long interruption. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Ministers' statements. Minister responsible for Infrastructure.

Diane Archie

Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the trucking sector is an important industry here in the Northwest Territories. Our communities and residents rely on this sector to deliver essential supplies to northern communities every day. At the same time, the health and safety of NWT residents is a top priority of the Government of the Northwest Territories. We must consider policies that will make our transportation system safer for everyone.

Mr. Speaker, following the Humboldt Broncos bus tragedy in Saskatchewan in 2018, there have been renewed calls for mandatory training for commercial drivers in Canada. All jurisdictions in Canada, the federal government, the Canadian Council of Motor Transportation Administrators, the Canadian Transportation Agency, have all agreed that new national safety standards in entry-level training are critical for the continued sustainability and advancement in the industry. That is why in late January, the GNWT implemented mandatory minimum training requirements for commercial truck drivers applying for a Class 1 licence for the first time. This training will enhance safety for drivers and the public and align the NWT with other jurisdictions in Canada who have implemented entry-level training for Class 1 drivers.

In January of 2019, public engagement sessions were held with industry, stakeholders, and the public on this important issue. Our government received feedback regarding its implementation on how the program might be designed to best meet the needs of Northerners while remaining consistent with similar programs in other jurisdictions.

Targeted stakeholder engagement was held in October of 2021 with NWT driving schools and trucking companies. The purpose of this engagement was to share information about progress being made to implement entry-level training, gather feedback, and answer questions. These engagement sessions showed there is strong public support for mandatory entry-level training for Class 1 drivers in the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, this new mandatory training will consist of class curriculum, in-cab training and in-yard training, and NWT residents will be able to get that training in the North. The GNWT is working with driving schools interested in seeking approval to become training providers in the territory. Entry-level training is available and being offered by Aurora College at this time.

With mandatory entry level training now a reality in the Northwest Territories, I am confident this program will provide first-time commercial truck drivers with a solid foundation upon which to develop safe driving skills and practices they need to do their work safely. It will also enhance safety on NWT roads and in NWT communities. Quyanainni ekati, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Ministers' statements. Minister responsible for Workers' Safety Compensation Commission.

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I want to share some details about a new initiative led by the Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission, called Safe Workplace, launched this year in Nunavut and the Northwest Territories. Safe Workplace is a health and safety program that recognizes employers for their workplace safety performance and helps others identify areas to improve.

As part of this program, every year employers must file their annual payroll numbers with the Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission and complete a health and safety questionnaire. This year, the deadline for sending that information to the WSCC is today, February 28.

To qualify, employers must meet criteria based on legislated requirements under the Workers' Compensation Act, Safety Act, and Mine Health and Safety Act. Employers accredited by a third-party occupational health and safety program in the Northwest Territories are considered an advanced safe workplace.

Safe Workplace employers are listed on WSCC's website and receive a safe workplace or advanced safe workplace certificate and digital badge to display on their worksite or on their website and printed materials.

Mr. Speaker, employers play a very important role in protecting the health and safety of workers. I encourage every employer and business owner to participate fully in the Safe Workplace program so that the health and safety becomes a number one priority in every single workplace across the territory. I want to thank the staff of the Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission for establishing this new program that encourages safe work practices on site. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Ministers' statements. Members' statements. Member for Hay River South.

Rocky Simpson

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this pandemic has been unforgiving. In Canada, to date, there have been more than 36,000 deaths.

The effect of this pandemic has, in part, helped fuel addictions and overdoses in this country. Data from the Government of Canada's document "Opioid and Stimulant-Related Harms in Canada" states that between 2016 and 2021 there has been approximately 24,600 plus deaths throughout Canada. It is mostly impacting those between 20 to 49 years of age, with males accounting for 75 percent of deaths. Without health supports, the result of opioid addiction may well be death.

Mr. Speaker, over the past several months there are families in the NWT who have lost loved ones to addictions and the illicit drug trade. They did not have to die. They found themselves caught up in a situation that they were unable to control on their own. I know many people with addictions who, I believe, are good people and who do reach out in their own way for help. It is up to us to recognize that call for help and be there for them.

I take personal responsibility for not listening more and not recognizing those cries for help. I know I must also be stronger in my argument for treatment and aftercare supports for those that need it.

Mr. Speaker, as the opioid crisis in the NWT grows, we know it requires, as with any business, supply, distribution, transportation, customers, and payment. In our small tight-knit NWT communities, most people know who is transporting, who is selling and who are using, and ask why law enforcement are not making arrests. The answer is that legislation and Charter rights prevent law enforcement from arresting persons based only on assumptions or hearsay. To keep drugs off the street, it is important that law enforcement follow proper procedure when collecting evidence. Failing to do so is a common defence to possession or trafficking charges.

Mr. Speaker, the community of Hay River is asking for enforcement to curb the influx of illicit drugs into the community. The means to accomplish it will be on the shoulders of experienced law enforcement. However, enforcement is only part of the solution. Education, prevention, treatment, and family are the first lines of defence. When we do call in enforcement, that is when we know we are losing the battle.

Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Minister of Justice at the appropriate time. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Members' statements. Member for Great Slave.

Katrina Nokleby

Katrina Nokleby Great Slave

Mr. Speaker, as a child in BC in the 80s, I was one of the first to take part in CARE, an innovative program to raise awareness in young children about inappropriate touching and sexual assault. At that time the messaging around "stranger danger" was the caricature of the flasher in a trench coat lurking in the local park, something that happened to my sister once near our home and to me along my paper route as an 11-year-old. Fast forward decades and our young people now face a new "stranger lurking in the dark" in the form of online cyber predators.

Mr. Speaker, since the election, I have made 1200 new friends on Facebook from across the territory. And I love this. It gives me a glimpse into places I never get to, allowing me to better understand life for our residents. However, since that time I have had some disturbing messages come from strangers via the internet. And on Saturday night while relaxing at home, I received a series of messages from someone who wanted to meet me. When they received no response, the messages escalated, eventually leading to a pornographic photograph and vulgar language about what the sender wanted.

Mr. Speaker, this isn't the first time.

Ever since I ran for MLA, I have received unwanted attention online, including photographs such as this one. Last year on my birthday, just as I was waking up, I received a very shocking inappropriate video from a stranger as a "gift".

Mr. Speaker I often use humour as a coping mechanism so yesterday I took to social media and posted about what had happened. The response was overwhelming and, frankly Mr. Speaker, quite disturbing.

Numerous women responded that they too experience online sexual harassment on a regular basis. A friend private messaged about a recent post in which numerous young women in the NWT shared their stories of a repeat predator in their community. This person is known to police however no action is ever taken, even though he is known to contact girls online as young as 14. Sexual assault is never ok. Sexual assault is any sexual contact or behaviour without consent, and it is a crime.

In 2019, the NWT had the highest rate of sexual assault in the country, at seven times the national rate, and is a major cause of suffering, pain, and trauma for our residents.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the law is clear, an indecent act includes exposing someone to one's private parts without consent no matter how that exposure occurs, including photography. However, Mr. Speaker, given my experience over the weekend, I don't think that the message is getting out there and I am worried about the impact on our vulnerable youth if we don't hold people accountable for online sexual assault. I will have questions for the Minister responsible for the Status of Women at the appropriate. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, member for Great Slave. Members' statements. Member for Thebacha.

Frieda Martselos

Frieda Martselos Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, tomorrow is March 1st and will mark a very special day for the people of the NWT. We have reached a point in our fight with COVID-19 as we transition from dealing with this as a pandemic into an endemic illness.

It was announced last week that the public health emergency will be coming to an end very soon in the NWT and with the public health orders and, with that, public health orders will also be revised. Among the changes coming into effect tomorrow include no limits on large gatherings as well as a discontinuation of vaccine passports.

Mr. Speaker, after two years of restrictions, this moment has been a long time coming for the people of the NWT. Having said that, I would also like to thank all the healthcare and essential workers who have worked tirelessly to keep us safe and have kept the flow of essential goods and services continuous into our communities over the last two years.

Mr. Speaker, I would also like to acknowledge all school and education staff who have worked under very uncertain circumstances as they continue to serve our young people and our communities amid this pandemic. Similarly, I'd like to recognize all students both in Fort Smith and across the territory for their perseverance as they navigated this pandemic while also going to school and trying to complete their education. I know this pandemic has been hard on the mental and emotional health of students, educators, and parents.

In addition, Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleagues in this House for their cooperation through these troubling times. I would also like to thank our Chief Public Health Officer for all her work and dedication in keeping the people of the NWT safe. Thank you as well to the Premier and the COVID Secretariat for enforcing the public health restrictions and providing oversight during the pandemic. And thank you to Minister Green and the Department of Health for keeping our jurisdiction among the lowest of deaths due to COVID-19. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

In closing, Mr. Speaker, as always, I want to thank all the amazing constituents of the amazing community of Fort Smith for their continued support and strength, especially as we endured COVID-19 the last two years. I also want to give my community team a great thank you for all their work they do in support. You know who you are. I know that my constituents, along with all the people of the NWT, are stronger as we emerge through this public health emergency. I am glad to see the community of Fort Smith and the territories moving forward in a positive direction after two years of restrictions that impacted all aspects of day-to-day life. We are turning the page on this pandemic, and I remain hopeful for our brighter future in the days ahead. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Thebacha. Members' statements. Member for Frame Lake.

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Merci, Monsieur le President. It's time for another statement on the millions of dollars of preventable liabilities our government will assume from our mismanagement of the Cameron Hills gas field owned by Strategic Oil and Gas.

The field consists of 50 well sites, winter roads, summer all-terrain vehicle trails, a gas and oil gathering system, a central battery, temporary and permanent camps, airstrips, borrow pits, bridges, and a pipeline into Alberta. A class A water licence and a type A land-use permit cover its activities in the NWT. Other authorizations include 15 production licences and 11 of the infamous significant discovery licences in the Northwest Territories.

Production stopped in February 2011. It went into creditor protection in 2019, and finally into receivership in 2020. We accepted this site under the Devolution Agreement without full financial security and without an approved closure plan.

Despite a mandate commitment from the 18th Assembly to develop "a sound financial security system to prevent public liabilities", nothing was done to prevent this.

As far as I can tell, the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board gave conditional approval to the fourth version of the closure and reclamation plan in January 2020, and it is still waiting for the significant improvements to be done before final approval. Once the amended plan is accepted, a full reclamation cost estimate will be conducted and financial security will finally be recalculated, although I don't think there is any money to cover it. Surely our government must have some idea by now of how many millions of dollars this mess will cost NWT taxpayers.

The last inspection report by the Department of Lands dated January 2021 shows unacceptable conditions at the site. Emergency spills were required to prevent larger unauthorized releases from the camp sewage lagoon and the surface runoff retention pond.

The last report from the court-appointed receiver is from July 12th, 2021. The report says GNWT payments to the receiver have been about $2.4 million, and all of the money held as financial security will be used up so the additional costs will be covered by taxpayers. The report also proposes an advisor to try to sell off some of the assets. The bid deadline closed on September 23, 2021 and it's been radio silence ever since. I will have questions for the Minister of Lands later today. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Members' statements. Member for Monfwi.

Jane Weyallon Armstrong

Jane Weyallon Armstrong Monfwi

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I will follow up from my Member statement I delivered on housing in Whati from February 24th.

Okay, I am concerned that the Housing Corporation is overassessing the value of homes, that the Housing Corporation is signing mortgage agreements with people that do not reflect the actual market value of the house. So people living in small communities already facing higher costs of living and less opportunity for employment and income struggle to pay off their mortgages in their lifetime.

When I questioned the Minister of Housing on these outstanding mortgages, the Minister indicated, I would like to deal with these files and try to close them up before the end of this government. Mr. Speaker, that is a very positive statement. However, the Minister also indicated that writing off any debts has to go through the procedures set in the Financial Management Act.

In this act, we can see the government follows a process through the Financial Management Board to write off Government of the Northwest Territories assets or debts or obligation owed to the government. There is also a process to forgive debts and obligations. Mr. Speaker, this standard of forgiving or writing off debts should apply to the long-term mortgages, housing arrears, as well as property taxes that are not likely to be collected or are financially unreasonable or unjust to the clients.

Mr. Speaker, we know other agency of government such as the Business Development Investment Corporation forgive debts. In a recent BDIC report, annual report, it states that the FMB may approve the forgiveness of debts -- of forgiven debts is removed from the financial management, but from the financial statement as the BDIC is no longer able to collect.

Mr. Speaker, over the last five years the BDIC removed $4.9 million from their financial statements in support of 21 businesses. I would like to see the Housing Corporation do the same.

According to BDIC annual report -- Mr. Speaker, can I have unanimous consent to conclude, please.

---Unanimous consent granted

According to BDIC annual report, in 2016-2017 BDIC relieved five accounts totally $840,000. In 2017-2018, BDIC relieved nine accounts at $3.9 million. In 2018-2019, BDIC relieved four accounts totalling $420,000. In 2019-2020, BDIC relieved three accounts totalling $358,000. In 2021, no accounts were written off or forgiven.

Mr. Speaker, I am glad the Minister has committed to reviewing outstanding mortgage debts across the NWT and close them up before the end of this government. I will have question for the Minister of Housing on how we can get this done later on today. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Monfwi. Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife North.

Rylund Johnson

Rylund Johnson Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There is a lot of changes I would like to make to the Liquor Act, too numerous to list in one Member's statement, but the short form would be "see Europe", Mr. Speaker. I dream of allowing minors in pubs and, you know, perhaps being able to share some wine in the park. However, I don't think that those ideas have majority support in this House so my next compromise, Mr. Speaker, would be "see BC" where you have private liquor stores. God, how I dream, Mr. Speaker, of ending the monopoly on liquor and getting rid of the liquor commission.

Additionally, perhaps the Brew Pub could be able to sell some beer at farmer's market or maybe even you could serve some alcohol at a farmer's market. However, Mr. Speaker, I still don't believe that those ideas would have support in this House. So I believe there is a solution and the solution is in community-based decisions. A number of jurisdictions have devolved more and more powers to municipalities. And in fact, in Vancouver, a number of beaches have designated public drinking areas. That was a bylaw passed by the City of Vancouver. Perhaps we could let the City of Yellowknife serve beer and I could have a beer at the main stage at Folk on the Rocks.

A bit of a tangent here, Mr. Speaker, it's actually proven that beer gardens cause people to drink more. And many festivals, when allowed to get rid of their beer gardens, then implemented them again because they before losing sales. When you put everyone in a designated corral and say that's the only place to drink, binge drinking occurs, Mr. Speaker.

However, Mr. Speaker, I think there is a lot of changes and a lot of conversations to happen. Perhaps the liquor store could be open on Sunday. Perhaps it could be open on election day. Perhaps corner stores could sell alcohol, or grocery stores, Mr. Speaker, but I think the way to do this is to allow our communities to make those decision.

Right now we allow our communities to make one decision, and that's prohibition or NWT liquor laws. I think there are steps in between that. In Nunavut, for example, when Iqaluit got its liquor store you were allowed to a limit each day for per person. You actually register your name in the store to make sure that person is reaching their limit. And certain people get cut off at times, Mr. Speaker. Perhaps that is a step that a community that presently has prohibition wants to take on a step in between. I think there is a lot of steps in between prohibition and our current outdated liquor laws. And maybe one community wants to go in a more liberal and maybe one wants to go in a more prohibition minded. But let's let them make that decision, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Yellowknife North. Members' statements. Member for Deh Cho.

Ronald Bonnetrouge

Ronald Bonnetrouge Deh Cho

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, a week ago today I raised the mandatory vaccination policy. The GNWT has its own, but the thing with the mandatory vaccination policy it stems from the federal government and usually all provinces or territories mirror federal government policies. And so it spread into the Northwest Territories and the Northwest Territories modified theirs and called it COVID-19 vaccination policy. And within that policy, employees were required to be fully vaccinated by January 31st, 2022, or they risk losing their jobs. That's not false; it's there. You just got to read between the lines because it's saying that all over the place. And also, there's also reference to the mandatory vaccinations list. It's like a secret list or something that's within the GNWT. That's also related to termination of GNWT employees who did not choose, because people have a right to choose. They chose not to be vaccinated, and everybody knows the sentiments that were going around at that time, that this was just an experimental drug, Mr. Speaker. And I'm going to have questions for the Minister of Human Resources regarding the policies related to GNWT employees. Mahsi.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, member for Deh Cho. Members' statements. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.

Lesa Semmler

Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I am going to be reading the eulogy of Colin Allen Senior.

Colin Allen Senior was born in Aklavik on December 25th, 1935. He is the youngest child of eight to Colin and Ida Kasoun. Colin's father passed away before he was born so his Mom took her children and moved back to her parents Minnie Nakamuk and Harry Enakoluk. It was here that he learned his love of living off the land. Around 1942, Colin went to school in Aklavik and while in school, he learned how to read and fondly remembers reading Dick and Jane. He felt that being able to read this book was enough education for him so he left and returned to his grandfather to help work on the land without him allowing himself to get proper education. It was very important to him for his children and his grandchildren to have a good education.

When he was 14 years old, he and Shorty Stanley Gordon worked for the RCMP schooner called St. Roche and hauled fresh water ice for drinking by dog team. This is where he learned to play crib and later became one of his favorite activities to pass time.

In the spring of 2016 Colin went to Vancouver, BC, and was able to visit St. Roche. He was able to tour the boat and share many stories with the staff and told them exactly what the boat did way back in the day. Colin was very proud of this event. It has provided opportunity for him to share stories, which he was very good at doing.

On June 17th, 1954, Colin moved to East Three from the family trapline at Classic Camp by Shallow Bay. He worked for Dusty Miller for two years alongside of Richard Kendi then went to school in a five twelve in Inuvik for carpentry.

This course was supposed to be four years but he completed it in two. Because Colin got his ticket, he was given the duty as supervisor and supervised a crew to frame the carpenter shop. Once that was finished, him and Andrew Joe put the roofing on it and finished.

With the work ethic he had, he was always asked to do different tasks around town while Inuvik was starting to be built. He worked jackhammer all day testing the ground to begin building East Three, build eight houses at Happy Valley before it became a campground, built the warehouses across from Home Hardware, built the yellow railings around town, foreman to build the Mad Trapper. This is just to name a few. If you took Colin out for a drive around town, he would tell you stories about everything every time, and he was very proud to share how Inuvik became.

In April of 1955, Colin was one of many supervisors cutting brush to help make the road from town to the Inuvik airport. In the winter, he helped cut the trail from Inuvik to Aklavik and moved three tent camps as they went to make the winter road. It was never used as the government made an ice road instead.

In 1958, Colin worked for Poole Construction building Sam School, Grolier Hall, Stringer Hall Chapel and benches as an apprentice under Jim MacDonald. It was at this job site where he met the love of his life, Rita Rogers.

Rita and Colin were married on April 19, 1960. Together they had eight children - Clara, Timothy, Dorothy, Darlene, Donna, Don, Dixie, and Colin Junior. Having a full house of children, it was busy but lots of love. Their priority was to ensure that their children were taken care of by working hard and to provide teaching them to live on the land as much as they can and by making sure all the kids went to school every day. Education was very important during these years.

Rita and Colin took in many others who were attending school at Grolier Hall and Stringer Hall. After their children moved out and had families of their own, Rita and Colin took in teenagers through social services and tried to get them to finish school and learn to live on the land as well.

Some of Colin's favorite things to do was watch baseball, check the river, play bingo, play cards, jig, waltz, and call out square dances.

Within the last year, Colin was in and out of the hospital. As things were changing quickly with his health and physical wellbeing, he would mention that he was not sure how much longer he was going to stay with his family as he began to feel sickly and no longer could a lot of the things that he enjoyed. During the last few months his body was deteriorating, he never complained once about the pain.

Mr. Speaker, as this was read by two of his grandchildren and they all called him dad, I will use the words as I read their closing.

Dad, your laughter, prayers, stories, love, and support will always be greatly missed by all who knew him and loved him. Until we meet again. Thank you, dad, from your entire family.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes. Our thoughts and prayers continue with the family and the community at this time. Members' statements. Member for Kam Lake.