This is page numbers 3665 - 3710 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 1:31 p.m.

---Prayer

Prayer
Prayer

Page 3665

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Ministers' statements. Minister responsible for Municipal and Community Affairs.

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the NWT volunteer awards program was developed in 1991 as a way to recognize outstanding volunteers and highlight the importance of volunteerism in the NWT communities. Today, I want to congratulate everybody nominated for the 2021 NWT Outstanding Volunteer Awards, and to share some of the incredible achievements of the award winners.

We received a total of 23 nominations this year, including three in the elders category, six in the group category, 12 in the individual category, and two in the youth category.

Mr. Speaker, each of these nominations are noteworthy of their own but I want to highlight the contribution of the award winners. I am pleased to announce the recipients of the NWT Outstanding Volunteer Awards for 2021 are:

  • Outstanding Elder Award, Margaret Henderson;
  • Outstanding Youth Award, Madison Pilling;
  • Outstanding Individual Award, Kurtis Sheane;
  • Outstanding Group Award, Edward and Bertha Landry.

Mr. Speaker, Margaret Henderson had been nominated at the Food Rescue Yellowknife -- volunteering at the Food Rescue since 2008. She has been instrumental in the development of the Food Rescue board structure and has served as a board member herself for many years. She has volunteered at all levels of the Food Rescue's operations and acts as a liaison between the Food Rescue and the food contributors in Yellowknife. She currently acts as a volunteer kitchen manager and helps run the day-to-day operations. Margaret's compassion, organizational skills and outreach and leadership has contributed greatly to the high regards in which the Food Rescue is thought of in the Yellowknife community and beyond.

As part of the winning this award, Margaret received $1000 to donate to an organization of her choice. She chose Food Rescue. Congratulations, Margaret, and thank you for your contributions.

The 2021 outstanding volunteer in the youth category is Madison Pilling. Madison has been an active volunteer in Fort Simpson for many years. She has a passion and love for speed skating, hockey, golf, and curling. She sits on volunteer boards, helps coach and coordinate local events. Madison also spearheaded the first co-ed hockey team in Fort Simpson called the Ice Breakers. Madison has been an active member of the Fort Simpson volunteer fire and ambulance department for five years. She volunteers her time taking ambulance calls, has demonstrated leadership qualities in her involvement with the department, and this year became the department's training officer. She also volunteers around the community by assisting with youth programming, grade 12 graduation, and using social media to promote local Indigenous art and tourism in the Deh Cho Region. Madison received $1000 to donate to an organization of her choice. She chose the Hay River animal shelter. Congratulations, Madison, and thank you for your contributions.

This year the award winner for the 2021 volunteer award in the individual category is Kurtis Sheane. Kurtis has been an invaluable volunteer in Hay River for many years. He has made and served food to hundreds of community members and provided one-on-one support to members of the vulnerable sector through peer support and access to local services. Kurtis offers food delivery to local elders and assists them in getting to and from medical appointments. As well, he offers youth mentorship and manages the homeless shelter in Hay River. He goes above and beyond to provide support to the vulnerable sector in Hay River and has helped improve the lives of hundreds of people. His tireless commitment to the members of his community means that he is the person who is called in the middle of the night for help, and he has proven time and again that he is willing to lend a hand to those in need. Kurtis received $1000 to donate to an organization of his choice. He chose the Hay River Committee for Persons with Disabilities. Congratulations, Kurtis, and thank you for your contributions.

Finally, Edward and Bertha Landry are the recipients of the 2021 Outstanding Volunteer Award in the group category. Edward and Bertha started the Fort Providence minor hockey group many years ago in efforts to bring hockey to the youth of Fort Providence. Together they organize fundraisers for the minor hockey group and reach out to local businesses and organizations for support. They work to get parents in the community involved with the group and has made great efforts to get hockey equipment delivered to the community so that all the kids are able to play. Edward and Bertha spent an exceptional amount of time and work together to overcome challenges that often act as barriers to youth participating in small communities. They act as chaperones when the group travel for tournaments and frequently offer financial support to make these out-of-town trips possible for children for Fort Providence. Edward and Bertha received $1000 to donate to an organization of their choice, and they chose Fort Providence Minor Hockey. Thank you for your contributions, Edward and Bertha Landry.

Mr. Speaker, I want to recognize all the individuals receiving an award this year and to everyone who has been nominated. Congratulations, and thank you for your dedication. I want to thank everybody who submitted a nomination this year. I would like to remind everybody that nominations for the NWT volunteer awards are open year-round. Please encourage your constituents to send the nominations at this time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

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

Julie Green

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as the Minister responsible for Seniors to update Members on our mandate commitment to enable seniors to age in place with dignity. This is an important commitment to me personally because of the number of seniors who live in my constituency. I continue to hear from them that they want to stay in their homes as long as possible. That means taking a cross-department approach to providing seniors with access to various services and supports when and where needed.

The GNWT has identified several ways in which this goal will be achieved, including:

  • Increasing support for seniors to stay in their homes and communities, including home care;
  • Funding actions that enhance inclusion and safety;
  • Expediting the removal of barriers to aging in place; and
  • Protecting seniors from abuse and neglect.

The Department of Health and Social Services, the NWT Housing Corporation, and the Department of Education, Culture and Employment are working together to advance this mandate priority.

For example, the NWT Housing Corporation has amended its policies which will result in improved access to housing for low income seniors. These changes include eliminating the requirement for applicants to have land tenure or insurance when they apply for homeownership repair programs. In addition, specific to seniors the NWT Housing Corporation no longer counts the income of adult children or grandchildren when calculating whether they are within the income threshold of the program they're applying for. As a result of these changes, we have seen seniors' participation in home repair programming increase by up to 25 percent.

The NWT Housing Corporation also has several other relevant housing initiatives underway, including the Seniors' Aging-in-Place Program, and new and innovative public housing designs that have wide doorways and halls to accommodate barrier-free use.

To assist in addressing the current demand for seniors' housing, the NWT Housing Corporation is preparing a submission to the federal government's National Housing Co-Investment Fund for new public housing. The NWT Housing Corporation also supported Avens with its application to advance the Avens Pavilion Project, which will add 102 new seniors' housing units in Yellowknife later next year.

Mr. Speaker, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment is also working on improving life for seniors by creating a new stream of the income assistance program tailored to them and to persons with disabilities. The department is currently engaging various groups to ensure that this program will meet the needs of NWT residents.

Mr. Speaker, for our part the Department of Health and Social Services is ready to engage the public to gather information for the development of an NWT Seniors Strategy. Our hope is that the dialogue will identify gaps in services and offer solutions. The NWT Seniors Strategy will be complete by September of 2022.

The Department of Health and Social Services will also make funding available in 2022-2023 for communities to deliver services and provide support to seniors so they can age in place with our unique Age-Friendly Grant Program. The detail is online, and we are now taking applications.

We are also working to ensure NWT seniors are better protected from abuse and neglect. Mr. Speaker, three key initiatives are already underway:

  • A review of current programs, services and regulatory frameworks;
  • An examination of training options for staff and bystander intervention; and
  • The development and launch of a public awareness campaign.

Mr. Speaker, the GNWT is committed to understanding and addressing the needs of seniors so they can remain in their communities for as long as possible. It is critical that our government offer a sustainable approach to meeting their diverse requirements. We have made and continue to make significant progress towards achieving this priority. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Ministers' statements. Honourable Premier.

Caroline Cochrane

Caroline Cochrane Range Lake

Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise the House that I will be absent from the House for a portion of today's proceedings to participate in the Residential School Survivors Workshop here in Yellowknife. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

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

Rocky Simpson

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in November 2021, the federal government implemented a mandatory vaccine policy that would impact employees and contractors working in federally-regulated sectors, as well as travelers in Canada. The two federal sectors that directly impact the NWT are air and marine transportations services.

Mr. Speaker, to enhance the safety of its residents, this government implemented vaccine policies of our own to public sector workers and contractors in the NWT. The policies are comparatively uniformed throughout departments, except for the Northwest Territories Power Corporation and marine transportation services. Due to the federal mandatory vaccine policies, both opted for stringent policies.

Mr. Speaker, there are limited exceptions to the vaccine requirements for travelers to address the realities of remote fly-in communities. However, the Government of Canada, in a backgrounder document dated October 6th, 2021, stated that this vaccination mandate will include specific accommodation to recognize the unique needs of travelers from small, remote communities, some of which are not accessible by road, to ensure they will be able to travel to obtain essential services in support of their medical health or social wellbeing.

It went further by committing to engaging with Indigenous groups and territories.

Mr. Speaker, in the Northwest Territories, communities outside Yellowknife rely on the knowledge, experience, supports, and multiple of services provided by public sector employees and contractors living throughout the NWT. Not all employees require access to the communities which is, in part, why there is the allowance for accommodation and enhanced use of PPE and testing.

Almost two years of operating without terminating or placing any employees on leave without pay, this has become a reality in the last month; in part, due to the mandatory federal vaccine requirements to board aircraft.

Mr. Speaker, I am concerned that we are not only losing long-term employee but we are placing our small communities at risk through the loss of northern expertise, knowledge, and experience.

I would ask those on the other side of this floor to actively lobby, based on our unique circumstances in the Northwest Territories, the federal government for relaxation of vaccine requirements for all air travel in the NWT or, in alternative, the charter flights. Mr. Speaker, I'll have questions for the Minister responsible for Human Resources. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Hay River South.

Colleagues, before we continue I'd like to recognize former Member, former Minister, and former Premier, Mr. Jim Antoine, first elected in 1991 and 1995 and 1999. Welcome to the House.

---Applause.

Members' statements. Member for Great Slave.

Katrina Nokleby

Katrina Nokleby Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I consider a post-pandemic world, one that appears more chaotic by the day, I'm reminded of the quote by Deepak Chopra: "All great changes are proceeded by chaos."

A year ago, I was speaking about the need for realistic or zero-based budgeting instead of sticking with the status quo and putting faith in the idea that we could wait until things got "back to normal." Just like the world after 9-1-1, I think we can all finally agree we are not going back to a pre-COVID world. And rather than waste time crying over spilt milk, we must use this time of chaos to create real and meaningful change for the people of our territory.

The resource extraction sector is our largest economic driver and will remain so for a long time. Therefore, we must take measures now to ensure that this revenue source is protected and that exploration is able to rebound. Remember, Mr. Speaker, it takes over a decade for an exploration project to go through permitting before it becomes an operating mine producing royalties. Given the lack of exploration projects on the horizon, we should all be very concerned about where our economy will be in ten years.

Our massive infrastructure deficit is hurting our territory. Mines want clean energy to operate and need roads to move supplies and concentrate. Therefore, it is imperative that our three strategic infrastructure projects continue to advance, Not only to directly lower the cost of living and connect our residents but also to encourage investment in our territory.

I can't stress enough how critical the Taltson Hydro Expansion, the Slave Geological Corridor, and the Mackenzie Valley Highway are to the NWT's future prosperity. We must ensure northern companies that hire northern people are given priority in procurement. We need to end the lip service around Indigenous involvement and introduce financial repercussions when obligations aren't met. Whether they be infrastructure projects or mining-related, our people need to be more than just laborers or housekeepers on site. Government must work with Indigenous governments to advance regional mineral strategies and help facilitate the conversation between them and industry And we need to expand funding initiatives such as the Mining Incentive Program.

Mr. Speaker, one thing we know how to do is build roads. With climate change, it's imperative we replace melting infrastructure with permanent all-season community access. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement. Thank you.

---Unanimous consent granted.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, I promise this is the last time.

With climate change it is imperative we replace our melting infrastructure with permanent all-season community access. Further investment in roads, including pushing for 100 percent federal funding, will keep Northerners employed while addressing the critical infrastructure gap that impedes investment in our territory. We should also plan for linear infrastructure corridors where telecommunications and power lines are run alongside transportation routes to facilitate development in the region. Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Minister of ITI at the appropriate time. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Great Slave. Members' statements. Member for Frame Lake.

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Merci, Monsieur le President. On May 31st last year the Premier released Cabinet's plan for economic recovery called "Emerging Stronger." Following pressure from this and other MLAs, a public engagement web page was set up and it's still open. I am not aware of any response or "what we heard" report from that public engagement. I am not aware of any progress report or tracking of any of the commitments made in Emerging Stronger.

On June 4th of last year, we had a discussion of Emerging Stronger in Committee of the Whole right at the end of the sitting. As I said then, I was hoping for something more bold leading to fundamental changes. In September 2020 I endorsed the Just Recovery Initiative led by NGOs from across the NWT that called for:

  • good jobs;
  • living wages and sick leave for all;
  • guaranteed livable income;
  • affordable housing for all;
  • universal access to internet;
  • community healing and wellness; and
  • a green new deal.

What we got in Emerging Stronger is a document closely linked to Cabinet's mandate or, quite frankly, more of the same. We have an opportunity to help rebuild an economy to make it more sustainable and just. I would like to see broadband service made a strategic infrastructure priority over the other big projects that this government continues to push.

We did make some progress with our vulnerable populations in Yellowknife, Hay River, Fort Simpson, and Inuvik, and we need to keep those gains.

There was nothing in the document about fiscal sustainability or tax fairness and a new relationship with Ottawa. There is very little in Emerging Stronger about the climate emergency or remediation economy. Most of the so-called "economic diversification" is around promoting more mining. There is very little that addresses the mental health crisis that's arisen during the pandemic and there is nothing on food security.

Most revealing was the lack of any financial information or specific programs or initiatives. There is some reporting to be done but it's not clear exactly what's going to be reported; Some key indicators but nothing really about how the analysis is going to be undertaken or how on those key indicators and, more importantly, how that leads into a response or action by our government. I will have questions later today for the Premier on where Cabinet is at with regard to rebuilding our economy and a just recovery. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

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

Caitlin Cleveland

Caitlin Cleveland Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we know in the North we face the most severe impacts from climate change, and the world is looking to the North to be a leader in climate change adaptation. Climate change will continue to increase rainfall, flooding, and coastal erosion, and increasing temperatures will affect habitat, change the availability of country foods, especially meat, disrupt Indigenous subsistence, and increase the cost of living here in the territory. We cannot afford to ignore climate change, Mr. Speaker.

At the beginning of this Assembly when all members established our priorities, the Taltson Hydro Expansion was identified as a critical infrastructure project to advance. The Taltson Expansion is not only critical to support major resource development in the Slave Geological Province; it is central to achieving the objectives of both the 2030 Energy Strategy and the GNWT's climate change action plan.

This infrastructure project is the GNWT's primary solution to meet federal greenhouse gas emission targets. With estimates of generating 60 megawatts and offsetting 240,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions annually, Mr. Speaker, it's clear to say that without the Taltson Hydro Expansion Project, the GNWT may very well fall short of their emission goals. The GNWT's climate change action plan contains the roadmap for the NWT to meet international, federal, and territorial benchmarks for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The goals include:

  • Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent below 2005 levels by 2030;
  • Improve knowledge of the climate change impacts in the NWT; and
  • Build resilience to adapt to a changing climate.

Mr. Speaker, the GNWT has a number of infrastructure projects underway to facilitate achieving these goals, including Taltson. But I am concerned about the pace of the Taltson project and our ability to meet our climate change adaptation energy and cost of living goals on time. I am concerned that as we press forward with our eggs all resting in the Taltson basket, we are still unclear about where the GNWT intends to sell power, the funding supports to back this project, and whether it has the support of Indigenous governments.

Mr. Speaker, in 2019, the NWT was 16 percent below our 2005 emissions. But at the same time that our emissions were declining, so were our major mineral economies. The GNWT is working hard to promote and build our mineral resource industry but the question is, will this come at the expense of our energy strategy, or will Taltson be done in time to save the day? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Kam Lake. Members' statements. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.

Lesa Semmler

Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I want to take time to focus on the pandemic recovery of our people. While there are many areas that we need to recover after this pandemic, today I want to focus on our men; and, more so, our young Indigenous men in the territory.

Mr. Speaker, social limitations and isolation affected us all but I'm very concerned with the impact COVID-19 has left on our young men. I'm concerned, Mr. Speaker, that our young men face addictions, depression, loss of hope, and in the worst case scenario, overdose suicide take the grips of our young men.

Mr. Speaker, we have already lost too many young men. What can we do as a government to offer hope as we emerge from this pandemic? One thing, Mr. Speaker, is jobs. Jobs create a sense of worth.

Mr. Speaker, the GNWT provides employment for 6,249 people. The GNWT has made the vision clear that GNWT wants a public service to reflect its population. Of the 6,249 employees, 1,832 are Indigenous. Indigenous people represent nearly half the NWT population and 29 percent of the GNWT employees.

I've said this before, this gap grows significantly however when you look at Indigenous males. As of March 31st, 2021, only 527 Indigenous males work for the GNWT, a mere 8.4 percent of the total workforce. Mr. Speaker, this statistic needs to change.

The GNWT should be proactively working to recruit and develop Indigenous young men to fill positions across the NWT to ensure that this is a representative government. The Indigenous Career Gateway was established in 2018. This program was created to target Indigenous candidates for entry-level positions. Mr. Speaker, what has been the success of this program? How many new Indigenous applications have been added to the GNWT payroll? Which communities?

When I've asked questions to the Minister on the use of this program, I'm told it's used when requested by the hiring manager but I've also heard that it's the responsibility of the HR staff to ensure that it's used. I'm confused, Mr. Speaker. If there's no policy to provide clear guidance, no reporting requirement, no accountability, then it won't be used, Mr. Speaker. We need policy teeth to actually make progress on these initiatives. Mr. Speaker, we need HR professionals in place to ensure that any Indigenous applicant to the NWT has extra support to ensure that their resume checks the boxes for screening, to ensure the resume gets considered in programs we have in place, and to ensure that entry-level positions are filled across the NWT, provide first consideration to P1 candidates by utilizing these programs every time.

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

---Unanimous consent granted

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We need to put authority and accountability on to HR staff to ensure competitions and hiring decisions are run accordingly to the vision of the GNWT, to have a public service that reflects our population. I will have questions for the Minister of Finance later today.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes. Members' statements. Member for Monfwi.

Jane Weyallon Armstrong

Jane Weyallon Armstrong Monfwi

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I'm doing it on socioeconomic indicators.

Mr. Speaker, as I said earlier in the House, we know that Tlicho region has some of the worst socioeconomic health indicators across the NWT. When compared to the rest of the NWT, Tlicho region has the lowest level of education, second highest unemployment rate, low levels of family income, and highest income assistance.

Mr. Speaker, in my region nearly 60 percent of residents do not have a high school education. 24 percent of our region lives on less than $30,000. Mr. Speaker, that's nearly one out of four families in my region living on less than $30,000. How can you feed your family, pay your bills, or improve your life on less than $30,000?

The Tlicho region also has the smallest proportion of families in the NWT earning above $75,000.

The Tlicho region has the second highest rate of unemployment in the NWT at nearly 21 percent. It is no surprise, Mr. Speaker, that Tlicho has the highest rate of income assistance in the NWT at 17 percent. What is the GNWT doing to improve the socioeconomic health of Tlicho residents? I will have questions for the Minister of Education at appropriate time.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

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

Member's Statement 978-19(2): Post-COVID Education
Members' Statements

March 2nd, 2022

Page 3667

Rylund Johnson

Rylund Johnson Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As we move into the post-COVID world, we can't forget all of our students who have had a pandemic disrupt their last three years. According to the Yellowknife school boards, due to the various closures the schools here in Yellowknife have lost up to one year of school days. And I know that this is a problem that the entire world is facing and that students around the world got behind during COVID-19, but the reality is is that our students were already falling behind before COVID and a pandemic certainly didn't help.

This worries me, Mr. Speaker. Our teachers have been performing performance assessments and many say that their students are already one year behind. And what does this mean in the long run? I think we have to provide extra resources to our schools to make sure that we are not going to see a COVID generation graduating in the decade to come.

Further to literacy and numeracy skills, students have not been able to explore the arts throughout the pandemic. With rules of no singing or public-staged performances, I worry about the socialization of those children and I think we need to see some extra support to make sure that our students can once again sing and dance and be children in the classroom, Mr. Speaker. Academics are not the only recovery in the schools that will need to be addressed.

I know many students are seeing signs of increased anxiety and the pandemic just highlights the importance of in-person learning, and that it's just more than education. There are various nonacademic supports that we need to see. And I know the Minister has been meeting with the school boards, and he's been hearing these concerns, but I'll have some questions to make sure that we provide our school districts and our schools the resources in the years to come to get our children caught up. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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, I'm trying to come with solutions or views as to the pandemic recovery is quite the task, especially trying to address mental health issues. Something like this is best left up to the mental health experts who are trained to deal with a person's wellbeing, including mental health. I do know that what we have experienced since the coronavirus showed up on our doorstep is one of total disbelief and concern.

The first thing on people's minds were that of the 1921 Spanish flu, where millions of people were infected and died. People were throwing their arms up in the air, like what is really happening? Travelling to communities and to the south were suddenly shut down. You weren't allowed to visit anyone, especially your own immediate family. Everyone was posting signs on their doors and windows stating no visitors allowed. Border sentry posts were set up at all roads leading in to the territory, and even communities were setting up their own. A total lockdown.

That lockdown presented a whole new set of other issues, whether they be related to health or for one's own release of emotions or the pleasures they missed.

There was more alcohol intake than before due to the lockdown. We now have more drug use than ever before. We now have more cases of domestic violence due to the excesses of alcohol and drugs. This pandemic recovery exercise is not an easy one considering what we have to deal with and not being the authority to address mental health issues, that is best left to the trained.

It is up to the individuals to say enough is enough, and seek mental health counselling. We need to offer more guidance to provide avenues to access the mental health experts in every community. The mental health workers need to be visible and accessible to the community. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Deh Cho. Members' statements. Member for Nahendeh.