Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A powerful Indigenous woman, a woman who persisted to overcome and then thrive, once demanded to see my fire. We all have fire. Sometimes its hidden deep with a whisper of a flame and sometimes it roars.

Mr. Speaker, International Women's Day isn't only about women who make headlines and win awards. It is especially about women who persist every day to overcome the social and economic challenges that life throws their way. These are the women who risk financial stability to flee violence, the women who support children with disabilities day in and day out, the women who parent through their own mental and physical disability and trauma, the women who work multiple jobs to stay housed; today is for the women who persist to wake up tomorrow and do it all again. Today is about the persisters.

Mr. Speaker, to say the word "equality" is not enough. Action is needed on the heels of this public health and shadow pandemic. We need to call out bias, douse stereotypes, squash systemic barriers, and reject that which doesn't serve our persisters.

Whether deliberate or unconscious, bias makes it difficult for women to move ahead so as residents we must recognize our bias and build up the women around us. And as legislators, we must recognize the bias in legislation, policies, and how the government serves Northerners.

Mr. Speaker, supporting women is good economics. Increasing women's participation in the workforce to that of men is said to generate an extra $13 billion to Canada's GDP. So how can income assistance policies evolve to help persisters thrive? How can government get out of the way of entrepreneurs? And, how can policies that drive housing support women? Meeting residents with the support they need to overcome and thrive furthers our $700 million investment on social programs. So how can integrated service delivery break down department silos this year?

To me, International Women's Day is about looking at what I am thankful for as a woman and ensuring that all women have access to the same. But today is not only about women as true change doesn't happen in gendered silos either. Today needs all voices because being a champion of women is being a champion of social change, economic strength, and prosperity for this territory.

Mr. Speaker, here is to strong women. May we know them, may we be them, may we raise them. And here is to supportive men. May we know them, may we hear them, and may we raise them. And, to today's true heroes, the persisters, speak your truth, demand your worth, and continue to call for our fires. Thank you.