Mr. Speaker, I would like to start today by acknowledging the devastation experienced by residents in Hay River, K'atlodeeche First Nation, and West Point First Nation. Thousands of residents were forced to leave their homes and their lives behind earlier this month when floodwaters rose to unprecedented levels in the area.
Last week I visited the three communities with, the Honourable Shane Thompson, Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs; the Honourable Caroline Wawzonek, Minister of Finance; and the Honourable Diane Archie, Minister of Infrastructure, to assess the situation and meet with leadership. It was devastating to see the damages to homes and property and hear the heartbreaking stories of people who have lost so much.
The Government of the Northwest Territories will continue to support residents and leadership in flood-affected communities and help with the re-building process. It will take time, but we will be there every step of the way.
Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories is committed to giving residents and communities the best opportunities to achieve success. The COVID-19 pandemic has put us all to the test over the last two-plus years, and I express my sincere condolences to the families, loved ones, and communities of those who have died from the disease or have been severely impacted by it.
COVID-19 took a huge toll on residents and businesses and as a government, we are laser-focused on the social and economic recovery of the territory. Mr. Speaker, there have been positive steps made that impact this important work.
Last May, our government tabled Emerging Stronger: Planning our Economic and Social Recovery Together, in the Legislative Assembly. This plan builds on the commitments made in the mandate of the Government of the Northwest Territories 2019-2023 to revitalize our economy and support communities and people to recover from the economic impacts of the pandemic, and to bridge the social gaps exposed by the pandemic.
Since the release of Emerging Stronger, our government has sought and received input from Indigenous governments, business, and industry groups, Regular MLAs, and the public on our actions to support social and economic recovery. We have reviewed that input and made updates to the plan that reflect our shared priorities as Northerners as we continue to build the future together.
Mr. Speaker, I will be tabling an update on Emerging Stronger this sitting that will highlight the progress the Government of the Northwest Territories has made to recover from the pandemic over the course of the past year despite numerous challenges both in terms of the spread of COVID-19 and the broader economic uncertainty and social instability. I expect the conversation around social and economic recovery to be ongoing and to continue to evolve, with a further update to Emerging Stronger to be provided one year from now.
A fundamental part of our success as a government, and the future prosperity of our territory, depends on the productive and collaborative partnership with Indigenous governments. The decisions we make as a government must reflect our commitment to reconciliation and the affirmation and advancement of Indigenous rights and self-determination. We have tried to foster constructive and respectful government-to-government relationships with Indigenous governments who have or are in the process of negotiating land claims or self-government agreements with the Government of Canada and the Government of the Northwest Territories. We are trying to advance reconciliation, recognize and affirm Indigenous rights, and support expanded program and service delivery. A huge part of this process is building trust. Indigenous people have not had a lot of reasons to trust colonial models of government.
Mr. Speaker, I say this often: Nothing about us without us. The relationships we foster with Indigenous governments in the Northwest Territories is a key part of our collective success. The pandemic has demonstrated that we must work together with Indigenous governments, as well as the federal government, municipal governments, the business community, and other key stakeholders to achieve success.
One of our biggest accomplishments in the life of this government has been the strong and collaborative partnership we have developed with Indigenous governments. However, we still have a number of unsettled land claims that our government has committed to advancing.
We recognize that Indigenous governments being able to make and implement their own decisions is a fundamental part of self-determination. Settling and implementing agreements with Indigenous governments is one of the most important ways that the GNWT can advance reconciliation and demonstrate respect for Indigenous people.
Mr. Speaker, settling and implementing treaty, land, resources, and self-government agreements is a priority for the Government of the Northwest Territories that will help secure respectful relationships with Indigenous governments, clarify responsibilities for land and resources, and create new economic opportunities for Indigenous governments and residents of the NWT.
That is why we've committed to reviewing, updating, and publishing territorial principles and interests for concluding and implementing land, resources, and self-government agreements that reflect the Government of the Northwest Territories' new priorities and mandate.
Mr. Speaker, I have heard two common themes when talking to Indigenous governments about negotiations: clarity of our mandates and dislike of our need for core principles and objectives within the agreements.
The NWT Core Principles and Objectives were a set of high-level statements that described the fundamental characteristics of social programs and provided the context for the development of operational standards associated with consistent program delivery in the NWT.
Mr. Speaker, our approach to negotiations has not changed in decades but the world that we live in has. As such, we will be taking two steps to improve our approach to negotiations.
First, we have reviewed, updated, and will publish Principles and Interests: Guiding the GNWT at Aboriginal Rights Negotiations with Indigenous Peoples. I will table this document later today.
It is time we better articulate our principles and interests to help clarify and help build trust in negotiations.
As well, Mr. Speaker, we will be removing the requirement for core principles and objectives from self-government agreements being negotiated, pending agreement of Indigenous governments.
The NWT Core Principles and Objectives were a set of high-level statements that described the fundamental characteristics of social programs and provided the context for the development of operational standards associated with consistent program delivery in the NWT. Indigenous governments expressed the view that the current approach to core principles and objectives is not aligned with their interpretation of the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Mr. Speaker, we recognize that flexible, innovative approaches may be needed to help resolve long-standing negotiations and we are committed to working with partners to find creative solutions that are in the best interests of the parties and the people of the Northwest Territories. I am optimistic that removing these two barriers will assist and look forward to continuing to advance the negotiations of outstanding land claims in the Northwest Territories.
Partnerships and collaborative relationships with all levels of government are the foundation of our success as a territory. By working together with Canada, other provinces, Indigenous leadership, community governments, we are able to make great strides in building a better territory for everyone. I have had the opportunity to have important and productive discussions as part of the Northern Premier's Forum earlier this month, and the Western Premier's Forum just last week. These meetings are opportunities to continue to build on our relationships, advance shared priorities, and continue to find ways to ensure our voices are being heard by leaderships across the country, including the federal government.
Since our last sitting, I have had conversations with federal Ministers, and continue to advocate for investment in the Northwest Territories. There are economic and social challenges that impact us in ways that our neighbours south of the 60th parallel take for granted: basic infrastructure, affordable and reliable housing, roads, broadband, and cleaner sources of energy.
For decades, the Northwest Territories has been playing catch up to southern Canada. It is time for Northerners to be given the same opportunities afforded to the rest of Canada, and I remain committed to advancing our priorities in Ottawa. Supporting people to have comparable quality of life and benefits wherever they live is a fundamental Canadian value and an important part of reconciliation, Mr. Speaker.
Governments across our territory rely on a collaborative partnership with the federal government. The gaps we are seeking to close are those identified in Canada's Arctic and Northern Policy Framework that was developed collaboratively with Canada and will be implemented with the NWT Council of Leaders.
The Council of Leaders has agreed to collaborate on areas of shared interest and to become the regional implementation body for the Arctic and Northern Policy Framework in the Northwest Territories. We view this as the roadmap to closing the gap and will continue to work with Canada to ensure the framework becomes a reality and provides positive long-lasting benefits to Northerners.
Mr. Speaker, in April, I attended the Arctic Encounter Symposium in Anchorage, Alaska. It was an opportunity to discuss shared opportunities and challenges with Arctic leaders and policymakers from around the Circumpolar North. Given the tragic situation in Ukraine, there is a heightened sense of urgency when we talk about Arctic sovereignty and security, and the symposium provided an opportunity to talk about how we contribute to improving the quality of life for Northerners and ensure the safety of our residents and support the need for global stability. This was an opportunity to work closely with other Arctic leaders to increase awareness around Arctic security, economic development, infrastructure development, housing, climate change, and women in leadership.
If we are going to advance our priorities as a territory to ensure residents and generations to come have the best opportunities available to them to achieve success in life, we must continue to build important relationships with others around the world. It was clear to me over the course of the symposium that many shared common concerns and faced similar challenges as we do in our territory.
By building stronger relationships and learning from one another, we can grow stronger in our collective efforts to improve the lives of Northerners, not only in our territory but around the world.
I know this is a short sitting before we go into a lengthy summer break but I am hopeful that we can continue to advance the priorities of this government. The life of this government is short now and I, along with Cabinet, are committed to advancing and completing our mandate priorities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
