Yes, thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, certainly we don't want to create government barriers or bureaucracy, particularly in a context where some of the criticism we get is that our regulatory systems already have quite a lot of layers to them. Certainly what we found in the last recent while is that there's a shift internationally recognizing the value of having a robust regulatory system, one that involves and engages Indigenous peoples from the very beginning so that when a project goes through that process, they know that it's certain, they know that it's secure, and they know that it respects environmental, social governance, and Indigenous factors. And that is what we have here in the North. What we are trying to do is ensure now that the different parties at those tables, the federal government and the Government of the Northwest Territories, are aligned. I can say, as an example for the Member, Madam Speaker, is the Mackenzie Valley operational dialogue is happening right now. That's an opportunity to bring all these parties together to have conversations to ensure that the way we apply our policies, comply our regulatory processes and work them, is efficient and is aligned and it makes sense to work all together. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. And I'm glad to hear that the Minister is speaking about efficiencies and such. I guess I rise with a bit of a concern that when we look at other areas where the federal government has come in with this great idea or they've made election promises that they want to see fulfilled, and I'll pick on ECE with the Daycare Act. You know, not a lot of flexibility for us to actually do anything or make our own northern or made-in-the-North imprint on it. So how is the Minister, I guess -- and maybe this is going to be a hard one to answer. How can the Minister ensure that that northern voice is being heard at the table and, if anything, that we're not just the afterthought in this conversation but that rather we are leading the conversation and one of the drivers? And when I look through the critical strategy -- and I encourage everybody to do so -- a lot of it is applying to the North. It's reconciliation with Indigenous people, it's lack of infrastructure, it's critical minerals that are needed. This strategy is about us and so how will the Minister ensure that we are leading instead of just following? Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, this touches on finance as well because this is an area that's going to potentially drive our future economy.

I have to say we did have the opportunity to comment on the federal critical minerals metals strategy before it was final, and I would suggest there are a lot of elements in there that I think reflect exactly on the submission that we made and reflect exactly on what we wanted to see in terms of being a strategy that is now high level. The next step, obviously, proof is in the pudding - where are they going to spend their dollars? Those conversations are ongoing. And as far as what I can do, or what any other member of this government can and what we are doing, is getting ourselves out, being at the table, being at the conferences, being at the speaking events, meeting with other Ministers. I am quite fortunate that I had the opportunity to speak on a panel at critical minerals about the competition and the competitiveness of the North when I was there. You know, the fact that we were invited to that I think shows that there is an awareness now that we are going to be in this space. The line in the strategy itself saying that minerals extracted in the territories could be processed in the prairies and supply manufacturing in other parts of Canada. There is a recognition that the value chain for the future of economy, for a greener economy, can start in the North and involve all of Canada. And that, I think, is an important shift of thinking that we want to capitalize on. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Great Slave.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. And it doesn't sound like much has changed in the conversation at Roundup since I went in 2020, which was the same things that I heard from the mineral resource sector. They liked our robust regulatory system. They wanted to invest in the North. And a key piece I think that we need to also remember is that when we go to seek investment, we can tell people that their money spent in northern Canada will actually benefit people. You will literally create life-changing projects as we've seen in Imperial Oil up in Norman Wells. So I do think that that is a key piece that we need to keep driving home. Our competitors are places like China. There are places that are in developing countries where the law is not as strict, and I think that is really a key message that we need to be driving home as a territory as well. And I know the Minister will do so. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. And I didn't hear a question in there, so I'll take that as a comment.

Members and Ministers, just a reminder that we have a limited time for oral questions, and Members should have their opportunity to participate. Please keep your questions and answers short and to the point. We've gone through two Members, and we've used up 18 minutes. Thank you. Next on my list is Member for Nunakput.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Just yes or no answers from the Minister then. Thank you.

So, Madam Speaker, in regards to, I've been always bringing up in the House since 2007 in regards to my elders that are being brought out of the communities of Ulukhaktok, Paulatuk, Sachs, and Tuk, having to be brought out to Inuvik to long-term care. Families not able to see them, elders getting homesick, and it just draws too much hardship on my elders.

Madam Speaker, I have private monies to use from business, a local business in the Delta wanting to build these units in the communities of Ulukhaktok and Paulatuk. Is the Minister willing to work with that company on looking to get these, I guess level two elders facilities done? Is the Minister of Housing willing to work with us. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Member. Minister responsible for Housing NT.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. And thank you to the Member for the question. I'm always looking for innovative ideas, especially when they're coming as community-based projects and working with Indigenous governments. Yes, I would be open to be having those discussions with the Member and with his leadership. Mahsi, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Can I get that in writing? No, I'm just joking.

Madam Speaker, so the Minister's committed to that. And what I'll do is I'll reach out to my community leadership of the communities and work together with them to invite the Minister to the community to work on a go-forward basis for elders' facilities in Ulukhaktok and Paulatuk. And can the Minister recommit to that? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Absolutely. I think, you know, the way that we need to address the housing crisis here in the Northwest Territories is absolutely through partnership, and we need Indigenous governments at the table. Mahsi, Madam Speaker.

No, I just want to make a comment. Thank you, Madam Speaker. I thank the Minister for that, and I look forward to working with her department to get this done in short order, within a couple of months, not years. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Member. I'll take that as a comment. Oral questions. Member for Deh Cho.

Thank you, Member. Madam Premier.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. So I believe that the Member is talking about the Intergovernmental Council, about the land and resources legislation. That is done, like you said, through devolution at the Intergovernmental Council table. For those governments that aren't part of that table, they're always welcome to joint that table but if they're not part of it, then there still is a consultation process that happens if the land and resources is in their areas, and they're still invited to sit on working groups to provide support for those legislative initiatives going forward. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. Is there any financial support to allow non-devolution partners a seat at the Intergovernmental Council table? Mahsi.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Every member of the Intergovernmental Council does receive financial support to take part in that table. Any Indigenous government that signs on to the Intergovernmental Council devolution agreement will also get funding to sit at that table. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. And mahsi to the Premier for that answer. The Deh Cho First Nations have not signed on to devolution, nor do they have an agreement in principle or a final agreement regarding their land, resources, and self-government. Given those circumstances, does that lessen or weaken their authority of land management in their region compared to IGC members in their respective regions? Mahsi.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Having a concluded modern treaty is not required to join devolution or the Intergovernmental Council. However, though, having a finalized agreement does answer questions within their agreement surrounding land management and authority. So we're optimistic, and we're really glad that the Deh Cho is back to the negotiations table, and we're hopeful that their negotiations will advance quickly. But as I said earlier, Madam Speaker, all work at the Intergovernmental Council consults with all Indigenous governments, whether they're at the table or not, on areas that may be applicable to those governments, and they're always welcome to sit on the working tables. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. Final supplementary. Member for Deh Cho.

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. Has the Premier ever considered that conditional membership into the IGC, based solely on signing onto devolution, is viewed by some leadership as exclusionary and as a tool to try to divide Indigenous governments in the Northwest Territories? Mahsi.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Yes, I have heard those arguments before. During my tenure as Premier, I actually reached out to the Indigenous governments that aren't part of the devolution agreement, trying to talk to them about what their concerns were, trying to express the benefits of being at that table. But I do respect that they don't want to sign on. I also brought their -- because, again, they asked if they could be part of that table, share in the resources without being a member -- being part of devolution. I did bring that forward to the Intergovernmental Council. In fact, I brought it forward twice during my tenure. I'm only one member of ten on the Intergovernmental Council. We all have equal seats. And it was very firmly said that membership has benefits and that they're more than welcome to sign on but if they don't sign on, then those benefits will not be shared. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Premier. Oral questions. Member for Frame Lake.