Colleagues, before we begin, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize an important visitor to the gallery today. As you can see, our table officers are wearing something a bit different than their normal barrister's robes.

Ms. Ann Firth-Jones, who is originally from Fort McPherson created these Gwich'in-style parkie covers representative of the Mackenzie Delta. These garments are a reflection of the Legislative Assembly's shared commitment to diversity and reconciliation.

It's important for me, as a Speaker of this House, to work towards changing the status quo and to incorporate our northern cultures and traditions in the work we do as elected officials. Thank you for attending today's proceedings and for creating these beautiful garments for our tables' officers. It is a pleasure to have you here. Please join me in welcoming Ms. Ann Firth-Jones to the House today. Thank you.

Ministers' statements. Minister responsible for Environment and Climate Change.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to provide an update on the territorial emergency response that is underway to support K'atlodeeche First Nation and the Town of Hay River as some residents of these communities return home following a second year in a row of evacuations caused by natural disasters.

On behalf of the Government of the Northwest Territories, I offer my sympathies to everyone impacted by this year's wildfire. I am personally familiar with this experience having been forced to evacuate my own home in 2021 due to severe flooding that year. I know what many of you are experiencing now as well as the path you are now on to repair damage and help rebuild your community.

I want to provide assurance that the GNWT is actively supporting community governments in their response to this wildfire while also continuing to monitor for potential flooding in other communities during this high-risk season.

It was a relief to residents of Hay River when they learned that they could return home last week. However, it must be stated that the town remains on evacuation alert and residents must be prepared to evacuate again on short notice. Unfortunately, evacuees from K'atlodeeche First Nation are still under an active evacuation order and cannot return home until it is safe to do so.

The evacuation centre in Yellowknife and all associated supports remain active until the evacuation order is lifted. A Pathfinder also remains in place to provide information and assistance to evacuees.

The Department of Municipal and Community Affairs is aware that other community governments have provided support to evacuees who choose not to go to the evacuation centre. I would like to thank all the community governments for the assistance they have provided and recognize that this help has come at a cost to you. To this end, the department has introduced the Community Government Hosting Evacuation Grant to provide financial support. I wrote to all community governments last week to advise them of this grant, and I encourage applications once community governments have had some time to rest and regroup.

There has been a tremendous amount of work undertaken in the past few weeks. While I do not have the time to mention everything now, I do want to highlight some of the key activities that have taken place. Municipal and Community Affairs and K'atlodeeche First Nation completed an initial assessment of the damages to the community last week. This assessment will inform the next steps in recovery planning and confirm how many homes have been destroyed, what homes have sustained damage, and what homes are fit for residents to return to. Work to provide detailed damage assessments started this week, and the results will provide information on the nature and extent of the repair work needed. Municipal and Community Affairs is also proceeding with an environmental review of the affected area on the reserve to identify where any spills may have occurred.

Discussions have taken place between Municipal and Community Affairs, K'atlodeeche First Nation, and Housing NWT to coordinate long-term accommodations for displaced residents. Housing NWT has already started work to replace their assets destroyed by the fire, including housing units and the Judith Fabien Group Home.

As the Department of Infrastructure makes repairs to the community access road, Municipal and Community Affairs will continue to support the K'atlodeeche First Nation and the Town of Hay River and meet regularly with administration and leadership from both communities.

As Northerners, we know all too well the devastating impact of natural disasters and the threat they pose to our communities and residents. I want to acknowledge and thank everyone on the front lines who have helped during this evacuation period and continue to lend their support. I also want to acknowledge the resilience of all those displaced by this wildfire. We know this is a challenging time and we are working with community governments' leadership to provide much-needed assistance.

Lastly, I want to thank the GNWT departments and external partners and agencies who continue to offer their support. The response to a disaster of this magnitude involves many people from multiple departments and agencies, and we could not do this work to help the NWT residents without you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister. Ministers' statements. Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment.

Mr. Speaker, three years ago I was mandated to initiate a review of our government's Student Financial Assistance Program with the goal of improving access to post-secondary education for all Northwest Territories residents by reducing barriers and ensuring benefit levels are meeting the needs of students. I am happy to say that we have completed our review and are now taking steps towards implementing necessary, significant changes to the program to better meet the needs of students.

The review examined the Student Financial Assistance Program's alignment with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada Calls to Action, the final report on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and analyzed feedback received through a client satisfaction survey. Based on the findings of the review, the department is proposing significant enhancements to the program.

Mr. Speaker, to improve affordability and accessibility to post-secondary education, the department is increasing the benefit levels for tuition, books, and monthly living allowances. To better assist students with disabilities, we are increasing the grants for students with disabilities to align with the Canada Student Financial Assistance Program and expanding supports to students with persistent or prolonged disabilities.

Mr. Speaker, this government recognizes that Indigenous students in the NWT may face additional barriers with accessing post-secondary education. To alleviate some of these challenges, the department is proposing to remove the semester limit for eligible Indigenous students to access the SFA program. This will better support Indigenous students with pursuing their post-secondary studies by increasing the flexibility to complete their post-secondary education without concern of maxing out on the number of semesters for which they can receive student financial assistance. This change will also encourage Indigenous students to pursue post-secondary education beyond undergraduate degrees, such as master's.

Mr. Speaker, in an effort to ensure consistency on how living costs are determined, the department is aligning the monthly living allowance with the Canada Market Basket Measure and will continue to calculate rates based on family size. The department is also increasing living allowance rates for all NWT students, removing the semester limit for remissible loans and expanding remissible loans to all NWT residents regardless of any years of schooling completed in the territory. This change will improve accessibility and affordability of post-secondary education, allowing NWT residents to obtain the education to help them succeed and build the NWT workforce.

Mr. Speaker, this government is mindful that students may face unexpected challenges throughout an academic year, which could result in their withdrawal or failure from a course or program. The department recognizes that suspending students from receiving student financial assistance may add additional barriers in their ability to successfully complete their post-secondary education. So, we are proposing to remove financial assistance suspensions for failing or withdrawing courses. This will ensure that students continue to be able to access the SFA for the duration of a student's academic career, regardless of any setbacks they face.

Mr. Speaker, the department has been working diligently to ensure regulations and policies are amended along with developing a performance and measurement plan to evaluate the performance of the program. The regulations are currently posted for public review with feedback due to the department by May 31. I am pleased to advise that we are well on our way to having these proposed changes ready for students who are want to attend post-secondary studies this fall. I would encourage any students considering attending post-secondary schooling to complete an application prior to June 30th. A student does not need to be accepted into a program to apply for SFA.

Mr. Speaker, these changes will ensure that the Student Financial Assistance Program continues to be one of the best, if not the best, student financial aid programs in the country. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister. Ministers' statements. Minister responsible for Environment and Climate Change.

Mr. Speaker, water is life, and our government is committed to ensuring we always have an abundant supply of clean and safe water.
This year has been challenging to say the least. Earlier this spring, we learned of a large wastewater spill and seepage that had occurred in the Alberta Oil Sands. To our dismay, these spills had not been communicated to the GNWT or Indigenous governments in the territories. The NWT is downstream from the oil sands and water flows here so we need to know when these incidents occur.

Mr. Speaker, these events hurt the trust built between the Government of Alberta and the Government of the Northwest Territories. But most importantly, communities downstream now have less trust that the right steps are being taken to ensure the safety of their communities, including water, fish, and other wildlife they depend on.

Today, I would like to provide an update on the work being done to monitor the Slave River.

We will ensure that waters that are downstream from the oil sands are safe and will continue to share what our government does on an ongoing basis to monitor water across our territory.

Mr. Speaker, I want to reiterate that out government acted quickly when we were informed of these incidents. We worked with the Town of Fort Smith, the Fort Smith Metis Council, and the Smith Landing First Nation to develop an enhanced monitoring program for the Slave River at the border with Alberta. This increased monitoring was conducted to ensure that there was nothing from the Kearl mine incident that could cause harm to people, wildlife, or environment. We continue to work with our partners to review and assess results of this enhanced monitoring. To date, nothing troubling has been found in our water.

Mr. Speaker, our government always continues to monitor water quality beyond the Slave River. We have over 50 water quality monitoring sites across the NWT, collecting samples and interpreting results, to better understand the quality of our waters. Through the Community-Based Monitoring Program, we work with partners from 21 communities to train local water monitors who then share what they have learnt with us to enhance our understanding of water quality across the territory. These monitoring efforts span every water basin in the NWT. They help us spot potential problems, understand them, and act when necessary to address them.

Mr. Speaker, our government is also working to ensure that Northerners have a voice at the table related to oil sands. After extensive lobbying, we have secured Indigenous representation from the NWT on the oil sands oversight committee struck by the federal and provincial governments. Going forward, we will continue to ensure our voices are heard in discussions about releasing treated oil sands tailings.

Mr. Speaker, I also want to highlight what our government is doing to monitor and evaluate water levels and climate conditions prior to and, during spring breakup to help inform the level of risk for flooding. The Department of Environment and Climate Change is a partner in the NWT Hydrometric Network, a group that measures water level and water flow. This network consists of 106 monitoring stations across the NWT, and all of its data is publicly available.

Data from this network was used by to issue a special NWT water monitoring bulletin on May 5. This bulletin notified the communities and the public of potential for high water levels and flow rates on the Peel and Arctic Red Rivers during breakup. The Department of Environment and Climate Change commends the community of Fort McPherson, and other communities at-risk of flooding, for their work preparing for the spring breakup.

Our government will continue to work with emergency management officials at all levels to ensure they have the latest data on water levels and encourage the sharing of community information and photos related to current water level and ice conditions. The Government of the Northwest Territories is committed to keeping our territorial waters clean and safe now and forever. The actions we do every day will reflect that commitment. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister. Ministers' statements. Minister responsible for Infrastructure.

Mr. Speaker, enhancing road safety is a priority for the Government of the Northwest Territories. We all want our highways to be as safe as possible for everyone who uses them.
To support this effort, I would like to announce that as of June 1, 2023, the hours of service regulation will be amended to make electronic logging devices mandatory for commercial vehicles weighing 4,500 kilograms or more.

This is a made-in-the-North solution that balances driver safety, the needs of our local industry, and compliance with federal requirements.

An electronic logging device, or ELD, is a device that tracks a driver's hours of service instead of using a paper logbook. Hours of service are the maximum amount of time commercial drivers can be on duty, including driver time.

Government of Canada has mandated the use of ELDs, and all jurisdictions will implement and enforce this mandate in 2023. Commercial and regulated vehicle operators that require a logbook, as well as National Safety Code vehicles that cross provincial-territorial lines, are required to use ELDs.

Mr. Speaker, some may ask why ELDs have been made mandatory. This is about making our roads and highways safer. Because ELDs are a more effective and accurate way for drivers to log working hours. They can help reduce driver fatigue and with fewer tired drivers on our roads, we will prevent accidents and save lives.

ELDs automate the tracking, making it easier for drivers and commercial carriers to comply with the hours of service regulations under the NWT Motor Vehicles Act. It also allows territorial drivers to operate in other jurisdictions and earn a living while outside the territory.

Mr. Speaker, when making a major change to how an industry operates, it is important to engage with that industry. The GNWT held three stakeholder information sessions with the trucking industry to discuss the impacts of ELDs and address any concerns they may have. These sessions took place in August and November 2022, with a final session held in March 2023. The draft regulations were also posted for public comment from March 13 to April 13 on the GNWT's "have your say" public engagement portal.

The stakeholder sessions showed that there is support for the use of ELDs in the Northwest Territories and started a discussion around the unique elements of the territory's commercial trucking industry. As a result, the ELD regulations include exemptions specific to drivers in the NWT. If a driver operates within 160-kilometers of their home terminal and return each day to that home terminal, they are not required to complete a logbook entry and therefore do not require an ELD. Instead, carriers or owners must keep track of driver hours while working within the 160-kilometre radius. If a driver leaves the 160-kilometre radius at any time, they will require an ELD. Additionally, commercial vehicles registered in the NWT that weigh under 11,795 kilograms and operate strictly within the territory are also ELD exempt. Drivers must still produce a logbook entry on request.

Any exemption that is given through the federal Act is also included in the territorial regulations. Other vehicles that do not require ELDs include school buses however they will be required to use paper logs when the vehicle exits its 160-kilometre zone. Emergency vehicles such as police, ambulances, fire trucks and utility service vehicles for power and telecommunication companies.

Mr. Speaker, this made-in-the-North approach to implementing the mandatory use of ELDs has allowed the trucking industry to provide its valuable input and make this transition easier for those directly impacted by this change. Road safety is an issue that affects all Northerners. By implementing the Government of Canada's requirement for the electronic logging device in commercial vehicles, the GNWT is contributing to enhanced road safety in the NWT and across Canada. Quyananni, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we now have a picture of the devastation the fire caused to structures and homes on K'atlodeeche First Nation lands. This event follows in the footsteps of major flooding last year from which residents of K'atlodeeche and Hay River are still feeling the financial impact and are once again having to dip into what savings they may have to cover evacuation costs.

The current financial support of $750 per person offered up by this government, although welcomed, does not go far enough for those already dealing with the high cost of living. It excludes many and leaves many without. Residents are looking to the compensation package Alberta provided to evacuees, and our residents were expecting the same.

Mr. Speaker, throughout this event the questions on the minds of evacuees were:

• Are family and homes safe?
• When can we return home? And,
• Beyond what has already been provided, what financial support is available?

The first two questions have been answered, and now the focus is on the financial support promised. Some residents have been notified to access personal insurance coverage to help offset costs. While income assistance clients were provided support, there are many outside that group who have limited support or no support at all.

Mr. Speaker, I have been receiving numerous calls from residents who are looking for the financial support payments promised. This government must inform those as to how and when financial payments will be made. It is a week since Hay River residents returned home and while K'atlodeeche residents are still waiting to return, both are saying although applications have been submitted, payments have not been received. Residents need financial support as soon as possible just to put food on the table, make rent or mortgage payments, and meet day-to-day expenses.

Mr. Speaker, we also have the communities of Yellowknife, Enterprise, Fort Providence, Fort Resolution, Fort Smith, Fort Simpson, and others, who all welcomed evacuees with open arms and supplied services prior to any financial commitment from this government. Why did they do this? Because they knew it was the right thing to do.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased this government made a financial commitment to those communities who have supported evacuees. I will expect compensation for each of those communities to be equitable and timely. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

Mr. Speaker, our failure to act quickly with adequate financial support will make people think twice about leaving their community next time an evacuation order is made which may result in loss of human life. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I want to speak again about the need for more aftercare and detox services within the NWT. This is an issue that I've spoken about several times throughout the 19th Assembly because this is an issue that touches everyone in the NWT in some way.

Mr. Speaker, I cannot speak to the subject without also bringing into the conversation the old Trailcross Treatment Centre for youth that recently closed in Fort Smith last October. As I've said previously that building is well-suited to be converted and repurposed to be used as some other wellness-based facility. We all agree that there needs to be more aftercare and detox services made available in the NWT, right? So given the strong necessity for that, why not consider the availability of that building as an opportunity to fulfill some work on the aftercare front as well?

Mr. Speaker, I believe it is in the best interest of all the people of the NWT for that facility to continue to be used as some sort of health-based or aftercare and detox facility. Overall, it's a great location and there's nothing physically wrong with that building that's preventing it from being used further.

I know that back in March the Minister of health said her department has done a preliminary assessment of Trailcross which, she said, had determined it did have some viable some life in it. I have yet to hear more details from the Minister about that.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, I know that the Minister and I can agree on the fact that more needs to be done in providing additional supports to vulnerable residents in the NWT. And I know that there are many options that can be done with the old Trailcross Treatment Centre to ensure its continued use by the Government of the Northwest Territories within the community of Fort Smith. I know there's great potential to convert that building into a territorial aftercare facility. I still believe that is a good idea for all of us to consider because, once again, given the way that building was structured, it makes an ideal location to house both men and women clients separately under one roof. I will have questions for the Minister of health later today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have spoken many times throughout this Assembly about the importance of sports and recreation in the lives of youth, especially in small communities. Today I want to continue speaking on that issue.

Mr. Speaker, according to a recent article from CKLB News, there were 101 athletes from the NWT who attended the Canada Winter Games in PEI between February and March. And of those athletes whose home communities are publicly available, 71 percent of them are from Yellowknife.

Now in a territory with 33 communities, does that situation seem fair to you, Mr. Speaker?

In addition, Mr. Speaker, there was a different article from Cabin Radio who interviewed the executive director of Sport North, which is the organization that oversees Team NWT at the games. And Cabin Radio asked about the number of Indigenous athletes on Team NWT. The answer to that question was that they do not track their athletes' ethnicities so therefore they did not know the number of Indigenous athletes.

In the territory that's half Indigenous, does that situation seem fair to you, Mr. Speaker?

Mr. Speaker, I'm pointing out these inequities because there is a clear disparity of opportunity here between athletes from small communities versus athletes from Yellowknife, particularly for Indigenous youth. As someone who's been involved in sports and recreation for quite some time, the state of sport is very poor right now.

Mr. Speaker, I also want to comment on the prospect of Yellowknife hosting the 2026 Arctic Winter Games.

First of all, I think that is a very good idea, and I had hope that the City of Yellowknife and the GNWT would accept and take on this major international sporting recent. Yellowknife has hosted the Arctic Winter Games four times now, with the last time being in 2008. So it's already proven that it's more than capable of hosting these games. The NWT last hosted the games in 2018, which Hay River and Fort Smith co-hosted very successfully. I don't understand what the hesitation now is to host the games in 2026. This type of event is a huge opportunity for young athletes to participate in, and since it would be taking place within the NWT it would be easier for athletes from the small communities to participate as well. I could go on, Mr. Speaker, but I will leave it there. I will have questions for the MACA Minister at the appropriate time. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Deh Cho. Members' statements. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I rise before you to express my grave concerns and utter disappointment with the lack of response to the unlawful raid conducted by the GNWT officers in Lutselk'e Dene First Nation Culture Camp at Timber Bay on September 13, 2022.

The failure to acknowledge this injustice is not only distressing but also raises serious concerns and questions about the actions and accountability of our government. The United Nations Declaration of Rights of Indigenous Peoples stands as a beacon of hope and justice for Indigenous communities across the globe. It affirms the inherent rights of Indigenous people to their lands and resources, culture, and self-determination.

The declaration emphasizes the importance of obtaining free and prior-informed consent before undertaking any activities that may affect Indigenous communities. Regrettably, the raid of the Lutselk'e Dene First Nation Culture Camp stands in stark contradiction to the principles enshrined in this international agreement. We cannot turn a blind eye to the fact that this incident is not an isolated incident but rather a continuation of a pattern of disregard for the rights and well-being of Indigenous people in our territory. We have witnessed similar acts that were met with rightful criticism and condemnation from both within and outside of our jurisdiction. Yet, here we stand witnesses another violation of rights of our Indigenous brothers and sisters.

As Members of the Legislative Assembly, we have a solemn duty to uphold the principles of justice, fairness, and quality. It's incumbent upon us to ensure that this action of our government reflects these fundamental values. The unlawful raid of Lutselk'e Dene First Nation Culture Camp undermines the trust and relationship between the GNWT and Indigenous communities, making it even more challenging to forge new paths of reconciliation and meaningful partnership. We must recognize the strengths of our territory lies in our rich diversity of people and culture.

Our Indigenous communities have deep roots in their traditional lands and their knowledge and traditions are invaluable treasures that must be respected, protected, and celebrated. It is our responsibility to create an environment where Indigenous voices are heard, where their rights are safeguarded, and where their contributions are valued. I implore the Government of the Northwest Territories to take immediate action to rectify this grave injustice. We must hold these responsible for the unlawful raid accountable, ensure that reparation are made to the Lutselk'e Dene First Nation, and most important, to take concrete steps to prevent such violations from occurring in the future. We must work together in establishing a robust mechanism that prioritize free and prior-informed consent and empower Indigenous communities to shape their own future. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my Member's statement. Mahsi.

---Unanimous consent granted

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you colleagues. Let us not merely pay lip service to the principles of reconciliation and the right offence Indigenous people. Let us act with integrity, empathy, and humility, acknowledging the mistakes of the past and committing ourselves to the future built on mutual respect, understanding, and justice. Mr. Speaker, I would have the questions for the appropriate Minister of ENR, Environment and Climate Change. Mahsi.

Thank you, Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. Members' statements. Member for Great Slave.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In March, the government introduced legislation to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The declaration sets minimum standards to protect the rights of Indigenous peoples and to contribute to their survival, dignity, and well-being. The government says it wants to affirm the declaration as a universal human rights instrument that applies in the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, there truly isn't more important work for this government to do but I question this government's commitment to truly implementing the declaration. Recent government action makes the government's commitment seem more like symbolism. The gap between words and actions has been jarring. First, what my colleague from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh just mentioned. Also In December, while EIA was finalizing the MOU to implement the declaration and inviting Indigenous governments to sign on, the Department of Justice intervened at the Supreme Court to dispute whether the Inuvialuit child and family services law should bind the government. And, in March, on the same day the Premier introduced Bill 85 to legislate the declaration, the Premier tabled a draft homelessness strategy that made zero mention of the declaration or the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

Mr. Speaker, how can this government say it will implement the declaration while at the same time pursuing policies and actions that ignore or outright reject the principles of the declaration? This type of behaviour erodes trust - a trust that is already fragile and tenuous at best.

The Government has received only partial support in its approach to the declaration. Five of fifteen Indigenous governments and organizations have not signed the MOU, including:

• The Akaitcho territory government;
• Deh Cho First Nation;
• The Inuvialuit Regional Corporation;
• Sahtu Secretariat Incorporated; and,
• Salt River First Nation.

And even if the legislation is passed, the work of implementation will have to wait. The legislation would allow the government two more years to develop a plan for implementation without requiring any concrete actions beforehand.

Mr. Speaker, true implementation cannot wait. It means respecting the rights, dignity, and self-determination of Indigenous peoples now. As a white settler, I acknowledge the privilege I hold in not being subjected to the historical and present-day injustices that deny Indigenous peoples their inherent rights. And I lend my support, as an ally, in advocating for true rights-implementation in everything this government says and does. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Great Slave. Members' statements. Member for Monfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Dehk'e, or Frank Channel Bridge, is critical infrastructure linking Yellowknife and Behchoko. In October 2020, the replacement Dehk'e Bridge was included in the 2021-2022 capital estimates with a bridge to be completed no later than March 31st, 2024. In October 2021, the replacement Dehk'e Bridge was included in the 2022 and 2023 to be completed no later than March 31st, 2026. In October 2022, the replacement Dehk'e Bridge was included in the 2023 and 2024 to be completed no later than March 31st, 2027.

In other words, this critical infrastructure project has been delayed in every capital budget projection. Can we place any confidence in the government's projections? By the government's own admission, the project has been delayed by three years. Hopefully, there will be no critical failure of the bridge resulting from this delayed rebuild.

The Government of the Northwest Territories started making plans to replace the bridge in 2018. If the current trend of delays continues, the bridge will have taken ten years from the start of its planning to its completion. Mr. Speaker, this is way too long.

In February of this year, I emphasized that this project needs to be kept on track. It is clear I need to keep the pressure on. I recognize that when a project is significantly delayed, inflation and market increases impact the cost. The Dehk'e Bridge projection is no exception.

In March of this year, the federal government pledged another $15 million and the GNWT another $5 million to the project. The federal government, again, comes to the rescue of the GNWT. Does the department accept this failure to manage this critical infrastructure project?

Luckily, the feds are throwing in more money to salvage the situation. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

Mr. Speaker, it is time to fast-track the project to prevent additional budget increases and further delays to the completion of Dehk'e Bridge. Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Minister of Infrastructure. Thank you.

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

Merci, Monsieur le President. It seems to happen more often lately by this Cabinet that Regular MLAs learn about events and meetings through the media rather than directly from our colleagues across the floor. Scooped by Cabin Radio again, the Minister of Infrastructure seems to have been summoned by the United States Embassy for a meeting that was to have taken place on May the 4th, 2023. As Regular MLAs, we received nothing, either before or after this meeting. The Cabin Radio story was rather sketchy about the purpose of this meeting. It appears that there was some sort of discussion or presentations on the failed Grays Bay Road and Port Project and possibly the Tibbitt to Contwoyto All-Weather Road on this side of the boundary. Of course, this is a road where GNWT continues to bulldoze ahead with regulatory applications while ignoring the plans for a regional study as requested by the Tlicho government and approved by the federal minister of northern affairs. I will ask the Minister of Infrastructure why she went to Ottawa, who was there, whether she can give us some kind of report, and why the United States hosted such an event. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Member for Yellowknife North. Members' statements. Member for Kam Lake.

Mr. Speaker, to anyone helping to raise a child in this today's society, let's collectively take a deep breath. It's hard. From SnapChat to substance use, learning boundaries to learning algebra, and navigating the costs today while preparing them for tomorrow, and somehow in the middle of all that, trying to take moments of magic in their every day. It is hard.

My heart goes out to today's parents who have the added challenge of finding childcare and, in some cases, choosing between their career goals and their family goals. Accessible and affordable childcare is paying an oversized role in determining whether parents can return to their pre-COVID employment and wage paths.

Under the guise of universal childcare, Canada is evolving the childcare industry into a sector similar to our education system, and there is much to be gained from that. But this transition is reliant on the buy in and support of the people who have built and sustained our existing childcare sector. For NWT day cares, the sustainability concerns center on covering unexpected operating costs while working with a capped revenue increase. You cannot have sustainability without certainty, Mr. Speaker.

In addition, low wages is one of the biggest barriers to recruiting and retaining workers, and the GNWT is working to establish a wage grid but advocates say childcare wages have to hit $30 an hour, average, across Canada to meet demand for the service. For the day homes, independent business owners are slowly losing their business autonomy without gaining the working conditions and benefits like pensions, paid time off, and a living wage afforded to their counterparts in education. This is driving qualified childcare workers out of day cares and day homes and into the classrooms as teaching assistants. But sustainability is one side of this council. Accessibility is the other.

Mr. Speaker, we need infrastructure and the land to put it on. We have seen other industries use innovative shared equity mortgage programs with success. This is a potential option to provide a much-needed boost to the childcare sector that stands to reduce the cost or barriers of providers looking to rent or purchase the physical space required to provide early learning and childcare. Mr. Speaker, advocates say the shortage of both childcare spaces and workers is creating a bottleneck that will take time to unclog, but parents can't afford that time. We need active solutions to tackle this challenge that prioritizes both the sustainability and accessibility of the NWT childcare sector. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to rise in the House to talk about the Youth Parliament that was held April 17th to 20th here in Yellowknife. I appreciate the Legislative Assembly staff and the Speaker for putting on this amazing event.

As you are aware, the Youth Parliament provides our youth a unique opportunity to travel to Yellowknife to take on the role of an elected Member and participate in the daily workings of consensus government at the Legislative Assembly. What is impressive about this opportunity is for students in grades 9 and 10 from across the Northwest Territories.

The young lady that representing the Nahendeh constituency was Dejah Horassi from Fort Simpson. I have had the opportunity to know this young lady since she was a baby. Her dad and I have played hockey together for several years (wink wink) as defense partners. Because of each other's busy schedule, we had to move our meeting time to Tuesday at 12 noon. As she walked into the office, I asked her to take my chair behind the desk to get the full experience. To start the meeting off, she was a bit shy but as we talked, she had some amazing questions, such as:

• What was your most challenging thing to do as an MLA?
• Do I have challenges being a Minister and MLA at the same time?
• How do you do public speaking, and do you get nervous?
• We discussed the morning meeting and what motions would be coming into the House on Thursday.
• Some of the tips on writing her Member's statement and how to present it in the House.

On Thursday, upon my return trip with Minister Savage, I had the opportunity to watch her do her Member's statement. She was a natural and did an amazing job.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to have Dejah's Member statement be deemed as read.

The other thing I witnessed and enjoyed watching was the youth passing notes between one another. They kept their Members, who were pages, very busy for the whole session.

Mr. Speaker, in closing I would like again to thank you and the Legislative Assembly staff for providing this opportunity for our youth. Mashi cho.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to make a Member statement on the Fort Simpson schooling system. In my community, both of the schools have the same issues, but I will be focusing on the Liidlii Kue Regional High School and not the Liidlii Kue Elementary School.

Three years ago now, before we all went into quarantine, I was a full-time student at the high school. During my time there I was met with an unorganized agenda, disrespect between students and teachers, and being given the wrong work for my grade. I had to leave for a better education. And while I've been away from the school, I'm afraid that it hasn't gotten any better and in fact has only gotten worse. Students are reportedly walking in the halls in an attempt to not go to class, not listening to teachers when told to go to class and messing around going on to disturb their classmates.
There is also clear activity of students needing to upgrade after graduation to get into post-secondary education.

Constant disorganization for example: Is not having control over the classroom, giving students work meant for a grade under them, and teachers not showing up on time to their classroom. These characteristics feed into a cycle of disrespect. I believe that not taking control of your classroom has something to do with how you want your self-image to look. I saw many teachers not correcting a student's behaviour and, in my eyes, it was because they wanted to seem cool.

Mr. Speaker, not giving students the correct work for their grade simply to "get them used to the content" further states that you are not confident in your own course work. And not showing up on time to class as a teacher disrespects students' time and shows that they are not as valued as you want them to think they are. I should mention that the classroom doors are locked in the morning and after lunch. Leaving students to have to wait for the teacher in the halls. Bad behaviour stems from these issues. As students think that is the school won't support them in the way they need, then what's the point of even participating in it. Disrespect from students comes from a cycle of toleration. I asked a current student "How would you describe the school system here?" And all they said was "unfulfilling."

When I was attending the high school, one of my teachers (they don't work there anymore) suggested that I work through online school instead. They said that I would go further in my academic achievements if I did. And so I listened to them and now I attend school through long distance, and it was the best solution for me. But not everyone has the same option I took.

As an Indigenous community I feel that the youth deserve a better education system. I believe that fixing these problems can lead to a better future with our schooling. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Nahendeh. Members' statements. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to recognize Iris Catholique, member from my constituency of Lutselk'e. She is the manager of the Thaidene Nene office in Lutselk'e. She is here for visits, so I want to welcome her in Yellowknife. Mahsi.

Thank you, Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Madam Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to recognize the page for Range Lake this week, Kaylee Alacida; excuse me if I pronounce the last name wrong. And welcome to all pages. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Range Lake. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Inuvik Boot Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to recognize my nephew Brody Alexie-Benoit who is the page here in the Assembly with us. Also, my brother Desmond was just sitting up in the gallery. It's always nice to have family here to support you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Inuvik Boot Lake. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Nahendeh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to recognize two pages from the Nahendeh, Addyson Erasmus, daughter of Alison Skinner and James Erasmus; and Sahtle Tsetso, son of Dottie and Joseph Tsetso. As well as I witnessed the chaperone Teena Lafferty and her daughter Mikayla here. So, again, I'd like to thank them. As well as our interpreter Mary Jane Cazon, and I appreciate all the work she's done. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Nahendeh. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Reports of committees on the review of bills. Member for Kam Lake.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Your committee would like to report on its consideration of Bill 72, Opioid Damages and Health Care Costs Recovery Act.

Bill 72 received second reading in the Legislative Assembly on March 2nd, 2023, and was referred to the Standing Committee on Social Development for review. The standing committee held a public hearing on May 19th, 2023, and completed its clause-by-clause review of the bill with the Minister of Justice on May 29th, 2023.

Mr. Speaker, the committee reports that Bill 72, Opioid Damages and Health Care Costs Recovery Act, is ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Kam Lake. Reports of committees on the review of bills. Reports of standing and special committees. Member for Hay River South.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Your Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures is pleased to provide its report on the review of the Rules of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly.

Introduction

The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures (committee) is pleased to report on its review of the Rules of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories.

The current Rules of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly (the Rules) were adopted December 7, 2021. At that time the rules were revised and reorganized into chapters to allow for revisions without having to repeal and replace the rules. If carried by this Assembly, the recommendations of this report will be the first rules changes under this new structure.

In 2022 Speaker Frederick Blake twice wrote to committee regarding the Rules; these letters are available in Appendix A.

In January 2022, the Speaker asked committee to consider various matters including: Regular Member participation on Standing and Special Committees; Membership on the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight; dissenting opinions in committee Reports; care of infants in the Chamber; the Rule of Anticipation; loss of quorum; petitions; and committee reporting on the review of bills.

In September of 2022, Speaker Frederick Blake wrote the Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures (the committee) regarding changes to the release of reports from statutory officers, like the Ombud and Languages Commissioner. In addition, committee considered changes identified by Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs), the committee, and Office of the Clerk staff.

The Legislative Assembly Officers Standardization Act received Assent on October 27, 2020. Under this Act, all statutory officers' annual reports are due to the Speaker on July 1st each year. However, under the current rules, these reports are not released publicly until the Speaker tables them in the Assembly. This means these reports aren't normally released until October, more than three months after they are received.

At a meeting of the Board of Management in June 2022, an MLA requested to have statutory officers' reports tabled in the May/June sitting. The MLA believed that the earlier tabling and release of the reports would facilitate quicker review by Committees. The Speaker asked committee to determine the best approach to make statutory officers' annual reports available to the public and standing committees earlier. I will now pass this on to the Member for Frame Lake. Thank you.

Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Member for Range Lake -- Frame Lake.

I'd be worried there, Mr. Speaker.

Statutory officers' annual reporting

Committee recognises the importance of statutory officers' annual reports to public and standing committees. Committee also recognizes that timely release of information is a key component of transparency and accountability.

Committee considered the four options identified by the Speaker. Given the importance of these reports and the request made to the Board of Management, committee does not believe the status quo is a viable option. Requiring statutory officers to produce their reports for tabling in the May/June session represents an additional burden, as their reporting year ends March 31, 2023. Committee felt it was unnecessary to amend legislation when the matter could be addressed through amendments to the Rules. Therefore, committee recommends:

Recommendation 1

The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures recommends that the following be added after Rule 4.5:

4.6 A statutory officers' annual report received by the Speaker shall be communicated to Members and made publicly available within seven calendar days when the House is not sitting. The Speaker will table the report in the House at the earliest opportunity.

Other changes to the rules

Regular Member Committee Membership

Standing committees are established each Assembly and conduct important work on behalf of the Assembly. Other than this committee, which includes membership from the Executive Council, standing committees only include Regular Members. The Board of Management, while not a standing committee, also conducts important work on behalf of the Assembly and has membership from both the Regular Members and Executive Council. To ensure an equitable distribution of work among Regular Members, committee recommends:

Recommendation 2

The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures recommends that the following be added after Rule 9.2(5):

9.2(5.1) Each Regular Member shall sit on a minimum of two committees, in addition to the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight. This includes standing committees and the Board of Management.

Removal of a Member from the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight

Members are appointed to standing and special committees by way of motion, on notice. Changes to membership on these committees must be made by way of a motion, on notice. The Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight is an exception to this practice. Rule 9.2(2) provides that the Assembly shall appoint the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight all Members except those Members appointed to the Executive Council and the Speaker.

Recognizing that whether by the Rules or by motion, membership on AOC is established by the House, it would be inappropriate for AOC to have the ability to remove a Member. This authority rests solely with the House. However, Members of AOC have highlighted there needs to be some way of controlling or disciplining AOC Members who are disruptive, particularly when the House is not sitting. Committee is recommending the Rules be amended to provided AOC with the authority to suspend a Member for up to three meetings in certain situations. This would mirror an authority the Board of Management currently has with its Members.

If AOC exercises this authority, by a majority vote of its Members, they must report any suspension to the House, at the first available opportunity during Reports of Standing and Special Committees. This would bring public attention to the Member's conduct which would be a public sanction.

Ultimately if suspension does not address the issue, a motion could be brought forward to remove a Member from AOC. Once removed, a Member could only be reappointed to AOC by a motion of the House.

Recommendation 3

The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures recommends that the following be added after Rule 9.3(9):

(9.1) If a Member of the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight acts in a manner that warrants discipline, which includes but is not limited to:

(a) Violating any provision of the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act and its regulations that deal with conduct and responsibilities of committee members;

(b) Disclosing confidential committee information without committee approval;

(c) Attending a meeting under the influence of alcohol, cannabis, or other mind-altering substance; and

(d) Being repeatedly absent from meetings without a valid excuse.

The committee may, by majority vote, suspend the Member from the committee for a period of up to three meetings in duration.

(9.2) If a Member has been suspended from the committee for a period of time, the chair of the committee will report the suspension to the House under Reports of Standing and Special Committees.

(9.3) The committee may, at any time, recommend to the House that a Member be removed from or reappointed to the committee.

I will now turn the report over to the Member for Nahendeh. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Member for Nahendeh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Committee Reports - Opinions of dissenting Members

During both the 18th and 19th Assemblies, some committee Reports have included dissenting opinions. The Rules don't address dissenting opinions and how they can or should be incorporated into committee Reports. Committee recommends:

Recommendation 4:

The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures recommends that the following be added after Rule 9.4(1):

(1.1) One or more Members of the committee may indicate that they dissent from a particular recommendation or comment.

(1.2) A Member or Members who wish to express the reasons for their dissent may do so in an appendix to the report.

(1.3) The Chair of a committee will establish a reasonable deadline for any dissenting opinions to be shared with committee members before the report is presented to the House.

Committee Review of a Bill - Not Ready to Proceed

The Rules provide that bills reported from a committee shall be received by the Assembly and ordered into Committee of the Whole. This applies even when a committee reports that a bill should not proceed. As a result, where a committee recommends that a bill should not proceed, there is no procedural significance to the Assembly.

If a standing committee reports to the House that a bill "should not proceed", this committee believes the bill's sponsor should be required to move a motion to consider the bill in Committee of the Whole. Committee believes this strikes a balance between the views of a standing committee and the bill sponsor's desire to advance their legislation. Committee recommends:

Recommendation 5

The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures recommends the following be added after Rule 8.3(8):

(9) A Bill reported by a Standing or Special committee as "should not proceed" shall require a motion be adopted by the House to consider the bill in Committee of the Whole.

Committee Reports

The existing rules contain a typographical error in Rule 9.4(4). Committee recommends:

Recommendation 6:

The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures recommends that Rule 9.4 (4) be amended by adding the word "not" after the words "Committee of the Whole shall..."

Petitions

Petitions are a way the public can communicate directly with elected officials. Rule 4.4(8) requires that signatures on a petition be handwritten, or electronic signatures obtained from the Legislative Assembly e-petitions site. However, the e-petition option was removed from the Assembly website as the previous provider ceased operations.

Our territory is vast, and our communities are widespread. Organizing petitions across multiple communities can prove difficult; however, this difficulty can be reduced with the use of electronic petitions.

As written, our Rules prevent the use of e-petitions from websites other than the Assembly's own platform, which is no longer available. To ensure that electronic petitions remain a meaningful way for residents to communicate with this Assembly, committee recommends:

Recommendation 7

The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures recommends that Rule 4.4 (8) be amended by: deleting the words "the Legislative Assembly e-petitions site" and replacing them with the words "an electronic petition site approved by the Speaker.".

Loss of Quorum

If quorum is lost during a sitting, the Rules require the Speaker to adjourn the Assembly until the next sitting. The Rules do not address whether all remaining business stands over to the next day. Committee recommends the following recommendation:

Recommendation 8

The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures recommends that the Rule 2.3(4) be amended by adding "All remaining business shall stand over until the next Sitting day" to the end of the existing rule.

Mr. Speaker, at this point in time, I wish to pass this to the Member for Hay River South. Thank you.

Thank you, Member for Nahendeh. Member for Hay River South.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Anticipation

The Rule of Anticipation prevents discussion on matters that are planned for another time on the Orders. While not previously stated in the Rules; it has typically been respected by this Assembly and its Members. For example, the Rule of Anticipation would prevent a Member or Minister from making a statement directly related to a motion that is on the orders for debate. Applying the Rule of Anticipation prevents an item on the orders from being preempted by unscheduled debate, contributes to efficient use of time in the Assembly, and avoids repetition. Committee recommends:

Recommendation 9

The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures recommends that the Rule 5.6(2) be amended by adding the following after Rule 5.6(2)(c): "(d) shall not refer to any matter on the Orders for that day."

Strangers

As a part of making Assemblies more family-friendly, some legislatures across Canada allow a parent to bring an infant into the Chamber. Committee believes the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly should continue to make efforts to make this institution more family-friendly and recommends:

Recommendation 10

The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures recommends that Rule 1.9(4) be amended by adding the words "A stranger does not include an infant being cared for by a Member" at the end of the Rule.

This concludes the Committees report on its review of the Rules of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Member for Hay River South.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I move, second by the Member for Frame Lake, that Committee Report 52-19(2), Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures Report on the Review of the Rules of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly, be received and referred to Committee of the Whole for further consideration. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Hay River South. The motion is in order. To the motion?

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Any abstentions? The motion is carried. The report will be moved into Committee of the Whole later today. Thank you.

---Carried.

Reports of standing and special committees. Returns to oral questions. Acknowledgements. Oral questions. Member for Hay River South.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, evacuees see what Alberta evacuees received and are expecting no less. Alberta evacuees received $1,250 per adult and $550 per dependent child, and the payment was not income-based.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the Minister of Finance what was the rationale for settling on a payment of $750 per person, and why was it based on income disruption and not an actual cost incurred as this may exclude many evacuees? Thank you.

Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Minister responsible for Finance.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there's a few issues in there. I think I've caught them all.

First of all, Mr. Speaker, we're not Alberta. They were dealing with less than one percent of their population that was forced to be evacuated. We were looking at almost 10 percent of the population in the Northwest Territories being evacuated. And, Mr. Speaker, I know folks are looking at Alberta. I suspect folks in British Columbia were looking at Alberta, as were folks in Saskatchewan looking at Alberta, and even Nova Scotia might, frankly, be looking at us because they were offering, at last count, only $500 per resident although under a certainly different system than what we were under.

Mr. Speaker, we don't have the fiscal capacity. We are running a deficit every year. We run less of a deficit when we have an operating surplus, but we do run a deficit, nonetheless. What we tried to do is to take our fiscal capacity and fill some gaps.

So, Mr. Speaker, looking at actual costs, our first priority was to minimize those costs. So that's where you have the EMO stepping in and providing transportation, food, shelter, you know, immediate toiletries, etcetera. I realize folks don't necessarily want to stay at the emergency evacuation shelters but they were there, they were available in order to minimize costs and to fill those gaps for folks who needed it most.

Similarly, Mr. Speaker, this is where we had the United Way offered $150,000 to help encourage donations, and they were over $500,000 earlier this week when last I checked. They too are helping to fill some of the gaps and to minimize the costs that residents are facing.

But what we then looked to is so knowing that some of the costs are being filled by these different sources, Mr. Speaker, we're looking at folks who had income disruptions. A lot of individuals still continue to receive their income. We did also ensure that public servants were receiving -- GNWT's public servants were receiving their income. But for those who face an income interruption, that's the group we wanted to try and target. We selected the $750, again, Mr. Speaker, because we're trying to be fair. Income assistance already was providing a thousand dollars for someone with a dependent or $500 to an adult. Putting it at $750 tries to be fair within all of those parameters that I have described. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, will the Minister explain to the evacuees what are the criteria for accessing the program, and is there some flexibility as not all persons evacuated but may nevertheless have experienced income loss? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, so just briefly, firstly, this is all available online if anyone wants to have a look at it if they're in a capacity to do that. But in short, anyone over the age of 17 who's been subject to an evacuation order of seven days or more and who has had some sort of income disruption or income loss as a result of that, they can apply. You don't have to have been evacuated. We certainly want to encourage people when they're under an evacuation order to please evacuate. It's not there for anything less than necessity. But also didn't want to exclude the fact that some folks would have been emergency responders, may not have been able to evacuate initially. They might have been at the hospital, etcetera, or gone back early to help restart. So we didn't want to exclude anyone. It does apply to everyone. You don't have to have been actually evacuated although I don't want to take away, again, the importance of doing so when you're under one of those orders. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister confirm if any payments have been disbursed today? How have they been disbursed. Is it by direct deposit, EMT, Canada Post? What is the timing between application and disbursement of payments, as there are many evacuees needing the funds now and asking when they should expect payment, and I just need to know what to tell them. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, a big part of what we tried to do with this program was to make it easy to apply and then easy to get the money out. So, again, that is another one of the reasons when you look at one of the forms online, it's online fillable, and it's looking for proof of income, income disruption, but we're not asking people to start going and tracking down documents that they might not have had, particularly if the evacuation had lasted longer. So there's provisions in there to speak to their income disruption but not asking for a lot of difficult paperwork. And once they can fill that form out, they can send it in by email. We've given this information to GNWT staff so they could help individuals, and funds can be disbursed through either direct deposit or by cheque. So it really is up to an individual what circumstance they may find easier for them. I can say, I think there was an ask about what kind of inquiries we're getting. We certainly are starting to see some applications come in and are immediately working right now to prioritize getting those approved and the money out the door. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Hay River South.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And, Mr. Speaker, I think it's important that we do get money out to the evacuees as soon as possible because there are many that are without right now and, you know, they're short on money and they need our support.

But, Mr. Speaker, will the Minister confirm if this program is to be used for future evacuations and will the amount distinguish between those evacuees from isolated and non-isolated communities? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This program is now a policy of the GNWT, Mr. Speaker. Really, the conversation here began because we're cognizant that this is a community -- these are communities that have been under an evacuation now two years in a row. But in any event, that it's going to be available going forward.

As far as a difference between isolated versus non-isolated, again, Mr. Speaker, the emergency management process involves ensuring the availability of transport to any resident who is under an evacuation order. So just as there was busses available to support people who needed it coming out of Hay River, we would be working with communities if they're under an evacuation order to ensure that every resident is able to evacuate safely. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, despite the high court -- the highest court in the land finding the actions of the GNWT unlawful on the raid of Timber Bay, the Minister has still refused to apologize and take steps to repair the relationships with Lutselk'e Dene First Nation.

Mr. Speaker, when will an internal review of the GNWT officers' conduct at Timber Bay be completed, and will the results be made public? This is the Minister of ENR. Thank you.

Thank you, Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. Minister responsible for Environment and Climate Change.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, first of all, I have to thank the Member for the questions. But I have to thank him for his diligence in working with me to actually have the opportunity to speak with Chief Marlowe in a face-to-face meeting. So, again, I thank him for his work as a constituent MLA for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

In regards to his question, after concerns were brought forth in the media in relationship to the officers' conduct, ECC committed to undertake an external review of the officers' conduct during the investigation. Once the investigation is completed, work is currently underway to be ready to start the officers' conduct review once the investigation is completed. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Yeah, thank you, Mr. Speaker. And, I guess, if I could make this a two-part question, I guess, maybe. When would the review be complete and the other one is, Mr. Speaker, will the Minister commit to meet me, with Chief Marlowe and the Lutselk'e Dene First Nation council and the elders, in the community of Lutselk'e to discuss a better collaborative relationship before the end of the term of this Legislative Assembly? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When the report's done, we will make sure -- we'll get the report done when we get it done.

I have written to the leadership on several occasions regarding Timber Bay and offered to meet to discuss reconciliation efforts once the investigation is completed. ECC remains committed to our partnership with leadership. As previously stated, I will be happy to look at the community's event that would help foster reconciliation when the investigation is completed. This is related to an ongoing legal action. I'm unable to comment further on the search or the investigation to subjective illegal hunting and wastage in the mobile zone. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Okay, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the Minister here today apologize for the unlawful actions of his officers during the Timber Bay raid? We've been waiting for an apology from the Minister as a result of this court being thrown out. Would he apologize to my constituents, the chief and council, and the people in my riding? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I acknowledge that the search at Timber Bay was very difficult for some of the people at the camp who were not harvesting wildlife or were harvesting wildlife in a respectful and lawful way. This was not the intent of the officers. At the time, our officers understood that they were carrying out a lawful search based on a warrant issued by the justice of the peace. As the investigation of this case is ongoing, I am unable to speak more on this. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I find it a little bit confusing. The judge has already made his decision. This case has already been thrown out. And because it's unlawful. So, again, Mr. Speaker, my constituents demand justice for the raid. I will ask again, will the Minister apologize here today for the unlawful action for his officers during the Timber Bay raid? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I said previously I've acknowledged that the search at Timber Bay was very difficult for some of the people at the camp who were not harvesting wildlife or harvesting wildlife in a respectful and lawful way. This was not the intent of the officers. As the investigation of this case is ongoing, I will not be able to speak further on this. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As committee has been dealing with its UNDRIP legislation, I think it's fair to say there are some fairly high expectations about what the government is willing to change and there are some fairly tall asks being made of the government, and I think it is in everyone's interest that the GNWT be transparent about what it is and isn't willing to do. The GNWT, in that legislation, commits that Indigenous rights are not frozen in time; they are capable of evolution and growth. We have heard that if that is true, then cede and surrender language in agreements is not appropriate and that it should be removed.

My question is, is this the position of the GNWT, that if an Indigenous government wants that language removed from their agreement that we are willing to do that? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Yellowknife North. Honourable Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The GNWT is being very transparent about how we feel about that issue. We publicly stated it's -- or interests parties. Mr. Speaker, I think that not all agreements have the cease and surrender. The ones that do, there are issues with it. I know that I get concerns on both sides. Sometimes Indigenous governments say, you know, you're taking too long, we want to have it general, and make it broader and we can look at it later.

But I've learned from reading agreements, and I've learned the problems that happen when you don't have clarity in agreements. So I've been a real stickler, Mr. Speaker, that to try to make the agreements as plain language as possible so that there aren't the misunderstandings that I've seen happen in previous agreements. So, yes, Mr. Speaker, I think that clause -- it's a federal government clause my understanding, the cease and surrender -- is not appropriate in this time and day. But I also believe, Mr. Speaker, that agreements need to be as clear as possible in as plain language as possible so that all parties, not just the lawyers, understand the meaning of these agreements. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Yeah, thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm glad to hear that. You know, I think we all know there's a lack of trust and there's still a narrative of the government going up and down the valley, and you know, putting those cede and surrender clauses in, and I think it would be a symbolic win to get them out and to show that we are willing to move on.

We've also heard that for truly free and prior informed consent to exist, perhaps the current regulatory system, although, you know, a great made-in-the North solution, is not one truly built on consent. There is a number of things in agreements where GNWT or federal Ministers still have the last say. I'm wondering if the GNWT has a position on reopening existing agreements on some of those larger questions around consent? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, like I said earlier, all agreements are a little bit different in terminology. Some of the agreements actually have it that they can be opened at any time. I do think that if agreements -- I think that an agreement that's signed at any time should actually be looked into it. It should not be something that is one time, if you made a mistake you're stuck with it forever. However, in saying that, Mr. Speaker, I'm also very conscious of the amount of agreements that we want to get across the table and so, therefore, Mr. Speaker, I've been really focusing on getting the unsigned agreements done but still being flexible and working as much as possible with the existing agreements and the Indigenous governments applicable. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday in this House, the Premier referred to a number of agreements that I believe they were in draft stage and going out for consultation. I'm just wondering when and if, at all, those will be available for the public to see or myself to see? You know, it's been about 20 years, I think, since you can see whether the GNWT's negotiating position has changed on these matters. There's not a lot of documents out there that shows where we are currently where we have been negotiating for decades. So I'd be very interested to see where we're at and what's changed in the last couple decades. Are any of those going to be public any time soon? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think in this term of this government we've done a lot in regards to land claims, self-government agreements. In fact, we had two years of COVID that people don't -- would rather not remember, including myself, and that often I've said you can't talk about that. But the amount of work that this government has done in the two years after COVID with these agreements has been phenomenal, Mr. Speaker. As I said yesterday, we have three agreements in draft. They're not called draft because they're not done or proposed. They're called draft, Mr. Speaker, because part of the process of actually doing agreements is that we have to consult with all the other Indigenous governments to make sure that they don't have concerns, that we're not impeding on their rights. So they're called draft, Mr. Speaker, because once we get that consultation process done, which usually takes between four months to eight months, then we have a final agreement. But in that time, if an Indigenous government says, whoa, you're stepping on my rights, I'm not okay with this, then we may have to change that agreement and that's why they're called draft, Mr. Speaker. So I am hopeful that at least one of them -- the Norman Wells Self-Government Agreement -- I am hopeful that we'll be able to sign it off final agreement in this government. At that time, it would be public.

In saying that, Mr. Speaker, if it's not done, all three in this government, I would say in very early in the next government that that agreement will be the first one to cross the line. And once they're done, I believe they're public. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Premier. Final supplementary. Member for Yellowknife North.

Yeah, thank you, Mr. Speaker. You know, unfortunately, this is an area where, you know, doing a lot doesn't really count until it's signed and the ink is dry. It's unfortunate. We've been doing a lot for 20 years. I know many negotiators who have poured their entire careers into this, and I'm not -- you know, I don't want to take away from their work. But it's tough work. I guess, you know, if this is the path we're on where we have three draft agreements, maybe one in the life of this Assembly. I'm wondering if the Premier has any kind of direction on how we can speed this up, or is it just the reality that we're -- every Assembly will maybe get one, and that's the pace we're on, in which case I think we have got another hundred years before we're done. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As stated, right now all those agreements are in the final stage of them; they are in the consultation phase. I have sent letters to the Indigenous governments applicable saying here's the agreements. They are in confidence, let me know if you have concerns. I can't speed up -- I'm not willing to push them on that. But if the Member thinks that he should -- that we should, then I would invite the Member. I'll give the list of the Indigenous governments. He's more than willing to write a letter to them and say he wants it done by this Assembly. But, Mr. Speaker, I've been firm all through this Assembly, and I've stated that with the United Nations Declaration, if we respect Indigenous governments, then it cannot be on the timeline of this Assembly so that Members here can take glory. It has to be done right. And that means that the Indigenous governments have to be ready to sign on. I'm ready to sign today. But I respect them, and I will wait until they have done their process. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Premier. Oral questions. Member for Monfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, following up from my Member's statement, it appears that the Dehk'e Bridge is not a priority of this government. Will the Minister of Infrastructure commit to being firm and not accepting any further delays on the Dehk'e Bridge? It is it my hope to see it constructed within -- not the lifetime of this government but, you know, like any time soon. Thank you.

Thank you, Member for Monfwi. Minister responsible for Infrastructure.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Dehk'e Frank Channel Bridge is a priority of this government. It's a priority because I went to Ottawa asking for more money to get this bridge completed. So, I mean, if that doesn't show priority, I don't know what does.

Mr. Speaker, we are working with the Tlicho partnership to be able to look -- you know, I just want to say it takes about three years, Mr. Speaker, from award of the design-build contract to obtaining permits, to carrying out some of the design work, complete the construction. Then that bridge will be ready for traffic. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, will the Minister commit to giving an update every three months with specific details of action, sequencing, and project timelines so that we know the department is being diligent and that progress is being made.

Mr. Speaker, the inability to meet past projection makes the current projection suspect. It lacks credibility. Again, I ask that the Department of Infrastructure does all that it can to advance the critical infrastructure project. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we can absolutely work with the Tlicho government and the Member to be able to give updates, you know, when there are updates available. I just want to note that, you know, we are expecting a proposal from the Tlicho-Kiewit partnership by the end of June to be able to look at the design, and then we can start the aggregate production. So, I mean, that's where we're at right now, Mr. Speaker. And I'd be willing at any time there are updates to be able to share. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I also asked the Department of Infrastructure ensure the safety of the current bridge seeing that a replacement is not around the corner. Can the Minister commit to reviewing inspection reports and updating the inspection frequency by bridge experts should the situation require it? Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the last Assembly, the -- or in the last sitting, the Member had asked to be a part of the bridge inspection. I'm now in the process of finalizing a letter that will go out to the leadership as well as the Member for Monfwi to be able to invite the membership -- the Member and the leadership to come to one of our bridge inspections. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Monfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Department of Infrastructure has claimed that the new bridge will be wider and higher than the current bridge that was built in 1960. Could the Minister tell this Assembly details of the new design? Will there be walkways, a viewing platform; how is traditional knowledge and signs being incorporated? Let us see the design. Thank you.

Thank you, Member for Monfwi. Minister responsible for Infrastructure.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I just mentioned, you know, it's going to take three years to award this contract and some of the things that we're still working on now is getting our permits, carrying out the design, so we're not there yet, Mr. Speaker, to be able to complete construction. So I mean, there is no design as of yet but, you know, our department would be willing to have a look at -- look at some of our work going forward. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Deh Cho.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my Member's statement I referenced a news article which found that 71 percent of athletes were from Yellowknife alone. Does the Minister find that statistic concerning given that the NWT is home to 33 communities in total? Mahsi.

Thank you, Member for Deh Cho. Minister responsible for MACA.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Canada Games are a unique multi-sport competition that brings together the very talented athletes in the country, and many of which go on to represent Canada at the national and international level. There is more to be developed where athletes and coaches in all 33 communities, and I agree with the Member on that. But this is more than just funding; it's also about developing coaches, officials, and organization, and it's about communities and schools keeping facilities open so that our athletes have a place to train and develop. With Canada Games, it is one opportunity for northern athletes.

I can confirm that Team NWT is attending the North American Indigenous Games this summer, and I can also confirm that 100 percent of these athletes from the NWT attending this event are Indigenous. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mahsi to the Minister for that. In my statement, I also referenced another article. The executive director of Sport North was interviewed and stated that they didn't track the athletes' ethnicities so therefore, they did not know the number of Indigenous athletes. Does the Minister find that concerning given that the NWT is home to about 50 percent of Indigenous peoples? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier this year MACA undertook engagement with many stakeholders on a renewed sport and recreation and physical activity framework. Engagement included sessions with many partners, such as sport and recreation organizations, Indigenous governments and organizations, diverse and inclusive organizations, community representatives including coaches and athletes in territorial sport organizations. But also we worked with the Aboriginal Sports Circle as part of their work with the national framework that they're working on. As part of this engagement, we also work on the development of an evaluation framework which may include both performance indicators, monitoring as well as potential for evaluation of different programs and services. MACA is interested in tracking different performance measures such as gender equity, community participation and Indigenous participation, and we will be tracking this data in the near future. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. That's twice now that the Minister had made reference that Indigenous athletes, you know, aren't very welcomed into the Canada games fold since he's deferred them over to NAG and the Aboriginal Sports Circle.

Mr. Speaker, can the Minister explain what the GNWT is doing to increase both the Indigenous participation in small community athlete participation when it comes to major sporting events, such as the Canada Winter Games and the Canada Summer Games? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to correct the Member. I did not say our Indigenous athletes cannot go to the Canada games, Arctic Winter Games. I'm just telling you this is where our athletes go or where they're able to go. So I respectfully disagree with the Member.

In regards to his question, in the NWT we continue to see that smaller communities continue to face challenges and barriers with capacity building at the community level to have more sports development locally and the number of volunteers and sports leaders in every community needs to increase to young athletes to develop.

Municipal and Community Affairs is providing funding to the Sport North Federation to sport coaching development and to the Aboriginal Sports Circle of the NWT for leadership development. All community governments are funded to support recreation programs and the sport and recreation infrastructure development. Municipal and Community Affairs and the sport rec partners continue to invest in training and development of local recreation leaders. Combine all of these investments support athletes and support development in the Northwest Territories, and government must continue to work with stakeholders so that we are using this investment as strategically as possible to support athletes in all our communities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Deh Cho.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker, and mahsi to the Minister for that answer. Numerous times I've asked the department to send their expertise, their staff into the communities and, you know, to get out of Yellowknife, not just sitting on their thrones here. And you know, they really need to get out there because we get changeover in rec directors in our small communities and they've got limited training and everything. So they really need that extra assistance.

Mr. Speaker, the Yukon seems to host large events such as the Canada Winter Games, the world men's fastball and world junior men's fastball tournaments. Of course, they may have engaged many major sponsors, including the Yukon government. I understand it takes a lot of effort to host a major event, gather and organize the volunteer base. Hay River and Fort Smith co-hosted in 2018 so it can be done by putting on the thinking caps.

Mr. Speaker, I understand Yellowknife turned down the offer to host the next Arctic Winter Games. Can the Minister provide some details as to why and what could the department have done to entice the offer? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, first and foremost, the 2026 Arctic Winter Games, because of the situation in Ukraine, Yamale wasn't going to be hosting the games. So the international committee came to the Northwest Territories to see if we could move up our request. We're supposed to be doing the 2028 games.

So, Mr. Speaker, the Member is correct that the NWT has considered hosting these games in Yellowknife, and I can confirm that the GNWT has communicated to the Arctic Winter Games International Committee that it's not proceeding with hosting the Arctic Winter Games in 2026. We're not moving up in the schedule. MACA has provided information to the city about the benefits of hosting, including the budget from previous host societies and economic and social benefit studies that the Arctic Winter Games International Committee has commissioned over the years. Ultimately, the decision was the City of Yellowknife's to make, and I respect their decision. While this is a difficult decision, no successful Arctic Winter Games has ever happened without enthusiastic and committed community governments. While we were not successful with the 2026 Arctic Winter Games, I remain supportive of these games, and I know that the Arctic Winter Games International Committee has continued to clarify the future hosting rotation of the Arctic Winter Games, including when the NWT next to be considered.

Again, Mr. Speaker, we're working together on it. They asked us to move it up. We worked with the City of Yellowknife to see if we can host it. They came back and said they couldn't with the parameters that we were asking for. So 2028 Arctic Winter Games is supposed to be scheduled for the Northwest Territories, and that's what we're looking forward to. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Frame Lake.

Merci, Monsieur le President. My questions are for the Minister of Infrastructure about her recent trip to the US Embassy. Can the Minister tell us the purpose of this meeting and who else was there? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Minister responsible for Infrastructure.

Mr. Speaker, on May the 4th, I attended a meeting hosted by the US Commercial Service of the Embassy of the United States of America. I was joined by two officials from the Department of Infrastructure and one official from the Department of Executive and Indigenous Affairs, who was already in Ottawa. The purpose of the meeting was a briefing by the Kitikmeot Inuit Association on the development of a road and a port in western Nunavut. While I don't recall seeing the final attendee list, in attendance there were representatives from the Kitikmeot Inuit Association, the government of Nunavut including the Premier, the Deputy Premier, and the Minister of Economic Development and Transportation, MP Lori Idlout from Nunavut was also there, Senator Dennis Patterson from Nunavut, along with officials from a variety of Government of Canada departments, as well as the representatives from the US Embassy, US Coast Guard, as well as Price Waterhouse Coopers Limited Canada, Jacobs Engineering limited. Mr. Speaker, these are the list of attendees that I recall being at the meeting. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.