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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about environmental health concerns in rental housing and the role of government in holding landlords accountable.

Mr. Speaker, this House has heard numerous times about how too many of our constituents are facing appalling living conditions.

In October, my colleague from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh brought up cockroach infestations in his communities. He talked about a family brought to tears when they couldn't cook Thanksgiving dinner because of cockroaches.

In November, my colleague from Great Slave brought up issues at Lanky Court, including horrific cockroach infestations and tenants forced to pay thousands of dollars out of pocket to deal with mold issues.

And in February, my colleague from Frame Lake brought up Lanky Court again, with young children being plagued by bed bugs, mold so bad it caused breathing problems, and more cockroach infestations. Some tenants were forced to move, again with huge out-of-pocket costs.

Mr. Speaker, it's shameful we allow people to be treated this way. In all these instances, there's a common thread: Tenants experience unacceptable conditions but are left with no way of holding landlords accountable. Tenants are left to live in an unhealthy environment or fix the problem at their own expense or move but, with zero vacancy, most people need to accept the unacceptable.

Mr. Speaker, the current approach to landlord accountability is broken. According to the rental officer's annual report, last year only three tenants were successful in getting an order against a landlord to fix their unit. Meanwhile, at least 700 units have mold or pest problems at last count. While the rental officer gets many inquiries about rental premises that are not fit for habitation, she says very few tenants follow through with the complaints process likely due to the amount of work. Tenants need accessible tools to ensure landlords comply with the law and provide healthy safe housing.

Other Canadian jurisdictions are making accountability accessible. Saskatchewan offers tenants an online complaint form to get an environmental health officer to investigate, and BC fines landlords that refuse to complete health and safety repairs. I am not looking to drive away development, Mr. Speaker; I'm calling on the government to adopt best practices and fill the accountability gap. Residents have a right to clean, healthy, safe housing and, when that right is denied, to have meaningful accessible mechanisms to fix that problem. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in the House today to talk about something that is very special in a student's life. It is graduation. I realize that I am a bit early; however, in the Nahendeh riding, we see a number of graduations from various schools this month, starting with kindergarten.

This is an important milestone for parents and students. We get to see the first stage of what we hope are many many more celebrations. I can tell you my own grandson is one of those graduates this year. Depending on the school and the riding, we see grade 6, grade 9, and grade 12 graduations as well. I can tell you each celebration is unique and special.

Today I would like to recognize nine students who have completed their elementary, junior, and senior high journey. To the three students from Echo Dene School and the six students from Liidlii Kue Regional High School, congratulations on completing this journey, a part of your life's journey. I know there have been some fun and challenging times, but I can tell you it has prepared you for your next journey whether it is going on to future schooling, trades, travel, or work.

Echo Dene School's grade 12 graduation is scheduled for June 13th and Liidlii Kue Regional High School is June 17th. I wish you all the best during your celebrations.

Mr. Speaker, I'd like to tell the grads, as they turn the caps and gowns they will be wearing during their special day and take the tassels home, remember this: The diploma you receive today is your insurance policy paid in full by your hard work over the past 13 years. The value of this policy depends on how much effort you put into your education and what you do with it as you go out in the world. All the best to them on this special day.

Mr. Speaker, I do have some words of encouragement, and I would like to have them deemed as read.

To the parents and families, thank you for all the support for those graduates. You should be very happy and proud of your child today. In closing Mr. Speaker, I would like to wish all the 2023 graduating classes across the NWT all the best and congratulations on a job well done. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Encouragement:

1. "Buckle up. Like the school adventure that you went through, there are going to be some good times and not so good times ahead of you. Enjoy each moment as they are all learning opportunities for you and part of life. Please remember it is all right to cry and laugh about things. There is going to be a lot of opportunities to do both."
2. "Find a career that you will love. It is very important because once you do, it is not work. It is something that you wake up wanting to do and it is not work. Please remember not to settle on a career. Like love, find the one that makes you happy."
3. "You have two ears and one mouth. Please remember it is always wise to listen and understand what you have heard before kicking your mouth into gear."
4. "Please enjoy your celebration with family and friends. This is a major accomplishment and needs to be celebrated."

Thank you, Member for Nahendeh. Members' statements. Member for Inuvik Boot Lake.

Rosa Kisoun nee Cockney was born on March 5, 1956, to Walter and Winnie Cockney at Herschel Island, Yukon Territory. She grew up amongst several DEW line sites, as well as in Tuktoyaktuk and Inuvik, Northwest Territories. She attended Samuel Hearne Secondary School, Sir Alexander Mckenzie School in Inuvik and graduated in 1974. She met the love of her life, Gerry Kisoun, in early 1972/73. Rosa and Gerry were married on November 28, 1975, at the Igloo Church. And this was one of the first ecumenical weddings to happen in Inuvik.

Gerry was a Royal Canadian Mounted Police member, and they were stationed in Calgary, Alberta; Manning, Alberta; Whitehorse, Yukon; Pelly Crossing, Yukon; Watson Lake, Yukon; Tuktoyaktuk, and finally back home in Inuvik, Northwest Territories, where they raised their family together. They have four children - Claudine, Patricia, Caroline, and Gerald Andrew.

Gerry was also the deputy Commissioner of the Northwest Territories from 2011 to 2017. Rosa always stood by and supported her husband in his working career as well as his personal life as he has volunteered for so many committees and organizations throughout Inuvik; as well as his tourism company where Rosa was always baking him bannock for his tourists.

Rosa worked as an accountant for the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation for over 20 years until her retirement. She took great pride in her work. She was also an avid seamstress and sewer that made many homemade Halloween costumes, dresses, fur mitts, slippers, beaded cardholders, and cross-stitched hangings, just to name a few, for all for her family, friends, and especially her special friends.

Rosa was diagnosed with cancer in 2011. She fought a long courageous battle and she was not ready to leave her family just yet. Rosa passed away peacefully on April 22nd, 2023, with family by her side.

She will be fondly remembered for the outpouring love she had for her family, friends, her baking, her sewing, cooking shows, an avid sports and music lover, especially the love for her husband of 47 years Gerry, their children Claudine, Dennis, Noah, Haili, Carmella and Winnie Blake, Tricia and KK Hansen, Carey and Autty Kisoun, and her only son Drew Kisoun, as well as her great granddaughters Aaliyah and Makena Vittrekwa. Quyananni, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Inuvik Boot Lake. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and community.

Members' statements. Returns to oral questions. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Government House Leader.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, I had the honour today of inducting a number of people and an organization into the Education Hall of Fame, and we have a number of individuals today who were part of that ceremony. So I'd like to begin by recognizing Kelsey Wrightson who is with the Dechinta Centre for Research and Learning. Dechinta was inducted in the category of post-secondary education, and they received the Minister's choice award.

Charlene Liske from N'dilo. She was inducted in the community outreach category.

Lima Baroryee She was inducted in the early childhood category. And with us today are her daughters Remi and Lidia Costa.

Al Karasiuk from Fort Smith, and he was inducted in the junior kindergarten to grade 12 category.

And Colleen Eckert from Yellowknife, and from all over the North actually, was inducted in the leadership in education category.

Mr. Speaker, it's an honour when I get to participate in these events and honour such great individuals who contributed so much. So I just wanted to recognize them here in the House today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Hay River North. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I see Ed Hoff in the gallery today. He is a neighbour, a retired engineer, and a solid community volunteer, and I'd like to welcome him to the House. Thank you.

Thank you, Member for Yellowknife Centre recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Great Slave.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also rise to recognize Ed Hoff in the galley. I have known Ed since I was here 15 years ago. He has been a great mentor and friend, and I'm not sure that he actually has retired because I don't think engineers really retire; we just consult until the end. And I just want to say if anybody wants to know anything about Yellowknife's permafrost, Ed could give you a great walking tour of that. So welcome, Ed, to the gallery. Thank you.

Thank you, Member for Great Slave. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to recognize Ruth Wright here in the House today. She's a constituent of mine and she used to be my old dog's -- my dog sitter. He actually used to run away, run away when I was home to her house.

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

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Yellowknife South.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I was also going to acknowledge Angela and Clay Balsillie who were here to hear the obituary for Rosa Kisoun. They're residents of Yellowknife South.

Mr. Speaker, and while we're on the topic of many old friends, it sounds like I have three new friends I also wanted to recognize. I have guests here today from PNWER. That is the Pacific Northwest Economic Region. And with me today in the House, we have president of the organization Chuck Winder who is also the president of the Idaho State Senate; vice-president of PNWER, Rick Glumac who is the British Columbia MLA for Port Moody-Coquitlam. And, Mr. Speaker, we have PNWER's CEO and executive director Matt Morrison also joining us. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to recognize Charlene Liske. She's from Dettah, and she's also from -- and she also is the Dechinta Centre for Research Learning's director of traditional knowledge.

Also Kelsey Wrightson, a Yellowknife -- a Yellowknife Dechinta Centre for Research and Learning executive director.

Also I just wanted to acknowledge that Charlene also received the award this morning for Education Hall of Fame community outreach. And I just want to say welcome and mahsi and congratulations.

Another one, Mr. Speaker, is that -- I had to -- oh sorry. Thank you. Sorry, Mr. Speaker. I just want to also recognize Clay and Angie Balsillie. They're a longtime family friend. And, also, I just want to say that I played hockey with Clay when we were a lot younger and good looking. Now we're just good looking. But at the same time, we also have a good friend, his name is Alan Cardinal who's 77 years old. So we had to retire from playing hockey because he passed us. So anyways, we hung up our skates. I just want to recognize him. Mahsi.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to recognize Al Karasiuk, the PWK High School principal for many years in Fort Smith, and who's a resident of Fort Smith and plans on staying in Fort Smith. And he's also a great friend of mine and has done many great things for the community, all across the community, and I'll always remember how he looks after the students and guided them down the right path. And he's an incredible guy, and I'm glad that he's here today with us. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Thebacha. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Kam Lake.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. There's a lot of friendly and familiar faces in the gallery today. I'd like to acknowledge Kelsey Wrightson of Dechinta. And also Dechinta's hide tanning camp is open to the public and all set up and ready to go, so that's very exciting right now as well.

I'd like to recognize a couple of former Kam Lake constituents as well. There's Jennifer Dallman-Sanders and above me, who I cannot see but wish I could see their wonderful happy faces, are a team of lifelong northern educators, past Kam Lakers, Colleen Eckert and Arthur Osborne. A huge congratulations to Colleen today who was inducted into the NWT Education Hall of Fame, and her speech today had us all either wishing we had become educators or were fondly remembering one we adore. So thank you very much.