I'd like to thank Mary Jane Cazon for the blessing today.

Ministers' statements. Minister of Infrastructure.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to provide an update on the challenges faced this year in maintaining the Northwest Territories' supply chain and the steps our government is taking to address them. Our territory has been hit hard by a combination of record low-water levels, wildfires, rail disruptions, and added strain on our winter road systems. These issues have impacted the delivery of fuel, goods, and services to our communities.
But, Mr. Speaker, I want to assure you and the residents of the NWT that we have taken decisive action.

This season, barge operations were impacted due to record low-water levels on Great Slave Lake and the Mackenzie River. To ensure essential products reached the Beaufort Delta region, we rerouted cargo from Hay River to the Tuktoyaktuk Terminal. Despite these challenges, we successfully delivered essential petroleum products to all Beaufort Delta communities relying on barge transportation.

We also launched the Hay River Harbour Restoration Project, with dredging operations to support Marine Transportation Services, the Canadian Coast Guard, commercial fishers, and other harbour users.

We understand how vital fuel is to northern communities. In order to maintain sufficient quantities of fuel, Marine Transportation Services and the fuel services division have continued to deliver essential fuel to the 16 communities served by GNWT and Northwest Territories Power Corporation. Wildfires this summer further complicated supply chain operations by disrupting transportation routes. Our highway operations and compliance teams worked tirelessly to manage these disruptions, ensure public safety, and keep critical deliveries moving.

Our ferries, which are an essential part of the Northwest Territories' transportation network, faced temporary shutdowns for unscheduled repairs this season. While these disruptions were unfortunate, I am pleased to share that we have implemented enhanced maintenance practices and increased monitoring to improve our operations.

Disruptions to CN Railway have also created a lack of direct rail access to Hay River and our marine terminal reducing our future fuel resupply capacity. The GNWT continues to explore options to resolve this issue.

Our winter road network remains crucial for connecting remote communities, especially in light of other supply chain issues. To prepare for increased traffic, we will be investing in increased maintenance to ensure these roads remain safe and in good driving condition throughout the season. We are also widening the Mackenzie Valley Winter Road where possible, adding signage, increased patrols, and checkpoints to ensure driver safety.

And Mr. Speaker, to support those affected by the low-water levels and barge cancellations, the GNWT recently announced funding for businesses in the Sahtu and Beaufort Delta regions. The government will also continue to pay the actual heating costs for eligible income assistance recipients and has increased the monthly subsidy rates under the senior home heating subsidy for Norman Wells. Additionally, the GNWT has donated $150,000 to the Norman Wells food bank to ensure families can access essential supplies during this difficult period. This assistance will help offset the increased costs of shipping essential goods and services.

The GNWT is also committed to long-term solutions, and we are working with Indigenous and community governments and engaging with the Government of Canada to secure funding for the all-season Mackenzie Valley Highway. This project will reduce reliance on seasonal routes, strengthen climate change resilience, connect communities year-round, and boost economic opportunities. We hope that the ongoing environmental assessment will be completed next year, after which we can work to obtain the necessary permits and licences for this transformative project.

Mr. Speaker, the challenges we have faced this year are significant, but I am confident in the steps that we are taking. Through proactive planning, increased maintenance in collaboration with our partners, we are ensuring that northern communities stay connected and supplied.

I want to thank the GNWT staff, community leaders, and transportation partners for all of their continued efforts to overcome challenges. Together, we are keeping the supply chain moving and supporting the infrastructure that drives our territory's resilience and growth. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister of Infrastructure. Ministers' statements. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I'm going to start my statement in Dene Kede.

[Translation] Mr. Speaker, education is rooted in place and culture and cannot be nurtured in isolation. As guiding place of legislation from our junior kindergarten to grade 12 education system, it is Education Act includes voices and perspective Indigenous government and our education partners. If -- respect of other and our education partners. The 20th legislation will be -- will mark the first time GNWT codevelops legislation social policy with Indigenous government through Northwest Territories Council of Leaders education partners to modernize the system structure and governs a approach represents not just a legislative process but a critical step shaping system that reflects the value -- Mr. Speaker, modernizing the Education Act --

---Applause

Thank you, colleagues. [Translation Ends]

Mr. Speaker, modernizing the Education Act is not merely a procedural update; it is a transformational change in its potential.

For decades, our education system has operated under frameworks that did not fully consider the diverse needs of our students or the knowledge systems of Indigenous peoples. By revisiting and renewing this legislation, we aim to create an education system that is more inclusive, reflective of NWT communities, and equipped to address the unique challenges and opportunities in the Northwest Territories. This work holds the potential to close persistent gaps in education outcomes, foster stronger language revitalization, and provide students with a foundation that better prepares them for the world beyond the classroom.

Conversation and collaboration about how Indigenous governments and communities can meaningfully lead and participate in the governance of a system that educates future generations is crucial to reconciliation.

Mr. Speaker, make no mistake, we are still reconciling with a painful history, where education was once used as tool of assimilation. Today, we seek to strengthen Indigenous voices, culture, and language at every level, from governance to the classroom.

Mr. Speaker, updating the Education Act is also intended to support improved student outcomes. Earlier this year, the 2022-2023 Report on the State of the Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12 Education System was published. While there were some promising results, the report highlighted persistent gaps in outcomes, including declining attendance rates and stagnant graduation rates. The data shows significant outcome gaps between NWT students and the Canadian average; between Indigenous and non-Indigenous students in the NWT; and, between students in Yellowknife, regional centres, and smaller communities. Addressing these gaps requires a multi-pronged approach, including modernizing the Education Act, updating regulations, and streamlining ministerial directives. This fall, ECE will be re-engaging with Indigenous governments and education partners on next steps to modernize the Education Act. This effort requires longer-term discussions and is a major part of writing a different education story.

Mr. Speaker, one of the most exciting aspects of this work is its potential to reshape the future of education in the North. By co-developing legislation, Indigenous governments can have a leading role in shaping their education systems, allowing for programs and approaches that are directly responsive to local needs, values, and aspirations. This ensures that education is not only relevant but a source of empowerment. This kind of self-determined education system will create pathways to success that are grounded in the unique strengths of the North's people.

I am eager to see the positive impact of this transformative work ripple across the Northwest Territories for years to come. But I also want to emphasize how this must be a sustained effort and collaborative endeavour over the long term. I want to honour the work of Indigenous governments and educators who have, and continue to, work tirelessly in our communities. This is an immense undertaking, one that I am honoured to play a role in, and one that would not be possible without the collaboration of Indigenous governments, our education partners, and the educators and school staff. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Ministers' statements. Minister of Status of Women.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I want to talk about gender-based violence.

Two out of 100 residents in the Northwest Territories have reported intimate partner and family violence to the police. As of 2019, Statistics Canada lists the Northwest Territories as having the second highest rate of police-reported intimate partner and family violence in Canada, and we know that not everyone reports these incidents to the police.

Women are disproportionally affected by gender-based violence. Gender-based violence comes in many forms, and some of the people experiencing this violence may not even recognize their abuse because it has become normal for them.

In November 2022, the national action plan to end gender-based violence was endorsed during the annual meeting of the Ministers for the Status of Women. This 10-year framework provides direction to federal, provincial, and territorial governments to work towards a Canada free of gender-based violence.

In August 2023, the GNWT signed a funding agreement with the federal Department of Women and Gender Equality for $16 million over four years, to implement the national action plan to end gender-based violence within the territory.

The GNWT's approach in implementing this plan is unprecedented as the funding is shared with other GNWT departments. The Departments of Health and Social Services; Justice; Education, Culture and Employment; Executive and Indigenous Affairs; and, Housing NWT are all working together to implement programs supported by the funding.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to highlight some of the work being done through this funding agreement. An annual amount of $700,000 was included to support the Women's Shelter network, which provides much-needed critical services to those fleeing family and domestic violence. The GNWT also supports non-governmental organization partners who are essential to the implementation and success of our collaborative efforts to create programs and services that support the implementation of the national action plan. This includes funding provided to the Native Women's Association of the NWT, the Status of Women Council of the NWT, and the Northern Mosaic Network.

Mr. Speaker, when we negotiated this funding agreement, we wanted to ensure we got communities directly involved in coming up with solutions to help combat gender-based violence. The response was the development of the Gender-based Violence Community Initiative Fund. This funding contributes up to $125,000 per application to community organizations to promote awareness and prevention of gender-based violence. With this funding, the GNWT has been able to support 15 different organizations' gender-based violence prevention and awareness campaigns and programs in their home communities.

An example is the Indigenous language terminology workshop that was held in partnership with the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation. This project brought language experts and elders together to develop terms related to gender-based violence and missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. It got the conversation around gender-based violence started in the communities. One elder was quoted, "I finally let go of my secret."

During the community engagement undertaken to gather feedback on the GNWT's Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Action Plan, a concern shared was that organizations are unable to access funds because of limited capacity. In response, the gender equity division in the Department of Executive and Indigenous Affairs supports community organizations to develop their proposals and assist with preparing their reports.

Mr. Speaker, to be effective, we must also consider family violence, elder abuse, economic abuse, cyberbullying, lateral violence, and missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ individuals. By implementing an inclusive, comprehensive and coordinated approach, we will promote gender equality, and work towards a society that is aware and free from violence and discrimination. Quyanainni, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister responsible for the Status of Women. Ministers' statements. Members' statements. Member from Inuvik Boot Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And might I say you're looking rather dapper today. I guess I need a tie.

Mr. Speaker, I'm going to borrow a statement from my esteemed colleague from Inuvik Twin Lakes today from Hansard in October 14th, 2022. And I quote: Mr. Speaker, the bypass road in Inuvik is not only used by vehicles but is also used by the people out for walks, exercise, as well as other recreational activities. I can say even as far back as some of my colleagues in here will remember, phys. ed. classes where we had to run the 5-kilometer run in the school at the bypass. So it's used for many, many different activities. Now that the snow has started to fall at home, you can hardly notice one complaint -- you can notice one complaint that we've all had a part in for that road for months leading up to this time of year. Mr. Speaker, mud and dust, mud and dust. This is something that is so common to us up in the Delta. The dust some days carries throughout the town and could be a nuisance and even creep in -- and it does creep in -- to homes with open windows. Mr. Speaker, it can also be a real safety issue for vehicles and pedestrians alike. Flying rocks can also be very dangerous for the people that use this portion of the road, and that's not even talking about the mud that occurs when it rains; it also makes it very dangerous.

Mr. Speaker, the responsible then Minister, and I quote: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So the department has reviewed the request to chip seal the marine bypass road. So the current cost estimate -- and I say that loosely because it may change -- is about $1 million, which is about three times the cost that is incurred in the southern Northwest Territories. As there are no paving equipment in Inuvik or in the community, we'd have to bring up contractors in from Whitehorse. In order to maximize local benefits to keep the cost down, we should align this work with some of the paving that's happening at the Inuvik runway. So, Mr. Speaker, I can commit -- and you're welcome -- to doing this work at the same time as the Inuvik runway. And I'm hoping with that answer, Mr. Speaker, I get no more supplemental.

So, Mr. Speaker, I may only have one question for the Minister of Infrastructure today. Thank you.

Thank you, Member from Inuvik Boot Lake. You do look dapper as well.

Member from Range Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday, the Office of the Auditor General of Canada tabled its report on the Stanton renewal project. The conclusion is that the GNWT cannot show this project provided good money for -- good value for money. Decisions were made without evidence and analysis, including changing from a renovation to a new build. Documents were found missing, including conflict of interest forms. The GNWT's unable to approve that $71 million was spent on northern businesses as it had previously claimed. The list goes on, Mr. Speaker. Deputy auditor general Andrew Haze said he was, quote, perplexed by the series of decisions that were reached by the government without doing updated analysis to identify value for money. Perplexed is a good word because if you were listening to the government at the time, you would have been told everything was fine.

Mr. Speaker, I used to call this a $1 billion hospital much to the chagrin of the health Minister of the day who insisted it was a cool $600 million. Well, Glen, it turns out I was right. $1.21 billion, 62 percent over budget.

Mr. Speaker, I've spoken about the need to better control our infrastructure costs before in this sitting of the House. This audit further adds to my concerns that our project management of major capital is lacking. At the time of Stanton renewal, this House was told the project was on time and on budget with tens of millions of dollars being paid out to northern businesses. Now we know that wasn't the case.

If anyone needed to wonder why this government is in such dire financial straits, then look no further to the persistent failures to ensure good money -- the good value for money analysis across numerous projects, including the bewildering decision to rent our own building for 30 years to the staggering cost of $78 million, something the finance Minister of today is defending as a good decision despite the opinion of the auditor general.

Mr. Speaker, the government is now saying things have changed - policies, practices, monitoring, all these things are now in place. But here's the thing. Back in the day, many of those exact same policies were in place; they just weren't followed. And because those decisions weren't followed, Northerners have been saddled with hundreds of millions of dollars of debt for the next 30 years. And, Mr. Speaker, we will deal with this report in good time, but if anyone thinks the GNWT has changed its colours and identified good value for money, I have a $90 million windmill in Inuvik to sell you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Range Lake. Members' statements. Member from Great Slave.

Mr. Speaker, there has been a great deal of (audio) As the Minister of Health and Social Services knows, I am keeping tabs on the roll out of this program (audio) and need ways to ensure that they aren't making choices between paying rent and their bills or having the medication that they need. I had many questions for the Minister and, happily, I got many answers that I would like to share.

As of October 16th, 618 residents are registered in the new EHB program. Applicants are assessed through income thresholds which are different in different regions of the NWT. Incomes above band 10 have to pay a deductible and co-share costs for their medication --

(audio) yes, we are going to fix it there. Yes, please and thank you.

Okay, I will stop.

Yes, please and thank you.

It's gone back, Mr. Speaker. All righty, thank you.

Incomes above band 10 have to pay a deductible and co-shared costs for their medications. So far, 373 residents are above band 10; 245 residents are below that band and have their costs fully covered; 256 residents are currently 41 percent of all program beneficiaries are on the new EHB program that were not covered under the old one. This is good news, and I'm happy to hear that there are residents who now have coverage who didn't before. However, as mentioned during the last O and M budget session, this band cutoff is not a given moving forward. And this is where my concern for my constituents resides.

Asking people struggling with cost of living pressures on a modest income is not a place I think any of us want to be as a territory. I had a constituent reach out who was struggling with their placement in the band system because they are a household of one making rent, paying bills, and now having new costs they didn't have before September 1st was proving difficult. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement. Thank you, colleagues.

---Unanimous consent granted

Thank you, colleagues; thank you, Speaker. It's still with Frame Lake but that's okay.

After speaking with the Minister's office, I was able to assist my constituent in a solution that was not immediately clear to them when they applied. Payment plans are available. I appreciate that after this interaction, the Minister committed to better highlight that option to applicants because so far, only one resident has used this payment plan option. Mr. Speaker, I'll have further questions for the Minister at the appropriate time. Thank you.

Thank you, Member from Great Slave. Members' statements. Member from the Sahtu.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the first early days of the Norman Wells oil field, a crew composed of six drillers and one oxen named Tommy began a six-week, 1900-kilometer journey northward by rail, river boat, and foot, to a site now known as Norman Wells.

Mr. Speaker, the drilling crew encountered many hardships with permafrost. By this time, river ice had frozen. A decision was made to wait out the winter. Mr. Speaker, they survived but Tommy did not but, heroically, supplied many a meal. And, Mr. Speaker, drilling resumed in the following spring. A relief crew arrived, and oil was struck August of 1920.

Mr. Speaker, unique to history is the realization of oil field stakeholders' profits and royalties.

Mr. Speaker, I understand our government is aggressively pursuing federal emergency funding to alleviate the high fuel costs in Norman Wells. These oil field benefits certainly create a loud argument for relief aid.

Mr. Speaker, within the last 24 hours, I have received notice from one of many business owners and is closing their doors. Within those doors, our government is a tenant. Mr. Speaker, I cannot stress enough the stress this crisis has created. I recommend as last week the Government of the Northwest Territories must cover this lower than original cost with the position on federal reimbursement. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from the Sahtu. Members' statements. Member from Mackenzie Delta.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to address the condition of the Dempster Highway during the summer and fall season. The portion of the highway that I am referring to is between Wrangling River and Inuvik. This portion of highway has never been this bad before. I have been receiving calls, text messages, on a daily basis from concerned residents from all over the Beaufort Delta region.

Mr. Speaker, I've driven the Dempster Highway for many years, and I can attest the concerns of the residents of the Beaufort Delta when they state that they have never seen this highway in such bad condition. I had to go to Inuvik to catch a plane bound for Yellowknife. Even though we left at 9 o'clock in the morning, we just made the plane at 1 p.m. The cab driver was driving at a speed of 40 kilometers an hour because it was so rough. I have seen vehicles driving on the wrong side of the road just to avoid the potholes and rougher portions of the highway.

Mr. Speaker, I received calls from contractors stating that they have encountered many unexpected expenses during this time in question. A contractor from Tsiigehtchic had to send two of his vehicles down south because of damage to his vehicles. This has cost time and money to his business; time and money he will never get back. Other residents stated that they have unforeseen wreckage to their vehicles, the tires and rims. Tourists were posting pictures of the damage that they have encountered while driving this portion of the highway.

Mr. Speaker, in past years the contractors have been taking pride in maintaining the highway from the NWT Yukon border to the Arctic Ocean, and they have been complimented on the excellent work they do. But for some reason, this year has been quite different and dangerous for the users of this portion of the Dempster Highway. I will have questions for the Minister of Infrastructure at the appropriate time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Mackenzie Delta. Members' statements. Member from Monfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to talk about the Auditor General's Report on the Stanton Territorial Hospital Project. The report estimates that as of June 2023, the Stanton project's overall costs, which were originally supposed to be $750 million, Mr. Speaker, cost -- which were originally supposed to be 750, I'm sorry about that, are now in the range of $1.21 billion over the next 30 years.

Mr. Speaker, this is -- this is the most expensive capital project in the history of the territory. Our current Ministers should not be blamed for the financial mess created by past government, especially the Minister of Finance of the day; it was Michael Miltenberger.

Mr. Speaker, our people are going to be the ones left paying for the increased cost of this project, an estimated 62 percent increase, Mr. Speaker. The deputy auditor general said he was perplexed by this series of decisions that were reached by the government. And I do agree.

The government did not include annual property taxes when planning for the new project which are estimated to cost at least $151.6 million over 30 years. Operating costs for non-medical services in the new hospital are projected to increase by $173 million over 30 years. The government's decision to sublease its own hospital cost $78.6 million. It is absurd the government agreed to rent a building they already own.

Mr. Speaker, our small communities are hurting. People are not getting medical treatment in their own communities, and our programs and services need more funding. Mr. Speaker, the auditor general's report shows this project is going to have long-term impacts. Mr. Speaker, can I have unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

Mr. Speaker, we are not going to have money we need to fix our health care systems or support operations in small communities. I will have questions for the Minister of Finance. Thank you.

Thank you, Member from Monfwi. Colleagues, I've heard two names mentioned here in two Member's statements with people not in this building. Next time I hear it, I will call you on it. Use their positions and just leave it at that. Thank you.

Members' statements. Member from Yellowknife North.