I'd like to thank Jonas Sangris for tiding words and blessing this morning.

Members, before we start, I'd just like to reiterate when you're talking when other people are speaking, sometimes it becomes a distraction. So if you guys wish to have conversations, please go into the Members' lounge or pass notes and be respectful of everybody. So thank you very much.

Ministers' statements. Minister for Education, Culture and Employment.

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

Mr. Speaker, transportation infrastructure plays a crucial role in connecting people, ensuring effective supply chains, and creating opportunities for economic growth. Today I would like to highlight recent successes in our continued efforts to improve the transportation networks towards to improving accessibility and road safety across the territory. For example, in 2023 the Department of Infrastructure completed 158 kilometres of chip seal overlay on Highways No. 2, 4, and 5 as well as along the Dettah Access Road. Highways No. 1, 3, 4, 7 and 8 also saw rehabilitation work such as embankment widening and drainage improvement. The Fort Good Hope bridge deck replacement was successful, and the first phase of rehabilitation work was completed on the Whati Access Road.

Mr. Speaker, in addition to improving the existing highway system, the Department of Infrastructure is also working on advancing new road projects. In the Sahtu region, the construction of phase one of the Prohibition Creek Access Road was substantially completed in the fall of 2023 and forms part of the future Mackenzie Valley Highway. Total completion of this 6.7-kilometre all-season-road, located just south of Norman Wells along the existing Mackenzie Valley Winter Road alignment, is anticipated this fall. In October of last year, we achieved a significant milestone in the environmental assessment process for the Mackenzie Valley Highway when we submitted our developer's assessment report to the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board. This report, which is now undergoing a public review process led by the board, is a comprehensive collection of several years of environmental and socio-economic data and public engagement. Phase one of the proposed Slave Geological Province Corridor project is also underway. To support planning for the proposed Lockhart All-Season Road, the GNWT has acquired a Type A land use permit through the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board. This permit allows the GNWT to conduct geotechnical investigations from Tibbitt Lake to Lockhart Lake which will help inform routing discussions associated with this project.

Mr. Speaker, airports are also an essential part of our transportation system. Communities across the territory depend on air travel for the movement of goods and people, as well as air ambulances, search and rescue, forest fire response and much more. I am pleased to share that the Inuvik runway extension is well underway, with material extraction almost 90 percent complete and runway widening nearing the 80 percent completion mark.

Mr. Speaker, maintaining and enhancing our transportation network as we face the impacts from a changing climate is challenging. In addition to longstanding obstacles like remote locations and high cost of construction, we must also consider factors like degrading permafrost in the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of our transportation projects. The department continues to work in partnership with universities and other research organizations to find solutions using more sustainable design and construction techniques. Several research projects are ongoing on Highway No. 3 where emerging road design technologies and innovative materials were put in place in 2012 for testing, and their performance continues to be monitored. The ongoing results inform how we complete maintenance and upgrades on that technically difficult stretch of highway. I look forward to continuing bring successful improvement projects updates forward in later sessions to come. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister of Infrastructure. Ministers' statements. Mr. Premier.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise the House that the Honourable Jay MacDonald will be absent from the House today to meet with federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Indigenous leaders on the project Finance for Permanence in Ottawa, Ontario.

Thank you, Premier. Ministers' statements. Members' statements. Member from Range Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, here in this Assembly, we are under no illusions that we face some tough problems in the territory, from homelessness to addictions to gendered violence and poverty. Thankfully, though, our government does not need to work toward the solutions alone. The Northwest Territories is home to a vast network of vital non-government organizations, and they have done incredible work on their respective issues. Each NGO fulfills a crucial role in the North and let me tell you they are all led by some incredible advocates who are taking action to make our territory a better place to live every day. Unfortunately, while these NGOs present the GNWT with a wealth of knowledge and dedication to tap into, they remain unsupported and unheard by decision-makers. They struggle with year to year funding that prevents them from planning their operations in the long term. The support they do get is often only enough to keep the lights on. I've heard time and time again that non-profit red tape is over-incumbering, wasting time and resources that could be better spent towards the services they provide. Most of all, they feel frustrated because they care so deeply about their communities but are held back from reaching their true potential. They just want to get to work but poor relations with the government that funds them has stretched them thin. This government needs to support NGOs, Mr. Speaker. It's not just enough to recognize and celebrate their work. The government must create stronger working relationships with them. That means treating them fairly, accepting their knowledge, and providing them with the resources they need. This kind of partnership is what they are lacking. Only through cooperation with civil society can the government achieve all that it is set out to accomplish in its ambitious priorities. This is how we get the North moving together in the same direction of positive change and meaningful progress. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Range Lake. Members' statements. Member from Boot Lake.

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

Mr. Speaker, Some MLAs have met the Executive Director of the NWT Disabilities Council. And all 19 of us heard from this organization as a group together right after we were elected. The council continues to have serious concerns regarding the extended health benefits policy which was originally scheduled to change on April 1 of this year. As announced at the end of January, it's now slated for roll out in September.

I'm happy that the department took the direction to ensure access to extended health benefits for folks of limited means, but I have concerns with the knock-on impacts to residents who might be negatively affected by this policy change. The last government noted in October 2023 that 2,200 people in our territory are likely eligible for EHB under this new policy. There is a concern that some of those 2,200 people may make enough money to not be eligible for coverage but also not have adequate coverage through their place of work. What will that then mean for maintaining a healthy workforce across the spectrum of opportunities in the North? There are concerns that folks will only want to work where there is extensive workplace health insurance if indeed they can get those jobs. There is the possible implication of increases in emergency room usage as people who lose part or all of their coverage under the old policy due to changes may feel compelled to attend the ER to deal with chronic issues where it is free to do so. Those are just two big picture examples that were shared with us as concerns from the council. And so, Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services at the appropriate time. Thank you.

Thank you, Member from Great Slave. Before I go on to the next person, the interpreters are asking people to slow down. Please slow down. Thank you. Members' statements. Member from Sahtu.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this is a follow-up on my statement of last week there. Mr. Speaker, my question today is a carryover from last week's Great Bear River Bridge application's birthday. 18 years ago, the original application permit was submitted. This original data is very helpful to avoid duplications and costs for this government's resubmission. On the issue of Sahtu determination, my understanding the hamlet of Tulita recently issued their support for the upcoming application. Later I'll have questions for the appropriate Minister. Mahsi cho.

Thank you, Member from the Sahtu. Members' statements. Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm glad we could come together and agree that housing is one of the four key priorities of the mandate of the 20th Assembly. Now that we've made this commitment, it is time to turn our words into action. Fixing up so many homes will be a difficult task, but I know where we could start - by evaluating all the homes in the communities of Tu Nedhe so that we can take those estimates to the federal Minister of Crown Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs so that they can make the investment necessary to get the work done. However, those investments have to go directly to the First Nations. Only through the federal government working together and with Indigenous governments will we see a real progress on housing apprenticeship and training in my communities. The federal government has the resources we need to get these homes renovated. The Indigenous governments just need to secure those resources and ensure that it goes directly to Indigenous governments and that it is where the need -- sorry, and that is where we need the GNWT in partnership to secure funding so that we are able to do homeownership inspections and to help put a proposal together to CIRNAC. We're not asking for much from the territory government, just a commitment to work with Indigenous governments as equals and backing up their case in Ottawa. I know the Premier last year spoke of a future with collaboration with Indigenous governments that shares powers. Why not start working together in a collaborative approach for future now by helping Indigenous governments secure this vital funding? It is not just a Premier vision that supports a greater role of Indigenous governments, it's also the law. The last Assembly passed the United Nation Declaration of Indigenous people, UNDRIP, and the mandates of equal relationship between the GNWT and the Indigenous governments. The GNWT must work to improve housing in accordance with this law so it must respect Indigenous governments want to take the lead. This is a goal. We must start working together soon as possible as people are living in homes that are rapidly aging. Some of them are living in houses that are upwards to 50 years old. If we start now and get these costs in writing, we can get the ball rolling and get these homes repaired and modernized as quickly as possible with federal investment. I look forward to the Minister's response to my proposal when I bring my questions forward later today. Mahsi.

Thank you, Member from the Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. Members' statements. Member from Monfwi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, [Translation] I'm talking about the community. I want to talk about the municipal government that they have lack of funding [Translation ends] and a lot of discussion in this House about the gap in funding for communities.

Over the 19th Legislative Assembly, the GNWT increased funding by $5 million to NWT communities; however, with the cost of inflation we know this funding does not near close the gap. Even with the additional $5 million, the gap for municipal funding continues to grow.

I am concerned, Mr. Speaker, how the funding gap impacts employees of municipalities and communities. In my region, lately the community government have been hiring women in nontraditional jobs. There are some women who drive trucks that deliver water, that collect garbage, empty sewage, and maintain roads. Not only are these women able to learn new skills, but they are also able to maintain a secure job at home with their children in their communities. I hear from community government workers in my region they love their jobs. They love working in their communities and providing essential services for their people, but the salary is a struggle.

Mr. Speaker, if this is how workers in my region are feeling, what about the communities further north with even higher operating costs?

Mr. Speaker, we know that municipalities and communities are underfunded so they struggle to provide the essential community services and balance their books at the end of the day. How does this impact workers? How is this impacting NWT residents in communities who want to live and work in their community? I will have question for the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I'd like to bring up the concern that has been circulated on social media and on territory news in the past couple of weeks - the displeasure of our patients being housed in the Quality Inn establishment.

There have been countless stories of how unpleasant of an experience it has been for the patients to stay in this hotel. Mr. Speaker, I myself can confirm these stories because I was a patient who was referred to this establishment because the boarding home was full. The noted hotel is not a suitable place for anyone to stay, let alone patients. The hotel does not have adequate heating. Most windows are screwed shut. There's mold in the washrooms and inadequate housekeeping services.

Due to the boarding home being full, I had no choice but to stay at the hotel. I stayed there one night, and the next day I pleaded with the staff at the boarding home to get me a room as soon as one becomes available. Later that morning, I received a call stating a room is available and I moved there for the remainder of my stay. There are others who are not that fortunate and have to stay in the hotel for a few days - a few days too long.

Mr. Speaker, during my time in Yellowknife I've been contacted by a number of constituents who pleaded for help in finding a different place to stay. I did not have a place of my own at the time so I myself felt helpless in assisting these people. Today I have a place of my own, and if someone calls for help with a place to stay and I have the room, I will not turn them away. There are others who are able to afford a room at their own expense and do so without being reimbursed.

Mr. Speaker, these people vary from dental patients to cancer patients. No matter the severity of their medical condition, no one should be subject to stay at this hotel. I will have questions for the Minister of health at the appropriate time.

Thank you, Member from Mackenzie Delta. Members' statements. Member from Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I want to talk about cost of living and how it impacts all Northerners, especially from the side of this particular House, my colleagues and I, where we work together and we share in some of the collective burden talking about these issues and sharing them with the government about what Northerners struggle.

Mr. Speaker, cost of living isn't just an individual issue, it's a territorial issue. And if anything, I'd certainly identify it as a crisis that needs to be a hallmark of this Assembly where we chip away and find ways to make lives not only better but just certainly more affordable. Mr. Speaker, you know, if you live in Yellowknife as an example, you're paying at least 30 cents per kilowatt. You know, you can say, well our tax burden is different than other places like Ontario. But when you're paying 10 or 12 cents a kilowatt, you know, there is a huge disparity in the sense of the challenges Northerners get through day to day. So our tax burden may not be the same but that said, our burden on getting through the day to day is certainly not comparable to anywhere else in Canada.

Mr. Speaker, this touches the lives and families of everyday Northerners. So whether you live in Tsiigehtchic or you live in a Tu Nedhe riding, trying to put food on the table and you're always worrying about the shrinking dollar to reach that goal of feeding your family, taking care of them, or even simply buying birthday presents and, you know, kitchen table economics may not seem a lot or it may not be on the attention of this government, but the fact is it's on the attention and the eye of every one of our community members here working together.

Mr. Speaker, I hear whether you're in Inuvik that power bills are outrageous. I hear that whether you're in a Tlicho community that they have to make strong burdensome choices that families should not have to face by themselves. But there's also the hidden costs of the cost of living that we tend not to spend a lot of time on. You know, such as not being able to participate in curling or hockey, which we all know is certainly a pride of most Northerners here, or being able to afford to buy skis for their kids so they can get out and do these types of things or, heck, engage in other types of social activities that mean so much.

Mr. Speaker, the cost of living affects us more than just the power bill. It affects us as who we are and who we identify as people of the North. Mr. Speaker, I'll have questions for the Premier on this particular subject. Now, he'll have the idea of maybe or the excitement of passing it on to the Finance Minister, but my questions will be more about what type of general government policy he's going to extend to his Ministers to make sure that they are working as hard as they can on this burden to help support all Northerners on this crisis. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Yellowknife Centre. Members' statements. Member from Yellowknife North.