Member from Monfwi, your time is up.

Can I have unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We should be an example of our behaviour we want to see across the territory. We don't always have to agree in this House or like all the decisions that are made, but with consensus government we can show how we can disagree and still be respectful and kind as we move forward together. Thank you.

Thank you, Member from Monfwi. Before we move on to the next person, the translators have asked us to slow down a bit so please slow down a bit. And it's just everybody, so. Thank you.

Members' statements. Member from Deh Cho.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I want to highlight a fun-filled event happening in my constituency this weekend, K'atlodeeche First Nation, and that is the 42nd Annual K'amba Carnival. Mr. Speaker, this carnival will be taking place over four days starting tomorrow, February 29th, to Sunday, March 3rd. There will be cultural events, both indoor and outdoor, such as dog sled races, traditional games, a hand games tournament, raffle ticket prizes, and a bingo. There will also be an adult talent show with people competing for best singing and best jigging, including seniors jigging which will also feature the great northern band North Country Rock. Additionally, Mr. Speaker, the K'amba Carnival will have a teen dance, a talent show, drum dances, and royalty competition which will crown the annual K'amba Princess, Prince, and Queen.

Mr. Speaker, I want to encourage all NWT residents and any visitors here in the territory to come have some fun and enjoy the festivities that will occur in K'atlodeeche First Nation this weekend. People of all ages are welcome to attend.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, I want to give a huge thank you to all the event sponsors, organizers, volunteers who dedicated their time and efforts to help make this annual event possible. And as residents from across the way, I hope to see the Premier and Minister McKay at this carnival as well. Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from the Deh Cho. Members' statements. Member from Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm going to first bring my Member's statement today about one of my -- and begin by acknowledging one of my favorite sections in the GNWT. That's the NWT bureau of stats, my goodness. I don't know how I'd get along without them, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, one of the recent updates talked about the capital investments in the Northwest Territories and its decline by 11.2 percent. Now, that adds up to almost 900 -- $900 million to the North. But the bad news doesn't start -- stop there, unfortunately, Mr. Speaker. The NWT labour force activity has showed continual drops. In other words, our unemployment rates continue to increase. So, Mr. Speaker, what's happening in the 83 days since this Cabinet's taken office?

Now, I'm not saying they directly relate but one could say it's coincidental.

Mr. Speaker, the only person who -- only section in Canada that has a worse employment sector than us is the Yukon. So, Mr. Speaker, are people giving up, or are they just leaving? I don't know. But, Mr. Speaker, sometimes in our problems therein lies the solution. The Government of Canada has said publicly before, in the summer of 2023 has said, hey, we need military bases for these 88 new F35 planes they want to put around Canada. And the delivery starts in two years, Mr. Speaker. That's two years. It's very close. Not far away.

Mr. Speaker, the defence department wants to establish three bases, whether they're going to renew old ones or build or develop new ones. So they want to put one in eastern Canada, one in western Canada, and guess what? They're shopping around for the North saying hey, we'd like to put one somewhere up there. Mr. Speaker, this means new federal infrastructure dollars could hit the Northwest Territories if we did it right. New dollars are good for investment, good for people. It creates an economy. It helps stimulate the North and the activity. Again, going back to the minus $900 million going into our current economy. Mr. Speaker, we cannot miss out on this particular opportunity.

Now, I can tell you the airport plan for years in Yellowknife has reconsidered options about redeveloping and extending its runway. Is this the right opportunity for Yellowknife? Well, maybe. Maybe not. I would hope so. But that said, Inuvik is another prime location this airport could go to support the military and their development and their action in protecting Canadians, all Canadians throughout the North. Mr. Speaker, don't let this opportunity fly over us and miss Northerners a genuine opportunity to stimulate our economy. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I told my kids that I wanted to use Pink Shirt Day as an opportunity to say something at the Assembly about bullying, and I asked them what they thought I should say.

My 12-year-old said, You need to catch bullying quickly. You can't let the situation repeat itself. It gets harder to stop the longer the behaviours continue. You cannot let it be normalized. You cannot let it be routine. Disrespect should never be routine. She is right. It gets easier to ignore when a behaviour becomes normal. And so days of recognition like Pink Shirt Day are good occasions for a check-in.

My 9-year-old said, I know what Pink Shirt Day is to me and what I would say but it isn't really what I think you should be saying at the government. At first, I wanted to remind him that every voice and every experience matters. But I realized there's another side to what he was saying. Someone with the privilege of political leadership should use that opportunity to speak in a way that will help advance respect, dignity and equity. When leaders use bullying language or tone, it normalizes it, which brings me to the second half of what I wanted to say as the MLA for Yellowknife South on Pink Shirt Day.

Mr. Speaker, I have a constituent who lives in fear for her children because of the words being spoken by some political leadership in Canada about two-spirit, transgender, and non-binary youth, and their access to gender affirming care and for safe accepting spaces in schools where youth can access information free about their bodies and their sexual health. My constituent's family needs access to gender affirming care at time when there are political leaders in Canada speaking in a tone, manner, and content that is stereotyping, disrespectful, hurtful, and harmful.

One province's teachers association said this, quote: Transgender youth are five times more likely to think about suicide and nearly eight times more likely to attempt it than other children. We must be mindful of the vulnerability of these students and their need for safety, security and support.

Mr. Speaker, as a political representative for my constituents, including all 2SLGBTQIPA+ youth, adults and their families, I want them to know their political leaders will defend their right to access medical care and education with the same expectation and experience of dignity and respect as anyone else. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Ladies and gentlemen, with a deep heart I will be doing this eulogy. Vincent James Bertrand was born in Yellowknife on September 4th, 1985, to parents Norma Bertrand and Melvin Timbre. When Vince was younger, his dad would make him a toboggan out of cereal boxes and pop cans. Vince would play outside for hours pulling his toboggan with his toys inside of it.

Vincent grew up in Fort Liard and was raised by his grandparents Mary Jane and William Bertrand. His grandfather William gave Vince his traditional name of SehSeh. Vince loved spending his time with his grandparents and traveling with them to Fort Nelson. Vince and Vanessa were inseparable since Vanessa was born.

When Vanessa had her first firefighting training with the hamlet, she broke her foot. Vince did not believe Vanessa until he saw the foot. He drove her to the health centre. Six hours later, Vince showed up at the health centre with a broken foot. He broke his foot by almost falling off the riverbank. Vincent and Vanessa both got medevaced to Yellowknife. Later they both laughed at how they broke their foot on the same day.

Vince worked as a youth coordinator for the hamlet of Fort Liard, and this is where I got to meet him. He loved having movie night at the hall for the children. He volunteered as a firefighter for hamlet and was always available to keep the community safe especially during spring break up. Vince was always participating or volunteering when there was a community event. He made sure to help out whereever he could. Vince worked with his father-in-law Ken Bard making deliveries. He enjoyed playing softball with his best friend Arthur Loe and encouraged others to participate. Vincent enjoyed collecting movies, comics, video games, Pokemon cards, and animated cartoons.

Vince was proud of his culture and lived a traditional life. He enjoyed going to hand games, drum dances and drumming. He loved his drum his grandmother Mary Jane got made for him. Vince loved his family, friends, and was always there for them. I can tell you he was always happy and smiling. I don't think I have ever saw him upset.

Vince looked up to his uncle Floyd Bertrand and would phone him or text him whenever he needed advice.

Vince met and fell in love with Kirsten Bard in 2014. Vince lived in Fort Liard while Kirsten lived in Fort Nelson. They kept their relationship strong by always seeing each other and keeping in contact. Vince moved to Fort Nelson to live with Kirsten and proposed to her in 2020 of July, and Kirsten happily accepted.

I can tell you my experience with Vincent was very much how the family talked about him. I can tell you he was always willing to help take youth on sporting trips. Numerous times, I witnessed him using his own vehicle to ensure all youth got a chance to participate in the event. Like the old army saying never leave any man behind, his was always ensure youth get the opportunity to experience travel and participate in sport and recreational activities.

Colleagues, Vincent passed away on November 8, 2023. I can tell you he was loved and will be sadly missed by his fiancee Kirsten, his mother Norma, grandmother Mary Jane, sister Vanessa and Vickie Williams, and numerous friends and family. He will be sadly missed.

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

Members, I would like to recognize Steve Dunbar, the chief electoral officer who is in the gallery with us with a number of returning officers from the smaller community ridings. I will allow the Members to recognize the returning officers from those ridings. As well, Mr. Dunbar used to work in the Legislative Assembly as our support staff in the 18th and a little bit of the 19th. So thank you and welcome here.

Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I also would like to recognize a member from the constituency of Fort Resolution, Lorraine Villenueve. Lorraine also does a lot of work in the community. Not only she does the territorial election, but she also does the municipal elections. She also does tons and tons of volunteer work in the community, and she's been an active member of the Rangers for a while. So I just want to welcome here to the Assembly. Mahsi.

Thank you, Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member from Mackenzie Delta.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to recognize my sister Grace, Grace Martin. She's very active in the community of Fort McPherson's political arena and also volunteering, and I'd just like to welcome her to the Assembly.

Thank you, Member from Mackenzie Delta and your sister Grace for being here today. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member from the Sahtu.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I too would like to recognize Valerie Erutse from Fort Good Hope, the Sahtu regional electoral officer. That's probably why I'm sitting here today. But thank you.

Thank you, Member from the Sahtu. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member from Monfwi.

Thank you, Member from Monfwi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member from the Deh Cho.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I too would like to welcome Berna Matto from Fort Providence. Berna did electoral stuff and that's why I'm probably here. And also I would like to say -- recognize my sister-in-law Valerie Yakeleya Erutse. Welcome to the House.

Recognition of visitors in the gallery.

If we have missed anyone in the gallery today, welcome to your Chambers. I hope you are enjoying the proceedings. It is always nice to see people in the gallery.

Acknowledgements. Oral questions. Member from Frame Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier I spoke to a suggestion by the Tlicho government that we engage in discussions on amendments to the water regulations. I'd just like to know from the Minister of ECC has the department initiated those discussions as suggested? Thank you.

Thank you, Member from Frame Lake. Minister of Environment and Climate Change.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the GNWT is open to and has proposed amendments to the Waters Act for several years. The process the GNWT proposed included incorporating the interests and input of all parties into the Waters Act and then to have a focused review of the waters regulations. Other legislative priorities of the GNWT and Indigenous governments have advanced ahead of this work. The department is aware of the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board has initiated a review process to receive input regarding the interpretation of water use for ice bridge constructions under the waters regulation, and the department worked with the Department of Justice to provide its position on the interpretation of the water regulation in the October 2023 submission to the MacKenzie Valley Land and Water Board. At this time, it would be premature to bring amendments to the water regulations forward prior to the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board making a ruling on this issue. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.