Colleagues, I'd like to thank Lillian Elias for the opening guiding words. It's greatly appreciated, and sets the tone for the day.

On a personal note, I'd like to thank you guys for yesterday for your indulgence with me as I had to leave and deal with my son, who had an accident, and to the Infrastructure staff in Fort Providence, the RCMP detachment, and the Fort Providence Health Centre, you guys done an amazing job and I have to thank you very much from the bottom of my heart.

Colleagues, let's get to work. Ministers' statements. Minister of ECC.

Thank you, Minister of ECC. Ministers' statements. Members' statements. Member from Range Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yesterday my honourable friend opposite, the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, spoke to the need to go -- for residents of the Northwest Territories to follow trusted sources when emergencies occur. And I think that is one thing we need to be very mindful of, is trust in government. When I talk to constituents, friends, and family, many of them tell me if there is another state of emergency, they will be reluctant to follow orders to evacuate. And I think that comes to the fundamental issue here. If citizens do not trust in their government to take care of them during an emergency, what do we have to do to restore that trust.

A motion was brought forward in the last sitting of this House to establish a public inquiry. That passed in February 22nd. Since then, we have had a -- we've seen the establishment order -- a draft establishment order tabled on the floor of this House, but what we have not seen is the efforts of the government to bring forward an after-action report. Residents of Yellowknife, at least, have seen their city take on an after-action report for an independent contractor. Many people have been interviewed, and many people have gone to public engagements. But they're still waiting to see what this government is going to do.

We had not heard an update about when the after-action report is going to come forward. The Premier has been silent on this issue. And I'm hoping today we can get some clarity on this, and we can see how far the government has come along to restoring trust. Because at the end of the day, if we are in an emergency, in a life or death emergency, and this government is not someone the public will respect enough to listen to, we will have -- an even worse crisis on our hands. We have to get this right. We have to respect our citizens, and we have to ensure that there's transparency, fairness, and accountability over how last year's crisis was handled. And I hope that the Premier will have good answers for me so we can move forward together on this. Thank you

Thank you, Member from Range Lake. Members' statements. Member from Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I want to share a story about health care staffing that's a good news story for a change - our family medicine residency program.

Since 2020, the program has accepted two doctors in training each year. They train as residents in Yellowknife with mandatory rotations to Inuvik and Nunavut. This is Canada's first ever family medicine residency training site north of 60. It's a partnership between the university of Alberta and the three local health authorities in the NWT, and the program was dropped with advice from the Indigenous Advisory Committee. It includes critical education on the importance of cultural safety in health care in the NWT.

So having these family medicine residents present in our system has decreased appointment wait times for some teams by as much as 60 percent. It's improved primary care screening and helped us continue offering medical services at critical times like during the height of the pandemic. As of summer of 2024, six residents will have graduated from the family medicine residency program. One of the very first graduates was YK North constituent Thompson Gaunt who is Metis and born and raised in Yellowknife. Importantly, all of the graduates have gone on to practice medicine in the NWT. That is because young people who spend time living and working in the NWT for an extended period of time, and they get involved in community life and the diverse cultures and experiences the territory has to offer, are more likely to identify themselves as a northern physician and want to stay here and work.

So a very defeatist narrative that keeps popping up is that we'll never be able to fully staff our health care positions locally because health care workers just don't want to live in the NWT. Mr. Speaker, that is just not true. And this program shows that. The NWT Family Medicine Residency Program is one of the most popular residency programs in Canada. It has been very successful at attracting students. It even won the Premier's award for excellence in 2021-2022.

The NWT Medical Association recently wrote a letter to Ministers recommending that we work towards expanding the Family Medicine Residency Training Program from two to four residents per year. Mr. Speaker, I ask for unanimous consent to conclude my statement. I'm so close.

So close, but not there yet. Getting better.

---Unanimous consent granted

Okay. So expanding the program would help ensure a steady pipeline of new northern trained physicians who understand our system and our patients into our health care workforce. So I'm eager to see this government heed that call and build on this shining success story. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Yellowknife North. Members' statements. Member from Great Slave.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I'd like to talk about how we communicate. I'm going to talk specifics. The Northwest Territories emergency plan from April 2024 has an appendix B, which is the emergency communications protocol. One sentence on page 6 of the protocol reads: Within this model, departments and agencies are expected to implement their own communications tactics based on their own business continuity needs during an emergency.

Mr. Speaker, I'm hearing general concern that this will give GNWT departments the leniency to silo themselves in future disasters down the line. It's also a concern that coordinated communications only comes into effect during a state of emergency. As we all saw in 2023, coordinated communications is crucial before the state of emergency to better speak to concerns and help maintain public confidence in times of uncertainty.

Mr. Speaker, for many, it was felt that there was no certainty on who to get key information from in the government. It was incredibly frustrating having to jump around between department websites looking for relevant information. Even the new improved public safety page manages to maintain silos. It's just links to separate websites.

I think the GNWT tends to forget that the general public does not know how the government operates internally, and it's not reasonable or realistic to expect the public to know details regarding which department is responsible for what functions. A page of links that directs you to another list of links is a nightmare for anyone, let alone someone with limited literacy skills. The NWT alert page is a great concept but so far, the execution has lacked luster. When media asked about it at the first wildfire season briefing with the Premier and wildfire staff, the question was not truly answered. Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs at the appropriate time. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, over the past weekend, I had the opportunity to have preliminary discussions with the principals of Buffalo Airways. Instructions to stakeholders on the Sahtu resupply is as important as the plan itself.

Mr. Speaker, we can no longer deny the reality of low water levels only minimizing repercussions of it. To bring into perspective, Mr. Speaker, last fall's barge delivery to Fort Good Hope seen a top-up to the winter road resupply season of 600,000 litres of fuel.

Mr. Speaker, January the 8th, 2024, Sahtu seen the costs of aviation fuel delivered to Norman Wells and emergency carryover to the heavy tanker winter road season delivery at a cost of $1.75 per litre . This amount cost to Norman Wells was $1 million. Now, adding further costs to transport the product on to Fort Good Hope, if it's the same volume as last year.

Mr. Speaker, this only one of many products essential cargo destined for the Sahtu. The Mackenzie River communities of Fort Good Hope, Norman Wells, and Tulita rely totally on the affordable Mackenzie River Marine Transportation. We have five grocery stores, schools, and health centres within these communities, and commercial projects, certainly an endless of customers and clients.

Mr. Speaker, MTS cancelled a 2024 sailing season. The Government of the Northwest Territories, an ambitious resupply plan, and in collaboration with Buffalo Airways' air barge, we cannot afford to miss the boat.

Mr. Speaker, in the Sahtu resupply, is the Sahtu resupply an emergency one? Myself, recognizing this, I cannot emphasize enough the extreme magnitude of the situation and, more importantly, the immediate need for a sound, logistical resupply plan. This approach is a short-term one. What is your government's long-term one? My conclusion, Mr. Speaker, I foresee the immediate need and critical --

Member from the Sahtu, your time is up.

Oh, thank you, Member from Sahtu. Members' statements. Member from Frame Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, MACA has recently released a new emergency plan, which seeks to better clarify roles and responsibilities for the GNWT, NGOs, and municipalities during emergencies and evacuations. I appreciate the department's work on this, and having read through the plan, I acknowledge that it is clear about roles and responsibilities; however, in terms of current reality, I think there is still a fair bit of work to do to figure out the fine details of how this plan will work on the ground, particularly in relation to local emergency management organizations. I also understand that some gaps still exist that we need to address, particularly who will be funding emergency response capacity building for these organizations and who will pay for it and coordinate evacuation of one community to another?

It is worth noting that the overarching assumptions of this plan were established in a time when community evacuations were relatively infrequent. That reality is changing, Mr. Speaker. And as evacuations and emergencies due to extreme weather increase, I think we need to step back and reassess whether we have all the pieces in place for this plan to work or whether changes to the plan or increased resources to implement it are needed it.

As has been discussed extensively in this House, many of our communities, particularly our regional centres identified in the plan as host communities, are underfunded. They don't have additional capacity to take on the responsibilities laid out in this plan, either for building up capacity to respond to emergencies within their boundaries or to host evacuated neighbours. The plan speaks to how communities should look to local businesses and contractors where necessary to expand capacity to respond. But, again, building capacity within those businesses to be able to answer the call will cost money the communities don't have.

With regard to hosting evacuees, I think we need to step back and assess whether this really is something we can download on to local EMOs or whether we need to be seeking federal funding to establish resource reception centres for the regions.

Mr. Speaker, I believe we can identify a path which works for communities and the territory, but I don't think it involves leaving municipalities to do this work alone. We need to fund communities to build and maintain emergency response capacity. We also need to work with municipalities to identify how regional evacuation hosting is going to work and openly acknowledge that they can't take on that task alone. I'll have questions for the Minister at the appropriate time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as brought forward by my colleagues in this House several times over the past week, the transition of Aurora College to a polytechnic is in jeopardy of not reaching some of its milestone commitments. Mr. Speaker, as a government, we must ensure that we continue our commitment to this important work. One of those commitments, Mr. Speaker, should be to fund the centre for learning, teaching, and innovation, an initiative that the Aurora College brought forward during the transition process, and, Mr. Speaker, this program provides expertise to develop new quality control programs that will ensure the college meets the quality assurance requirements to become a polytechnic. It will allow the college to develop made-in-the North programming, Mr. Speaker. This important work was started through funding through CanNor but, unfortunately, that funding has come to an end.

Mr. Speaker, there was a transition team, as we're all aware, consisting of GNWT employees, senior employees, and college staff but, Mr. Speaker, once the new legislation was introduced and the new board of directors put in place, this team was -- this team was deemed unnecessary by this government. This team was funded, Mr. Speaker, through the surplus budget of the Aurora College but this funding has also been exhausted.

I can't help but think, Mr. Speaker, that if we continue to fund this important transition work either through additional funding allowing the college to have the necessary expertise or through continuing the transition team as it was initially designed, the milestones we were hoping to accomplish would be more attainable. Mr. Speaker, if you're a jet, you're a jet all the way, and if we want this transition to be a success, we must commit to it. And, Mr. Speaker, that will have to come with money. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I'm going to be talking about drugs and crime.

Mr. Speaker, today I want to talk about the increase of drugs and crimes in the NWT. It is disturbing to acknowledge there is a rise of homicide in the NWT right now related to drugs. There is more violent crimes, and the RCMP acknowledge the link between drugs and the unprecedented number of homicide that have occurred. I want to offer my condolences to all the families and friends who have been impacted by drug crime in our territory. There is one -- I do send my condolence to the families in Behchoko that are affected by this as well, and they are -- we're having a service today.

Mr. Speaker, we see the RCMP is trying to respond to these crimes and illegal activity. When dealers are arrested or charged, parents and grandparents are so relieved and so happy. Mr. Speaker, this is what we want to see. We want to see is the RCMP take control of the drug trade in the NWT. We want our communities to be safe. We want our children to grow up without being influenced by drug -- by fast cash and addictions.

Mr. Speaker, the drug trade is destroying the lives of our peoples. Our people are being shot, assaulted, abused, and intimidated. When are we going to stand up and let drug dealers know the NWT is not a place to do business? Right now, there are homicide cases linked to drug dealing with no updates. And in other cases, when charges are laid, they get off on technicality.

Drug dealers come to the NWT and pray on our vulnerable people. They take over people's homes and set up businesses in the NWT, which leads to more crimes like theft and assault. It leads to more addictions. It leads to more destruction, trauma, chaos.

Mr. Speaker, people in small communities are scared. Our communities do not feel safe. I am very concerned about communities without an RCMP detachment. Gameti chief and council had to take it upon themselves to remove a person who was known to be selling drugs. Mr. Speaker, can I have unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Without a consistent RCMP force, drug dealers with easily take advantage of small communities. This rise of drugs and crime is debilitating our communities and our territory. Mr. Speaker, who runs this territory? We need to make laws and take actions today because right now in the NWT, the drug trade is winning, and our people are losing. I will have question for the Minister of Justice. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in 2023 fire season, I stood in front of the House here and thanked all the first responders in the Northwest Territories, including YKDFN and Lutselk'e Dene First Nation, for protecting our homes and community, and I thank you for your continued service.

Mr. Speaker, yesterday I spoke about emergency planning and the devastation caused by a recent fire in Fort Resolution. There is certainly much to discuss in this Assembly regarding community administrator situation. But today I would like to revisit those events to highlight how well we all worked together despite the circumstances to save lives and to protect homes. I want to start by -- start off by thanking ministerial colleagues, MACA Minister, and ECC Minister, for doing their best to get, gather, and deploy all the resources they could promptly and effectively at a moment's notice. I want to thank the local community leaders, Deninu Kue First Nation chief Louis Balsillie and Fort Resolution Metis President Arthur Beck for all the work they done in those organizations' effort as well. I also want to thank the Housing NWT Minister as well for helping getting those displaced families into temporary housing quickly.

I want to thank the first responders, deputy fire chief Louis Balsillie, fire fighter Jessica Sanderson, Captain Joseph Ortea, Braden Lafferty, and lieutenant Sam O'Reilly. I also need to thank the hamlet staff Dave Pierrot, Don Pierrot, Louis Edjericon, Derrick Cross, Lyndon Stratmursch of the GNWT highways has provided the community with vital support as did the staff from ECC, including Scott King, Greg Lafferty, David Cardinal, Sammy Hunter, Joe O'Reilly, and of course the helicopter pilots who rushed to the scene. And, Mr. Speaker, including the RCMP in Fort Resolution.

I also appreciate the Northern store, the Deninu Kue store for their donation of water and sandwiches. I know Bedessa Sanderson and Crystal Bougie and Eric Lafferty brought food and water to the first responders as well.

The health centre also did a great job assisting those who were injured fighting the fire. So I wanted to say thank you to all their staff as well.

While the community is devastated, this disaster shows us once again the bravery of our first responders and the unlimited compassion of ordinary community members. It was -- Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my Member's statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. While the community is devastated, this disaster shows us once again the very bravery of our first responders and their unlimited compassion of ordinary community members. It was also an opportunity for these different levels of government to show how they can come together to meet any threat to the safety of the Northerners head on. Thank you, all, for this hard work and dedication to making the North a safer place, and thank you for your service. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, during the last sitting, I did several statements regarding health wellness and health promotion by our government. My statement today will be similar with particular focus on health promotion in schools.

Mr. Speaker, it is critical that our government support the healthy learning and development of all our young people within every school across the NWT. Our government needs to ensure that our future generations develop skills and education necessary to have good healthy lives as they develop from adolescents to adulthood.

Mr. Speaker, as our children and our youth go through our education system, from code of conduct to high school, we need to instill in them such things as the importance of healthy, well balanced, nutritious meals, and about the dangers of harm of drugs and alcohol use, and to ensure they have sports and recreation so they stay out of trouble. In addition, Mr. Speaker, we need to ensure that students feel supported in terms of mental health.

There is a vacant counsellor position in my region right now. It is very important that our government works to fill those positions as soon as possible to ensure the students there have the mental health supports they need whenever they need it.

Moreover, Mr. Speaker, if a school is lucky enough to have a counsellor, high turnover rates for such positions makes it difficult for a student to feel motivated to seek help because it makes it that much more challenging for students to establish a rapport and build a positive therapeutic relationship with the counsellors.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, as a government, we need to ensure that all students in every region are supported physically, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally. We must do more to help our students thrive and help lead them into futures they are proud of to look forward to in life. I will have questions for the Minister of ECE later today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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