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

Mr. Speaker, equitable access to health care is in the front of minds of all Northerners as we look to our families, and we always want the best for them. This includes specialized support services, such as specialists to get testing and treatment, Mr. Speaker. We all know delays cost lives, they cost money, they create frustration and inefficiencies, and this trouble Northerners far and wide. So whether you're in the Mackenzie Delta or you're in the Sahtu, Mr. Speaker, people get frustrated.

For example, delays in specialized services because your government chooses to send our team of experts, our specialized health care professionals to Nunavut, instead of putting our Northerners, our own citizens, to work. What does this do? It causes burnout in our health care system, our caregivers, delays getting care if you're a Northerner, and the catch-up just never seems to happen.

Mr. Speaker, I have to get frustrated as I shake my head and I see that why do we send people from Yellowknife to Edmonton practically daily for rheumatoid arthritis treatment? Does that make fiscal sense? What about the craziness and frustration people feel when they hear that folks have to travel from the Delta for diabetes treatment regularly, or dental treatment? The numbers just don't make sense, Mr. Speaker, when you see hundreds of people annually travelling down when we can do business much smarter.

Money doesn't grow on trees, but in the theme of Mining Week, Mr. Speaker, it can be found in the ground. But efficiencies pile up. Addressing the latter two matters, Mr. Speaker, is very important to resolve funding issues because those two alone would help us fund extended health care benefits. It's not innovation, Mr. Speaker. It's common sense.

Mr. Speaker, with current budget of around $650 million, there's opportunities abound. Maybe the department should consider instead of hiring more and dozens and hundreds of employees, be it on the books, off the books, funded, unfunded, agencies, casuals, etcetera, they just hire one efficiency expert to ask the question, why are we doing things this way? Can't we do them better? Differently? Doesn't it make sense to reflect once in a while why we do things?

Mr. Speaker, I raise this point because there's so many opportunities before us. The other day I was reading online, it said people won't support change if they're not confident in their abilities to adapt. So people are threatened by the shortcomings, real or imagined, and then they protect themselves by resisting to change. It comes down to fear of failure and knowledge and inability. Mr. Speaker, I say this, as I finish, dear, health department, I believe in you, you can do it.

Members' statements.

Colleagues, on May 24th and 25, Sport North held its Annual General Meeting and their annual Sport North Awards Banquet on the last day of the meetings. I can tell you; I was invited to attend the Banquet as a guest of one of the award winners. I can say the evening event was a huge success. The banquet brought together athletes, coaches, volunteers, and supporters from across the Northwest Territories to celebrate the remarkable achievements in sport over the past year. The awards play a valuable role in supporting athlete success and recognizing the NWT's growing talent.

Upon getting there, I realized that there were several friends that were receiving awards that event.

Janie Hobart received the Delma Kisoun Memorial Community Contributor Award.

Janie was nominated by NWT Curling. I have known her and worked with her over the years. She was and still is committed to the development of sport and recreation for the NWT. With the Mackenzie Recreation Association, she spearheaded the annual Lawrie Hobart Memorial Volleyball Tournament which is hosted in Fort Smith. The scariest thing is when Janie comes to you and says she has an idea, because nine out of ten times you'll ended up doing it regardless.

Shari Olsen received the Dennis Crane Memorial Official of the Year Award. She was nominated by Table Tennis North.

Like some of you here, I have known Shari for a long time. As fellow athletes in softball, we got together at various events throughout the years. At the Arctic Winter Games, I ran into her and asked her what she was doing there, and she said she was officiating. I assumed it was for figure skating, but I was wrong. It was for table tennis. When I asked her why, her response was I wanted a new challenge and officiating table tennis was this. She spoke about the sport and what it brought out of her.

Rowe's Construction received the Corporate Contributor of the Year where they were nominated by Table Tennis North.

This company has offices in Hay River and Fort Simpson. The amazing thing about this company, they have been and always been about giving back to the communities including places where their company do not have staff. I can tell you they have been responsible for helping building ball fields, golf courses, referees and changing rooms, sponsoring teams, events and fundraising activities.

Jaicee Tsetso was one of the Members of the Team of the Year - Arctic Winter Games female basketball team. This team went undefeated throughout the whole tournament and winning the first gold medal, beating the powerful team of Alaska in the final game - the first time in 50 years.

Colleagues, I have included three of the award winners' nominations in my speech today however reflecting of the time, I will deemed it as read.

In closing I would like to echo Bill Othmer, the executive director of Sport North's final words: The awards banquet is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our territorial sport organizations. Each recipient has shown exceptional commitment and passion, and it is a privilege to recognize their achievements. We are inspired by their stories and motivated to continue supporting their journeys.

Congratulations to all the award winners. They are well deserved.

(Deemed Read)

Janie Hobart

Janie has been a part of the NWTCA Board, and/or the Fort Smith Curling Club Board as the liaison to the NWTCA since the mid-1980s. She has held every role of the NWTCA, including President, and has been the Competitions director for several years.

Janie has been officiating with NWT Curling at the local and Territorial levels for over 25 years. This year alone just officIated multiple NWTCA Championships, the Senior Nati, AWG in Alaska, as well as the U21 in Alberta. Janie travels to NWT communities to facilitate Officials trainings.

Janie has officiated at almost every level of national championships as well as Men's Worlds and Junior Worlds Janie was a timer at the Olympics and Para-Olympics in Vancouver.

She is on the board of the Mackenzie Rec Board.

At the 2016 National Masters Curling Championship in Nova Scotia, Janie was selected by her peers for the Female Sportsmanship Award.

Shari Olsen

Shari has dedicated the past five years to officiating with Table Tennis North, showcasing her passion and expertise in the sport. From the NWT School Championships to prestigious events like the 2020, 2023, and 2024 Arctic Winter Games, as well as the 2019 and 2023 Canada Winter Games, Shari has been a consistent and reliable Territorial Umpire. This exciting opportunity marks a new chapter in Shari's officiating career, as she eagerly anticipates the challenges and growth that come with reaching the national level. Her dedication and commitment to the sport are evident, and her future as a national Umpire looks promising.

Shari is a dedicated and enthusiastic Territorial Umpire in the Northwest Territories, always eager to enhance her skills and knowledge in the field. She seizes every learning opportunity that comes her way, demonstrating a strong commitment to personal growth and professional development. Shari's willingness to lend a helping hand and support her less experienced colleagues showcases her exceptional leadership qualities and dedication to the sport. With her passion for mentoring and guiding others, we are excited about the prospect of Shari becoming a Referee in the near future, as she continues to inspire and empower officials in the Territory.

Shari is a true role model in every sense of the word. She consistently goes above and beyond to ensure that everyone around her has everything they need to excel in their official duties. Leading by example, Shari embodies professionalism in all aspects of her work. Her dedication to learning and teaching is unwavering, as she believes in the power of knowledge sharing and continuous growth. Shari's commitment to excellence serves as an inspiration to those around her, making her a respected and admired figure in her field.

Shari is a dedicated individual who is deeply involved in various sports, with Table Tennis being just one of her many passions. She is known for her strong sense of community and commitment to her territory, always striving to ensure that everyone around her has the chance to excel and reach their full potential. Shari's inclusive and supportive nature creates a welcoming environment where individuals can thrive and grow, making her a true champion of empowerment and opportunity for all.

Rowe's Construction

Rowe's Construction has been a pillar of support for the North, particularly in the realm of Table Tennis. Their contributions have been invaluable, from offering transportation services to various communities to storing and distributing equipment for the sport. Their unwavering assistance before, during, and after events has been a source of great comfort and reliability. Rowe's Construction embodies a positive and supportive attitude, always viewing challenges as opportunities and possibilities. Their dedication to the growth and success of Table Tennis in the North is truly commendable.

Table Tennis North will be celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2024, and throughout the years, Rowe1s Construction has been a steadfast supporter of our organization. Their unwavering commitment to our cause has been instrumental in our growth and success. We are just one of the many organizations and events that have benefited from Rowe's Construction1s generosity. From local community events to Territorial competitions and beyond, Rowe1s Construction has consistently demonstrated their dedication to supporting and uplifting the community. We are grateful for their continued partnership and look forward to many more years of collaboration.

Members' statements. Returns to oral questions. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Acknowledgements. Member from the Sahtu.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The community of Fort Good Hope is proud to celebrate two graduates from the Chief T'Selehye School this year. We'd like to congratulate Jermaine Tobac and Dyer Gardebois on their achievement. The whole community wants to celebrate in their success and wish them the best in their education journey as they take their next steps. Mahsi.

Acknowledgements. Oral questions. Written questions. Returns to written questions. Replies to the Commissioner's address. Petitions. Member from Range Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to return to item 7 on the orders of the day. Thank you.

The Member from Range Lake asked unanimous consent to return to item number 7, oral questions. Any nays? Seeing no nays, we'll go back to oral questions. Oral questions. Member from Range Lake?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in 2014, the Government of the Northwest Territories released its mineral development strategy. It's a document -- this document was a result of broad engagement with industry, Indigenous governments, and other stakeholders and moved the industry forward by creating incentives to keep explorers exploring, evolving its legislation, mapping more geology, including more ways for Indigenous participation in the industry, and creating a strong local workforce. We haven't had an update to this in some time. Can the Minister speak to what the department is doing to build on the success of this strategy. Thank you.

Thank you, Member from Range Lake. Minister of ITI.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, that's good news. And I know the Minister knows that mining matters, and it's great to see it move beyond just the mines and actually to other areas of public policy.

Mr. Speaker, the mining incentive program was a big part of the success of the strategy, continues to be successful. Can the Minister tell us if the increase in investment is due to that fund?b thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, of course I couldn't speak directly to the correlation, but what I can say is every year while the mineral incentive policy is fully subscribed that not every year are all of those dollars spent. Sometimes at the end of the year companies have to give those dollars back because they weren't able to spend them how they originally anticipated. But I would say the best thing that we can do to continue to increase exploration in the territory is continue to have good conversation like this, continue to make sure that we are participating in events like Roundup, like PDAC, and continue to make sure that we have supporting all partners at the table and bringing everyone together. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there's a bunch of regulatory improvements that would greatly help the industry. I know the Minister has spoken about this before in her Minister's statement. But apart from the mining Mineral Resources Act, how is she working with her colleague, the Minister for Environment and Climate Change, to streamline environmental regulations so we can get these projects moving quicker towards the larger regulatory stage? Get exploration projects moving quicker. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, luckily on this -- well, on both sides of the House, we have great working relationships, and that doesn't stop between myself and the Minister of ECC. We're able to come together, and we're working hard to better understand what the other -- what one another is looking for, where each of our departments is at, and what industry is looking for. So we are meeting on a regular basis to work through some of that. What I will also say, Mr. Speaker, is this is work that's not only being done within, you know, the confines of meeting rooms within the GNWT but that industry itself is also looking for ways to streamline processes between the GNWT and the federal government as well and is doing their part to make sure that we're all working together as well. And so I think that over the course of this term, we'll see some really creative things happen as far as industry is concerned in being able to move forward. Also worth noting here, Mr. Speaker, is there's also the Mackenzie operational dialogues that feed right into the work that myself and the Minister of ECC are doing so that there are industry and government tables that exist for this work that we're able to tap into as well. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister of ITI. Final supplementary. Member from Range Lake.

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the Minister. As I said in my Member's statement, it's Mining Week. So what is the Minister doing to celebrate Mining Week? Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd be more than happy to commit to the Member to sharing the schedule of Mining Week on my Facebook page to ensure that people have access to it. But there's everything from virtual events so that people can participate across the territory. There's also rock walks happening so people can get out and hold some cool rocks, and believe me, there's a ton of them out there. There are also site tours for lift and lithium, which is a pretty big deal in the North Slave region at the moment and one we definitely want to make sure that people have the opportunity to ask about. And, of course, there's even colouring books for our youngest residents to be able to get involved in Mining Week. And of course, at the end of the week, there is on Saturday here in Yellowknife, a barbecue at the miners' picnic, and that is something that is put on by -- where industry all comes together, and I will be out there flipping burgers and I hope to see as many Yellowknifers and people from the surrounding region out there as possible. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister of ITI. Oral questions. Member from Inuvik Boot Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Infrastructure or Finance, I'm not sure. It's the same person, so she'll figure it out I'm sure.

On the fibre line, Mr. Speaker, I spoke to, can the Minister tell me if there has been any consideration given to the redundancy beyond Fort Nelson and is it too late, I guess, to relook at that agreement between the GNWT, Yukon government, and NorthwesTel. Thank you.

Thank you, Member from Inuvik Boot Lake. Minister of Finance.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this is an overall good news story here, so I appreciate the questions. I know there are residents and businesses in Inuvik who are really leading the charge in terms of what's happening in our advanced technology industry here in the Northwest Territories, with the satellite array and providing servicing to them. The agreement we have the Yukon ensures that their traffic can use the Mackenzie Valley fibre line in case of need and that our traffic could use the line that comes down the -- or in case of need. I think there is some additional work that's going to happen to increase the redundancy. Now, it may not be under that contract exactly, but I'll take the Member's point on this and make sure that we are continuing to engage with industry to provide them the best services we can. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the Minister. Certainly, that portion of the redundancy is very important to the businesses and the satellite station facility as the Minister alluded to. Mr. Speaker, at the end of the day, I guess, who is the owner of the fibre line once it's complete, the redundancy line?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Inuvik branch of the line, I would have to confirm. I believe it would be NorthwesTel that continues to maintain ownership of that line. By contrast, of course, we have a P3 partnership on our end on the Mackenzie Valley Fibre Line. Thank you.