Please be seated. Colleagues, before we get going, I'd like to welcome the students from NJ McPherson, the grade 5 glass. So we're going to be on our best behaviour, right, colleagues, for our amazing students. So welcome to our Assembly.

Ministers' statements. Minister for ECC.

Mr. Speaker, the territory's 2025 wildfire season was a challenging one. With 201 wildfires and nearly 1.4 million hectares burned, this was one of the most active wildfire seasons in Northwest Territories' history.

I want to acknowledge the tireless dedication, personal sacrifice, and incredible teamwork of our staff. Wildfire crews showed up day after day to protect our territory. These efforts deserve the recognition and appreciation of this House. Fire seasons in the NWT used to last 8 to 10 weeks each summer. But with climate change in recent years, we have seen crews and fire personnel actively responding to fires for five straight months, from May until October.

Mr. Speaker, this season marked the fourth in a row with prolonged drought conditions, creating extreme fire behaviour, causing some fires to burn nearly a meter underground. Our air crews, ground personnel, and support teams held, brought under control, or put out more than 100 fires this year. And most importantly, no one was hurt, and no homes were lost in our communities thanks to the hard work of wildfire responders. Carefully planned ignition operations in communities like Gameti, Whati, and Fort Providence successfully stopped wildfire spread.

Mr. Speaker, after the 2023 wildfire season, the government made changes to improve how we fight fires based on the recommendations from operational review. In response to that review, we began using new fire behaviour tools to provide timely, accurate forecasts and to support safer, more effective wildfire operations across the territory. We are continuing to send more staff to complete advanced fire behaviour training, which will strengthen our forecasting and modeling capacity to meet the challenges ahead.

Mr. Speaker, building Wildland Urban Interface, or WUI preparedness, was also a key theme in last year's review, and this year, we saw those investments pay off. We launched new basic WUI response training for smaller fire departments to increase capacity with sprinkler setup and structure triage. We also developed interim deployment guidelines for municipal fire departments supporting wildfire events.

In Whati and Fort Providence, local fire departments put this training into action working side-by-side with wildfire professionals to successfully defend their communities.

And the communities of Fort Smith, Hay River, and Fort Simpson used resources to support wildfire response, applying lessons learned from past wildfire experiences, and through GNWT training to help residents in neighboring communities.

Structure protection trailers supported efforts in Wrigley, Fort Liard, Jean Marie River, and areas along the Liard Highway. Two new trailers added this year have the capacity to protect nearly 200 homes and buildings across the NWT.

Mr. Speaker, these improvements will be the foundation of a more resilient wildfire program in the years ahead. This 2025 season was shorter and less severe than 2023, but it was not without hardship. As the Premier has said, residents came together to support one another through these challenges.

Mr. Speaker, this has been a difficult wildfire year across the country. While the severity of next year's season is uncertain, the GNWT remains focused on investing in readiness and resilience to help ensure our communities are safe. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister of ECC. Ministers' statements. Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs.

Mr. Speaker, the 2025 emergency season once again tested the strength and resilience of our territory. It showed the courage and dedication of those who step forward in times of crisis to protect residents and communities. It also reinforced that the changes and improvements we have made since 2023 are making a real difference in how we respond and recover.

I want to begin by recognizing and thanking everyone who worked on the frontlines over this past emergency season. Our wildfire crews, community firefighters and first responders, often put themselves in situations where there was great risk, working to contain and suppress fires threatening communities. Their skill and determination helped keep people safe, slowed advancing wildfires, and gave residents time to evacuate safely.

This year, again, several communities faced significant challenges. Jean Marie River faced multiple evacuation alerts and residents in Whati and Fort Providence had to leave their homes in order to ensure their safety. The task of hosting evacuated communities is a complex responsibility. Hay River, Behchoko, and Yellowknife stepped up to host and care for evacuees. In collaboration of leadership, including Indigenous and community governments, non-government organizations, volunteers and local businesses in supporting evacuees was impressive and inspiring.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the United Way and Salvation Army and all the local emergency management organizations, their staff, and volunteers, for once again stepping up to help. These organizations are instrumental in assuring where urgent responses are needed. I also thank all the residents who demonstrate compassion and resilience in helping the evacuees during this challenging time. You are the example of what we mean when we say better together.

Mr. Speaker, since the 2023 Emergency Response After-Action Review, the Government of the Northwest Territories has made measurable progress. The after-action review process provided clear direction on how to improve coordination, strengthen communication, and better support communities before, during, and after emergencies.

Of the 35 recommendations, only one was disagreed with. The Government of the Northwest Territories has established an integrated emergency management system that is both flexible and responsive. This system now includes improved guidance and accountability, regional emergency coordinators, and strengthened capacity and strategic support.

These recommendations have many actions already underway. We have implemented new processes for information sharing between departments and communities, enhanced training for staff and partners, clarifying roles and responsibilities for all levels of government and agencies, committed to the review of the Emergency Management Act in partnership with Indigenous and community governments, increased our surge capacity to support large-scale response. The GNWT has also expanded use of the Incident Command System to ensure consistent coordination across all levels of government.

While the Government of the Northwest Territories will not create a standalone emergency management agency, we will commit to enhancing our training, protocols, and governance structures. A standalone agency is not feasible for the NWT given the NWT's small population, limited fiscal and human resources, and the infrequency of large-scale emergencies requiring sustained territorial-level response. A separate agency would be costly, duplicative, and difficult to staff.

Looking ahead, we know that emergencies will continue to challenge our territory. Climate change is making wildfire seasons longer and more intense, and we must be ready. Of the lessons this government has learned, perhaps one of the most important is this: To respond effectively and efficiently to the unique needs of all our communities, big or small, emergency response in the North cannot be a one size fits all. The Government of the Northwest Territories continues to create opportunities for engagement and collaboration with local leadership who know their communities best.

Our focus remains on building stronger partnerships, improving communication, and ensuring that residents feel supported and confident when emergencies occur. A key part of this work is supporting community governments in developing and testing their community emergency plans. The work continues to strengthen community preparedness through workshops and tabletop exercises so that everyone is ready for emergencies when crises arise.

The Government of the Northwest Territories will continue to invest in surge capacity training, including Incident Command System training, to ensure a robust foundation of support. In addition, we continue to work with partners through exercises like Operation Nanook, which allows us to test our systems in real-world scenario and improve coordination across all levels of government. By taking these steps, we are building an emergency management system that is stronger, more inclusive, and better prepared for the challenges ahead.

Mr. Speaker, the people of the Northwest Territories have once again shown their resilience, resourcefulness, and caring. Since 2021, we have faced five consecutive years of major emergency events, three of which resulted in disasters that affected thousands of residents and businesses and caused significant damage to communities. The progress we have made through the Be Ready campaign in planning and preparedness is paying off.

We have come a long way to strengthen our emergency management system. We see collectively involved across all phases planning, preparedness, and response. There have been improvements on how wildfires are fought, and we support those with enhanced approaches with the wildland urban interface structure protection firefighting.

While we know that there is always more to learn, it is important to recognize how far we have come. The lessons of the past five years strengthen our collective knowledge, and we continue to improve how we will respond in emergencies. The GNWT will continue to stand with communities before, during, and after emergencies, ensuring we are building on what we have learned to be even stronger in the future. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. Ministers' statements. Minister for Health and Social Services.

Mr. Speaker, ensuring residents across the Northwest Territories continue to have access to health care that is safe, reliable and equitable is a top priority for me, and for this government, and for the Northwest Territories health and social services system. Today, I am pleased to share an update about the work we are doing within that system to improve care in small community health centres and health cabins.

Just like every jurisdiction in Canada, our healthcare system is strained by staffing shortages. As a country, we simply are not graduating enough doctors, nurses, and allied professionals to meet the demand. This has contributed to the most competitive recruitment environment we have ever seen in the Northwest Territories. That pressure is compounded by the challenges of recruiting and retaining staff to work in the many small and remote communities across our territory.

The department is working closely with the health and social services authority to lessen the impact of ongoing staffing shortages, make service delivery more efficient, and protect equitable access to care across the territory while we recruit to fill vacancies. Our work is focused on making care in small communities more sustainable, adopting smarter practices and new technologies to improve efficiency and getting results, getting the right mix of health professionals in our health centres and health cabins, and above all ensuring every resident has equitable access to care, no matter where they live.

This work focuses on finding more sustainable ways to deliver healthcare service in small communities, identifying methods, practices, or technologies that make those services more efficient and effective, balancing the right mix of healthcare professionals in health centres and health cabins, and ensuring that everyone has equitable access to care regardless of where they live.

To support this work, we have established a working group with members from all three health and social services authorities. To date, this group has reviewed and assessed the current state of the system, performed a gap analysis to identify areas needing improvement, gathered input from frontline staff to explore new approaches and evaluate promising practices, and conducted a jurisdictional scan that included targeted engagement with similar jurisdictions and with Indigenous Services Canada.

Mr. Speaker, this work resulted in five recommendations, each intended to support and strengthen the existing community health nurse-led model of care rather than replace it by making better, more integrated use of other care providers and building a more consistent and resilient delivery system of care.

The first two recommendations focus on how licensed practical nurses and paramedics can become a part of the care model in small communities. This review will include a comprehensive examination of how they are currently used, funded, trained and supported within the system.

The third recommendation involves identifying programs and services that licensed practical nurses and paramedics can immediately support and whether additional training can safely expand their roles and enhance service delivery.

Fourth, the Department of Health and Social Services is creating new standards to oversee the administrative functions of health centres and health cabins. This will ensure compliance with legislative requirements and support consistent care across communities while including ways to monitor and track progress.

The final recommendation is to continue to recruit and, importantly, to retain community health nurses by identifying, implementing, and supporting fatigue-reduction strategies.

Mr. Speaker, the department and the three health authorities have developed a work plan to act on these recommendations. Improving the model of care takes time and requires careful planning. It is essential that any solution we provide are flexible, adaptable and, above all, sustainable. While this work is not formally a part of primary health care reform, it is closely aligned. Together, these initiatives will improve access to health care across the Northwest Territories ensuring Northerners receive consistent high-quality health and social services.

Mr. Speaker, before I conclude, I want to take a moment to sincerely acknowledge and thank our dedicated frontline staff. Their commitment, resilience, and compassion are the foundation of our health and social services system. Every day, they rise to the challenge, often in difficult and demanding circumstances, to provide essential care to residents across the Northwest Territories. This work is not only about improving the system; it's about supporting the people who make it work. By strengthening the model of care, we are also ensuring that our frontline teams have the tools, resources, and support they need to continue delivering high-quality care to every community. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister of Health and Social Services. Members' statements. Member from Monfwi.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this past summer, our communities faced another period of unprecedented threat from wildfires resulting in multiple evacuation that disrupted lives, strained resources, and highlighted the vulnerabilities in the GNWT wildfires management.

In a span of three days this past summer, the communities of Whati and Fort Providence were forced to evacuate due to rapidly advancing wildfires. The fire was burning out of control in Gameti as well. It came close to their golf course. These evacuations are not isolated, Mr. Speaker. They are part of a growing, growing pattern of climate-driven emergencies that demand a shift from reactive to proactive wildfire strategies.

Since the mass evacuation of the 2023 wildfire season, I have heard countless times from many frustrated residents, former NWT MLA and MP have said it as well, that when the federal government oversaw the forest fire program, they would extinguish the fire at the outset. Now that the territory government is in charge, they let the land burn, to let the fire burn itself out, and that action is only taken when a fire is near a community as we have seen this past summer.

Mr. Speaker, hearing this repeatedly tells me that the GNWT wildfire management program is failing. Climate change and its effect can no longer be ignored by government policy. Wildfires, regardless of their proximity to communities, must be fought at the earliest possible stage when they are small and manageable.

I want to take this time to thank and support the Whati and Fort Providence evacuees. Thank you for your generosity and kindness. I also want to thank our firefighters and community government workers for the work that they do in keeping our people and communities safe. They are to be commended.

Mr. Speaker, as I have said before in my comments, my frustration is not directed at them --

-- Member from Monfwi, Member for Monfwi, your time is up.

(audio)

Thank you, Member from Monfwi. Member for Monfwi is asking unanimous consent to conclude her statement. Seeing none, Member from Monfwi.

---Unanimous consent granted

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I have said, they are to be commended, the workers.

Mr. Speaker, my frustration and comments were not directed at them. It was towards the GNWT government policy that needs to change before a community is destroyed as we have seen in fire 2023, and people's lives are put in jeopardy. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Monfwi. Members' statements. Member for Range Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this week, we continue our call for a red alert on the economy and for the -- primarily focused on the revitalization of our mining industry, starting with modernized regulations, expanded incentive programs, and an independent review of this sector's decline to drive the exploration needed to reignite the NWT economy. However, a world-class mining sector needs more than just incentives and policy changes; it also needs robust infrastructure.

Recently, newly proposed projects are emerging to better connect the North with global markets. Chief among these is the proposed Arctic Security and Economic Corridor, a transformed initiative to link the mineral riches of the Slave Geological Province to a deepwater port in Nunavut positioned along the historic Northwest Passage. This project would be a game changer for both territories, Mr. Speaker, and also for Canada, but at the other end of that corridor is at the one end is Nunavut port, at the other end is our airport here in Yellowknife, Mr. Speaker, which is a huge strategic resource for the territory. However, the task of scaling up YZF must move forward regardless of the proposed corridor. For an airport its size, YZF experiences an exceptional level of traffic, not only in support of mining operations but also of our expanding tourism sector and essential transportation services to communities across the North.

Mr. Speaker, Yellowknife is a destination city, and that airport is the gateway not only to Yellowknife but to the whole Northwest Territories.

Furthermore, as part of our commitment to NATO spending targets, airports are now recognized as strategic infrastructure central to our defence posture, opening the door for major investments in YZF from both NORAD and the Department of National Defence. When you consider the expansion of our armed forces, growing our mining industry, increasing our tourism and expanding our tourism product, and adding to the transportation needs across northern communities, the case for major investment in YZF becomes clear as does its inclusion as a major project in our strategic priorities, well equal to Taltson, MVH, and ASEC.

Nunavut has its strategic port at Grace Bay, and we have ours at Yellowknife Airport. If this expansion of YZF isn't treated as a strategic priority on its own right, then it must be integrated into a comprehensive plan for the Arctic Security and Economic Corridor. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Similar to my colleague, I want to speak about the economy. The Arctic economic security corridor is a red alert, and it needs to be heard loud and clear. I doubt it would have even made the second-tier list of major projects if it wasn't for the West Kitikmeot Resources Group, Mr. Speaker. And I'm very thankful for their work. Currently, it's on the maybe list, but that's pretty good, Mr. Speaker; better than the not list. But if you look closely, it's being sold as a north-to-south list by the West Kitikmeot group.

The Arctic security corridor is sold as an all-weather road land and port-to-port-to-port, Mr. Speaker, infrastructure. It's going north-to-south, not south-to-north, Mr. Speaker. I would remind this would-have, should-have, could-have government that we need to seize the day now before the economy ceases to operate, Mr. Speaker. If this isn't a red alert, I don't know what is, Mr. Speaker. I'm hopeful, but I do worry that the hubris of what's happening now is just to assume that the government is just going to step in and solve our problems without bold action taken by us. So you can hire all the envoys of the world, we need collective action. And that includes Regular Members, Mr. Speaker; I'm sorry to remind the Premier. But as I look forward, Mr. Speaker, the overconfidence so far that has been fueling the 706 days of this current government, I'm not sure there's enough in the tank to fuel it the next 714 days.

Mr. Speaker, there are some dark days ahead if we don't see some action. Mr. Speaker, again, this major project is important to the economy of the Northwest Territories. I could speak at lengths to the benefits it can create, but we've all heard of them repeatedly. But more importantly I should not forget the sovereignty. You know, the call to invest in NATO funding is so critical. Why are we falling asleep on this opportunity? Call to action: Mr. Premier, step up with some bold vision. Work with the Tlicho and the YKDFN to bring together an organization group that can build in partnership, Indigenous partnership, territorial partnership, and federal partnership, to have our road go from south to North, Mr. Speaker. Again, bold action.

Mr. Speaker, let us understand this: Hope will not feed the bellies of the North, Mr. Speaker. We need determination from this Premier. Ring that fire bell of red alert, Mr. Speaker, because if he doesn't ring it, there will be no economy to save, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

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

Mr. Speaker, our primary healthcare system has the potential to get better over time. We have access to newer technologies, including around virtual care, more programs than ever to recruit and train local practitioners, and a team working to improve Indigenous patient experiences. So how is it possible that people's access to primary care in so many of our communities has gotten worse over the past five years?

I am tired of the explanation that health care across Canada is struggling and that we're somehow powerless to stop this decline. Not long ago, if you called for a primary care appointment in Yellowknife, you had a chance of someone answering the phone. You had a chance of getting an appointment rather than being told the schedule is full and to call back in two weeks when the next round of locums' schedules opened up. You didn't have to line up outside at 7 a.m. in the cold with your crutches or your sick children competing with all the other sick people as if you were in some kind of reality TV survival show.

Remember in 2019 when expanded same-day access was launched, and you could go to a walk-in clinic during mornings and evenings? What happened to that? If you go to the Stanton emergency room now, you used to be able to get lab results while you were there. Now, lab samples are being sent down to Alberta, creating the need to book a follow-up primary care visit, which is nearly impossible in a system with a three-month waiting list and no ability for patients to check their own lab results online.

If you live in a small community, you at least have a better chance of someone answering the health centre phone, but community health nurses struggle with little support. Five years ago, there were pilot projects in Behchoko and Fort Good Hope building on successes in the Beaufort Delta where the community health nurses had a designated physician on call to support them seven days a week so they could get advice before someone's health problem got worse and became an emergency. These pilot projects received little support and lost traction.

Despite available technologies, most community health nurses still don't have videoconference ability when they're receiving real-time support from emergency physicians, so they're apparently expected to be holding a phone under their arm or something while treating someone in an emergency. Mr. Speaker, I ask for unanimous consent for the last sentence of my statement. Thank you.

---Unanimous consent granted

Mr. Speaker, we have done better, and we so obviously can do better in giving people across this territory the most basic access to care in all our communities. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I want to speak today on serious concerns about the timing of the evacuation of Fort Providence during the recent recent wildfire threat this past summer.

On August 31st, Fort Providence announced an evacuation order with a wildfire less than 2 kilometres north of the community - 900 metres to be precise. This evacuation order came far too late when the fire was already dangerously close to the community. This delay put residents at risk and created unnecessary panic and hardship.

Mr. Speaker, the Department of Environment and Climate Change is responsible for wildfire detection, assessment, and operational response. It is the department that monitors fire behaviour, models risks, and advises on evacuation timing. In the case of Fort Providence, the warning signs were there yet the response lagged. This begs the question why did it take so long for the evacuation to occur?

Wildfires are becoming more aggressive and unpredictable. Climate change is accelerating these threats, and our communities are increasingly vulnerable. We need a broader safety margin, one that accounts for the speed and volatility of modern wildfires and the logistical realities of evacuating remote communities.

Mr. Speaker, I am calling on the Minister of Environment and Climate Change to review wildfire response protocols. We need earlier action, clearer communication, and stronger safeguards. Better communication both internally and within the GNWT and with community governments is a critical step towards ensuring that communities like Fort Providence are not left scrambling when danger is already at their doorstep. Our residents deserve better. They deserve a system that prioritizes safety and acts decisively. We need to learn from this experience and ensure that future wildfire responses are timely, proactive, and rooted in the realities of climate change. I am going to ask for unanimous consent to conclude my statement, Mr. Speaker.

---Unanimous consent granted

Thank you, colleagues. And I, too, would like to thank the community of Hay River for hosting the evacuees from Fort Providence, the K'atlodeeche First Nations for help assisting take care of the elders, and all the firefighters that came from far and from in the territory during this wildfire season. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On May 30th of this year, NTHSSA released a report that has yet to be discussed in this House. Today I want to talk about this report entitled Honouring the Voices of Indigenous Peoples. It is the product of two years of collaborative work of the Cultural Safety Design Collective with representation from NTHSSA, Indigenous patient advocates, Hay River HSSA, Tlicho Community Services Agency, and HSS.

The scope started with a review of Stanton's Indigenous wellness program but while listening to the lived experience of Indigenous folks, this scope grew to receive insights across the entire NWT health system. This report sets out 13 crucial actions for change to improve health care outcomes for Indigenous residents. It shares the voices and experiences of Indigenous patients and advocates and lays bare the system supports for Indigenous patients are under-resourced at best and, at worst, that the system is blatantly racist.

I want to commend everyone who worked on this report, and I urge all residents to read it. It is the first government report I have ever read that not only calls the lack of adequate educational and training supports for Indigenous patient liaison staff preposterous, it is also brave and unflinching in how it describes racism and white supremacy baked into the health system and insists that government must expedite work on the actions for change, citing the responsibility of leadership to address long-standing systemic harms.

An excerpt from the NTHSSA news release from May reads, quote, by embracing the 13 actions for change, health and social service authorities and the Department of Health and Social Services can honour the voices of Indigenous residents across the Northwest Territories and can address systemic barriers to provide equitable care, end quote.

So far, there is no public information as to whether HSS and various health authorities are actually implementing these actions or studying them to start to think about what implementation will look like. It is imperative that this government fully implement the 13 actions for change. I will have questions for the Minister of health at the appropriate time.

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