Debates of Oct. 29th, 2025

Before we start with Ministers' statements, I'd like to recognize some people in the gallery, We Always Remember the Circle. So Doreen Cleary, Paul Andrew, Mr. Stephen Kakfwi, former Premier, Member from 1987 to 2003, Gerri Sharpe, Bernice Lavoie, Marie Speakman, Wilbert Cook, William Greenland, Darrell Ohokannoak, Snookie Catholique, Marie Wilson, Jochim Bonnetrouge. Welcome to the Assembly, and great thank you for all the great work you are doing on this project.

As well, we have the Aurora College personal support workers. Thank you for the work you're doing and the career path you're going to move on to. So welcome to our Assembly.

And I would like to thank Shirley Elias for the opening prayer.

Minister's statements. Now we'll turn to the Premier.

Mr. Speaker, today I would like to share the meaningful progress we are making on the Truth and Reconciliation Call to Action number 82, which calls upon provincial and territorial governments, in collaboration with survivors, to commission and install a publicly accessible, highly visible, residential schools monument in each capital city to honour survivors and all the children who were lost to their families and communities.

In 2015, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission released Honouring the Truth, Reconciling for the Future, its summary final report. This landmark document and its recommendations confront the devastating legacy of residential schools in Canada and chart a path toward reconciliation. The TRC Calls to Action continue to shape public discourse about the actions required to achieve reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples.

Here in the NWT, where half our population is Indigenous, the painful legacy of residential schools run deep. The trauma lives on in communities, whether felt directly by survivors or carried by those who love them. As part of this government's mandate, we are addressing the ongoing effects of this trauma and supporting residents and communities on their healing journeys.

Mr. Speaker, to this end, the GNWT has committed to working alongside Dene, Metis, and Inuit communities to establish a permanent monument here in our capital city. The monument will honour the children who never returned home, as well as the survivors, their families, and their communities.

What makes this project special is that it is led by residential school survivors with the GNWT in a supporting role. Guiding the vision for this monument is the We Always Remember Circle for northern residential school survivors, also known as the WAR Circle. It brings together residential school survivors from across the NWT who contribute their own experiences and commitment to ensuring that as a territory and as a country, we never forget.

While the GNWT is funding the monument, the design will be chosen by the Members of the WAR Circle and the artist or artists they select. The GNWT will continue to provide project management support and to engage with Indigenous governments, survivors and residents. We aim to see the monument completed by June 2027.

Mr. Speaker, as a government we remember and honour survivors, their families and their communities, and are committed to continued healing and reconciliation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Premier. Ministers' statements. Minister responsible for Housing NWT.

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Auditor General of Canada released its report on the performance audit of Northwest Territories Housing. The auditor general's findings outline several areas where Housing NWT must improve how we provide residents most in need with equitable access to housing and supports through the public housing and homeownership programs.

Housing NWT accepts all recommendations outlined in the report. This is not just another audit, Mr. Speaker, this is a call to action. I acknowledge that action is required to address deficiencies identified in the report and am committed to delivering real change for residents across the Northwest Territories. Everyone deserves a place to call home.

The audit made recommendations related to the monitoring of local housing organizations on the allocation of public housing units and maintenance activities. The other areas covered by the audit included guidance and documentation of homeownership program eligibility and the need to evaluate Housing NWT's homeownership programs.

Mr. Speaker, Housing NWT began making changes to its program delivery through a renewal strategy in 2021. Of the 42 actions outlined in the strategy, 31 have been completed to date. Completed actions include revamping program delivery to be more client focused, removing barriers to housing and housing supports and developing an asset management policy framework to strengthen our public housing maintenance processes.

We are working on making principled changes to how we provide services Mr. Speaker; however, Housing NWT and I recognize that there is a lot more work to be done. The auditor general found that Housing NWT needs to better monitor public housing unit allocation and provide clearer guidance for local housing organizations. We have committed to address this by reviewing and updating our policies and procedures, building better systems to track maintenance, and training staff to apply these tools consistently across the territory.

In response to the recommendations, Mr. Speaker, we have also committed to conduct an external review of the governance and structure of our local housing organizations, including a jurisdictional scan of best practices. We will then engage with local housing organizations' boards of directors and staff to explore options for change.

The auditor general also identified a gap in monitoring of homeownership programs. Work has begun to address this gap by building capacity through the creation of a program evaluation analyst position. In response to the auditor general's recommendations, we also committed to conduct a full program evaluation of the emergency repair program by October 2027 and an additional evaluation design for homeownership repair. This work will build on the evaluation designs currently being developed for Housing NWT's market housing and public housing maintenance programs.

Mr. Speaker, the auditor general called for a better understanding of housing needs in the Northwest Territories. We have engaged with residents through the territorial housing needs assessment to better identify what housing supports are needed and where. This work, combined with Housing NWT's capital planning, resulted in the plans to construct 152 public housing units over the life of this Legislative Assembly, representing a significant $120 million investment. Over this same period, a further $30 million is being invested to support the delivery of over 500 public housing unit repairs to preserve our critical housing infrastructure across the territory. These investments demonstrate the efforts of this Legislative Assembly and Housing NWT to address our most critical housing needs.

Mr. Speaker, the auditor general also identified that Housing NWT needs stronger monitoring of the condition and maintenance of public housing. In response, Housing NWT will strengthen oversight through a modernized community housing services agreement with local housing organizations that formally documents our current maintenance reporting activities and sets clear performance measures. We will complete unit condition verifications for all local housing organizations, pilot third party condition assessments, and introduce the use of digital devices to improve accountability and timely maintenance.

When I visit communities, I see families doing their best in the homes that need major repairs. This is what drives me to push harder for solutions. We are making progress through repairs and unit replacements, but I acknowledge there is still much more work to be done to address our housing needs. In collaboration with Indigenous leaders from across the Northwest Territories, I am continuing to advocate for funding from the federal government to address our capital, operating, and maintenance needs.

This is not just an issue in the Northwest Territories. Recent audits across the North have highlighted similar challenges in limited resources and aging infrastructure. The message is clear: Northern housing requires federal support. I urge the federal government to step up as a partner to ensure all Northerners have access to safe, healthy homes.

Mr. Speaker, housing is more than a roof over our head; it is foundational to health, education, and economic opportunity. That is what guides me, and that is what will guide our work moving forward. With that perspective, Housing NWT is transitioning from the term "public" to "social" housing to better reflect the people-first nature of our services. This change is part of a broader shift in how Housing NWT thinks about the services we provide, not just as buildings or units, but as a service that supports our residents' well-being.

Mr. Speaker, I want to close by thanking the staff at Housing NWT and our local housing organizations. The changes we are making will continue to take time and teamwork, and I know our staff will be able and ready. Quyananni, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister responsible for Housing NWT. Ministers' statements. Members' statements. Member from Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I want to follow up on my statement yesterday about housing as a human right by speaking about how we can better hold landlords and tenants accountable. When your landlord is an investment trust based far away that sees your building as a tiny blip on a balance sheet rather than a home or a community, it's very difficult to hold them accountable.

It is positive that over the past few years Housing NWT has been moving towards owning its own buildings and away from leases with monopolistic real estate trusts, but there are also local landlords violating people's rights, including in my riding.

The chief rental officer in her last several reports noted that existing mechanisms in the Residential Tenancies Act do not seem to deter landlords that are repeat offenders. She recommended changing the Act to allow for summary offence tickets with minimum fines.

Mr. Speaker, when it comes to troublesome tenants, there are limitations on the extent that legal processes can really hold people accountable. We can punish them, issue fines, evict them, even throw them in jail for short periods, but if they don't have any money and not much to lose, what have we accomplished? Have we really held them accountable?

One way forward is more supported group living options. The Housing First program for single adults here in Yellowknife adopted a scattered site model where people in the highest need, who may have been coming off the street, are issued apartments scattered across town, and they're expected to live independently. But this hasn't worked very well. People often struggle on their own, there are home takeovers and buildings get damaged.

For many years, the Yellowknife Women's Society has been proposing that Housing First be consolidated into one dedicated building where the organization can ensure better security and provide steady wraparound support every day. Honestly, I don't think it's the presence of security guards that will make a difference. It's when you intentionally create a sense of community, when you're surrounded by people who both care about you and call you out on your nonsense, that's when you develop a sense of accountability.

Mr. Speaker, everyone needs to live somewhere, but our housing system only works if both landlords and tenants treat the buildings as homes where we're accountable --

-- thank you, Member from Yellowknife North. Your time is up. Thank you. Members' statements. Member from Great Slave.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, all mines eventually close. Although there have been decades of closure planning exercises conducted with multiple owners, with each owner having less financial capacity than the last, there are now publicly available examples of Burgundy not being able to cover its expenses as we head to the closure of Ekati mine. Burgundy has requested extensions for all required regulatory submissions and is failing to carry out its required environmental monitoring as it cannot currently pay its contractors to complete inspection reports.

Mr. Speaker, I am not trying to pick on any particular company. What I hope Cabinet and the public understands is that this situation is an example of what can happen to companies that operate mines as they scale down and scale back, especially companies without deep pockets, which should cause all of us pause if the future of mining in the NWT is small to medium operators.

Given the legacy of historically inadequate approaches to mine closure and remediation in the NWT, including the toxic legacy that sits mere minutes away from this House, today I will be seeking clarity from the Minister of Environment and Climate Change as to what plans his department has if and when a mining company passes the buck for reclamation onto our public government. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When Prime Minister Trudeau introduced $10 a day daycare, early learning and childcare became far more affordable for Canadians and for Northerners. This was a game changer for my family and many others in the NWT. For working parents with young children like me and my wife, affordable daycare isn't a luxury; it's a necessity. Now ECE's role in daycare services has significantly expanded and with it, the Minister's responsibility to ensure her department effectively manages partnerships with both day homes and childcare centres, ensuring subsidies and regulations are efficient and effective.

To build a network of quality and consistent affordable childcare in the North, providers must be properly paid, resourced, and trained. Yet day home operators, who are central to childcare delivery, continue to face the same frustrations over and over again: poor communication, rigid micromanagement, and unresponsiveness to their feedback.

Day home operators know best what works for them and their families and where the system is falling short, and what they are telling us is in no uncertain terms is that they do not have the resources they need to provide the quality of child care that Northerners deserve. They were promised annual funding increases, but their support has remained stagnant. Yet they are still expected to provide extra programming, after-hours care, and meals, all without the ability to charge additional fees for these services, unlike operators in other jurisdictions. Staff, meanwhile, are unfairly compensated for their work as day home operators with little recognition for longevity or education. In contrast, the wage grid for centre workers provides step recognition for years of service in the North, education, and Indigenous knowledge. One of the best ways to ensure quality is to reward skill and dedication, but this lack of incentive and recognition instead discourages day home staff and day homes from operating in the North.

Our day home operators are also highlighting a critical gap in childcare. These programs currently only accept children starting at two and a half years old. We need to lower those ages so we can have more infants in care because right now the program is largely based around older kids.

This year, the government gave $3.5 million to childcare centres but day homes are being left behind. They are on the frontline delivering critical services and must be treated as partners in shaping policy --

-- Member from Range Lake, your time is up. Thank you, Member from Range Lake.

Members' statements. Member from Inuvik Boot Lake.

Mr. Speaker, once again I rise to voice concerns brought to me by Indigenous governments and residents in my region regarding GNWT approach to traditional use cabins. Mr. Speaker, I've raised this issue twice in this Assembly. So after today, Mr. Speaker, it will be thrice I've raised this issue, Mr. Speaker. Thrice, still with no resolution, Mr. Speaker.

We have settled land claim agreements in my region that clearly state an agreement that provides for certain rights to Indigenous claimant groups to access and establish camps as part of exercising their right to harvest agreements and to harvest, Mr. Speaker, and these are agreements that we as a government signed.

In June 2023, Mr. Speaker, the then Member from Inuvik Twin Lakes provided a Member's statement following up on a motion she brought to this House in relation to Indigenous people having cabins for the rights-based purpose and how they should be exempt from lease payments for those rights-based cabins and camps, Mr. Speaker. Following several Members' statements on this issue, government made several key commitments that are meant to respond directly to the concerns raised by Indigenous governments:

1. Commitment to develop a unique authorization and management approach for traditional use cabins, camps, and cabins;
2. Agreeing to set the annual rent for this new authorization at zero cost or a nominal value of $1, eliminating this financial barrier to traditional land use; and,
3. Mr. Speaker, the GNWT committed to working collaboratively with Indigenous governments to establish the terms and conditions for this new authorization so that it provides a level of flexibility and regional customization while still meeting the GNWT's basic interests in the management of public lands in the NWT.

Time and time again, Mr. Speaker, the Minister has said we are working with Indigenous governments but when I speak to some Indigenous governments, they say they've been waiting on GNWT. So, Mr. Speaker, I have no idea when we'll figure this out and what is being done for the NWT rights-based cabin owners, Mr. Speaker. This is taking far too long, people are frustrated, they have suffered financial hardship, and Indigenous governments are fed up. We need to resolve this issue now, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in recognition of our colleague from Range Lake's red alert last week to the mining industry, I wish to share my concerns pragmatically regarding the precarious economic position as identified in the eyes wide open economic forecast. It is shocking, Mr. Speaker.

The GNWT will see Diavik royalty revenues cut off in the first quarter of 2026, just months away, while a nation building project such as the critical infrastructure developments are needed, indeed intended to replace the declining industry and diversifying our revenue streams. The timeline presents critical challenges that we cannot simply ignore.

Mr. Speaker, the federal minority governments historically never complete their term. Another election is a possibility within this term. I, for one, do not hope this becomes.

With the imposed Mackenzie Valley Highway environmental assessment extensions requested by this government, we are now looking at a possible three-year environmental assessment regulatory period before we can even break ground on projects essential to our economic survival.

Mr. Speaker, this fundamental misalignment between political reality and regulatory timelines put our territory's economic future at serious risk. We cannot afford to wait three years for approvals. What happens if the new government takes a different approach? Mr. Speaker, we need to act action now, not bureaucratic delays that stretch beyond election cycles. Mahsi.

Thank you, Member from the Sahtu. Members' statements. Member from Frame Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am following up on my statement earlier this sitting on the need for better literacy screening and supports in our schools.

In response to my questions on October 20th, the ECE Minister noted there is currently no intent to update the NWT literacy strategy which expired in 2018 and referenced the 2030 early learning and childcare strategy as well as the early learning framework, suggesting both documents emphasized literacy. So naturally I reviewed these documents. And, Mr. Speaker, literacy is not mentioned once in either of them, nor is reading. So while they might speak to early learning related to literacy, they are not at all a replacement for a literacy strategy which addresses literacy from childhood through adulthood that the previous literacy strategy did.

Furthermore, I understand that the community literacy development fund is still administered under the expired literacy strategy. So we're funding programming under a strategy which expired seven years ago. It doesn't make sense to me, and I'll be seeking clarification on this later today.

In her responses to my earlier questions, the Minister also noted that our schools have shifted to the BC curriculum which has an assessment framework and tools will be afforded to teachers to do these assessments. I do appreciate that, and I appreciate the Minister's commitment to look into the screening of assessment tools used in other jurisdictions to see if we need to be doing more. In BC, early literacy screening intervention and outreach support for schools, including school district professional development, was scheduled to begin rollout in the 2024-2025 school year. The BC government announced an investment of $30 million over three years to expand the services of several provincial outreach programs and teams and support literacy focused professional development and training for teachers and support staff. The new professional development and training will help K to 12 teachers and support staff build the knowledge, tools, and evidence-based strategies needed to support the diverse literacy needs of all students, including those beyond grade 3. This includes workshops and resources for supporting students with learning disabilities.

So BC is a good example of a jurisdiction which is taking responsibility for and addressing literacy in schools. I think the NWT government needs to follow suit and take responsibility for its role in ensuring literacy screening and support is provided. I'll have further questions for the Minister later today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Frame Lake. Members' statements. Member from Monfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Indeed housing did fail our people, especially in small communities. Mr. Speaker, across the NWT, many residents live in market rental units owned by Housing NWT. These homes have provided shelter and stability for many families, but the dreams of homeownership is not possible. It is unreachable for many.

Mr. Speaker, in communities where there is little to no housing market, residents cannot buy a house. There is no house listing, no private developers, and no banks offering mortgages. Yet these same residents have been paying rent, maintaining the house, and contributing to the communities. They are not just tenants, Mr. Speaker; they are the caretakers, neighbours, and community builders.

Mr. Speaker, Housing NWT is accepting all recommendations made as per the housing audit; therefore, I am calling on housing to transfer market rental units to long-term tenants similar to what is offered under the homeownership initiative to public housing tenants. This program support tenants in transitioning to ownership, and it should include market rental units in small communities where there is no housing market.

Mr. Speaker, transferring the ownership of these houses will empower. We know it will, that will empower the families with stability, dignity, and the ability to build equity. It would also reduce the long-term costs of maintaining these units for government while strengthening local economies and encouraging community pride. Mr. Speaker, I ask for unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

Mr. Speaker, this is a solution that aligns with our goals of reconciliation, self-sufficiency, and economic development. Mr. Speaker, this is not just about bricks and mortar. It is about fairness, opportunity, and hope. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a few parents recently reach out to me, and they talked about the challenges within the education system. Now, it's not a question of the school boards not meeting their needs; it's their inability to actually rise to the necessity. And it's not just these parents, Mr. Speaker; it's dozens upon dozens of parents struggling with these problems, not to mention one could only imagine the depth the problems get into the community. So what am I talking about? Assessments for students, Mr. Speaker.

We have children who are going unassessed. Their learning disabilities are being ignored or overlooked only because we don't have the staff or the abilities to rise to these occasions. Mr. Speaker, collectively, some parents have more than one child struggling with learning disabilities, whether it's considered things like autism, dyslexia, or other types of matters, Mr. Speaker, before them. These are day-to-day struggles some of these parents cover with.

Now to put this unfairly maybe on the school system wouldn't be necessarily the right approach, but the reality is they are the ones with the tools and mechanisms to support these parents. That said, they have limited resources. We all know that. So when you're a lucky parent who has a child who can go through the SLP program, many parents tell me they've been on the list so long their kids age out before they actually get services. So parents then step up and pay for the assessments on their own. Some costs as high as $3,000, Mr. Speaker. And if you don't have a program, whether you're through a government insurance program or something to pay for it, you've got to work for that extra scratch to be able to afford that.

Mr. Speaker, I believe deeply that many parents care very much about their children as a general rule, but that said, I mean, some people just don't have the money no matter how much they care about their children; they just can't afford it. But some do. Some make sacrifices, and they pursue these assessments on their own.

The assessments are very expensive, but the question starts to wonder is if the education system isn't able to rise to the necessity of assessing these kids and coming up with the right learning plans and support mechanisms, who should ultimately be responsible?

There are certain sections under the Education Act, in particular section 7, that talks about supports for children. Maybe we need to start asking ourselves if they can't get the supports here through the system, how are we supporting parents who are finding different methods to do this? Are we saying only the rich deserve support? I don't think that's fair. We should make sure it's equitable supports are available and in meaningful ways, so our young people have the tools they need to move forward in life in a productive way. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Colleagues, Mike Rowe was born on October 10, 1953, to Bill and Rita Rowe in Berwyn, Alberta. They moved north in 1955. From the very beginning, Mike was a natural-born protector. As his siblings came into the world, he wholeheartedly embraced the role of guardian and became a fierce source of strength, not only for his family but for friends and anyone in need.

Mike realized early on that school was not for him. He liked to work with his hands and being outside. Upon this realization, he made a deal with the administration - he would finish the school but by doing chores around the school yard. Once the school year was done, Mike was moving on to his next adventure - working for his dad.

Many people that knew Mike, he was a very competitive person. The family remembers Mike's great friend Alex Sunrise and how, on most days, they would have running races outside of St. Paul's School. It was not about the wins and loses; it was the competition and getting better. This same drive carried over to his business career.

As a young adult, Mike gained experience working for various companies, always with his dream of becoming a crane operator for NTCL. When he received a layoff notice in November, he took it as a sign to forge his own path.

In 1971, Mike married Linda Pynten and had 3 children, Will, Michael, and Lonnie. In 1975, Mike and Jack bought out their Dad and Keith Broadhead and started the journey of doing their business which we all know today is the Rowe's Group of Companies. In the late '80's Mike met his beloved wife Kim Squires-Rowe in Fort Simpson, and they had three children - Crystal, Ashley, and Julie.

I had the pleasure of knowing Mike both in Hay River and later in Fort Simpson. Unfortunately, years later Mike and Kim moved back to Hay River, but I got to run into him off and on throughout the years. Mike was always the same person throughout those years, always friendly and wanting to catch up on our families' adventures.

If you ask Mike what he was most proud of, he would always look at his family first. To many, Mike would always be remembered first as a tireless worker, a man of grit, reliability, and action. But it's those who knew him best, he was much more. His greatest pride and joy were his family. Every long day and every tough job he took was with them in mind. Mike was constantly thinking of ways to make life better for those he loved.

When it came to his business history, Mike, along with his brother Jack, created a company with strong ties in the North and family legacy. They had some tough times over the years but together, with their siblings and their desire to succeed, they forged to be a beacon with and today they are a huge part of the NWT.

Their company has provided to Fort Simpson, Hay River, and the North, employing a vast number of people doing large volumes of work.

I would like to thank Brad Mapes and the family for sharing his eulogy with me. As it is always difficult to share a celebration of life in a short amount of time, I highlighted a few moments here today. I will ask that this eulogy be deemed as read and printed in Hansard.

Colleagues, he will be sadly missed, and his memory will live on. God speed, Mike.

Eulogy of Mike Rowe Sr.

Mike Rowe began his journey on October 10, 1953, born to Bill and Rita Rowe in Berwyn Alberta. They moved North in 1955. From the very beginning, Mike was a natural-born protector. As his siblings—Jack, Becky, Owen, Greg, and Mark—came into the world, he wholeheartedly embraced the role of guardian and became a fierce source of strength, not only for his family but for friends and anyone in need.

Mike realized early on, during his middle school years, that he was far more at home working with his hands than sitting in a classroom. With a clear vision and a practical spirit, he made a deal with his school: he would attend, but instead of traditional lessons, he would perform chores around the grounds. It was understood on both sides that his formal schooling would not continue the following year. At just 12 years old, Mike began working for his father—pumping gas, changing tires, and doing whatever was needed around the shop.

When the flood of ‘63 occurred in Hay River, everybody pulled together to help. Mike's Dad would be assisting people that got stuck in the water with his tow truck, and Mike at the age of 10 years old stepped up in hooking up vehicles. At a young age Mike was a natural born leader. As a young adult, Mike gained experience working for various companies, always with the dream of becoming a crane operator for NTCL. When he received a layoff notice in November, he took it as a sign to forge his own path. True to form, Mike decided to paddle his own canoe—and for the next 50 years, he built a legacy through hard work and determination.

In 1971 Mike married Linda Pynten and had 3 children, Will, Michael and Lonnie. In 1975, Mike and Jack bought out their Dad Bill Rowe and Keith Broadhead and started the journey of starting their business which we all know today is the Rowe's Group of Companies. In the latter part of the ‘80's Mike met his beloved wife Kim Squires-Rowe in Fort Simpson and had 3 daughters, Crystal, Ashley and Julie.

Mike spent many years in Fort Simpson, but Hay River was home for most of his life. His love for his hometown of Hay River was always shown by his dedication to create a better community for all. When it came to his business history Mike along with his brother Jack created a company with strong ties to the north and family legacy. They had some tough times over the years but the two of them together, with their sibling's and their desire to succeed were a force to be recon with and today they are a huge part of the NWT. Their company has provided to our community and the north employing a vast number of people doing large volumes of work. Mike and Jack forged a good partnership feeding off each other's skills set. Mike never held a political office, but he truly was a leader for the North.

Alana Harris said it best, “In the construction world, strength, vision, and grit are essential. Mike had all three in abundance. He didn't just lead from the front; he rolled up his sleeves and worked with us, taught us, challenged us and inspired us. From late nights on job sites to early morning meetings with Dad's cookies he poured heart and soul into building not just a company, but an empire—one crushed stone, one road, one poured foundation, one trusted relationship at a time, but beyond the equipment the gravel production, the roads and contracts, Mike built people! What made Mike Sr different wasn't just his business savvy or work ethic, it was his character, Integrity, loyalty, generosity, and fierce dedication. He took care of the people who worked with him, not just as employees, but as family. And for many of us, that's exactly what we became.”

Beyond work, Mike never missed the opportunity to get in a good ole two step...especially with his Love Kim, enjoying time at the cabin by the lake, the thrill of jet boat racing, cheering for the Oilers, and watching classic westerns. But his happiest moments were always those spent surrounded by loved ones. If you ask Mike what he was most proud of he always looked to his family first. To many, Mike will be remembered first as a tireless worker—a man of grit, reliability, and action. But to those who knew him best, he was so much more. His greatest pride and joy was his family. Every long day and every tough job he undertook was with them in mind. Mike was constantly thinking of ways to make life better for those he loved.

Mike is survived by his beloved wife, Kim Squires-Rowe; his children: Will Pynten, Mike Rowe Jr., Lonnie Boxer (Donny), Crystal Squires-Rowe, Ashley Phillips-Rowe (Stu), and Julie Squires-Rowe; his grandchildren: Shawn Rowe, Shyla Rowe, Alexis Pynten, Mason Boxer, Aspen Phillips-Rowe, and Emma Phillips-Rowe; and his great-granddaughter, Mila Maurice-Rowe.

He also leaves behind his siblings: Jack (Velma), Becky (Dan), Owen (Lisa), Greg (Karen), Mark (Cathy); his extended family through Kim: Keith Squires (Janet), Clarence Jr., Kathy, and Jessica (Conrad); as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Mike is predeceased by his Parents Bill and Rita Rowe, Father, and Mother-in-law Clarance and Kathleen Squires, Daughter in Law Shawna Pynten, and Nephew Brandon Squires.

Mike will be remembered as a man with a plan—a steady and guiding presence, full of strength, quick wit, warm hugs, and a helping hand. As his mother once said, “Mike came into the world fast, hard, and furious,” and that is exactly how he lived: full of purpose, love, and pride.

Members' statements. Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the auditor general report on housing in the NWT was released. While I was shocked by its findings, I was not surprised. As the MLA for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh representing the Akaitcho communities that have long been marginalized, I have seen firsthand the lack of services, including housing, that my constituents face. This report reflects what I've been hearing from residents since my election, but seeing it all documented in one report is still deeply shocking.

As an MLA, I am constantly bringing it to the Minister's attention public housing units that are in desperate need of repair. This report confirms the obvious, that the homes are not inspected frequently enough. Delayed inspection means delayed repairs. And when I visit communities like Lutselk'e and Fort Resolution, I see stairs falling off the houses, furnaces spewing ashes into the hallways, and windows and doors improperly sealed. My constituents repeatedly ask me to raise these concerns, yet they are often referred back to the local housing authority which lack resources to make the necessary repairs.

I am also not surprised to see that the average wait time to access a housing unit is two years. Elders and families are always asking me why they can't get homes or why homes are sitting vacant, instead they are living together in a crowded condition or in homes that are even far worse shape than public housing without running water, electricity, or plumbing.

Housing NWT will not last forever. Its funding from CMHC is set to end in a decade. This massive bureaucracy centralized in Yellowknife is failing to relay information from my communities to get resources to them in a timely manner. It feels as though every housing problem becomes a political issue. I work with the Minister to resolve many of these cases, but there simply isn't enough time to address them all.

What we need is a housing authority led by communities themselves with a capacity to get the work done. I appreciate the Minister's focus on decentralizing housing, but this work needs to be top priority for this government before it runs out. I would have questions for the Minister of Housing at the appropriate time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. Members' statements. Returns to oral questions. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier today we were joined by members of the WAR Circle, the We Always Remember Circle. And we have a couple members still left in the gallery I would like to recognize. Gerri Sharpe and Doreen Cleary who was actually one of the co-chairs of the WAR Circle. It's an honour to have them here with us today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Hay River North. Member from Yellowknife North.

All of Yellowknife I represent today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just wanted to acknowledge and recognize Yellowknife North constituents Marie Wilson, Steven Kakfwi, and Paul Andrew. I am quite honoured to have such distinguished Northerners in the Yellowknife North riding. Former Truth and Reconciliation Commissioner Marie Wilson, also a member of the Order of the NWT and the Order of Canada. Of course, Steven Kakfwi, a former Premier and the longest serving Cabinet member in NWT history. And Paul Andrew, recipient of the Order of the NWT and a national Aboriginal Achievement Award winner. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I'm grateful that they could take the time to be here today.

Thank you, Member from Yellowknife North. I got it right this time. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member from Frame Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Premier beat me to it, but I also wanted to recognize Doreen Cleary and Gerri Sharpe who hail from the Frame Lake riding. Thank you for being here today. Thank you.

Thank you, Member from Frame Lake. Member from Sahtu.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I too would like to recognize Doreen Cleary, a longtime friend of the family. Mahsi.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I too would like to recognize Doreen Cleary, a family friend as well, and Gerri Sharpe as well, and everybody else in the audience. Thank you.

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

If we missed anyone in the gallery today, welcome to your chambers. Thank you very much for allowing us 19 people to represent the people of the Northwest Territories. I hope you are enjoying the proceedings. It's always nice to see people in the gallery.

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Acknowledgements. Oral questions. Member from Great Slave.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of ECC.

Mr. Speaker, can the Minister explain as to whether the GNWT still considers surety bonds a reasonable fiscal instrument for mining reclamation, or are they being phased out for more solvent instruments in case of company bankruptcy? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Great Slave. Minister of ECC.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the surety bonds are still considered a very valuable type of security for this type of reclamation guarantee, and they are an asset that is fully able to be called upon on demand. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it's important that the GNWT and residents know the fiscal capacity of mining operators. I would like to understand and have the Minister explain the process that GNWT takes to assess whether a company is deemed to be an assignment which would require a test of financial capacity. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the process to determine if a company is an assignment or not is one that would require me to make an interpretation of something that I don't feel I'm comfortable with doing on the floor, as I also wear the hat as attorney general, and this is a legal interpretation, and I would not be able to answer that question at this time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister of ECC. Member from Great Slave. Final supplementary.

Mr. Speaker, if a mining company declares bankruptcy and reclamation is now a responsibility of the GNWT, can the Minister explain which division or unit in the GNWT would be assigned this work to reclaim the mine and any associated expenses? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, within the division of lands, we have a team of -- I have to pull up the title here; give me one second.

Certainly, you know, the team that we have in place within lands is the land administration team which would be responsible for overseeing that process as the potential reclamation moves forward and would go back and look at how that process was entered into after a potential situation where a bankruptcy was declared. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister of ECC. Oral questions. Member from Frame Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of ECE.

Mr. Speaker, what is the rationale behind not renewing the 2008 to 2018 literacy strategy; did the mandate of the department change somehow? Thank you.

Thank you, Member from Frame Lake. Minister of ECC or ECE. Try that again.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, when we came in and started this Assembly, we actually talked as a group a lot about strategies. We talked about the multitude of strategies that we often find in government departments across the country that sometimes act as doorstops instead of guiding documents. And what we decided as a group is we wanted to see actionable, tangible items. We wanted to see programs being delivered rather than strategies being written. And so that has been my direction as Minister, that I want to see action in communities. And one of the things that we're working on right now is working to review the way that adult learning and basic education is delivered across the territory. Mind you, it was not something that was jump-started on our move, but it is work that is now being done holistically with communities that we will see evolve over the course of this Assembly. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I understand the Minister's point behind strategies; however, we are still funding programming using this strategy as I mentioned in the statement. Doesn't that necessarily suggest that the strategy should be up to date? Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. So, Mr. Speaker, all of our contribution agreements that we have within the Government of the Northwest Territories do come with an agreement. A memorandum of understanding is often also included in that. Many of them end up being redone year to year, and they use data in order to form what we're going to do. And we also work quite often with the NGOs that are applying on and receiving these contribution agreements in order to access this funding. And a lot of times, especially, you know, when we're talking about literacy, we're generally talking about a small handful of organizations, and they work most closely with residents and really are subject matter experts. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister for ECE. Final supplementary. Member from Frame Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I mentioned in my statement, the Minister made reference to the BC government because we have a BC curriculum. Will the Minister commit to funding screening, training, and support for students with learning disabilities for literacy as is being done in British Columbia? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. So, Mr. Speaker, we are in the process right now of finalizing a What We Heard report from the inclusive schooling review. That report will be out by the end of this calendar year and by the beginning of next calendar year, we will have a response to the recommendations from the government that I'm very happy to share and want to ensure that it's publicly accessible. And I fully intend from that and from the recommendations that come from that to have funding requests that I will in turn be working with my colleagues on. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister of ECE. Oral questions. Member from Yellowknife Centre.

All right, thank you, Mr. Speaker. My Member's statement today I talked about the struggle parents are going through and, you know, while I had a modicum of energy the other night, I was perusing the Education Act. Why? Because, well, I couldn't even answer that. But that said -- but I had the energy. When I have parents telling me that their children have finally been diagnosed at their individual costs, whether it's for dyslexia, dyscalculia, or even expression or receptive problems with language and delays, they wonder where the education system is --

(audio).

They wonder where the education system is under section 7(2). Mr. Speaker, if the schools cannot provide these assessments, can parents do these on their own and seek reimbursement through the department of education? Thank you.

Thank you, Member from Yellowknife Centre. Minister of ECE.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So, Mr. Speaker, the way that our system is structured today, that funding request would have to go to the education body itself. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I said in my statement, these can cost $3,000, even parents paying up to $6,000 per child for supports to get these actioned. Is the Minister saying that if parents request this through the educational body, the department of education will support these financial requests for these parents? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, what I'm saying is currently we have our school funding formula which turns around and funds education bodies. There is not a mechanism that these types of tests are currently supported through the department of education. One of the things that many education bodies do is look at their student body and find ways to support multiple students through the funding that they do have afforded to them. So any type of specialty type test that is done through the education body themselves would have to be done in discussion with the education body. I know that they do fund some specialty tests, but they do keep them to a minimum and do a certain number of them a year based on their funding. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister of ECE. Final supplementary. Member from Yellowknife Centre.

Mr. Speaker, I knew the Minister would just say that the money's within the system. But also there's a section called section 18(3), and it talks about where the Minister may provide funding for tuition fees and costs in their discretion, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate it's not mandatory, but it says may. So if we're not meeting the needs of the students to the best of abilities of the school system, can parents pursue these things, because some of them are waiting years to get help. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think this is critical information that we're going to get back from families in regards to the inclusive schooling review. We had a tremendous amount of families, of educators, of students participate in this review and explain their experience and their needs to the department of education, and I fully intend to use that information to form our next steps. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister of ECE. Oral questions. Member from Range Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, day homes are struggling with stagnant subsidy support from the government to provide $10 a day daycare. One of the things they're asking for is for additional services to be charged back to clients. This is something clients are okay with. It's something that already happens in Alberta and other jurisdictions. Will the Minister permit day homes to charge additional services -- charge for additional services they provide? Thank you.

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

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. So, Mr. Speaker, we -- sorry, Alberta calls those voluntary service fees, and we have gone back to our daycare and day home providers and said that they're able to do the same thing that Alberta is doing. I've also expressed this to the NWT Early Childhood Association as well. There are some rules around that in that the fees do need to be voluntary and that they can't hold back other kids within the system if their families are unable to meet the requirements or the asks of the voluntary fee. Thank you.

I am going to take that as a yes, Mr. Speaker. So thank you for that to the Minister, and I hope she communicates that to day homes soon because they're still unaware of that change.

Mr. Speaker, the work of day home providers is different from daycare centre providers. Their wage grid does not take into account longevity of service provided in the North, education, or Indigenous knowledge. Will the Minister update the wage subsidy for day home providers so it reaches parity with daycare centre providers so we're not playing on two different playing fields.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. So, Mr. Speaker, in regards to the Member's first question about the voluntary fees, a letter did go out to daycare and day home service providers in April of this year explaining how they can go about using that, and I also was able to reiterate that in my recent meeting with the NWT ECA as well.

In regards to the salaries for daycare and day homes, what we were able to do is, with our best data, look at the average salaries across the board that people are collecting and make sure that they were on par, and the work that we did earlier this year was in order to bring up the wage of daycare service providers because it was significantly lower. And so we were able to use the $3.5 million that the Member referenced in order to do that.

It is worth saying, Mr. Speaker, that this program is costing jurisdictions across the country a tremendous amount of money in order to administer. It is not properly funded for us to be able to administer this federal program the way we'd like to do so. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I still think we should have fair compensation for day home operators that are doing the same work; they're just not getting paid the same amount.

Mr. Speaker, currently the age ratios for younger kids is -- needs to be adjusted -- let's just put it that way -- to 18 months and under. If we did that, we'd get more infants into these spaces. Right now, it's really only about the older kids. Will the Minister change the definition for infants to 18 months and younger so we can get more kids into care, get more people back to the workforce after their parental leave, and start making a difference in the lives of northern families? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So, Mr. Speaker, this month I had the opportunity to sit down with the NWT Early Childhood Association. We talked about some different ideas like this to increase flexibility and also make sure that we're working together to best serve residents of the Northwest Territories. I agreed with them that I would work with them on some of these ideas. Age range is one of those ideas, and the department continues to work on that, and I'm happy -- sorry, I'm speaking way too fast because I'm excited about this one. So yes, very happy to work with the Member and continue working with the NWT Early Childhood Association on ways that we can make changes. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Oral questions. Member from Inuvik Boot Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, following up on my Member's statement, I have questions for the Minister of ECC.

Mr. Speaker, when is the Minister -- or can I get a commitment from the Minister or an update -- I should say -- from the Minister on the commitments that I outlined in my Member's statement regarding the traditional use cabins? Where are we with that, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Inuvik Boot Lake. The Minister for ECC.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the Member for the question. I know this has come up a number of times on the floor of this House, and I'm very happy to speak to it. It's certainly one of my more passionate areas that I'm trying to advance.

So to date, we have -- you know, we've proposed an amendment to the NWT land regulations to reduce the rent rate down to a dollar. We're currently working with the Intergovernmental Council Secretariat and Indigenous governments on this process. As recently as a week or two ago, there was a meeting of the technical working group where GCC took part in that discussion to ensure that, you know, we're trying to pursue this. And I've said on the floor of this House before, this is really a collaborative effort between the GNWT as well as all of the Indigenous governments and Indigenous organizations and certainly want to respect that process, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I certainly appreciate the Minister is passionate about this. We've had obviously several conversations around this, Mr. Speaker. But when it comes to working shoulder to shoulder, when it comes to reconciliation, Mr. Speaker, this is low-hanging fruit. We should have this work done. This is now the second Assembly, and what I don't want to see is this moving into the 21st Assembly. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister give me a timeline on when we anticipate this work will be done and ready to proceed? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I know this is going to be hard for the Member to hear. You know, I can't commit to a timeline because I really have to respect the collaborative protocol that guides this work. And, you know, it's recognized of value in achieving this work, but we can only get there through a collaborative process that ensures that we're respecting all parties, and there's not always necessarily perfect alignment amongst -- we have a number of Indigenous governments and Indigenous organizations at the table as we go through this work and, you know, we want to ensure that we're respecting everyone's independent position and that we're collaborating and working together for results that are, you know, action-oriented at the end of the day and that meet everybody's needs. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister of ECC. Oral questions. Final supplementary. Member from Inuvik Boot Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Certainly, you know, the Indigenous residents and Indigenous governments I speak to are ready to get this work done. As I said, it is low-hanging fruit. Can -- you know, whether the Minister can commit to this but what I'd like to know from this Minister, are we working towards zero or nominal leases for Indigenous rights-based cabins and camps for harvesting in the Beaufort Delta? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And, Mr. Speaker, I think I've said this many times. My goal here is to have the Indigenous governments and Indigenous organizations come forward with paths forward that work for everyone. And my goal at the end of the day is to have a zero-dollar fee attached to this. I think, you know, in the interim, we have the ability to move down to a nominal fee, which is as low as we can go, down to a dollar within the legislation. And I think that's our interim target as we work together collaboratively to find a solution to this once and for all and get that fee down to zero dollars. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister of ECC. Oral questions. Member for Monfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it is good to hear Housing NWT will accept all recommendation made in housing audit. Mr. Speaker, I assume accepting recommendation means commitment as well. With that in mind, Mr. Speaker, many of my constituents have asked about the possibility of having ownership of their market rental unit transferred to them. Has Housing NWT conducted any assessments or consultation with residents in small communities to determine interest or readiness for ownership transfer of market rental units? And if not, will the Minister commit to initiating this engagement? Thank you.

Thank you, Member from Monfwi. Minister responsible for Housing NWT.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, over the last year, Housing NWT has conducted a territorial housing needs assessment going into community to look at the quantitative portion but also the qualitative portion of housing units. We also follow the unit condition rating, and we do assess the market and public housing unit stock within community. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my region market rental unit, despite the condition of the unit, tenants are paying $1,900 monthly in rent. So I want to ask the Minister what step is Housing NWT taking to support homeownership in communities where private housing market are limited or nonexistent and how will the department ensure that Northerners in these areas are not left behind in housing policy decisions? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the Member for the question. This question in her riding is a question in many other ridings because people want to be homeowners, they want to contribute to their household, and they want to stay in that community. So this is the conversation I'm having with housing, and I'm happy that the Office of the Auditor General raised this in their report because it provides us even more of an urgency to get this done. Homeownership program is going to have a fulsome review with Housing NWT and how we deliver that, and especially in small community, small and remote community, is really important. We need to provide them the same access to the ability to buy a home as any other larger centre. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister responsible for Housing NWT. Final supplementary. Member from Monfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, when I'm speaking I'm not only speaking for my region, but I'm speaking for the rest of the Northwest Territories. So there's a lot of people that are in the same situation. I know that.

So with all the recommendation made -- or with accepting all the recommendation, Mr. Speaker, will the Minister commit to exploring a policy that allows long-term tenants in market rental unit, especially in small communities with no housing market, to transition into homeownership through a formal transfer of ownership? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And, again, a really important conversation that we're having at Housing NWT is how we're supporting small community, how we're supporting people to remain in their community and to live within their community and providing those supports, and I do commit to working with Housing NWT to provide a good, solid review of the homeownership program and how we can deliver positive results. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister responsible for Housing NWT. Oral questions. Member from Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. For my first set of questions, I want to ask the Minister of Environment and Climate Change.

Now, we know that a significant problem holding back the development of land and new housing in the city of Yellowknife, as well as broader economic opportunity, is the lack of an arrangement for timely and efficient transfer of Commissioner's land to the city of Yellowknife. The Minister mentioned earlier this sitting that there's a memorandum of collaboration in place with the city that allows this transfer to go ahead, but there remain a number of barriers that make it, practically speaking, impossible. So is the Minister pursuing targeted amendments to the Land Titles Act and related legislation that would simplify surveying requirements since this is currently a barrier that makes it prohibitively expensive? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Yellowknife North. Minister of ECC.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, amendments to the Land Titles Act are not being considered by the Department of Justice for the remainder of this Assembly; however, we are working at the department and pursuing amendments to the Land Titles Act for the 21st Assembly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So I'd like to point out that the rules for transferring land from the Government of Canada to the GNWT are much simpler, and they still do require surveying, though, before municipal disposal. So what exactly is preventing the GNWT from using a similar model for when it transfers territorial land to municipalities? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, devolution was a delegation of administration and control of Crown land from the federal government to the GNWT. Land administered by the GNWT is not titled to the GNWT but titled to the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, and that is federally appointed. Also, the GNWT is an arm of the Crown. A municipal government is not. And the devolution of administration and control authorities is not something the GNWT can further devolve. And I just wanted to point out as well that plans of survey are a functional requirement of the land title system, and that is mandated by federal legislation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister of ECC. Final supplementary. Member from Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So aside from legislative change, can the Minister commit to establishing a dedicated project manager within ECC to at least help coordinate interdepartmental and intergovernmental land transfer since even under the current rules, capacity constraints seem to be slowing down land transfer? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, ECC has a dedicated senior land administrator for land transfers and given the demand for land, ECC is increasing its capacity in this area to support this important work. And I also wanted to mention that -- and I didn't mention in my first two answers, but consultation is a big part of this as well. We do have a consultation requirement in this process that I was remiss in not mentioning earlier. You know, this is consistent with the government -- our mandate to support land for housing, and I think we're working toward that. And prioritizing all land applications for housing is an initiative all across the NWT. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister of ECC. Oral questions. Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Mr. Speaker, when my constituents, particularly in Fort Resolution, read this report on housing, they see their own struggles with their own local housing authority reflected in it. Now that their housing authority is under administration, can the Minister reinsure my constituents that positive change is coming to public housing in their community? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. Minister responsible for Housing NWT.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, Mr. Speaker, I think the auditor general report, again, is a wake-up call, and I've committed to this call to action and moving forward, working with the local housing organizations and the district offices as well as headquarters to monitor and improve the housing conditions within community. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Several of my constituents want to move from their public housing units in one community to a unit in another community. Currently, they must transfer out of the existing unit before they secure a new one, and this process is confusing and slow. Can the Minister commit to allowing public housing residents to secure a spot in another community first and then transfer them to that unit so they can access housing more quickly? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, that's a tough one. First of all, the local housing organizations have a community housing services agreement with Housing NWT so local housing organizations are the ones that manage the stock, the housing stock, at the local level, and many times they have, and probably all times, they have a residency requirement. So transferring from community to community when there's no housing within community to transfer to is a tough one. So there's many barriers. We can have a conversation, but I would leave this at the local housing organization level because we're not there, I'm not living it, I don't see the -- you know, many times what's happening at the local level. So that's why housing organizations are so important to have. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister responsible for Housing NWT. Final supplementary. Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Many of my constituents, particularly from Yellowknives Dene First Nation or Lutselk'e Dene First Nation, live in public housing here in Yellowknife. They face numerous challenges and they're often confused with the housing authority regarding their residency when they need to travel for work, go on the land, or return to their communities to care for elders. Could the Minister establish an Indigenous advocacy within the Yellowknife Housing Authority to represent these residents and address their unique challenges? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That is the Indigenous advocate or the housing advocate -- because we need to be an advocate for all people in the Northwest Territories -- is something that was identified in the Office of the Auditor General report, and I've asked Housing NWT to provide me a response and a plan moving forward. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister responsible for Housing NWT. Oral questions. Member from Great Slave.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Upon reflection, I am going to try and ask a question to ECC a different way.

Mr. Speaker, what process does the GNWT follow to understand the fiscal capacity of a mining company? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Great Slave. Minister of ECC.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, assessing the fiscal capacity of a company is certainly part of the process when a company comes into the field of mining; however, it is not a responsibility that falls directly to the GNWT. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.