Please be seated. I'd like to thank Elder Mitchell for the reflection today.

Ministers' statements. Minister for Housing NWT.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about the recent Housing Symposium that was hosted by the NWT Housing Forum on January 22nd and 23rd in Yellowknife. This year's symposium marked the first in-person gathering since the forum began in 2023. Over the course of two days, we engaged in important discussions, shared innovative ideas, and strengthened our partnerships.

I want to extend my gratitude to over 85 representatives from Indigenous governments, bands, non-governmental organizations, municipal and community governments, industry, and the federal and territorial governments who participated in this year's symposium. Your involvement demonstrates our shared commitment to solving housing challenges in the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, the symposium explored key topics such as skills and workforce development, the housing needs assessment, construction and design innovation, federal funding, service integration, and housing stability. These discussions are crucial for creating sustainable housing solutions, especially for our most vulnerable populations.

One of the key outcomes of this year's symposium was the reinforcement of our partnerships and collaboration opportunities. By working together, we can present a united voice to the federal government highlighting the unique housing needs of the NWT and advocating for the necessary support and resources.

Mr. Speaker, the symposium included an inspiring keynote speaker, Mr. David Fortin, a Metis architect. David emphasized the same teachings Indigenous people have valued for centuries - green architecture, natural materials, sustainability, and connection with the earth to inform the design of homes. He described houses as living organisms that should co-exist with the culture, language, and values of their inhabitants.

I am particularly encouraged by the emphasis on construction design and innovation, highlighting the importance of a sustainable and culturally relevant housing solution for the North.

Ne'rahten Developments Ltd and Taylor Architecture Group presented updates on the K'asho Got'ine Housing Society construction centre, emphasizing its role in creating jobs and fostering economic stability through local employment and training. Additionally, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, in collaboration with the Taylor Architecture Group, introduced a new housing design catalogue aimed at providing adaptable and energy-efficient housing designs tailored to the unique needs of northern communities. These initiatives underscore the forum's commitment to leveraging innovative construction practices to address the pressing housing challenges in the Northwest Territories. There were also sessions on skills and workforce development.

Mr. Speaker, I am confident that the insights and strategies developed during this symposium will guide us in building a stronger, more resilient housing sector in the NWT. Together, we can ensure that every resident has access to safe, affordable, and sustainable housing. Quyananni, Mr. Speaker.

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

Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise the House that the honourable Member from Hay River North, the Premier, will be absent from the House for the remainder of this week to attend to the Council of Federation in Washington, DC. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Deputy Premier. Ministers' statements. Members' statements. Member from Range Lake.

Mr. Speaker, we certainly have our work cut out for us here in this chamber. From mine closures to the housing crisis, Arctic sovereignty to Indigenous reconciliation, there is no shortage of complicated issues we've been elected to find solutions for. Today, however, I want to speak about a problem that is much simpler to understand but just as serious to the safety and well-being of the public - crosswalks and intersections.

The problem is clear-cut. Motorists are going to drive, pedestrians are going to walk, and children are often going to be a little less predictable when they appear. Yet, we have crosswalks in my riding of Range Lake where the lights aren't functioning at all or don't even exist at all. Just in front of Range Lake North School at Borden Drive and Rivett Crescent, my constituents have been crossing without knowledge that a button they pressed did not initiate a warning to drivers that they were present resulting in some extremely close calls. This issue was a fairly major concern in the riding and actually made the local news.

Farther up Borden Drive, the crosswalk between Nova Plaza and Walmart has no lights at all. On some days, that narrow stretch of road can be best described as organized chaos. The flow of vehicles is constant, especially as those which turn in often, quickly turn once more to the parking lot at their destination. Meanwhile, people are often frustratedly standing trying to cross, and just a few metres beyond, that lies a busy bus stop on a tight bend.

I do want to commend the city of Yellowknife for quickly initiating repairs to the crosswalk lights by Range Lake North School and adding temporary signage to minimize any confusions. In fact, as I drove in to work today, I saw a crew of workers from the city finally fixing these lights. This may be a Range Lake issue, but truly all politics begins at a local level. My Range Lake constituents brought these concerns forward, the local administration applied their knowledge and resources to find the solutions, so now we have to do our part contributing the resources necessary to ensure school zones are the safest they can be and no matter the mode of transportation, everyone can get to and from their destination safely. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Choosing our youth for the public service:

Mr. Speaker, Indigenous youth are the future of the NWT, and we need more young people in the public service, Mr. Speaker. In April, the government will implement a new Indigenous employment policy. The Minister of Finance has said her department will now focus on recruiting people who are Indigenous to the present boundaries of the Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker, I am concerned for our youth. They are already on an uneven playing field when we look at outcomes in our education system.

Many young people leave the territory for post-secondary education. We need to give them a reason to come back. We need to prioritize Indigenous students seeking public service employment under programs like the Schools North Apprenticeship Program (SNAP) and the summer student employment programs as well as internships. The government must do more to advertise in small communities. They must recruit Indigenous students and allow more time for students to apply for job postings.

The GNWT increased the amount of student financial assistance funding. Mr. Speaker, this is great news for Indigenous students pursuing post-secondary education but we need to incentivize, train, and retain our youth. Let's keep our best and our brightest in the territory whether that means co-op placements within vacant GNWT positions or transitioning students from Aurora College into GNWT jobs. More must be done to place Indigenous youth in the GNWT and keep them there. I will have questions for the Minister of Finance. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Happy Black History Month. Once again, the black advocacy coalition Up North, or Back Up North, is holding many free events and workshops throughout the month of February. Our territory is richer for all the contributions of its black residents from the worldwide diaspora, Mr. Speaker, and these events help us celebrate our neighbours.

Back Up North has already held a mental health workshop and a workshop on AI and the impact on black businesses. Still to come is a cooking workshop this weekend from 11 to 5 both days at Ecole Allain St-Cyr; and, on Saturday, February 22nd, there will be a black arts exhibition here in the legislative Assembly's Great Hall including art, once again, from Inemesit Graham whose art I have promoted in this House in previous sittings.

Mr. Speaker, all these events culminate with the Black History Month gala at the Chateau Nova here in Yellowknife on March 8th. It promises to be an evening of elegance, live music, cultural performances, and celebration. Tickets go on sale tomorrow at noon so keep your eyes peeled to the Back Up North social media for tickets. It's quite the party, Mr. Speaker, and I hope many MLAs and residents can attend. Tickets are sure to sell out. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Closure of community learning centres: Mr. Speaker, the Sahtu region, like other regions of the Northwest Territories, heard loud and clear the closures of 19 community learning centres. Mr. Speaker, the Sahtu Secretariat Incorporated shares this frustration.

Mr. Speaker, of this, the Sahtu region will see nine job losses. This action has created a number of issues, barriers on capacity, at a time that is critically important on workforce readiness. Mr. Speaker, I highlight two major projects on our horizon: Number 1, the Norman Wells oil field closure; Number 2, the Yamoga, American, Fort Good Hope Construction Centre, a $15 million investment, this facility designed to build modular homes.

Mr. Speaker, education is a lifelong journey. Our success is our efforts as students, learners, parents, leaders, and more importantly as the government responsible for designing and implementation of a education curriculum that works.

Mr. Speaker, of these two initiatives are forecasted realities. I propose through collaboration, with the Department of ECE, the Sahtu can and must create a designed Indigenous northern training plan, a plan that is tailored by the Sahtu for the Sahtu. We are talking about our children's future.

Mr. Speaker, we have heard loud and clear on the demand for trades, professional positions, career security for our youth. Now the community learning centres' closures is a setback. However, as mentioned earlier, a joint regional leadership collaboration is inevitable. This approach will ensure, through meaningful engagements, discussions, renewed plans for the prosperity. Later I'll have questions for the appropriate Minister. Mahsi.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to speak today about a large military operation happening in Inuvik in the Beaufort Delta. Of course, Mr. Speaker, I'm talking about Operation Nanook. From February 4th until March 20th, upwards of about 750 military personnel, including a large reserve contingent from Newfoundland and Labrador and New Brunswick, as well as allies from the USA and Belgium, Mr. Speaker, and they're going to have air and ground exercises involving several other countries.

Mr. Speaker, this is a huge, obviously, economic benefit to the community of Inuvik, and the town of Inuvik alone, in just leasing of their space, upwards of $140,000, not to mention the equipment rentals, warehouse rentals, the impacts on our local stores, our craft shops, and so on and so forth, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, as well, a large contingent of senior federal officials to see the operation later in February will be coming up to Inuvik and to kind of better understand the role of Inuvik and the NWT in securing the Arctic. A large media contingent during the operation to report the events will include W5, CBC, and many others.

This event, Mr. Speaker, showcases how NATO and NORAD countries are working together in the Canadian Western Arctic that demonstrates the Canadian Armed Forces capability to protect and sustain forces in the High Arctic under the harshest conditions and test new capabilities with our allies.

Mr. Speaker, I was discouraged to hear the leader of the opposition publicly announce that they're going to be looking at building a new Arctic military base in Iqaluit. Not to disparage our friends in Nunavut but, Mr. Speaker, Inuvik has an FOL base with an airstrip that has been extended, as we know, to accept the latest USA fighter jets, and the strip will be continue to be upgraded and fully tarred up there, Mr. Speaker.

Inuvik, as you know, is already a NORAD base with the existing capacity to immediately house 250 military personnel, and it can readily accept the need for an expanded military base and supporting infrastructure.

Mr. Speaker, I'll be urging the Premier to reach out to whoever the next Prime Minister will be to certainly let them know that we expect the government to commit to not only fully funding the Mackenzie Valley Highway up to Tsiigehtchic to join into the Dempster Highway but certainly to make sure they do their homework and to realize that the practical reality is that Inuvik is best suited for this type of infrastructure, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Webster's dictionary defines quality as the totality of features and characteristics of a product or service that bears its ability to satisfy stated and implied needs. Patients who travel to Yellowknife are, indeed, not receiving quality service in terms of accommodations. Residents of my riding are stating that they are being treated like second or third-class citizens by their very own government.

When I last brought up this very concern in the fall of 2024, the Minister stated the current contract would be up and the new contract details will address this accommodation concern while I am still receiving calls to address this very concern. Mr. Speaker, every time the concern of Quality Inn comes before the Minister and her department, they do not have a concrete solution. Maybe the solution is out there in the communities and with its residents.

The Nunavut government is taking their health department to the communities and want to hear from their residents. Imagine if this government decided to conduct a community consultation within each of the communities throughout the Northwest Territories? This would be a milestone approach for this government.

Personally, I'm running out of questions to ask the Minister and her department as to why our Indigenous population is subject to these deplorable conditions. The details of their contract and/or lack of accommodations within the city is no longer a valid answer. The majority of these patients that are travelling to Yellowknife are for dental purposes. Last year, there was talk about sending some of the patients to a different jurisdiction to receive dental care. This option would assist in the concern of quality service. It would be good if the talks were still ongoing.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I do not know what else I can say to bring comfort to the residents of my riding who have to travel to Yellowknife and be placed in this establishment. Like I stated, maybe the general public has the answer. Let's take it to the communities and its residents and resolve its ongoing concern once and for all. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will have questions for the Minister responsible for Health and Social Services.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The legacy of colonialism in the North is just our legacy of intergenerational trauma due to the tragedy of residential school and many of the other practices which harm our culture and ways of life but also trauma and harms to our northern environment. Through the past decade, development in the North meant often little care was given to pollution and contaminants from industry which went on to cause chronic and acute illness still felt today and will be felt for a long time into the future.

My constituents of Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh have many of these issues -- illnesses present, especially cancer, which were unknown or rare just a few generations ago. These links, these illnesses, too many examples of neglectful practices from government and industry. We all know the example of Giant Mine just down the road and how it affected the Yellowknives Dene First Nation. But I want to bring forward another example from Lutselk'e that is lesser known outside the community.

In May 1970, a Wardair Bristol Freighter crashed on the ice. It was not a serious crash because all on board survived, but it could not be salvaged because it was firmly stuck in the ice that was about to melt. Therefore, it was left to sink just a short distance away from the community. They know where it is but it's not clear any assessment was done. A Bristol Freighter contains two 300-gallon fuel tanks, along with hydraulic fluids, and parts of that, when degraded, could be harmful to the environment. Because this plane sank in one piece with little damage, the fuel could still be leaking today. The community leaders want to bring these concerns forward and give the task to the GNWT who may need to partner with the federal government to help on this issue.

Like all communities, Lutselk'e wants to know if the territorial government will partner with them and connect them to more resources needed to clean up the surroundings from the harmful legacies of the past. And I will have questions for the Minister of ECC at the appropriate time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] INSERT* [Translation Ends].

Mr. Speaker, today I would like to talk about mental health supports, particularly in Deh Cho communities. Mr. Speaker, more and more people need access to mental health supports and shelter services. In the Budget Address last week, we heard that the government is focused on supporting changes that address the effects of trauma and that the GNWT will support residents with mental health and addiction needs, including walk-ins and same day access for community counselling.

Mr. Speaker, last November, the GNWT created an on-the-land camp along the Ingraham Trail only after shelters in Yellowknife reached capacity. I would like to see us support similar initiatives in Deh Cho communities. Mr. Speaker, people in my riding need recovery and mental wellness supports now and for when they return from treatment to be successful back home.

Recently, Deh Gah Gotie First Nation was awarded funding for a 60-bed supportive housing facility to help women and families in Fort Providence. This is good, Mr. Speaker, but the Government of the Northwest Territories needs to offer similar supports because 60 beds will fill up quickly.

The web page for the Deh Cho Regional Health and Social Services Authority states that it employs 90 employees who provide health and social services such as mental health and counselling. Residents need to know how they can access these services. I will have questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services at the appropriate time, Mr. Speaker. Mahsi.

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

Mr. Speaker, yesterday I tabled a report by the Dechinta Centre for Research and Learning which is an Indigenous-centered educational institution based here in the Northwest Territories. It integrates traditional knowledge and land-based learning into post-secondary education.

The report describes the results of a three-year study to determine what are the economic benefits of investing in Indigenous-centered adult education. Surveys and interviews were conducted with Dechinta students, alumni, staff, and elders to gather information on their educational goals and achievements, labour market participation, health, mental health, and life satisfaction.

The report focuses on the return on investment, specifically for Indigenous students living in the North. Now, unsurprisingly, both students and employed elders reported improvements in their health and mental health, but what is more remarkable is the concrete social and financial impacts that were documented. The report found that if you have a community where more Indigenous adults get even one year of post-secondary education, the all-cause mortality in that community -- so the number of deaths -- can be reduced by 9 percent. The estimated marginal tax revenue for just one cohort of Dechinta students is $3.6 million per year due to the increased labour market participation.

Yesterday I was talking about how adult education should not be treated as a remedial program that highlights someone's failures to graduate from high school. Instead, it can be transformative. And that's exactly what Dechinta is trying to do. Beyond individual literacy, beyond even family-based literacy, this is community-based literacy in action. The learning semesters involve everyone together out on the land, you have adult students along with elders, and even children's programs alongside them.

Now, Dechinta does not replace the need for other post-secondary options and the kinds of programs that are offered by colleges and polytechnic institutes and universities. Where Dechinta has been very effective is as a gateway for adults to build confidence that they do belong in secondary learning and they don't need to leave culture, community, and traditional knowledge behind to gain further education. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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