I'd like to thank Bertha Catholique for the opening prayer and reflections today.

Colleagues, before we start the day, there's a couple things I'd like to stress. Remember, we have the dignity to be able to speak in this House but make sure we do not bring other people's names into this place or businesses because they don't have the right to defend themselves. We do have some autonomy here but make sure we have the information that we say in this House that it's very clear and as truthful as we can be so that we don't impugn integrity of that.

The second thing is on Friday somebody scheduled it so that we wouldn't be able to do something to him, so I'm going to do it today. I'd to wish our clerk a Happy Belated Birthday; life is good. That red looks really nice on you, Mr. Clerk.

Ministers' statements. Mr. Premier.

Mr. Speaker, I recently had the privilege of travelling to Washington, D.C., with all of Canada's Premiers, an historic first that underscored our united Team Canada approach to strengthening relationships with the United States.
Canada's Premiers went to Washington to help American political and business leaders, and the American public, understand the negative economic consequences of the tariffs being proposed by the United States government. Tariffs would not only affect Canadians; they would also have direct and negative repercussions for American businesses, workers and consumers.

During our meetings with key members of Congress, the Senate, and senior White House officials, we delivered the unified message that a strong Canada-U.S. partnership is essential to addressing shared challenges. Collaboration, not protectionism, is the path to economic growth, energy security, effective border management, and secure critical mineral supply chains.

While the Northwest Territories is not as reliant on U.S. markets as many of our provincial counterparts, we are not immune to the ripple effects of these tariffs. We could see increased costs for goods that would impact all residents, businesses and governments in the NWT, and a changing investment climate could impact our economy. Our government will closely monitor any developments and work with our federal counterparts to address them.

Mr. Speaker, this trip was about much more than trade. It was about ensuring that the North is seen, heard, and understood. The Arctic and the North play an essential role in Canada's future, and Northerners themselves assert our country's sovereignty every day. By living and working here, stewarding the land and building the foundations of a thriving, sustainable economy, we show the world that the North is a vibrant part of our national identity.
Our presence is not passive; it is an active demonstration of sovereignty that demands meaningful investments in infrastructure, security, and economic development.

One message I shared in Washington was that, while the North is not for sale, it is a land of opportunity, and we welcome partnerships that respect our land and support our people. To take advantage of these opportunities, Canada must invest in the North, not only for the benefit of Northerners but for the security and economic prosperity of the entire country. Nation-building infrastructure, energy initiatives, and critical mineral development are national priorities that can reinforce our sovereignty and strengthen our economy. We will continue to seek and support the investments that sustain our communities and bolster our role within Canada.

While in Washington, I met with representatives from Alaska, Denmark, and Greenland to discuss Arctic security, economic development, and climate change, and to build relationships. As global interest in the Arctic grows, these relationships become ever more critical. With shifting geopolitical dynamics, the importance of a strong, resilient, and sustainable North has never been more clear.

Mr. Speaker, Canada's Premiers recognize that while we must address today's challenges, we must also unlock tomorrow's opportunities. The conversations we had in Washington, and the relationships we are building, all serve this larger effort. At the same time, federal, provincial, and territorial governments are working to bolster Canada's economic resilience by breaking down our own internal trade barriers and looking to new markets. By combining these efforts with investments in nation building infrastructure, we can assert Canada's place as a global, economic leader.

The Government of the Northwest Territories will keep working with our partners to realize the North's economic potential, support our communities, and strengthen our place in Canada for generations to come. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Premier. Ministers' statements. Members' statements. Member from Yellowknife North.

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and my colleague from Great Slave joined me in visiting Yellowknife high schools to hear directly from students what they think about this government's climate change action plan. Mr. Speaker, these young people were well spoken, thoughtful, and passionate, which wasn't a surprise, but what I did find remarkable was how laser focused they are on wanting to see action and measurable commitments to ensure a liveable planet even 10 or 20 years from now, let alone generations from now. They read through the draft plan, and they thought this plan is not speaking to me. Who was it written for? It's full of jargon and language about processes.

For example, one of the so-called actions listed in the plan says to update a climate change risk and opportunities assessment to inform the development of future frameworks and action plans. So to me, that says process piled on top of process.

There's a lot of emphasis in the plan on monitoring, but young people want to know what's the purpose of all that monitoring. How will that feed into decision-making? How will all this help us when we have low water levels and thin ice and caribou disappearing and forest fires at our doorsteps? How are we changing our energy systems to get off fossil fuels?

Youth are experiencing a lot of anxiety about climate change and the future, and so much is outside their control and even outside our control in the NWT. Political winds are shifting around the world, and chaotic and destructive decisions affecting the climate are being made without any of our input. It's worrisome how extremely dependent the GNWT is on federal funding to action most of our climate change and energy goals.

Now, the best remedy for anxiety is to take back control into our own hands. Yesterday the young people we spoke to named specific kinds of climate action they want to be part of that will also build community at the same time. For example, more community greenhouses, volunteering at the farmers' market, making our streets more walkable and bikeable, which also creates more traffic to our downtown businesses and boosts our local economy. While lots of things are harder in the North, the students notice that some things are easier. Mr. Speaker, I ask for unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

There is a nay. Members' statements. Member from Range Lake.

Mr. Speaker, our pets are Members of our families. We welcome them into our home the where we love and care for them in return only for their unending companionship. All pet owners recall fondly of how their bond WITH their pets was first made, and for many that connection is made at a local shelter where dogs and cats are housed and cared for by staff and volunteers in preparation for the day they find their furever homes. Those animals may have nowhere else to turn at first, but thanks to the hard work of animal shelters, they soon find their place in this world, and in turn, those animal shelters find a valued place in our communities because we can't get enough of the compassion and humanity they inspire.

Unfortunately, while the NWT SPCA has that cherished place in our communities, they have no place in our territorial budget. Instead, they must rely almost entirely on donations from citizens and businesses to fund their operations which can top off as high as $700,000 annually. Donations are always appreciated, but they often require fundraising efforts and may not be consistent yearround, and larger donations may be narrowly dedicated solely to animal welfare alone and cannot be spent on administration or employee wages. In fact, the NWT SPCA only receives stable funding from the city of Yellowknife thanks to their work housing stray animals that bylaw apprehends.

Mr. Speaker, the NWT SPCA is not the Yellowknife SPCA. They serve the whole territory taking in cats and dogs as close by as Behchoko and as far as away as Gjoa Haven. They run clinics across the North treating dogs and providing crucial work spaying and neutering them. Mr. Speaker, the SPCA also provides services that can't be accessed in small communities by flying in teams of vets from southern Canada. Everyone in our territory, both human and animal alike, benefit immensely from the work of the NWT SPCA but they need to have territorial funding that fits them. They don't meet the criteria for NGO funding. They cannot access ITI funding as a non-profit. And MACA insists funding won't be made available to them unless communities apply for it themselves.

Mr. Speaker, the SPCA knows best what they need. Northerners trust them enough to donate thousands of dollars each year. It's time this government does the same and provides them with the stability to get cats and dogs into the homes they deserve. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Sahtu winter road season is critical to the region's resupply. Trucking schedules must be maintained. More importantly, the winter road itself must be supported by sufficient resources for efficiencies, trucking turnarounds, etcetera.

Mr. Speaker, the original truckload estimates destined for the Sahtu were in the neighbourhood of 1,000 loads. This includes essential supplies such as fuel products, not only to our government but the private sector as well, household staples, grocery inventories, and project materials. Mr. Speaker, I know of several projects that have a construction schedule, and they must meet this deadline for their resupply to start the season this spring.

Mr. Speaker, this government and the residents of Sahtu know very well the costly repercussions of costs associated with air transportation and the impacts of low water levels on the Mackenzie River. Mr. Speaker, as of today, there is 35 days left in our season, our affordable season I might add. It's comforting to receive delivery reports from the Minister of Infrastructure which eases the comfort of knowing we are all pulling together.

Mr. Speaker, my statements in sharing these concerns is to meet the deadline of March 31st for the affordable winter road season, and I must emphasize the need for attention and additional resources as I've received several concerns already this morning on the rough sections which is extending the trucking turnaround. Just to give you an example, Mr. Speaker, it takes the fuel truck from Enterprise to Colville Lake six days and four days to Fort Good Hope. So you can see the length of travel time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from the Sahtu. Members' statements. Member from Hay River South.

Good afternoon, Mr. Speaker. This past weekend I had the privilege of attending the Second Annual Community Spirit Awards in Hay River. These awards provided a valuable opportunity to unite the community, celebrating the qualities that make our town truly special, particularly in light of the challenges we faced in the recent years.

Mr. Speaker, I'd like to acknowledge the remarkable individuals and the organizations recognized at this event.

• Heather Coakwell was introduced into the Hay River Sports and Recreation Hall of Fame, her exceptional contribution to figure skating and a variety of sports.
• Donovan Rogers was named as youth volunteer of the year.
• Bobby Hamilton was honoured as a senior volunteer of the year.
• The Soaring Eagle Friendship Centre was honoured both in the arts and cultural awards and the community spirit award.
• Super A Foods received the good business award in recognition of their local support.
• Kia Carter was named the outstanding athlete of the year, and
• Gerald Dumas was presented with the Trailblazer of the Year Award for the outstanding work to the west channel ice road and the vital trails in Hay River.

I'm also proud to share that Tara Boudreau was named citizen of the year. This honour was well deserved as Tara dedicates herself not only as a principal of two schools, but she also plays a vital role in promoting youth programming and volunteering beyond her classroom.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to all nominees and award recipients and nominees, and I offer my greatest gratitude to everyone who continues to work tirelessly to make our town a better place. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Hay River South. Members' statements. Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. No, okay. Members' statements.

Colleagues, this past summer, the Deh Cho First Nations celebrated its (audio) the 15th. I had the honour of being invited to the Assembly. It was great to see them work together in how they included youth and elders with the leadership and decision-making. I can tell you the 30th Assembly for the Deh Cho Nation marks a significant milestone in its journey of Indigenous self-governance and cultural resurgence in Canada. Established in 1990, the First Nation -- Deh Cho First Nation represented a collective of ten communities in the Deh Cho region of the Northwest Territories, each with its unique heritage and tradition. This Assembly not only celebrates the past achievements of the Deh Cho people but also serves as a platform for envision of future grounded in self-determination and sustainability. Over the past three decades, the First Nation made remarkable strides in asserting its rights and preserving its culture. The Deh Cho process of land claim negotiation framework has been pivotal in advancing the region's interests. This process emphasizes importance of land stewardship, reflection of deep connection between the Deh Cho people and their ancestral territory. As the nation navigates the complexity of modern governance, it remains committed to integrating traditional knowledge with contemporary practices, ensuring their cultural identity remains at the forefront of decision-making. Moreover, the Assembly serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by Indigenous communities, including climate change, resource extraction, and the need for economic development aligns with traditional values. The Deh Cho First Nation has been proactive in addressing these issues and advocating for sustainable practices that honour the land and its resources. Initiatives focused on renewable energy, wildlife conservation, and community-led economic projects illustrates the nation's commitment to a balance of development. As Deh Cho First Nation celebrates (audio) Assembly, it also looks to its future of hope and determination, legacy of the past combined with the vision for resilience and self-sufficient regions with the guidance of the Deh Cho people as they continue to navigate the complexity of modern society while honouring their traditional culture. I'm looking forward to the 31st Assembly. Thank you

Members' statements. Member from Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It gives me great pleasure to talk about population growth today. Mr. Speaker, as I talk to employers, they talk about their struggles of getting anyone to work. I had a great conversation the other day with the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce, and they are fearful about what's actually happening with the nominee program because their membership, including our community at large, is struggling to find people to fill jobs. They don't care where they've come from, Mr. Speaker; we're dying to have anybody here with a pulse in these jobs to do these jobs, Mr. Speaker, because we're struggling.

We all talk daily here with the proverbial challenges of lack of nurses, lack of doctors, and lack of teachers. But we cannot let it go unforgotten that we have people such as the construction workers, the landscapers, and even the restauranteurs who are struggling filling positions. Now with the nominee program being pulled from the carpet of business, and our population is fearing what will happen next. Mr. Speaker, we cannot let this upcoming nominee program create chance as their business model for success.

Mr. Speaker, at the same time, the GNWT cannot be the singular salvation to our population growth by saying, in other words, GNWT jobs will bring them here. Well, as fact, it doesn't. We need a new strategy. Population growth is a barrier to our success. In other words, it isn't being done. It's the wall that we can't seem to get past.

Now, the GNWT is number one in a few areas. Allow me to remind this House. Well, our power bills are probably number one, and if not, number 2. Our unemployment, well, again, in the range of number one as in worst. What more factors of disaster flags do we need to raise? We need action on getting population here in the Northwest Territories.

I don't know what it will take to wake this government up from its sleepy slumber of saying if we don't have people, we can't fill the jobs. If we can't have jobs, we can't have growth, etcetera, etcetera. It's a vicious circle, Mr. Speaker.

Population growth will underpin our success. We're seeing the struggles here in Yellowknife. I can only imagine the struggles in the regions and in the communities. You know, often, we forget that the importance of the sustainable population growth will be key to our federal grant. So if we have people here, we'll get a federal grant. We have people here working, we have taxation. We have people who happy and doing things. Mr. Speaker, we can only sell our fresh drinkable water so long. We need a strategy that puts them on the hook, reels them in, brings them here. Whether they come from Alberta, they come from Nova Scotia, whether they come from the States, because they're probably looking for places to go there, or they come from overseas, whether it's Europe or Africa or Asia, I don't care. We need good people to bring their families here, and we need a strategy from this government.

Mr. Speaker, this territory is in dire need. We need people now more than ever. We need contributors who will help the North and its fabric grow strong, and I intend to push harder for this because we need them now. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. Members' statements. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member from Range Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to recognize my constituent Nicole Spencer. She is the executive director of the SPCA for the Northwest Territories, does great work with animals, and is also a neighbour. So thank you for being here today, Nicole. It's lovely to have you watching our proceedings.

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member from Hay River North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to welcome Bronwyn McVale who is joining us in the executive hallway as an executive -- sorry, the executive administrative coordinator for the chief of staff. So I'm happy to have her in the House here in her first week. Thank you.

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. If we missed anyone in the gallery today, welcome to your chambers. I hope you are enjoying the proceedings. It is always nice to see people in the gallery. And remember, this is -- you put us here, so thank you very much.

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Replies to the budget address, day 7 out of 7. Replies to the budget address. Member from Inuvik Boot Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity today to address some concerns around the budget, Mr. Speaker. It's maybe a little more of an elongated Member's statement but certainly, it certainly ties in closely to the items that we're reviewing in the budget this session.

Mr. Speaker, there is no doubt we find ourselves in some challenging times. The current budget, I think, and I feel, doesn't offer a lot in the way of reduction, nor does it move us away from basically a status quo budget, Mr. Speaker. The supplemental appropriations we passed in the House to offset the challenges of transportation due to low water, the continuing issues with road deterioration on the Dempster Highway and other road systems in the territory basically, Mr. Speaker, ate any surplus we had budgeted for 2024-2025. And of course Forced growth has also played a contributing factor. I anticipate, Mr. Speaker, that there may be difficult decisions ahead that may affect programs, services and staffing.

Now, Mr. Speaker, I want to speak a little to the economy.

In my address to the budget last year, I spoke about how between 2011 and 2017, we missed the boat on a major gas development opportunity. We had an Indigenous-led pipeline group that were forced to sit helplessly as the regulatory regime slowly choked the life out of what could have been a monumental game-changing project for our territory.
I spoke about all the wellness and housing projects we could fund together, the jobs we could create for our residents, the influx of others wanting to move to our amazing territory to work in these industries, bringing with them spouses and partners that may be nurses, teachers, doctors, or early child care workers, any many other professions that we so desperately need. Again, a year later, Mr. Speaker, we still find ourselves resource rich and cash poor.

If the current polls are any indication, we may be looking at a change in our federal government. The leader of that government, if he indeed becomes our next Prime Minister, has been speaking publicly about repealing Bill C-69 and once again fast-tracking LNG projects, restarting the ring of fire mining industry, and making Canada an energy powerhouse. I understand, Mr. Speaker, there is a lot of political rhetoric here but as a territory rich in resources, we have to be prepared in this budget to engage and indeed incentivise to ensure that we are tracking those national and international
companies to our territory.

Our economy must be key, Mr. Speaker. My fear is that with no meaningful economic growth in any sector other than the government, much of our talent will leave or have already left. We must streamline our regulatory regime so that national and international businesses do not look at us as a place with too much regulatory burden that require too much time and the costs that come with that burden.

Mr. Speaker, on energy, the GNWT energy action plan is set to have a significant 5-year review and update to the overarching energy strategy. The current energy action plan, Mr. Speaker, focused exclusively on renewables and reducing emissions. Exclusively. How is that, Mr. Speaker, a comprehensive energy plan?

I agree we have to have a path for renewable energy and emission reductions, but we need to step back and look at the big picture, Mr. Speaker. Biomass and solar is great but what is it doing to the grid in the communities that rely on non-renewables? The town of Inuvik is putting in a massive solar array to power its Midnite Sun Complex. That's the pool, hockey rink, curling rink, and community centre, 100 percent federally funded to the tune of $5.5 million -- and great for the town of Inuvik -- but what does taking such a large user from our current NTPC grid mean for the cost of power production in Inuvik? Has there been any analysis or even engagement on significant projects of this size? Has Northwest Territories Power Corporation kept up with the technology to have the proper integration of such large-scale renewable energy systems, Mr. Speaker? Mr. Speaker, the answer is no, we have not.

In my response to the budget last year, I also pointed out that In April of 2021, the Government of the Northwest Territories completed a report entitled Mackenzie Delta Liquified Natural Gas, or MDLNG Project. In this report, it studied the up to 19 trillion cubic metres of natural gas in the Mackenzie Delta that could be developed for export and will provide economic benefits to the Inuvialuit settlement region, the Northwest Territories and Canada. In short, the MDLNG report stated that project is technically feasible. Natural gas production facilities and associated pipelines have been operating safely in Arctic climates such as Alaska and Russia for over forty years, Mr. Speaker. Russia has shipped LNG in the Arctic waters since 2017 using LNG and condensate ice breaking carriers. The ice breaking carrier technology proposed in this pre-feasibility study is based on Russia's operating experience. These are the kind of projects that change the direction of our territory, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, the Inuvialuit get it. The $293 million Inuvialuit-led M-18 well project involves the construction of a new plant to produce natural gas and synthetic diesel to secure a supply of fuel for energy, heating, and transportation.
The project will reduce reliance on transporting liquefied natural gas and synthetic diesel from southern regions thereby enhancing local energy security, reducing transportation emissions, and providing economic benefits for the region. The well will provide a stable supply of natural gas and synthetic diesel to meet the energy needs of the ISR for over 50 years, Mr. Speaker, and that's based on current consumption rates.

Mr. Speaker, the project will reduce energy costs for households and businesses. It will create much needed employment opportunities, and Mr. Speaker, it is expected to reduce up to 40,000 tonnes of emissions annually. These are the shoulder to shoulder projects we must be working on to find a path to develop our LNG, Mr. Speaker. The benefits would reach all of the residents of the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, transportation. I spoke earlier about the additional funding required to offset the cost associated due to the inability of MTS to complete its barging season in the Sahtu. We are all keenly aware of the dire consequences and effects it has had on the residents. This is not the first time we have had additional cost due to low water levels and cancelled service. In previous Member statements, I have encouraged this government to re-evaluate the current structure of MTS. I appreciate the long history it has in its current location and by no means am I suggesting it no longer operate in Hay River, but Mr. Speaker the reality is such that it would make sense to also have infrastructure in Inuvik or Tuktoyaktuk. This infrastructure, Mr. Speaker, that can service upriver as far as Fort Good Hope, the Inuvik region, and the coastal communities in the Inuvialuit settlement region. This work needs to happen immediately, Mr. Speaker, to ensure our supply chain does not continue to see residents without essential fuel, building supplies, and consumables, as well as supplemental appropriation costs that cost the GNWT millions of dollars.

Mr. Speaker, I have worked in finance for over half of my career. I have worked with corporate tax, personal tax, I have completed business plans and feasibility studies, I have created companies and prepared budgets and cash flows but, Mr. Speaker, after a little over a year as an MLA I am still often mystified with how the NWT housing corp budgets and forecasts its spending.

We have all agreed that housing is a priority for this government, likely the number 1 priority for most. What we need is a detailed plan of exactly what we intend to spend, what we intend to build, broken down by region, and we need to ensure that the regions with the most need are prioritized, and that the communication is clear on what we intend to spend and what we intend to build.

Mr. Speaker, we need to ensure the existing inventory of units are maintained and that the repairs are planned, scheduled, and completed so we can finally address the long waitlists that I know every community has.

Mr. Speaker, I have no doubt that the Members that we elected to Executive Council are working hard. I know they care just as much as myself and my collegues about the state of affairs of this government. But Mr. Speaker, we need to start thinking outside the box. We can no longer afford these cost overruns on projects that continually show after the fact that they were not properly managed or had proper analysis completed. Maybe its time we start to look, Mr. Speaker, at economic working groups that utilize the expertise we have in the regions. We have many long-term residents, Mr. Speaker, that have worked across many sectors and have a vast amount of knowledge to share. In energy, transportation, information technology like the Inuvik satellite station in Inuvik, and other major projects that have happened in regions outside of Yellowknife as well, there is a wealth of business expertise out there, Mr. Speaker, that if given the opportunity to be part of a think tank could provide ideas that we as a government may not have considered.

Mr. Speaker, we need to further engage our Indigenous business community. The Indigenous development corporations are doing some amazing work in the NT. They are partnering with long established Canadian companies to foster economic growth. The private sector has the expertise and experience that often governments do not. Any economic plans we produce must, again, be less about statistical overviews and more about strategic roadmaps to prosperity.

Mr. Speaker, again, I appreciate the Executive Council that we elected in this House; I know how hard they're working; I know it's a difficult time, but I know if we continue to working together and we put the economy first and make sure that we are creating jobs, we're creating opportunities and we're building industry in this territory, Mr. Speaker, that will to take us to prosperity. That will solve the issue we have around social issues, around housing issues. We need to find a way to generate revenue, Mr. Speaker, and I know working together, working with this group, we can get there. Thank you.

Thank you, Member from Inuvik Boot Lake. Replies to the Budget Address, day 7 of 7. Member from Deh Cho.