I would like to thank Ms. Cleary for the opening and blessing today.

Colleagues, before we get into our daily business, we have a bunch of Grade 5 and 6 students from Weledeh Catholic School. We'll behave ourselves really well, so these young people will say they want to be here in this House in 10, 15 years. So thank you very much for coming and attending.

Ministers' statements. Minister of Finance.

Mr. Speaker, today, I would like to highlight the significant strides we have made in advocating for better telecommunications services in the Northwest Territories. Our work with the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, or CRTC, has led to transformative changes that will benefit all residents of the Northwest Territories.

On January 16th, 2025, the CRTC announced a groundbreaking decision to introduce a universal subsidy for internet services in the North. This decision marks a pivotal moment in our journey towards digital equity, ensuring that every household in the Northwest Territories can access affordable internet services. This subsidy will ultimately help bridge the gap between the high cost of internet in the Northwest Territories and the more affordable rates enjoyed by our southern counterparts.

The Government of the Northwest Territories has been a steadfast advocate for this change and our participation in the CRTC's proceedings has been instrumental in shaping this outcome. This subsidy will alleviate some of the financial burden on our residents and promote greater access to essential online services, education, and economic opportunities.

The GNWT advocacy work also contributed to NorthwesTel joining the federal Connecting Families program in the fall of 2023. Through this initiative, 1,870 households in the Northwest Territories had the opportunity to access highspeed broadband internet services for $20 per month. This program is also a testament to our commitment to ensuring that every family, regardless of financial situation, can stay connected.

Mr. Speaker on February 13th, 2025 I met with Ms. Nirmala Naidoo, the CRTC Commissioner for Northwest Territories and Alberta, and Ms. Joanne T. Levy, the CRTC Commissioner for Manitoba and Saskatchewan, and commended their recent decisions to improve the quality and reliability of internet services in the North and to hold service providers accountable for their services.

Furthermore, the CRTC has mandated improvements to Northwestel's wholesale connect service, which are meant to enhance competition and consumer choice in the North.

Mr. Speaker, I am also proud to highlight that our CRTC advocacy has also furthered our commitment to Indigenous reconciliation. The CRTC's recent policy decisions include measures to advance reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, such as establishing a new Indigenous relations team, dedicated to ensuring that the needs and perspectives of Indigenous communities are reflected in all its work. This team will facilitate better engagement with Indigenous peoples and support their participation in CRTC proceedings.

Additionally, the CRTC has improved the broadband fund to include an Indigenous funding stream, specifically designed to support Indigenous-owned internet service providers in developing telecommunications infrastructure. These initiatives will promote digital equity, decrease the digital divide, and advance economic reconciliation by enabling Indigenous communities to build and manage their own telecommunications services.

Mr. Speaker, these achievements are the result of dedicated efforts by the GNWT, by Indigenous and regional governments, northern businesses, advocacy groups, and private citizens. We have worked to advocate for the needs of our residents, and these recent announcements are a testament to the power of collaboration and persistence.

The GNWT will continue to participate in the CRTC's proceedings to ensure that the implementation of the retail internet subsidy is effective and equitable. We will provide feedback on subscriber eligibility, the amount of the subsidy, and the disbursement process to ensure that the subsidy reaches those who need it most.

In closing, I want to express my gratitude to the CRTC for their commitment to improving telecommunications in the Northwest Territories. We are making significant strides towards a more connected and equitable future for all residents of the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to update Members on the implementation of new community government funding allocations that will come into effect April 2025.

MACA distributes over $110 million in annual funding through the community government funding policy. While this funding was never intended to cover 100 percent of community funding costs, the funding helps community governments cover the costs of core programs and services like clean drinking water, local roads, recreation, and public safety.

Mr. Speaker, these policies have remained unchanged in over 15 years. In 2024, MACA undertook a comprehensive review of the policies in collaboration with elected officials and administrative staff from 17 community governments, as well as representatives from the Northwest Territories Association of Communities and the Local Government Administrators of the Northwest Territories. The review recommended updates to the funding policies and allocations to bring more transparency and to align funding more effectively with community needs and activities.

In 2023, the Ministerial funding policies were updated to better reflect the current costs of typical community programs and services, allowing funding to be allocated fairly and equitably. These policies also uphold the decision-making authority of elected community councils, allowing them to prioritize programs and services that best meet the needs of their residents.

Over the past year, MACA has been working to implement these changes. The department engaged with 28 of 32 community governments to discuss the details and gather further feedback on various implementation options. I also met with the community leaders to hear their perspectives and insights firsthand.

Mr. Speaker, these updates do not introduce new funding for community governments. As noted, distribution models has remained unchanged for over 15 years. During this time, some community governments have received funding levels exceeding over 100 percent of the standard costs.

These adjustments are being made to ensure that all community governments receive a fair and equitable share of these funds. When the new allocations are implemented on April 1st, some community governments will experience increases in their funding, while others will receive a decrease. These updates are the result of extensive engagement over many years. Some community governments welcome these changes while others have concerns.

I have heard from leaders who are worried about funding reductions, particularly in smaller communities with less financial flexibility. At the same time, I have also heard from community governments that have been underfunded for years and has waited long overdue correction. We took these perspectives seriously, made changes to the policies based on our consultations, and are now moving forward with implementation.

To allow for a smooth transition, operations and maintenance funding levels will remain unchanged for the next three years, except for community governments funded over a 100 percent. That will be reduced to 100 percent giving local governments time to assess priorities and adjust accordingly.

To address longstanding funding disparities, changes to the community public infrastructure and water and waste services funding will be phased in over three years, starting April 1st, 2025. This is being injected as much-needed capital dollars and funding to support core services.

Based on the feedback received, MACA will also make further adjustments to the CPI policy to help address recruiting challenges related to staff housing needs. Additionally, MACA will undertake further analysis of the water and sewer rates with the community governments to ensure this core service remains affordable to residents, meaning no immediate changes to water rates will be required at this time.

Funding sustainable municipal services is a shared responsibility across all levels of government. MACA remains committed to advocating for increased funding to ensure local governments to have the necessary resources for core municipal services. Each community government must make its own decisions about what services to provide and how to fund any costs beyond what is covered by MACA's core funding services. We will also continue to work with those who have unspent capital funds to support them in implementing their priority projects.

Mr. Speaker, community governments play a vital role in delivering essential services across the NWT. MACA remains committed to ensuring that they have the tools, resources, and funding required to meet the needs of the residents. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. Ministers' statements. Members' statements. Member from Yellowknife North.

Mr. Speaker, long live the King. I'm not referring to the one across the pond but the one across the bay, Yellowknife Bay. Long live the Snowking and the Annual Snowking Festival.

Tomorrow everyone is welcome to come down to the snow castle for the grand opening and the ceremonial smashing open of the snow door starting at noon and featuring the Yellowknives Dene Drummers. It's free admission tomorrow.

The castle is a place of wonder, joy, and pure fun for kids and kids at heart of all ages. You can take a spin down the ice slides. And I saw there are some extra steep ones this year for the daredevils out there. You can enjoy live music and puppetry and marvel at the carvings made out of snow and ice. The International Snow Carving Symposium is also happening this weekend, so you can watch top level carvers from around the world as they craft giant snow sculptures from start to finish.

This is a special year. It's version XXX of the snow castle, which makes it sound racy, but it means it's the 30th anniversary of this well-loved festival. It's been 30 years since Snowking started making snow forts for his kids outside his houseboat on the bay, and it quickly became a community project. It turns out lots of people love to play in the snow, and so the annual project has attracted a loyal team of carpenters, artists, and performers, and countless volunteers.

It has also lured people like myself away from their office jobs. I was once a full-time castle crew member for eight winters, and it's been one of the greatest experiences of my life and the best work environment I've ever had. All team members get to incorporate their own ideas and creativity, everyone is encouraged to take risks, hopefully not fall off any ladders, but to experiment with new designs, take on new roles and challenge themselves. And if it doesn't work out, then it will all melt away in the spring and it's a blank slate for next year. That kind of environment not only brings out excellence from its workers, but it brings an entire community together.

To find the snow castle, you go down to Old Town and turn right at the Woodyard Brew Pub, and while you're at it stop in and enjoy some of their limited edition Snowking XXX lager created especially for this anniversary year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Mr. Speaker, first responders are real life super heros. They run towards danger to save lives using incredible skills few possess. We rely on them to protect us and they, in turn, rely on us to do all we can to prioritize their safety and well-being because unlike in comic books and action movies, there are no super powers that can make them immune to illness and injury.

When wounded warriors stepped up to provide easier access to services for firefighters, particularly regarding mental health, it revealed a gap that showed PTSD was not covered by WSCC legislation. This gap also revealed several cancers which firefighters are increasingly afflicted with that are also not covered; and, that the latency periods for presumed coverage was too long for those that are currently included in the legislation. An update to this legislation is therefore required to ensure WSCC has all the policies needed to ensure acquiring treatment for cancer is streamlined and more benefits and services are available to firefighters and their families.

In this process to update WSCC legislation and bring it in line with other jurisdictions in Canada, such as British Columbia and Alberta who do provide this coverage, who are working to improve the lives of their workers and compensation, firefighters are advocating for changes that have been -- and become frustrated when it's become clear that our WSCC process is very complicated and slow in both the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.

Mr. Speaker, firefighters have been waiting ten years for those changes, and now they're told they must wait another two years for the next election in Nunavut to take place. They cannot wait any longer as their occupation becomes increasingly dangerous.

The Northwest Territories has already fallen well behind the rest of Canada in protecting our firefighters from serious illness. When will the Minister choose to work closer with his counterparts and establish a clear timeline for this crucial legislation? These are our first responders that keep our communities safe. They've been waiting for too long for this help. We need to help our firefighters and first responders now and give them the support they need. And I hope the Minister will agree with me when I ask him questions later today. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Member from the Sahtu. Members' statements. Member from Monfwi.

Housing in Monfwi riding. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is a long sitting, and we can all use a good news story.

On February 24th, the Minister responsible for Housing NWT announced that ten new housing units will be making their way to communities in Monfwi riding as a result of a partnership with the Tlicho Investment Corporation:

• Behchoko will receive three duplexes;
• Gameti will get one modular single duplex; and,.
• Whati will get a stick-built two-storey duplex.

I have said in this House many times that housing is needed in communities I serve, and it is a relief to see progress. It is anticipated that these units will be occupied by springtime.

I would like to thank the housing Minister for this and also her visit to Behchoko on Friday, February 21st, where she joined community members for lunch and toured the seniors' duplex. Her presence in the community and connecting with community members meant a lot to the people. This is also a great example of partnership between the GNWT and economic developing arms of Indigenous governments, one that I hope other regions can benefit from as well. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Monfwi. Ministers' statements -- or Members' statements. Member from Inuvik Boot Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you for the promotion.

Mr. Speaker, we've seen the news articles and we've seen the press releases that there's a change in ownership of Canadian North Airlines, no longer being owned by an Indigenous -- to Indigenous organizations, rather, but now a publicly-traded company. Mr. Speaker, we've yet to see what feffect that will have on the scheduled service, particularly up the Mackenzie Valley into Inuvik where, of course, I live, and it may, Mr. Speaker, invite competition, it may not, but we do know that currently the airport in Inuvik does not have security screening so if there was an appetite to have direct flights from Inuvik to other major airports in Western Canada, Mr. Speaker, we would need that infrastructure in there.

If I recall when the design for the new Inuvik airport building was completed -- and I know it's still on our capital plan, I believe, for 2027, there was space allocated, if I recall correctly, to have the security screening area put in the building, but I don't think there was a commitment to do it when the building was first built. And I think now, Mr. Speaker, given that there may be other opportunities in the aviation industry in that region, I'm hoping that we'll reconsider that design or certainly look at it again to ensure that we have screening services and security services in there. There's obviously other reasons why we would need that, certainly with -- you know, with the influx of drugs in the territory, certainly having airport security is always an advantage to that with dangerous things coming in and out. We also, as you know, just had our runway expanded so now we can actually accept larger aircraft, potentially international or certainly larger aircraft that can land there. So many reasons as we continue to move forward since the -- since we decided to put the new terminal building up there to maybe relook at that now and ensure that we do at least at the beginning -- and customs may come down the road, but have security and screening in that airport build when we initially build it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Inuvik Boot Lake. Members' statements. Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I got a little excited when I heard the King was going to be here, because I have issues with him about the treaties.

Mr. Speaker, the Northwest Territories faces addiction crisis that is affecting our young and young adults. These are young Indigenous men and women who are the future. I hear from my younger constituents all the time that they want to stay in the North to improve their communities and revitalize their culture. It is a shame that some of these young adults are impacted by the drug crisis, but they are always trying their best to fight back and become healthy again. And when they return to good health, I know they are ready to build a brighter future for themselves and their family and the community.

Unfortunately, many who have succeeded in battling addictions are still not coming back, and they have no choice. They were thankful for support for health and social services to seek treatment, but when they return to the North they find little aftercare they need at a vulnerable time in their lives. Instead, they are back surrounded by the terrible influences this drug crisis has inflicted on their communities with no end in sight. Then they are forced to choose between their health and the community and so many head back down south to be closer to support they need.

This lack of aftercare is affecting my constituents of all ages. Furthermore, not all of them necessarily need to leave to treatment in British Columbia or Alberta. We need to have a treatment option in the Northwest Territories, especially culturally-appropriate and on the land.

The Minister has done some good work already, but my constituents are asking for more resources. I hope that health and social services can work closely with Indigenous governments to improve treatment and aftercare in the North. I will have questions for the Minister at the appropriate time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. Members' statements. Member from Frame Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it's hard to believe, but this is already the last day in February. The sun is coming back on the northern horizon, GNWT procurement officers are gearing up for the final spring to the fiscal year, and the coolest venue in Canada is about to cut its doors open.

As the Member for Yellowknife North already announced, Mr. Speaker, this year marks the 30th Anniversary of the Snowking's Winter Festival. 30 years, Mr. Speaker. That is quite the feat. That's 30 years of true grassroots community building.

This festival exists because of the hard work and dedication of a scrappy group of Yellowknifers who wanted to bring some winter magic to the town's children by building a snow castle. They didn't wait for funding. They didn't wait for a communication and marketing strategy. I reckon they didn't even wait for permits, Mr. Speaker; they just did it.

That's true northern spirit, Mr. Speaker. And since its humble beginning in the 1990s, this boldness and audacity has paid off and the festival has grown into a world-renowned institution and, dare I say, the best winter festival in Canada.

Mr. Speaker, this year's festival will be running for four weeks, and the castle features a drawbridge, a dozen ice gargoyles, and a two-storey King's hall with four private snugs for your comfort and viewing pleasure. The snow castle will be home to art shows, standup comedy, music concerts of all genres from fiddle music to hip hop, dance events, puppetry, film screenings, and even larping. And, of course, a magical snow playground for kids of all ages, including everyone's favorite, the ice slides. The Snowking Winter Festival also hosts the famous International Snow Carving Symposium with some ten teams from seven countries and five Canadian territories and provinces competing under the theme Medieval Lore.

The castle opens tomorrow, and I'm happy to report that, courtesy of your Yellowknife MLAs, admission will be free for everyone tomorrow afternoon from noon until 5 p.m. so, as I do every year, I encourage everyone to come down. I encourage everyone to come down to the Yellowknife Bay and check out this year's snow castle. As the Snowking likes to say, there's no business like snow business.

Let's congratulate the 25 staff and as many volunteers that are working on this year's Snowking Winter Festival for these 30 years of absolute marvel and wish them all a blizzard of a success for the 30 years to come. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Members' statements. Member from Deh Cho.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Today I want to speak about the lack of cell service across the NWT.

Mr. Speaker, I've heard from numerous Deh Cho constituents who have voiced their concerns about the lack of cell service when travelling on the NWT highway system. People have safety concerns regarding the inability to call for help if something were to happen while travelling on our highways. Mr. Speaker, some people have told me that this is an issue that affects them so much that they fear driving alone, especially to do business in other communities or to visit family. This issue affects all residents and businesses as well, and it must be improved. The volume of traffic continues to increase, and this is a serious safety issue.

Mr. Speaker, this is an NWT-wide problem that all highways have and all regions are dealing with. All ten highways across the NWT have this problem, and this problem is especially dangerous for people in the event of natural disasters and emergencies when telecommunications can go down.

Mr. Speaker, I know this issue has come up across assemblies in the past, and now that improving public safety is part of this mandate of the 20th Assembly, I believe improving cell service across our highway system should be part of our government's plan. I will have questions for the Minister of Infrastructure later today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Coordination of benefits, many of us know what that means, but for those who don't that means when your work two sets of benefits are working together to get the same ends. We often here this when it comes to dental coverage and prescription coverage and, more particularly, we hear it as in the co-pay system works, 80/20. In other words, one covers 80, then the other one covers the 20.

So as a hypothetical example, Mr. Speaker, with respect to co-benefits -- and I stress hypothetical of course -- let's just say I had to get a prescription to stay as calm and as relaxed as I am as you see here every single day, you know -- you probably think they don't pay enough to keep me calm and relaxed. That said, Mr. Speaker, my submitted prescription -- and, again, this is hypothetical -- my first payer pays 80 percent and my wife's coverage picks up the remainder. But now this is what we're really talking about, the challenges of co-pay benefits.

Now this is a real scenario, not a hypothetical one. Imagine now you're sitting at the ripe age of being a senior. That's in some cases 55 or older, and you need to tap into your benefits for spectacles. And if you're a young person, spectacles mean glasses; you know, the old way of describing them. Mr. Speaker, your spectacles have a theoretic cap on extended health benefits of $300. Now, I'm not against the government saying, through our Blue Cross, going, do you have private insurance. Nothing wrong with that. Hey, let's spend someone else's money, no problem. So that said, the private insurance, if they paid $300, the extended health benefits will say well, we're not paying any more. That seems almost prejudice or bias by not allowing seniors to tap into their benefit.

So imagine, Mr. Speaker, if you have $500 prescription glasses -- and I should stress, in the old days we used to call them Hubbell telescope lenses where they were really thick. But nowadays, they have fantastic technology. If you have a very heavy prescription, they can grind those lenses and make them thin so you look -- they look as normal as possible, Mr. Speaker, which is very important for people's confidence and their ability to do what they need to do.

But those glasses, the extended health benefits says well, if your private insurance is already paid 300 bucks, we're not paying the gap, the difference. Seniors are being denied outright their benefit that they deserve and, as Northerners, they've earned. Mr. Speaker, I'll have questions for the Minister of health to fix this gap because we cover co-pay on dental and prescription. We should do it here too. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Yellowknife Centre.

Members' statements.