Please be seated. I'd like to thank Jonas Lafferty for the opening prayers for today's session. Ministers' statements. Minister responsible for WSCC.

Mr. Speaker, today, I would like to address a topic that is fundamental to the well-being of all workers across the Northwest Territories; the critical importance of improving workplace safety. Ensuring that our workplaces are safe is essential for the health, productivity, and prosperity of our communities.

When workplaces are safe, everybody benefits. Safe workplaces result in fewer injuries and improved productivity. Most importantly, making the safety of workers a top priority helps to preserve lives and protect families, while also ensuring the long-term sustainability of the Workers' Protection Fund. As Members know, the Worker's Protection Fund, ensures coverage of current and future claims costs and stable assessment rates for employers.

As part of efforts to improve safety outcomes across the territory, I am pleased to announce the upcoming release of a new Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission's Safety Planning Guide for employers, which will be launched this May during Safety and Heath Week. While each workplace has unique needs and challenges when it comes to safety planning; there is no one size fits all approach; there are key elements that every workplace safety program must include by law. This guide will provide clear, practical tools and resources to assist employers to create or improve their safety programs, ensuring they meet the required standards for:

• Documenting inspections and incident investigations;
• Establishing safe work procedures that protect workers from job-specific risks; and,
• Conducting hazard assessments to evaluate and mitigate potential dangers in the workplace.

Additionally, I am pleased to announce that this summer, the occupational health and safety funding program will open for applications. Through this new program, the WSCC will provide funding opportunities for providers of occupational health and safety services whose work aims to improve access to safety education and supports employers in complying with occupational health and safety legislation.

As part of supporting WSCC's commitment to improving workplace safety through strengthening regulations, I recently appointed 14 members to the Safety Advisory Committee and the Mine Occupational Health and Safety Legislative Committee. These committees provide industry expertise about the frontline impacts and applications of the Safety Act and Mine Health and Safety Act. I look forward in 2025 and 2026 to seeing the recommendations of these committees to ensure the Northwest Territories is a safer place for workers, and ensure our legislation aligns with good practices and standards of safety across Canada. This will help address emerging risks and break down barriers for industries across provincial and territorial borders.

Mr. Speaker, improving workplace safety is a shared responsibility. As we approach the National Day of Mourning on April 28, let us all reflect on our collective responsibility to protect the lives of those who work in the communities and renew our resolve to prevent further workplace tragedies and ensure that all workers return home safely at the end of each day. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am proud of Housing NWT's successful partnerships. Housing NWT works with Indigenous governments, the federal government, non-governmental organizations, municipal and community governments, and industry, to support more homes for Northerners across the Northwest Territories.

Today, I want to highlight Housing NWT's relationship with an important, but often overlooked group of frontline workers, who deserve recognition: The dedicated staff of our local housing organizations.

If you are from a small community, you already know who they are and what they do. Local housing organizations are the property managers and skilled tradespeople who ensure tenants have a safe and secure place to live. Across the Northwest Territories, 24 of the 33 communities have local housing organizations. While local housing organizations are agents of Housing NWT, they are governed by their own board of directors. This allows the LHOs to make decisions that best serve their communities, as they have a deep understanding of their community's needs and challenges. Yet, their role involves so much more.

Increasingly, local housing organizations are playing a vital role in community safety. Not only do their staff ensure that housing units meet safety standards, including fire regulations and structural integrity, They also collaborate with the RCMP to address illegal activities in public housing and expedite the related eviction process when necessary.
This partnership helps manage illegal activities and ensures tenant safety, emphasizing a shared commitment to community well-being. While evictions are always a last resort, they are sometimes necessary. Additionally, local housing organizations play a vital role in emergency preparedness as demonstrated during the unprecedented and devastating floods, fires, and the pandemic of the past five years.

Mr. Speaker, the health and well-being of our residents is paramount to the work we do in this House. I have set a goal to work towards eliminating smoking in Housing NWT owned homes, which has received broad support from the housing forum and the 19th Legislative Assembly's Standing Committee on Social Development.

Eliminating smoking in our owned units will have positive health outcome for our residents and reduce asset damage. Smoking will not be permitted in all new buildings and in any new or amended leases for existing public housing and market rentals. This week, Housing NWT will begin engaging with LHOs on how this work can be implemented in a staged approach across all Housing NWT owned units, including public housing and market rentals. It is time for us to join all the other jurisdictions in Canada by eliminating smoking in our owned social housing units.

Mr. Speaker, it is important to recognize that Housing NWT and LHOs serve vulnerable populations. Ensuring that our residents have access to safe, affordable, and adequate housing is a fundamental aspect of reconciliation and social justice. The LHOs work diligently within their means, and it is up to Housing NWT and our partners to deliver the infrastructure that their communities need. I am grateful for the dedicated staff of our local housing organizations and want to recognize their challenging and critical work. Quyanainni, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister responsible for housing NWT. Ministers' statements. Minister for Health and Social Services.

Mr. Speaker, our government is committed to making long-term care accessible for seniors and elders whose needs can no longer be met at home. We recognize the importance of helping residents remain in their homes and communities for as long as possible. However, when home and community care services are no longer enough, long-term care plays an important role in providing necessary support.

We continue to enhance home and community care services so Northwest Territories residents receive the support they need to stay safe and as healthy as possible at home. At the same time, we must also plan for the future of long-term care in the Northwest Territories. That is why we are aligning our capital investments in new long-term care facilities with updated bed projections from the Northwest Territories bureau of statistics that are expected this spring. These projections will help meet the needs of our aging population now and in the years ahead.

Mr. Speaker, we have taken significant steps to improve long-term care capacity in the territory. The opening of Liwego'ati Building in Yellowknife is a major achievement. This modern, integrated health and social services facility strengthens our ability to provide high quality care to Northerners. It includes a primary care clinic, outpatient rehabilitation services, extended care, and long-term care beds, creating a campus of care that better meets the needs of residents.

Liwego'ati provides 16 extended care beds and 74 long-term care beds which will be opened in a phased approach. In January of this year, we began admitting individuals to the 17 beds opened in phase one. These beds are helping to reduce wait times and improve access to care for those who need it most.

Mr. Speaker, as we expand long-term care, we must also invest in our workforce. Investments in Aurora College's personal support worker and practical nurse programs are critical to developing a workforce of skilled health professionals to meet the needs of long-term care facilities across the territory.

We are also strengthening the admission process. We continue to use the territorial admissions committee, which reviews all long-term care applications to promote fair and consistent access. The Department of Health and Social Services manages the long-term care wait list and works closely with all health and social services authorities to support smooth transitions for residents.

To further improve quality, we have introduced new long-term care standards last month. These standards reflect the best practices from across Canada and promote culturally safe, dignified, and respectful care.

Mr. Speaker, supporting seniors as they age is a responsibility we take seriously. By aligning our investments with future needs, expanding long-term care capacity, strengthening the workforce, and maintaining high standards of care, we are building a system that will support our aging population for years to come. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister of Health and Social Services. Ministers' statements. Minister of ITI.

Mr. Speaker, we have great rocks. The global demand for critical minerals continues to grow, and the Northwest Territories is well-positioned to play a key role in supplying these essential resources to Canada and its allies. With over two-thirds of the critical minerals listed by Canada, and almost half identified by the United States, our territory is a significant contributor to securing a stable and responsible supply of materials vital to clean energy, advanced manufacturing, and digital technologies.

Recognizing the opportunity before us, the Government of the Northwest Territories outlined four key priority areas for critical minerals development:

First, increasing public awareness about the importance of critical minerals. By incorporating critical minerals into educational programs and industry outreach initiatives, like NWT Mining Week and Mining Matters, we are ensuring that residents, including youth, understand the opportunities this sector presents.

Second, attracting investors and industry leaders through participation in key industry events like the Yellowknife Geoscience Forum, Roundup in Vancouver, and the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada conference in Toronto, and our targeted promotional campaigns such as the newly announced federal investment of up to $420,000 to the governments of Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut to support Invest North of 60.

Invest North of 60 is a collaborative project between the territorial governments to attract investment and strengthen the growth of the mining sector in the North through strategic promotional activities at leading industry events to actively position the NWT as a premier jurisdiction for responsible resource development.

Third, investing in geoscience and regulatory improvements to provide investors with the certainty they need to move projects forward. By applying new technologies to unexplored or under-mapped areas, we are strengthening our knowledge base and improving our ability to support mineral exploration and development. In addition, we are exploring the concept of a collaboration office; a place where GNWT departments, land and water boards, and the federal government could offer a one-stop shop so proponents can have better wrap-around support to pathfinding through our regulatory processes.

Finally, building and strengthening relationships with Indigenous governments, industry, and the federal government. Through initiatives like the regional energy and resource table, the Mackenzie Valley operation dialogue, and the collaborative efforts at key mining events, we are working collaboratively to streamline regulatory processes, develop infrastructure, and create an environment where responsible development can thrive.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to highlight several advanced critical minerals projects in the Northwest Territories that are making impressive strides.

The Pine Point Project has the cleanest zinc concentrate globally and is moving closer to becoming a reality, with investors showing strong interest. This project represents a significant opportunity to supply vital materials for clean energy and other industries.

The Prairie Creek Project stands out as the highest-grade unmined zinc deposit that has already attracted substantial federal investment in transportation infrastructure. This investment represents a big win for our economy and Canada's critical minerals strategy.

The NICO Project, which has the largest primary cobalt deposit in the western world, as well as one million ounces of gold, is another prime example of our mineral potential. With financial support from both Canada and the United States, this project will put the Northwest Territories front and center in North America's critical minerals supply chain.

The Nechalacho Project is putting the Northwest Territories on the map as Canada's first rare earth mine. These rare earth elements are key to defence, electronics, and clean energy technology technologies.

Lastly, the Mactung Project is one of the largest and highest-grade known tungsten deposits on the planet. With funding secured through the U.S. Defence Production Act, this project underscores how important the Northwest Territories is for supporting supply chains in North America.

Mr. Speaker, these projects, along with growing exploration for lithium and other critical minerals, show that the NWT is an attractive destination for responsible resource development. But to make the most of these opportunities, we must tackle a few challenges. Improving regulatory efficiency, expanding strategic infrastructure, and ensuring our workforce has the skills to support this industry are essential. That is why our government continues to work closely with our federal partners, Indigenous governments, and industry leaders to push for more geoscience funding, closing the infrastructure gap with southern Canada, and targeted incentives such as the North of 60 mineral exploration tax credit.

Mr. Speaker, critical minerals are more than an economic opportunity for the Northwest Territories; they are key to Canada's national security and long-term prosperity. By attracting investment, strengthening partnerships, and promoting responsible development, we are creating new opportunities for a strong future for our residents, our economy, and the generations to come.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister of ITI. Ministers' statements. Members' statements. Member from Yellowknife North.

Mr. Speaker, collective bargaining often ends up being a big fight. It pits employer against employee. It's seen as a zero-sum game where one side wins and one side loses. It's assumed that what the employer wants, in this case the GNWT, is to pay its staff as little as possible and get away with treating them badly. This assumption results in a very adversarial and confrontational process of collective bargaining. But what if we didn't assume that what the GNWT wants and what employees want is so different or so far apart? What if the GNWT and staff both have strong common interests, like effectively recruiting and retaining staff?

There's a different less adversarial model of collective bargaining called interest-based negotiation, and it's currently one of the key asks of the NWT Medical Association. The idea is to start bargaining discussions by finding all the areas of common ground and by focusing on the outcomes that everyone wants - ultimately a better health care system. Many doctors are not interested in simply getting paid more if it comes at the cost of patient safety or if it requires cutting corners in terms of quality of care.

The NWT Medical Association is also proposing that Indigenous leadership be included at the negotiation table with the physicians and the health authority, and that would be a first in Canada, in order to keep the focus on what kind of care NWT communities need and deserve. And this is coming from a group of essential workers who do not have the option of going on strike. Clearly, they see that their bargaining power comes from a focus on the public's best interest. I'm curious as to whether the Union of Northern Workers or the NWT Teachers' Association would similarly consider the interest-based negotiation model. This has already been used successfully to negotiate physician contracts in Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia where it was reportedly a profoundly healing process leading to better collaboration between government and physicians overall.

The NWTNA believes that interest-based negotiation is the best way to keep patients at the heart of the process, find efficiencies, drive costs lower, and heal the relationship between physicians and the health authority. I call on the GNWT and the health authority to agree to meet physicians and Indigenous leaders at the table using this progressive approach in a spirit of reconciliation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Mr. Speaker, the RCMP is a key partner in keeping our North safe and secure because the role they play in our territory is incredibly different than how they operate in southern jurisdictions. We rely on the RCMP for many services they would not offer in any province because for most communities, they're the only police around thus they play a greater role here as first responders, search and rescue personnel, and are essential to fighting drug crime. So embedded are RCMP officers in our communities that they serve, they're always warmly welcomed and adopted as one of our own.

The pivotal role RCMP plays in our territory is longstanding because the RCMP was established specifically to operate across Canada's frontier to enforce sovereignty against encroaching American interests and the early settlers who disregarded treaty provisions and disrupted hunting and trapping practices of individual communities. In fact, the RCMP were initially designated as a Northwest Mounted Police, reflecting their responsibilities over the vast stretches of Canada's west which were once a part of the modernday NWT. Later, they turned their focus towards bootleggers and outlaws evolving from horseback to snowmobile and to familiar vehicles we see around driving on our streets today.

This week, we learned that the outgoing Prime Minister is suddenly looking to dramatically reform the RCMP away from day-to-day policing towards high-level crime such as intelligence gathering and national security. These proposed reforms could put an end to the crucial work the RCMP provide in the NWT and Canada's North by limiting their resources and scaling back the services they provide to our territory. The RCMP has indicated that if these changes go through, as service agreements expire in the coming years the NWT may have to switch to a new policing model, but it's very unclear what that will look like and how our territory will have the capacity to take on a greater policing responsibility.

I hope that the Premier is as alarmed as I am and, indeed, the RCMP is, because they don't want to pull back from the work that they've done to keep us safe. Now that we've been underfunding the RCMP for years, changing their mandate isn't going to work for the North. We need a united front to keep the RCMP in our communities, in our territories, and in Canada's North to protect our communities, ensure our sovereignty, and fight violent predators that are encroaching in our communities, Mr. Speaker. And this new mandate threatens to undo that, and I hope the Premier agrees with me that it cannot stand. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. Members' statements. Member from the Sahtu.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the winter snowfall has not been at levels we had hoped. I fear the Sahtu will suffer the same disastrous low water levels that forced Marine Transport Services to halt all shipping to Sahtu like previous summers.

The communities of the Sahtu rely heavily on our winter road system and summer marine transportation for essential supplies. When either of these critical transportation networks fail, our communities face costly consequences. Mr. Speaker, what happens if we cannot complete all scheduled deliveries before the winter road closes? What happens if winter water levels this summer prevent barges from reaching our communities? Airlift of fuel and goods last year was not a plan. It was a last resort which came with astronomical costs.

Mr. Speaker, I am calling on the Minister of Infrastructure to present a detailed contingency plan for the Sahtu region that addresses potential summer marine transportation challenges. The correspondence between community leaders, government officials, and myself highlights the urgent need for proactive measures. Ultimately, Mr. Speaker, this brings us to the Sahtu region and the Mackenzie Valley Highway. Inspirationally, 2025 will see the complete completion of the Mackenzie Valley Highway business case and conclusion of the environmental assessment.

Mr. Speaker, with integrity, the people of the Sahtu deserve more than reactive crisis management. They deserve a government that plans ahead, that recognizes the unique challenges of northern transportation, and works proactively to ensure the Sahtu communities have reliable, affordable, access to essential supplies. Mr. Speaker, I will not have any questions to the Minister of Infrastructure as I have confidence of support from previous deliberations. Mahsi.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to follow up on my Member's statement from Tuesday, March 11th, 2025. In my Member's statement, I referred to the illegal drug trade within the community of Tetlit Zheh and other small communities throughout the Northwest Territories.

The Voice of Denendeh met* is one of their stories, and it was placed on social media. I've received a lot of feedback from people throughout the NWT in my efforts to find ways to combat this criminal activity that is happening right within our backyard.

Mr. Speaker, people from all walks of life gave me feedback on what they are witnesses within their own communities and what struggles they are facing in trying to combat this crisis that we are facing. One young lady in particular, who has all the potential in the world to pursue anything she wants to and has a lot to offer her community, has reached out and expressed the hardship that she is enduring in trying to overcome her addiction to this drug. This young lady is looking to take a treatment program to overcome her addictions, and she has my full support.

Mr. Speaker, the RCMP, the local housing authority, and other agencies that are in place to protect our residents, cannot protect us because of policies and procedures. When a person tries to call the local RCMP, they are directed to the Yellowknife detachment and has to go through numerous questions before they hear the complaint. By this time, the individual who is trying to give the authority a tip feels frustrated and hangs up.

Mr. Speaker, the local housing authority has absolutely no authority to what is happening within their own public housing units. The public housing units are being used as a place to conduct these illegal drug activities. The local housing authority has been approached to assist in combatting this activity but, again, there are policies and procedures that are in place to seemingly protect the criminal. The communities' hands are tied. They are fighting a losing battle.

Mr. Speaker, going back to the young lady who wants to see the community heal from this crisis states that more local community resources have to be made available. Mr. Speaker, can I have unanimous consent to conclude my statement, please.

---Unanimous consent granted

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. Mr. Speaker, going back to the young lady who wants to see the community heal from this crisis states that more local community resources have to be made available. Those resources are our own people, not people with fancy degrees. The local residents of our community know who needs help so we, as a government, should provide financial support to the smaller communities to help heal themselves. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will have questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services.

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

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I want to take this opportunity to thank my colleagues for the last two months. It has been a grueling session but also rewarding. I also want to wish them safe travels to their home communities where celebrations are gearing up for the spring that is starting to unfold. I also want to take some time to highlight some wonderful local events that are coming up between now and the next sitting.

Mr. Speaker, we have an absolutely amazing local burlesque and drag scene in Yellowknife right now with monthly shows becoming the norm, thunder norms one could say. On April 3rd, the Northern Mosaic Network will be holding another community dinner at the Baker Centre, and I hope to see as many folks as possible at the event. And in late April, we will see Ecology North's always fantastic Earth Week celebrations this year from April 22nd to 30th. In 2024, there was 24 events and 1100 participants, Mr. Speaker. Events in 2025 will see a bike tune-up, clothing swap, medicine walk, DIY workshops, and an open mic night and more. Mr. Speaker, Yellowknife comes alive at this time of year, and I'm looking forward to coming out of my post-session hibernation to enjoy all our city has to offer. Quyananni, Mr. Speaker.

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

Masi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I want to send a positive message to our youth so that they stay away from the dangerous path some people are taking.

Mr. Speaker, drugs are still affecting communities in the Tlicho region. On Tuesday, RCMP in Whati were told about drugs being sold out of a home with children. An Alberta youth was arrested for suspected crack cocaine trafficking and possessing a restricted handgun. In Behchoko, one of my constituents said there has been a pandemic of overdoses recently.

Mr. Speaker, we are seeing more young people using their income support payments, which are intended for essential needs, to buy drugs and fuel destructive behaviour. This money is meant to help, not harm. In response, the Tlicho region is taking steps to offer support and recovery options. The Tlicho Addiction Recovery Project received a $1.9 million commitment from Ottawa and will help people. The program is led by the Tlicho Friendship Centre. The money will help fund much needed counselling, recovery, coaching, and aftercare services for individuals to start healing.

Mr. Speaker, I want young people in all Tlicho communities to go down a path of recovery and wellness. We must continue to empower our youth with traditional knowledge, resources, and family support that they need to make positive choices. Maybe make a good career choice to be a Tlicho astronaut. I hope together we can guide young people in the territory towards a brighter, healthier future. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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