Thank you, Member from Yellowknife North. Members' statements. Member from Yellowknife South.

Mr. Speaker, I'd like to continue my theme this week celebrating Yellowknife South constituents' accomplishments and achievements. And today I am proud to speak about two individuals who last week were awarded the King's Coronation Medal. The Coronation Medal commemorates the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III as King of Canada and are for individuals who have made a significant contribution to Canada or to a province or territory. And the following two people, Mr. Speaker, are, indeed, exactly that. They have both made significant contributions to our community.

Matthew Yap was awarded the King's Coronation Medal in recognition of his contributions to the Northwest Territories through services for over ten years working with multiple different charities, community groups, organizations, and as a member on various boards. He was also the coordinator of the Yellowknife evacuation centre during the 2023 wildfires working on the evacuation of some of our most vulnerable residents. And further to his service to the Northwest Territories and to the community, Mr. Yap was one of the service aides during Prince Charles and Camilla's 2022 Royal Tour to Yellowknife. This, of course, makes the award, recognizing now the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III, particularly special.

Mr. Speaker, the other Yellowknife resident who I'd like to make mention of, and who was awarded the King's Coronation Medal for her work in community service, was Rene Sanderson. For many years, Ms. Sanderson has been a support to many folks across the Northwest Territories and particularly within Yellowknife. She initiated and hosted the annual event of Christmas in July, providing prepacked backpacks to vulnerable populations, organizing clothing drives for families, baby baskets for mothers, and has created a public pantry and toy drives also during the holidays. She's currently employed in a leadership role in one of our local non-profit organizations and serving the houseless population and those facing food insecurities.

Mr. Speaker, I'd like to thank Mr. Yap and Ms. Sanderson for their contributions to Yellowknife, to the Northwest Territories, thank them for their inspiration that they provide day to day to the people around them and, of course, take this opportunity to congratulate them on this well-deserved honour. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Colleagues, I had the opportunity to attend the Indigenous Sports Circle NWT award ceremony on Saturday, December 7th. One of the reasons for attending this important event was to present the sport award winner: Lydia Nelner of Fort Simpson.

I got to know this young lady when she was playing soccer for a team my daughter coached. I watched this young, quiet lady become a leader and sharing her thoughts in a positive way. Lydia was the team's goalie and regardless of wins or loses, she kept the team on a positive path. I witnessed her listen to her teammates and coaches, take suggestions, and offering good advice throughout her soccer career. On top of being a good leader, she would help with the younger soccer teams to pass on her knowledge and love for the sport.

She represented the NWT at the NAIGs in Nova Scotia. In 2023, at the age of 18, Lydia expanded her sports and took up Dene games. She had achieved remarkable success and was selected to compete in the inaugural women's Dene games at the 2024 Arctic Winter Games in Mat-Su, Alaska.

Despite competing against older and more experienced athletes, Lydia won the bronze Ulu in the stick pull competition, showcasing her strength and determination.

Sports was not her only influence in the community. Lydia was selected for the Community Justice Committee in Fort Simpson and worked as a park's interpreter in Nahanni National Park. She is currently studying at MC College in Edmonton to become a hair stylist.

Colleagues, Lydia is a positive role model in our community, regularly training at the fitness centre and encouraging others to lead healthy lifestyles. She is a proud ambassador for her culture, participating in drum dances and celebrating her Dene heritage. Lydia is self-taught makeup artist who loves to wear a different ribbon dress for each drum dance further embracing her cultural roots. Lydia's dedication to our community, her culture, and personal growth serves as an inspiration to all, proving that with hard work and determination, dreams can come true.

I would like to say to Ms. Nelner to continue to be a shining example of dedication and cultural pride in the community of Fort Simpson and the Deh Cho region.

I have attached her acceptance and her nomination speech at the end of my statement and ask it to be deemed as read.

Dennis's Nominator's Speech

Good evening, everyone. I was invited to highlight Lydia's involvement in sports, what she means to the community, and why she is so deserving of this Sport Award.

Starting at school Lydia had to compete right away, the youngest in her class, at early age Lydia had to work harder to keep up with the rest of her classmates. Lydia was always involved in organized sports soccer basketball throughout high school never missed practice and involved in all extra-curricular activities at home and outside the community Yellowknife, and Halifax for NAIG.

At home, Nicolas her Brother, helped nurture her competitiveness they are both very close she always looked up to her brother. She learnt to be brave and stand up for herself even though her brother very much older larger and equally as competitive. Facing her fears and expressing herself nurtured those skills in the comfort of home, and school. Speaking up and talking about things that are important to her.

Her brother's biggest influences is showing Lydia how to lift weights at the Fitness centre, both our siblings were "gym rats". Not too long after, Lydia was and still is a main fixture at the local fitness centre. Going every day, getting up at 6 in the morning, in order to have time during the day for all the rest of her daily activities.

Lydia entered the workforce at the tender age of 14 years old, starting the Northern store. During COVID she was classified as an Essential Worker, even with this elevated status because of her age she didn't qualify for the extra pay. Lydia has working class values, that need to be acknowledged especially in today's age, young people have very little role models where focus on working hard is a means to an end.

Our home epitomizes traditional family morals, as a father I provide and protect, my wife Trudy nurtures, combined makes a traditional family unit. Our family is centered on Working class values and traits. For Trudy and me, our fathers and mothers, grandparents and so on have always lived as a working-class family, just as out ancestor have lived before us.

Young people Lydia's age need more than ever to have someone to look up to. She's our shining light, a candle in the dark, a guiding beacon. My wife and I are absolutely so proud of what Lydia has accomplished in her young life so far, we look forward to many more accomplishments and milestones in the future. Mahsi.

Lydia's Acceptance Speech

I am deeply honored to accept this award tonight. This recognition means so much to me, not just as an athlete, but as a proud Member of our Aboriginal community. Sports have always been a significant part of our culture, teaching us the values of perseverance, teamwork, and respect.

I want to thank my family, friends, and coaches for their unwavering support. Their encouragement has been invaluable throughout my journey. I also want to acknowledge my fellow athletes; your dedication and spirit are truly inspiring.

This award is a testament to our shared heritage and the strength of our community. I hope to continue to represent our traditions and inspire future generations to pursue their dreams with passion and determination.

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

Yeah, thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to take this opportunity to recognize two pages from the Deninu Kue School in Fort Resolution, Colleen Edjericon and Mandy *Firth-King. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

If we missed anyone in the gallery today, welcome to your chambers. I thank you very much for allowing us to be representing of the people of the Northwest Territories. I hope you are enjoying the proceedings. It is always nice to see people in the gallery.

Acknowledgements. Oral questions. Written questions. Member from Great Slave.

Mr. Speaker, I'm seeking unanimous consent to go back to item 7 on the agenda, oral questions.

Member from Great Slave. Member from Great Slave is asking unanimous consent to return to item 7 on the agenda, oral questions. Any nays? Seeing no nays, back to oral questions. Member from Great Slave.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It's been a long week. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for Minister of ITI. Does the Minister have the financial capacity through her department or through Prosper NWT to fund community efforts to grow local gardens in this upcoming season? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we certainly do. So ITI has multiple funding sources that can support community efforts to grow local gardens, and that includes this season. So one of our main pieces of funding, Mr. Speaker, is the sustainable Canadian agriculture partnership which we lovingly refer to as SCAP, and that is 7.6 and change -- $7.6 million and change over the next five years of the agreement to support agriculture and agro food sector of the Northwest Territories. I can also say that I was at the agro food conference before I left town last week -- or it could have been the week before -- they are all one long week at this point -- and CanNor also announced that they are contributing an additional $4 million to our agriculture sector this coming year. So there is lots going on in this area. We also have the northern food development program which is $425,000 annually to the sector, and lots of people also access SEED for this purpose as well. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There's a certain poetic loveliness about SEED money going for seeds. I will look forward to the Minister sharing that information with me directly so I can promote it.

Will the Minister commit to investigating ways to support more projects like the Inuvik Community Greenhouse throughout the NWT? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, absolutely. So since 2020, I can confirm that ITI has contributed over $700,000 to the Inuvik greenhouse, $54,000 of which this fiscal to support the purchase of plants, and we're constantly working with regional offices and communities to figure out what the community-driven initiatives are and how we at ITI can get behind them. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That's good news. So just as a friendly question, would the Minister like to engage with me in a friendly competition to see how much -- which of us can grow the most potatoes by weight this season? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, the easy answer is yes. But. But, I'd like to also challenge my Cabinet colleagues to participate with us. Thank you.

Good answer. I mean, thank you, Minister of ITI. Oral questions. Member from Deh Cho.

Yes, okay, thank you, Mr. Speaker. According to media reports, the total cost for the on-the-land camp outside of Yellowknife was more than $640,000 with most of the money coming from the federal government, save about $7,000 from the GNWT. Can the Minister confirm the total amount of funding the Department of Health and Social Services provided for this initiative. Thank you.

Thank you, Member from the Deh Cho. Minister of health and social services.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, health provided zero dollars to this initiative. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Wow, okay. Is the department considering on-the-land camps as part of its transitional housing aftercare programming in other communities? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm going to just speak to the on-the-land camp a bit, I'm not going to delve into -- this falls under EIA so the -- although health didn't put money into it, there was federal dollars. This was all through -- for homelessness so that fell under EIA, to be clear.

As to the Member's question, there are currently -- health is not going to be putting any on-the-land camps anywhere in any of the communities. What we do do, though, is, we've heard loud and clear, and I've said this many times in the House, is that we are providing funding to Indigenous governments, to Indigenous groups who wish to provide aftercare, addictions, those types of programming in their community, in their regions, and therefore the community wellness and recovery funds that we do provide -- our addiction recovery fund that we do provide annually is about just over $3 million, and it's spread out amongst many of the regional governments. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister of Health and Social Services. Final supplementary. Member from the Deh Cho.

My next question is can the Minister commit to a feasibility study of cost of this type of on-the-land program as part of discharge from treatment planning for residents? Thank you.