Please be seated. Good afternoon
Colleagues, welcome back to the House. It is great to be here.

I'd like to thank interpreters Sarah Cleary and Mary Jane Cazon for opening this session with a wonderful song performance in Dene Zhatie and opening blessing in Dene Kede. Thank you very much.

I'm also pleased to welcome our pages and our interpreters back to the chamber.
We are grateful for their hard work and dedication; we couldn't do this without them. Colleagues, remember to speak slowly and clearly so our interpreters can do their jobs.

Although we have not sat together in this chamber since March, I know you have all been busy with the ongoing work of committees, government and representing your constituents. Our work goes on when we are not sitting.

From April 29th to May 1st, we hosted our 21st Youth Parliament. Folks, it was a great time. I was impressed with our young MLAs and proud of the work they did during their short time here. These youth from across our territory came together in the Assembly for three days to learn about consensus government and debate in this very chamber issues important to them, their peers and their communities. Colleagues, please join me in thanking and congratulating our young MLAs for a job well done.

Thank you to the staff involved in our 21st Youth Parliament. A lot of work goes into planning and delivering this event, and they should be recognized for their efforts. Please join me in thanking our staff for planning and delivering this program for our youth.

Finally, thank you for making our Youth Parliament program a success. Many of you volunteered as pages for the model session and met with your youth representatives during the program. It means a lot to the youth and the program. Thank you.

Colleagues, earlier this month on May 5th, we marked the 80th Anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands by Canadian forces. The domes of this Legislative Assembly building were lit orange to recognize this important milestone.

In 1945, Canadian forces played a crucial role in freeing the Dutch people from Nazi occupation, enduring harsh conditions and fierce combat to push back German forces. More than 7,600 Canadian soldiers lost their lives during this campaign, a solemn reminder of the high cost of freedom.
This anniversary serves as a powerful opportunity to honour the courage and dedication of those who served and to reflect on Canada's legacy as a defender of peace and justice on the world stage.

As a symbol and reminder of the sacrifice of Northwest Territories residents during the Second World War, the Metis sash of Private Edward Powder, an Indigenous veteran of the Second World War and father of our former sergeant-at-arms, Floyd Powder, will sit in the chamber as a gift from the Powder family. I thank them very much for this honour.
At the appropriate time today, I will table a list of the deceased veterans of the Second World War from or with connection to the Northwest Territories.

Colleagues, I have received the following correspondence from the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, the Honourable Gerald W. Kisoun. It states: Dear Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise that I recommend to the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories, the passage of the Supplementary Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures and Borrowing Authorization), No. 1, 2025-2026; and, Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 1, 2025-2026 during the May sitting of the first session of the 20th Legislative Assembly. Yours Truly, Gerald W. Kisoun.

Colleagues, let's get back down to business. Ministers' statements. Mr. Premier.

Mr. Speaker, the 20th Legislative Assembly is nearing its midpoint a natural time to reflect, recalibrate, and refocus. Over the past year and a half, we have worked hard to build the foundation for what lies ahead. We have established strong working relationships across the House, set shared priorities, and begun the important and essential work of implementing the commitments in our mandate. These early steps were about alignment, ensuring that the work of government reflects the realities, needs, and aspirations of Northerners.
The challenges before us are significant. Climate emergencies are becoming more frequent and more destructive. The rising cost of living continues to strain families, businesses, and government fiscal capacity. Our health and social services system is under pressure. As both a public health and public safety issue, communities are at risk of drug and gang activity, compromising the safety of residents and families. The housing and infrastructure deficits in our territory remain one of the greatest barriers to long-term growth and resilience.

But Mr. Speaker, we are not standing still. We have made deliberate decisions to position this government to act and deliver.

Earlier this spring, we implemented a series of strategic changes to Cabinet portfolios and senior management. These adjustments were designed not only to rebalance workloads but to strengthen alignment between political leadership and the work we have been asked to carry forward. These were not just routine changes; they were about putting the right people in the right roles to get results.

We have also worked to strengthen collaboration with Regular Members. The newly created small and remote communities committee-of-Cabinet will bring the perspectives from small community MLAs directly into the Cabinet decision-making process. This collaboration will make our work stronger and more responsive to the needs of all residents.

Mr. Speaker, the groundwork has been laid. Our direction is clear, and the work to deliver on the mandate of the Government of the Northwest Territories is moving forward with purpose.

In our healthcare system, we are taking focused steps to fix what is not working and strengthen what is, with the goal of ensuring healthy people and communities across the territory.
Through the healthcare system sustainability unit, we have launched a territory-wide review of programs and services; one that looks not just at what is being delivered but at how it is being delivered, what it costs, and how we can do better. This is foundational work. It is the first time we have attempted to build a comprehensive inventory of health and social across the territory, along with historical spending trends. This will help us identify pressure points, inefficiencies, and opportunities for change, and will inform the decisions we make in the months and years ahead.

At Stanton Territorial Hospital, a new emergency department staffing model is being rolled out to improve coverage, reduce burnout, and create a more stable work environment for physicians. The model was co-designed with frontline staff and introduces additional dedicated physician shifts to improve flexibility and care. This will help with recruitment as well as retention, and we expect to see real benefits for both staff and patients.

Mr. Speaker, in December 2024, we appointed a public administrator to help address the evolving and complex needs of the current health and social services system. The public administrator has released his work plan, focused on improving day-to-day operations across the system. That work starts with things like scheduling, staff support, and accountability for frontline management. These are things that may not make headlines but they are critical. They help keep services running, reduce turnover, and ensure that our health and social services system remains focused on care.

One of the more exciting long-term projects is focused on integrated service delivery through the governance and service integration unit. The governance and service integration unit steers the GNWT's efforts to improve person-centered service delivery across the NWT. With an initial focus on homelessness and family preservation, the unit will establish five regional integrated service delivery sites in Yellowknife, Fort Simpson, Inuvik, Hay River, and Behchoko. Teams in these communities will coordinate support services across sectors such as housing, mental health, income assistance, and child and family services. Central to this work is wraparound training offered to the GNWT, Indigenous governments, and non-governmental organizations, designed to create collaborative, holistic support plans for individuals with complex needs.

The new governance and service integration unit also plays a key coordinating role in anti-poverty and food security initiatives and leads the GNWT's response to strengthening the non-profit and charitable sector. Its work is supported by approximately $5.7 million in federal funding through 2028, including funding from Public Safety Canada, Gender-Based Violence, and Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada. Additionally, the unit manages the anti-poverty fund and the non-government organization stabilization fund, supporting community-based solutions and building capacity across the non-profit sector. Engagement, partnership and breaking down barriers are the core of the governance and service integration unit's mission to improve access to services and outcomes for residents across the territory.

Mr. Speaker, we continue to deliver more homes for Northerners. Since the start of this Legislative Assembly, 81 new units have been completed with 211 more underway or in the planning stages including new incremental public housing units, seniors' duplexes, and replacement units tailored to local needs across the territory. Over the life of this government, we are planning to deliver a total of 292 new housing units across the territory.

In Yellowknife, two new transitional housing projects are moving forward. One, a partnership with the Salvation Army, will soon open its doors to support individuals in their addiction recovery. A similar facility is expected to open in Inuvik later this year. The second project is a temporary transitional housing facility near the Yellowknife Airport that will provide supportive housing for up to 25 individuals experiencing homelessness. With on-site staff, wraparound supports, and a focus on safety and healing, it will help bridge the gap between emergency shelters and longer-term housing options. This, and other similar projects, help with our goals to break down barriers and build trust with vulnerable populations.

This spring, construction is beginning on a number of additional units, including a 50-unit mass timber building in Yellowknife and a hybrid modular-stick build in Delineb. These projects reflect both innovation and a community-driven approach.

Mr. Speaker, local housing organizations remain essential partners in this work, supporting tenant safety and day-to-day operations in our communities. Through collaboration with Regular Members, an additional $41.6 million has been committed to Housing NWT this year, bringing the total planned investment to more than $50 million. This work is about more than buildings. It is about stability, health, and opportunity, and we are moving it forward with urgency and partnership.

Mr. Speaker, floods and wildfires are no longer rare events in the Northwest Territories. They have become a regular part of life for many communities and their impacts are being felt more often, and more severely, each year. We have been taking decisive steps to ensure that we are ready for emergencies. To help us strengthen our emergency preparedness and response, two independent reviews were launched following 2023's wildfire season; one focused on wildfire management and the other on broader emergency operations, including evacuations and public safety.

Earlier this month, we received the broader after-action review focused on emergency management and community evacuations. It provides a detailed assessment of what worked and what did not and identifies clear opportunities to improve coordination, communication, and readiness. A formal response to the after-action review will be tabled later this year, but operational improvements are already being made.

We updated the NWT Emergency Plan by clarifying roles and responsibilities to ensure that emergency agencies, Indigenous governments, and the territorial government can work together in a coordinated and collaborative fashion from the outset of an emergency.

We launched new training to support incident command capacity, relaunched the Be Ready campaign to support community-level preparedness, and we're offering FireSmarting assessments across the territory. This is about continuous learning and continuous improvement and making sure that, when the next emergency comes, we are better equipped to respond.

We are also supporting climate resilience in the NWT's four coastal communities - Tuktoyaktuk, Paulatuk, Sachs Harbour and Ulukhaktok - in partnership with Natural Resources Canada's climate-resilient coastal communities program. These four communities face growing risks from coastal erosion, sea level rise, storm surges, and permafrost thaw due to climate change. The funding includes more than $12 million for 13 projects in the North and across Canada to help communities develop and implement their own climate adaptation measures, including planned relocation efforts. We will work with community governments to ensure strategies are community-led, practical, and support long-term climate resilience.

In this environment of growing uncertainty and rapid change, another serious threat continues to develop, not just in the NWT but internationally: The rise of drug trafficking and substance use. Social isolation, lack of opportunity, and limited access to services often exacerbated by climate-driven disruptions, have made some communities more susceptible to the harmful impacts of drugs and organized crime. In response, protecting community safety has become not just a matter of policing but a critical part of building resilience.

As this issue continues to grow, we and our partners have adapted our response, education and supports to make sure we have safe communities for Northerners and support for healing. Our efforts focus on community-based programs, harm reduction, enforcement, and restorative justice.

The Department of Health and Social Services works with schools, non-government organizations, and community organizations, to deliver prevention education on the risks of drug use, safe consumption messaging, and access to mental health supports, as well as providing harm reduction initiatives such as access to Naloxone kits to treat opioid overdoses.

For community members dealing with addictions and trauma, the Mental Wellness and Addictions Recovery Fund offers $3 million a year to communities, Indigenous governments and Indigenous organizations for community-based programming tailored to cultural and local needs and land-based healing initiatives that include traditional knowledge and practices. Facility-based addictions treatment is also available to help residents access treatment outside the territory if needed; as well as dedicated aftercare, including counselling and peer support for people returning from treatment.

Through the RCMP and the Department of Justice, the GNWT actively supports drug enforcement efforts. This past February, the RCMP executed the largest drug and cash seizure in NWT history, confiscating nearly five kilograms of cocaine and over $360,000 in cash. This operation significantly disrupted criminal networks operating in the territory. We established a territorial crime reduction unit, deployed the first full-time emergency response team in the NWT, and are developing new legislation to empower law enforcement to shut down drug houses, seize assets from traffickers, and continue to disrupt the drug networks to protect communities and keep residents safe in their own homes. We will also continue to work across jurisdictions, both within the territory and nationally, to fight the problem.

Mr. Speaker, we know that long-term prosperity and resilience in the Northwest Territories depend on getting infrastructure right and on working with Indigenous governments and Canada to make meaningful progress. This is why we continue to advance major projects like the Mackenzie Valley Highway, the Taltson Hydro Electric Expansion, and the Slave Geological Province Corridor. These are long-term investments in connectivity, energy security, and economic development, that will create new opportunities for Northerners and are critical to strengthening the North's role as a pivotal point in Canada's future.

To help drive this work forward, we have created a new ministerial portfolio focused on strategic infrastructure, energy and supply chains. The partnerships behind these nation-building projects, including with Indigenous governments and the federal government, remain central to our approach, and we will continue to advocate strongly for the funding and approvals needed to move them ahead.

We have taken practical steps to adapt existing systems. This year's winter fuel resupply was one of the most complex in recent memory, with water levels forcing major rerouting. Thanks to strong coordination across government, industry, and communities, over 9.6 million liters of fuel were delivered safely on time to eight communities. We also modernized the Public Utilities Board's mandate to better support community-driven renewable energy, improve fairness in the system, and lay the groundwork for long-term affordability and sustainability.

Mr. Speaker, during a period of global uncertainty, we have taken targeted steps to protect the territory's economy. Short-term relief for the diamond sector is helping maintain jobs, sustain local businesses, and support Indigenous contracting at a time of significant market disruption. When the federal government eliminated the consumer carbon tax, we moved quickly to align territorial policy, delivering immediate relief for residents while continuing to advance our 2030 Energy Strategy and long-term climate adaptation work.

We are also working to strengthen the foundations of our economy. The Northwest Territories is chairing the committee on internal trade, helping to lead national efforts to reduce trade barriers and unlock economic opportunity across Canada. We are doing this while remaining steadfast on the need to uphold economic modern treaty commitments and support our developing economy.

Mr. Speaker, we also have a great opportunity in the wake of the recent federal election. After nearly two decades, the NWT has a Minister in Cabinet and for the first time ever the Prime Minister is someone born in our territory. There is a renewed sense that Canada is paying closer attention to the Arctic and the North, not just as a region in need but as strategically essential to the success of the nation. This attention brings with it opportunities to collaborate in meaningful ways on the challenges we face, whether building the economy, adapting to climate change, strengthening community wellness and resilience, or highlighting Canada's security and sovereignty. We welcome this focus and are ready to work with Canada and all of our partners to build a Northwest Territories that is stronger, safer, and more productive for Northerners and contributes to the Canadian federation.

As we look ahead, our focus remains clear.
We will continue working and building with Regular Members, Indigenous governments, community leaders, and residents to advance the priorities in our mandate: More homes, better health care, stronger emergency response, cleaner energy, safe communities, and a resilient sustainable economy that works for Northerners. This is the time to move from strategy to implementation, from building trust to delivering results. That is what we intend to do. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to congratulate Yellowknife's own, the Honourable Rebecca Alty, on her election to the House of Commons and further on her appointment to the Privy Council as Minister for Crown Indigenous Relations.

Rebecca was born and raised in Yellowknife in Chief Drygeese territory in the Akaitcho region. After high school, she completed a diploma in film and video at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology followed by a degree in communication studies from the University of Calgary. In 2018, she was elected as 15th mayor of Yellowknife, following two terms as a city councillor.

Ms. Alty joins a rather exclusive club of northern Ministers and is only the second from the Northwest Territories following in the footsteps of the great Ethel Blondin Andrew who was Minister of State from 2003 to 2006. [Translation] INSERT* [Translation Ends].

Northerners are often overlooked and under-utilized by Ottawa, but these appointments send a clear message that that is going to change. The NWT holds the promise of Canada's future, the Gray's Bay, Slave Geological Province strategic corridor, critical minerals, and our untapped energy potential and natural gas, offshore oil, hydroelectricity, and geothermal resources. We can be the center of North America's strategic defence and ensure Arctic sovereignty for all Canadians and the tradition of Indigenous people who have called this land home since time immemorial.

Mr. Speaker, the new federal Cabinet and its priorities represent a bright future for the Northwest Territories with growth and security for our people. I know that my friend Rebecca Alty will make good on this opportunity and be the voice of the NWT on the national and international stage. Congratulations, Rebecca. Thank you.

Thank you, Member from Range Lake. Members' statements. Member from Great Slave .

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On the first day of our last sitting in February, I told the trans and nonbinary community that I love and support you. As we are about to enter Pride Season, I stand today to say again that you are loved, valued, and deserve safety and equity.

Mr. Speaker, Pride is a protest. Again and again, we protest until safety and equity for everyone is achieved.

On May 3rd, the Premier released a statement with his territorial colleagues that they, quote, "discussed the alarming increase in trans phobic policies based on hate and ignorance being passed internationally, stripping transgender and gender nonconforming people of their fundamental rights to self-expression. All three territories continue to take a strong stance to supported the 2SLGPBTQIAA+ community and are committed to ensuring all Northerners feel seen, safe, and supported."

In my role as Regular Member, I have the power of words and influence. And so today, I ask this Cabinet to use their active power to affect strong change and support our 2SLGBTQIAA+ community through real action. This means we must provide safe options for gender affirming health care out of territory. It also means that the GNWT must actively listen to experts in our community, especially the Northern Mosaic Network, to create real and lasting change through meaningful collaboration. I invite all Members to meet with folks outside the Assembly rallying for safe and accessible trans health care. I will have questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services at the appropriate time.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, [Translation] INSERT* [Translation Ends] Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, drug use is out of control in NWT. Mr. Speaker, we must address the drug crisis in our communities. Two weeks ago, the Dene national chief said we are, quote, "at the crossroads in an ongoing drug crisis." Mr. Speaker, I feel we need to recognize that this recent gun and drug related crime really is a crisis.

As a parent and grandparent, I care deeply about the well-being of our people, especially our youth. They are our future leaders who will shape our communities going forward. Mr. Speaker, this drug crisis is tearing people apart. It is heartbreaking to see the toll crack cocaine and fentanyl are taking on our youth.

Two people are facing firearm and drug trafficking charges in the Sahtu. Last month, a 21-year-old received a five-year prison sentence for selling cocaine in Yellowknife. Last week, a 22-year-old was arrested for a murder that happened in the Deh Cho in March. Yesterday, media reported that a 12-year-old was arrested in Mackenzie Delta after a shooting.

Mr. Speaker, our children are using drugs at younger ages; for example, 10 years old, and this will have a terrible impact on their future.

Mr. Speaker, my constituents are calling for actions. They are asking others to report drug dealers and people involved in the drug trade. Residents are beginning to face legal consequences. We need to ensure we have the resources to meet the challenges ahead. Mr. Speaker, addiction is also a disease, and while we must protect our communities we need to show compassion. Mr. Speaker, can I have unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have heard recently that the amount of time for legal aid clinics and services have been reduced. Our young people are entering the system, and we need to be prepared. I will have question for the Minister of Justice at the appropriate time. Thank you.

Thank you, Member from Monfwi. Members' statements. Member from Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, investing in our Arctic road to resources, Mr. Speaker, it's the highway north of Yellowknife, is an excellent, if not a major significant economic opportunity for the North and Canada. Mr. Speaker, if you look at the NWT's GDP alone, you'd start to wonder in this territory, is it trending that people are quietly quitting? Our GDP is shrinking and things are -- maybe no one's taken the opportunity to inform or tell the Premier.

Mr. Speaker, we're going to need some bold brinkmanship action to get in there, lock down, and get some investment in the North, because as the North starts to shrink, and continues to shrink in the direction it's going, you don't have to start to see the stark difference between when you look east or west, when you see Nunavut and Yukon, as their economies continue to grow year over year because it starts to make you wonder what's happening and where is the call for urgency. Mr. Speaker, frankly, the only growth, really, we see in the Northwest Territories in our GDP is the public administration. And in lay terms, that's for the public to know what that means is basically that means government with more government on top of government, Mr. Speaker. Government's bursting at the seams. It's our best sifter.

Mr. Speaker, but all isn't lost. There's hope on the horizon. Mr. Speaker, recently, Canada has elected a new Prime Minister. Mr. Speaker, that Prime Minister made a particularly interesting statement. I'll say it. He said build big, build bold, and build now, Mr. Speaker. So there's the message I'm sending to our Premier.

So, Mr. Premier, while you're travelling to the First Ministers' junket in two weeks from now and in between the wine, the cheese, and those fancy cute little tiny crackers, take a moment and ask the Prime Minister to help you build big, build bold, build now. We have partners here in the Yellowknife region - the Tlicho government, the Yellowknives - they want to work together to build that road north to the Bathurst port because we could build big, bold, and now, and that will help stimulate this economy.

Mr. Speaker, subjects such as the Arctic road to resources I think would be good, accelerating the Mackenzie Valley Highway is critical, and if Taltson isn't going to work it's time we pull it off the table and say let's run a power line north from Alberta because we have to start making some good choices. So I implore the Premier, do not be a Where's Waldo; be aggressive. Be big, be bold, and do it now because we can't wait any longer. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, the recent Earth Day announcement of $15 million in surprise subsidies to the three operating diamond mines has been bothering me. I certainly don't dispute that the mines employ a lot of Northerners and that Indigenous and northern businesses rely significantly on contracts with the diamond mines. What bothers me is that the subsidies are based on wishful thinking. They're not designed to actually accomplish anything meaningful when it comes to jobs or our economy. We're not getting any guarantees in return for the $15 million besides nice but empty words like "relationships" and "partnerships." They're not even offering best efforts but commercially reasonable efforts to maintain operations. Basically, they'll do what they were going to do anyway. We don't have any independent economic analysis that shows even the probability that this token gesture will result in one more northerner being hired or that a mine will stay hope for one day longer than it would have without these subsidies.

$15 million in public funds are pretty small potatoes for those diamond mine operations, but they could mean a lot if this government instead invested that money directly in our people, in housing or education or mental health care or even in energy infrastructure projects to support future economic opportunities. Those are the investments required to build up our economic foundation, not desperately throwing money at the mines that are already on their way out the door in the hope that will slow them down on their way out.

With this so-called crisis so impossible to predict or plan for, global mineral prices famously rise and crash on a regular basis. We've known for many years these mines are reaching the end of their lifecycles, when we should expect falling profits and tighter margins. We can and should be creating transparent policy for what to do in these frequent situations. Should the government always subsidize a mine if it threatens to close? If so, for how long should we subsidize a failing operation? What proof do we need to see that a closure threat is real? Is is there a minimum rate of return? How many jobs should be at stake to justify a subsidy? What should be the consequence if a company takes the money and shuts down the very next day? Mr. Speaker, I ask for unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and to my colleagues. Finally, let's plan properly and invest in economic development based on sound evidence rather than spending reactively based on fear and wishful thinking. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the NWT, a number of health care professions are regulated under the Health and Social Services Professions Act. Psychologists were regulated under this Act in 2022 for example. Meanwhile, counselling and psychotherapy are not yet a regulated profession in the NWT, and I have been approached by practitioners with concerns about the lack of a regulatory body to these professions here.

Anyone in the NWT can currently offer counselling or psychotherapy services without any formal education or training as long as they are not claiming to be a psychologist or social worker. Trained counselling therapists may register with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association where registration with the CCPA is not mandatory; it's voluntary. This is potentially a significant issue with severe impacts on public safety, Mr. Speaker.

Regulation protects the public. A regulatory body ensures that practitioners are held to high standards, promoting safe, ethical and evidence-based practices. When harm does occur currently, there is no avenue to report someone for unethical or dangerous care if they are not a voluntary association or regulatory body member. Unregulated, untrained individuals providing counselling care may worsen things for those already in crisis. Harm can occur due to negligence, malpractice, ethical violations, or incompetence. Regulation helps mitigate these risks by ensuring that only qualified professionals provide care and that harmful practices are addressed. We expect registered nurses and physicians to maintain up-to-date licensing, ensuring their ability to provide safe care. Why should we not hold mental health professions to the same standards? I want to -- or similar standards, Mr. Speaker.

I want to highlight that valuable education and training are not limited to colonial systems, and it is crucial that any regulatory framework developed for the NWT takes this into account. Currently, the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario has a policy entitled the Indigenous Pathway Policy which aims to support the registration of appropriately qualified Indigenous practitioners of psychotherapy through consultation and collaboration with Indigenous communities. The CRPO also recognizes that knowledge-keepers, elders, and practitioners of Indigenous traditional healing practices can provide supervision to registrants recognizing that supervision from -- sorry, Mr. Speaker. I request unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, colleagues. Mr. Speaker, the CRPO also recognizes that knowledge-keepers, elders, and practitioners of Indigenous traditional healing practices can provide supervision to registrants recognizing that supervision from noncolonial educated and trained individuals has value. Similar policies would be essential if regulation were achieved in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I'll have questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services.

Thank you, Member from Frame Lake. Members' statements. Member from the Deh Cho.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to discuss Enterprise being put under administration.

Enterprise is still recovering from the 2023 wildfires which destroyed homes and businesses and displaced most of its residents. Mr. Speaker, there have been no clear plans since the fires. Enterprise lost people on its council in early 2024, and media reported widespread lack of confidence. On May 7, 2025, the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs made an order declaring the hamlet of Enterprise be placed under administration due to the governance, financial, and operational challenges.

Mr. Speaker, section 159 of the Territorial Hamlets Act allows the Minister to declare a hamlet subject to administration and appoint a municipal administrator. This administrator can exercise the powers and perform the duties of a council under the Act. As a result, council is deemed to have resigned, and the office remains vacant until a new election is held.

Mr. Speaker, the Minister's orders effectively relieve the mayor and all members of the council of their duties. This measure was considered necessary to stabilize operations, ensure good governance, and address the challenges faced by the community, according to the press release.

Mr. Speaker, residents need to know the next steps. Some residents are still living in Hay River. They want to know when Enterprise will be move-in ready. My constituents are asking what plans are in place for delivering services and programs on behalf of Enterprise. Now that council has been dissolved, when will an election be held? I will have questions for the Minister at the appropriate time. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my constituents of Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh following the spring federal election with great anticipation, a sediment echoed throughout this Assembly. For some time, there has been serious uncertainty about how outcomes of the federal election could affect our efforts to tackle the many challenges facing our territory, in particular the ongoing housing crisis.

The result is not clear. Mr. Carney and the Liberal party have returned to office promising a new government agency dedicated to building 500,000 new homes a year across the country. While this plan is ambitious, it is not without precedent. For decades, the federal government built homes across Canada and here in the Northwest Territories. Those efforts made real progress until the mid 1990s. Many people in the North and the small communities are still living in those homes today. Unfortunately, the beginning of our modern housing crisis can be tracked back to the moment of federal government transferred housing responsibility to the territory government. The NWT has since fallen behind by hundreds of homes a year or 7,500 in total approximately and simply do not have the resources to keep up.

Public housing wait lists grew, vacancy rates plummet, and older homes slip into disrepair. We are now at a turning point. But this moment is about more than just catching up on the housing shortages. It's about ensuring we never face a crisis like this again, and that won't happen until Indigenous housing is led by Indigenous governments. Only then, truly understand the unique needs of their communities. They have community members ready to design policies, administer programs, and construction to maintain homes. We need to give them the authority and resources to get started. My constituents can't wait any longer for the GNWT to move beyond its failing policies and commit to new Indigenous-led housing consensus.

A strong first step would be to revisit the successful historic initiative by reinstating the old HAP programs:

• Homeownership assistance program,
• Home improvement program,
• Senior assistance home assistance program, and
• Emergency repair program.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my Member's statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. But at this time, with the funding flowing directly to the Indigenous governments, along with funding for public housing and CRC operation and maintenance funds. My communities and I are eager to hear from firm commitments in that direction because this work can't wait any longer. I would have questions for the Premier at the appropriate time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First of all, I want to offer my sincere condolences to all who have lost loved ones over the last few months. Grief is uncomfortable and difficult, especially in trying times.

I rise today to speak about Nunakput, a riding and constituency that elected me to represent and advocate for those that live in the most remote communities in the Northwest Territories. Seeing people travel on the land with the return of spring and warmer weather brings me joy and hope as many families are harvesting geese and catching fish coming home with smiling faces and nice-looking tans. Communities remain resilient as many families continue to face poverty and unaffordability with limited access to health care and education systems.

I think we all have a good idea of what we need, including a locally skilled labour market, an engaged and thriving workforce, improved housing, and more frontline services with vibrant schools and health centres. The work we do, the discussions we have, the questions we ask, our priorities; this is our vision, Mr. Speaker, a better territory than what we started this 20th Assembly with.

Our territory is seeing a surge of illegal activity, including amplified heavy drug activity and health centres overrun with preventative accidents and illnesses. What can we do?

First, we need to speak the truth for our children and our grandchildren. We need healthy families, healthy communities, and healthy parents saying no more. We must be more engaged in our communities, attend events and meetings, ask questions, volunteer, and run for elected office. I continue to trust our Premier, Cabinet, and I trust Regular Members to lead and act in the best interests of this territory. But, again, we need to remind ourselves we need to truly do what's best for this territory. As we begin this session, let's think about it. Quyananni, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Nunakput. Members' statements.

Colleagues, Dr. Earl Leslie Covert passed away peacefully at the Chinook Regional Hospital in Lethbridge on Saturday, May 3, 2025 at the age of 86 years. His family, while spread across Canada, has grown to include 13 great-grandchildren who are all under the age of nine years old. While these are the blood relations he left behind, there are dozens of people and families who called him a father, a grandfather, and a friend. He was predeceased by his first wife, Audrey, in 2016.

Doctor Covert was born on June 21st, 1938, in Ottawa, graduating Queens University in Kingston, Ontario, and moved immediately to the Northwest Territories, where he began serving the Lord as a doctor and leader in his church community. The legacy he leaves behind includes bringing hundreds of babies into the world, flying into remote communities to serve both the Lord and the medical field in any capacity he was able. He raised a large family and left behind a church family at Parallel Lethbridge, while not blood, are true family as any man could ask for.

Colleagues, Dr. Covert was a man who touched the lives of many people. He served his communities of Hay River, Coaldale and the Lethbridge area as a doctor for over 50 years. In the many years he served his community, he donated his time, his energy, and his love to anyone he met, serving in the Streets Alive with Foot Friday, the Gideons, and Parallel Lethbridge. He was lovingly known in Parallel as "the doc" where he served for many years as a door greeter and voice of wisdom.

Colleagues, I was fortunate to have him as a family doctor growing up in Hay River. It is not often when you have a doctor who brings you into the world and then has the opportunity to bring your children into this world. This happened with me and my younger sister.

I remember the last time we had a conversation about a potential operation. As we were chatting about various options, I asked him how long he knew me, and he said all your life young man. Then he thought about the question further and said we'll come up with a different plan.

When you look at Dr. Covert's life, there are countless layers of people he has affected on the people which some we still don't fully known, yet what is known is that he has touched so many lives in such a positive way that his passing has left a hole in the hearts of many. His last wish, his final goal, was to see the Lord Jesus Christ praised and the gospel spread to anyone with ears to hear.

I would like to thank his grandson Dallas Covert to help with this part of the Celebration of Life; however, being reflective of the time I would like the rest of this statement be deemed as read and printed in the Hansard. This includes other parts of the obituary written by his grandson, written by his daughter and son-in-law. He will be sadly missed.

Dallas Covert

I call tell you his hobbies included genealogy research, bird watching, and stamp collecting, where he served in BNAPS from 1972 in various capacities as Secretary of the Society, and Member of the board of governors. He eventually served as Chairman, and President of the organization. He is known internationally for publishing and editing various catalogs and collectors' documents relating back to his joy of stamp collecting.

Doctor Covert is survived by his second wife Jean and her daughter Barbara, his son Lawrence (Monique) and his daughter Cindy (Robin); seven grandchildren: Orrin (Kaio), Dallas (Andrea), Tyrell (Ceara), Nakyta (James), Natasha, Makayla (Spencer), and Porscha (Mike).

A Celebration of Life was held at Parallel Church, 1 mile east of Lethbridge on Hwy 3, on Thursday, May 8, 2025 at 2:00 P.M. with Pastor Kelly Stickel and Pastor Ralph Molyneux officiating. The service was made available by Cornerstone Funeral Home webpage.

Cindy Esau (daughter): Earle Covert, the Collector

To quote the late Philip "Phil Ately", I have never witnessed a person who is more dedicated to acquiring, these funny little scraps of paper, that we call stamps, than my friend "Doc Covert."

Indeed, Doctor "Doc" Earle L. Covert was a true legend in his time. His Zeal for acquiring all things related to the Postal System, no matter how tenuous the connection, was remarkable. Besides the common postage stamps and stationery that you are familiar with, Doc was seeking out post cards, first day covers, illustrated permits, tobacco revenue stamps, post office advertising posters, mailboxes, etc. Nothing seemed to be off limits. He once even considered moving his family into a decommissioned post office.

Robin Esau (son-in-law)

Doc was very instrumental in popularizing this obscure endeavour. The younger generations seemed to take a keen interest. Clutching their first stamp albums, they would watch Doc striding through the gilded halls of BNAPS or ORAPEX in his quest for an elusive Mark Harmon post card or an inverted error St. Lawrence Seaway 5 cent 1958 stamp. Legions, well maybe not legions but probably quite a few, children got their life journey started this way. He will be missed. How are the dealers going to Survive now?

Members' statements. Member from Inuvik Boot Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with the permission of the Moses family to remember the late Winston Moses, a respected elder and friend to all to the town of Inuvik.

Winston's family said the world got a little brighter when their dad, grandfather, uncle, and friend Winston John Moses was born on April 6th, 1944, in Old Crow, Yukon. In his early years, Winston was raised by his sister Mary Lazarus Charlie and his godparents Ellen and Robert Booth Senior. Winston attended residential school in Old Crow, Aklavik, and then Inuvik. He later attended vocational school in Whitehorse and Fort Smith.

In 1974, while working in Inuvik, Winston met the love his life, Martha Pascal of Fort McPherson. After many weekend visits to Fort McPherson to visit Martha, he brought her home to Old Crow where they married on May 7th, 1975. The young couple moved to Inuvik in 1978 and together raised six children.

Mr. Speaker, one of his children, his son, Alfred Moses, who many in this building will recognize that name and remember who sadly passed away at the age of 45 in 2022, Alfred was elected to the Legislative Assembly here in 2011 and represented the electoral district of Boot Lake until his retirement from politics in 2019.

Winston and Martha enjoyed picking berries, setting snares and going for drives on the highway and enjoyed visiting relatives in the Yukon and the Northwest Territories. When Martha could no longer go berry picking or setting snares, he would go out and often come back with full pails of berries or a few rabbits just for her, always taking care of his wife and family like the good man that he was.

Winston was known for walking everywhere with a hello or a good day. And anyone who's been in Inuvik or lives in Inuvik would see Winston walking up and down the hill, never accepting a ride, just waving and saying hello to everyone he crossed paths with. He was a humble man who always had kind words to share. In his spare time, he enjoyed sharing his music skills in guitar or harmonica. He would often perform in talent shows. When he attended the Gwich'in Gathering in Old Crow in 2022, he had entered almost every contest they had and won first place in many of them, including in the jigging contest and his harmonica in the talent show.

The Gwich'in Nation mourns alongside Winston's family as they have lost a respected Gwich'in elder and a knowledge holder who was always so willing to teach anyone who wanted to learn. Winston lived by example, and we've all seen his traditional values in all that he did.

One of his fondest memories was his last trip to Old Crow where he spent time with his family and going to Crow Flats. He was so glad to be home. He mentioned it being his first time back there in almost 50 years. He sat quietly having tea, he shared what he remembered, and appreciated his treasured trip. Mahsi cho to the Tetlichti family for taking good care of him during their revisit.

Mr. Speaker, Winston was special to everyone who knew him. Let us each honour him and all our loved ones who passed before by living the best we can each day, remembering all the teachings and applying them to our daily lives. Let us keep learning and sharing and caring for each other, like Winston did for us, never forget the sacrifices, hard work ethic and strong faith that he carried and lived. His legacy will live on through his family who was always the most important thing in life to him. Thank you for all your work on earth, Winston, and rest in peace in paradise forever more. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Inuvik Boot Lake. Just beautiful Celebration of Life of a gentleman that was well known across the Northwest Territories. My condolences go out to the family and his friends.

Members' statements. Returns to oral questions. Mr. Premier.

Mr. Speaker, I have a Return to Oral Question asked by the Member for Yellowknife Centre on February 25, 2025, regarding the Senior Envoy to the Government of Canada position.

The Senior Envoy position is one position within the Premier's Office and has been remunerated at the salary range of the principal secretary position which is considered a deputy head III.

As of April 1st, 2025, the salary range of a Deputy Head III position is from $261,474 to $326,842.

Salary ranges for the Government of the Northwest Territories' employees are available publicly on the Department of Finance website.

As of April 1st, 2025, the 100 percent maximum range for the deputy head III position, including benefit entitlements, there is an estimated cost of $440,000 per year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Premier. Returns to oral questions. Minister of Health and Social Services.

Mr. Speaker, I have a Return to Oral Question asked by the Member for Range Lake on March 5th, 2025, regarding Coverage Exemptions for Uninsured Medical Procedures. The Member asked if there anything a doctor can do to convince decision-makers that an exception or an appeal is warranted if a procedure is not insured.

There is a robust process in place to assess appeals or requests for exceptions related to services that are not considered an insured service.

From the Member's line of questioning, I gather that the process was initiated through a prior approval request however the outcome of the request did not satisfy the patient.

In accordance with the Medical Care Act and the Medical Care Regulations, the director of medical insurance designates a medical advisor, who is a physician, to review prior approval requests and make recommendations. Depending on the complexity of the case, the file is reviewed by the medical advisor and any additional Department of Health and Social Services staff or other clinicians within the territory and in consultation with the medical specialist or other experts from outside the NWT, as needed.

The review and recommendations of the medical advisor, based on clinical input and aligning with funding of medical services in other jurisdictions across Canada, are reviewed by the director of medical insurance and the decision of the director is final. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister of Health and Social Services. Returns to oral questions. Mr. Premier.

Mr. Speaker, I have a Return to Oral Question asked by the Member for Yellowknife Centre on March 12th, 2025, regarding the Senior Envoy to the Government of Canada position.

As part of an organizational shift within the Premier's Office, the Senior Envoy position was created to strengthen the Government of the Northwest Territories' federal engagement efforts. This role is designed to foster strong relationships with federal political offices in Ottawa while leveraging the renewed national interest in Canada's North. The Senior Envoy serves as a dedicated resource, ensuring that the GNWT's perspectives are effectively conveyed in federal decision-making processes whenever possible.

The success of this position will, in part, be measured by the level of engagement and resulting outcomes, including advocacy achievements and policy influences. Relationship building is an integral part of this process with progress tracked through the establishment of key connections made. Additionally, performance will also be assessed based on tangible outcomes such as new funding commitments secured and initiatives influenced. Ultimately, these measures reinforce the position's important role in expanding visibility and elevating our government's priorities on the national stage. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Returns to oral questions. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member from Great Slave.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize my constituent Irene Roth who is here today in the House, although I can't see her because I am limited on my vision in the House. Thank you very much for being here and enjoy your Assembly.

Thank you, Member from Great Slave. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member from Range Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to recognize my constituent Mr. Floyd Powder, former sergeant-at-arms here at the Legislative Assembly. Floyd is here to honour Eddie Powder, a WWII veteran who you spoke of earlier today. And thank you for being here again, Floyd. It's always good to have you in the chamber. Thank you.

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member from Monfwi.

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

Thank you, Member from Monfwi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member from Sahtu.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, rise to pay an honourable recognition of Robert (Bob) Douglas born in Fort Good Hope, and I'm glad to see the family in the gallery and the granddaughter Tanya Roth to the family as well. And Mr. Douglas is still talked about in high regard with the efforts he made in contributing to the community at the time there when he was living and working in Fort Good Hope. So I never met the individual, but I hear some remarkable stories, and it gives me pleasure, as I said, to pay my contribution. Thank you.

Thank you, Member from the Sahtu. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member from Thebacha.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to welcome Sholto Douglas, a constituent from Thebacha, to the House today. Sholto is here in honour of Robert (Bobby) Douglas, World War II veteran from the Royal Canadian Airforce combat. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Thebacha. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member from Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to recognize Marie Doyle who is in the gallery today. She is a Yellowknife Centre constituent, and she's a beloved family member of Robert Douglas, a World War II veteran. And just on that note, I want to remind people that as our veteran numbers do shrink, we still owe them a debt of great gratitude for the greetings we all shared here today and throughout the world.

And, Mr. Speaker, separately, I'd like to also Sholto Douglas. He was a friend of mine when I was very young, and so I would say I know him well and I could tell some good stories about that, but we don't have the time today and I suspect he'd prefer they not be put on the public record. Thank you very much.

Thank you, Member from Yellowknife Centre. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member from Deh Cho.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, would like to recognize -- they're kind of members of my family and friends of my family, Martha Simba married to my cousin from Kakisa; Tanya Roth from Norman Wells, Marie Douglas, North, Irene, Sholto, and the family that's there but from the late Robert Douglas. Thank you, and welcome to the House.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to also recognize the former sergeant-at-arms Mr. Floyd Powder. I want to say mahsi and good to see you here. I also would like to recognize Irene Roth, Marie Douglas, Tanya McCauley, Sholto Douglas, North Douglas, and I have an elder there; I just don't know their name. But I just want to say welcome to the House. And Sholto, you look like a politician. So welcome. Mahsi.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize Sholto Douglas in the audience as well. I have -- I was given names, but I forgot to mention; I didn't realize he was in the audience, in the gallery. So I would like to recognize Sholto Douglas as well. Thank you.

Thank you, Member from Monfwi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery.

Welcome, Mr. Powder. It's great to see you here again.

If we've missed anyone in the gallery here today, welcome to your chambers. I hope you are enjoying the proceedings. It is always nice to see people in the gallery. And thank you very much for allowing us to represent you here today and for the residents of the Northwest Territories.

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Acknowledgements. Oral questions. Member from Yellowknife Centre.

All right, thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm excited to ask questions to the Premier regarding his upcoming wonderful trip to Saskatoon, and I'd like to know little details and hopefully, we can share this within the House. Specifically, Mr. Speaker, what is the plan or what will the Premier be proposing at this First Minister's conference with the Prime Minister of Canada that suits -- that lines up with the mandate of the NWT but also some of our major significant infrastructure projects; and, lastly, especially noting the tone of the Prime Minister to build and be bold. Thank you.

Thank you, Member from Yellowknife Centre. Mr. Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We've had a pretty consistent approach to dealing with the Prime Minister's office. We are advancing our federal priorities. When I meet with the Prime Minister, I speak about the need to settle land claims. That was actually what we talked about the last time that I spoke with him and then the next thing I know we have the Minister of Crown Indigenous Relations is from the Northwest Territories. So I don't know if that is a coincidence or if they're listening, but I think that's very promising.

I speak about things that the Prime Minister is interested in, things like nation building projects, Slave Geological Province Corridor, Taltson Hydro Electric Expansion, the Mackenzie Valley Highway. I talk about how we work with Indigenous governments in the Northwest Territories, how we have a co-management system that the federal government is actually part of, and they need to be more involved if we want to get things moving forward. So I do my best to put things out there that the Prime Minister can say yes to and that will stick with him so that when they go back and they make their decisions, the Northwest Territories is at the front of their mind. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier in the return to oral questions, the Premier had answered some of my questions with respect to the -- our Ottawa czar. So what advice is he giving us on a political tactic to approach the Prime Minister to find some yeses on our wish list at this particular meeting he's having in Saskatoon? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And it is political advice that is being given by the senior envoy to the Government of Canada. We don't have any czars in the government that I'm aware of, no positions at least named "czar." So I work with the senior envoy to, you know, pick his brain on, you know, what he's seen in the past, get information about past decisions made in Ottawa, some of that insight that you might not get, you know, through the media or through a briefing note. And so the type of advice that he gives is quality. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Premier. Final supplementary. Member from Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there was, I think earlier in the return to oral questions, the Premier did cite that he's paid at a deputy minister III up to 300 and I think $26,000. It was actually more than the Prime Minister gets paid, oddly enough. But out of -- I would hope that, Mr. Speaker, that the Premier could be very specific as to what advice he's getting so he can approach the Prime Minister on these initiatives -- he's already lists them, I don't need to go through them -- and what type of political advice he's giving the Premier to help work in collaboration to get the national support on our national infrastructure projects. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe I've already answered the Member's question. Thanks.

Thank you, Mr. Premier. Oral questions. Member from Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have questions for the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment.

So as part of the public briefing this morning, the government's presentation stated that in return for accepting this relief, the diamond mines agreed to several commitments including to use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain operations until their planned closure dates. So can the Minister explain whether the commitment to use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain operations represents any change whatsoever from the status quo or, rather, would we always expect businesses to use commercially reasonable efforts in everything that they do? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Yellowknife North. Minister of ITI.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, certainly in the Northwest Territories, we do always expect businesses to use reasonable efforts, to use local employment, local labour, and to really ensure that collectively and as a community we're really focused on benefit retention for Northerners. That said, I can't predict what would have happened but we were in the face of a very difficult decision that some of the diamond mines were facing. We know that globally it is a very difficult market for diamonds right now, and we also know that in the NWT that diamond mines provide a lot of our GDP. They provide upwards of 21 percent. They provide a lot of funding to businesses. They provide a lot of jobs to Northerners that Northerners rely on, and so what we were investing in were those jobs. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So the department explained in a briefing that the property tax relief is a, quote, "temporary measure." So does this mean that if profits rebound, we should expect the mines to repay the subsidies? So by "temporary", is this meant to be kind of a temporary loan? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. So, Mr. Speaker, the relief in the form of property taxes and foregoing the property taxes was a one-time, one-year-for-this-year relief measure that the Government of the Northwest Territories, under direction of Cabinet, took. It is not a long-term solution. It is a right now -- an acknowledgement of the global diamond market and cost of doing business in the Northwest Territories and also the significance to northern employers, to northern workers, that the diamond mines play. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister of ITI. Final supplementary. Member from Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So the Minister also said in her statement that these subsidies are not about supporting mines; they're about supporting people. So if that's the case, did the Minister consider investing the $15 million directly into retraining and supporting the workers or the Indigenous development corporations so they can be better prepared to transition once the mines do close, whether that's a year or a few years from now? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. So, Mr. Speaker, I'm all about return on investment. I think that we should be putting our dollars into places where we have significant amount of investments.

In regards to the dollars that we did invest in the diamond mine relief, we end up with over $2 billion in annual exports, a thousand jobs for Northerners, joint northern spend of almost $900 million and $69 million in tax revenues annually to the GNWT. So I feel like that's a pretty darn good investment. That being said, I do agree that we do need to have education because education does last forever, unlike our diamond mines, which we do know.

In regards to the diamond mines, they all employ apprentices, and all of the companies that contract with them, a significant number of them, employ apprentices. They're doing workforce development. The Indigenous development corporations also have workforce development plans and are working on exactly what the Member is talking about. And without the dollars from the diamond mines, they can't sustain that. They're also working on social programming, they're working on housing developments. And so, really, this is more than just supporting diamond mines. This is supporting Northerners. This is supporting Indigenous businesses, and this is in support of our future economic development as well. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister of ITI. Oral questions. Member from Range Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as the Premier welcomes the western Canada Premiers to Yellowknife, there's a lot of attention on us today around some recent decisions that Premier Smith in Alberta has made, most notably, I think, my colleague spoke to some of the issues related to trans and nonbinary folks. And let's also talk about the constitutional crisis that the Premier's walking into for some reason. She's cut the threshold for constitutional initiatives in half in her province and is gunning towards a referendum on separation for whatever reason.

If this -- does the -- has the Premier discussed this with Premier Smith and what the result would be for the Northwest Territories if we lose a vital connection to Alberta? Because of course that's our logistic hub. It's a huge economic link. We really can't do without it. So has the Premier had those discussions, and can we have a position on this as a government? Thank you.

Thank you, Member from Range Lake. Mr. Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Our position hasn't changed on the issues the Member is speaking about. If there are medical services that are no longer available in one jurisdiction, we will work with another jurisdiction to ensure that residents receive those medical services. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, Mr. Speaker, it's more than medical services. It will be all services. But that's good to know that we'd find someone else.

Mr. Speaker, this was -- this is a controversial decision. First Nations and Indigenous leaders have risen up to say that it's not okay, it's not something they'll allow on their watch. Will the Premier support those voices if there is a court challenge at some point, the GNWT can be in a position to intervene. Even if he can't make that commitment today, will he at least support those voices that are calling for Indigenous rights to be respected in the province of Alberta? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That's a hypothetical question, and it should be directed to the Attorney General. So I won't be answering it on both those fronts. But I'll say that our track record here in the Northwest Territories on Indigenous rights speak for itself. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Premier. Final supplementary. Member from Range Lake.

Well, Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I caught myself there. So I'm looking more for a political commitment from the leader of our government to support the voices of First Nations in Alberta in their struggle to keep this country together and oppose a very dangerous precedent that is being floated by the Government of Alberta. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm not sure exactly what the Member is speaking of in technical terms. He's looking for my support for events in another jurisdiction. So I'm quite -- I'm unclear on the parameters that he's talking about, what would I be committing to support. I'm focus on the Northwest Territories. I'm the Premier of the Northwest Territories. We have strong relationships with Indigenous governments. We are moving to a future where the territory will be covered by settled land claims and self-governing Indigenous nations, and we are continuously working towards that end. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Premier. Oral questions. Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, prior to 1993, the Government of Canada provided funding to CMHC on an annual basis so that they could provide funding to the GNWT through the NWT Housing Corporation where they built at least 600 homes per year up to 1993 from approximately 1988 or so.

Anyway, Mr. Speaker, with Prime Minister Carney coming into power now, he's asking to build 5 -- sorry, he made a commitment to build 500,000 homes per year. My question will be to the Premier.

Will the Premier seek a commitment from the Prime Minister to ensure federal housing funds flow directly to regional Indigenous governments here in the Northwest Territories, and will he ensure that Indigenous leadership and is meaningful included in the federal/territorial housing discussions so that decisions impacting housing in Indigenous communities are reflected in their priorities? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. Mr. Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. For many years, it's been the policy of this government to support direct payments for housing, the funding, to Indigenous governments from the federal government, so we will continue to do that. I'm happy to support Indigenous governments in their advocacy to the federal government. I never want to stand in the way of funds flowing directly to Indigenous governments. So I want to make that very clear. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. And some of the programs that was provided back in the early days was programs like the homeownership assistance program, the home improvement -- the homeownership improvement program, the senior citizens home repair program, emergency repair program, and they also provided public housing. And so, Mr. Speaker, and it would be -- will the Premier advocate for restoring and reinstating these programs in partnership with the federal Government of Canada and ensure the use of that -- these funds for the delivery is directed to regional Indigenous governments? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. You know, we have a number of those programs. I'm not -- I won't say I'm an expert on past programs from previous decades, so I don't want to speak too much into that. But we are advocating to the federal government when it comes to housing. We're happy to see money go to Indigenous governments.

I'll also mention that the GNWT provides a lot of social housing in the territory, and we also meet our own funds. So we are doing that as well to advocate for a renewed agreement with the federal government where we'll see increased funding to support social housing at the same time that we are supporting Indigenous governments to access funding. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Premier. Final supplementary. Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As you know, some of the policies that are in place in government now sometimes don't really meet some of the community needs. So, Mr. Speaker, with CMHC funding set to expire with Housing NWT by 2038, there's an urgent need to build capacity with Indigenous governments immediately so they can deliver and manage their own housing.

Will the Premier work to ensure that the annual federal public housing funding, along with the operational maintenance support from CMHC, is directed to regional Indigenous governments so they can begin building and maintaining their own public housing units? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is why it's so important to settle land claims and implement self-government agreements, so that Indigenous governments can begin providing, you know, appropriate social housing, if that's what they wish to do. In the meantime, the Government of the Northwest Territories provides social housing, and so we need to ensure that we have an agreement with the federal government that is supporting our ability to provide that social housing. And like I said before, at the same time, we'll support Indigenous governments in their aspirations around housing as well, and we'll do that by going to Ottawa together and advocating together. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Premier. Oral questions. Member from Great Slave.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, over one year ago, just a few months after Alberta's government announced proposed changes to gender affirming care, Northern Mosaic Network reached out to Minister Semmler to get answers to questions. The community members shared with that organization about how to access -- how their access to gender affirming care would be impacted.

So, Mr. Speaker, can the Minister explain what actions she has taken to -- since then, to address the concerns of our 2SLGBTQIAA+ community members on access to safe health care out-of-territory? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Great Slave. Minister of Health and Social Services.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, first, I want to assure NWT residents that health care services for transgender individuals, including children and youth, will continue to be available within our health system. If the Northwest Territories clinical experts in transgender care cannot meet the needs of the residents, a referral can be made to an out-of-territory practitioner. What I have taken -- steps I've taken is to ensure that concrete steps to a safeguard access for NWT residents are put in place. I have directed my department to secure alternate out-of-territory care pathways for these individuals, meaning when a service is not available to the Northwest Territories -- to a Northwest Territories resident in the Northwest Territories or Alberta, physicians will refer patients to a jurisdiction where they may continue to receive the care they need. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the Minister for that. Mr. Speaker, considering that the Alberta Premier's visit to Yellowknife for the western Premiers' conference, the Northern Mosaic Network has reached out to both the Premier and the Minister to collaborate on an action plan to address the state of trans health care for NWT residents. And I'm so glad to hear that she has directed her department to secure alternative pathways. However, will the Minister also commit to meaningful collaboration with Northern Mosaic Network on trans health care for NWT residents? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, yes, but I'd like to explain a little bit more. So we are already -- we have an established working relationship with the Northern Mosaic Network. They helped draft the Northwest Territories guidelines in 2020 and in April 2024, representatives from ECE met with Northern Mosaic Network to discuss and review an update of those guidelines which will incorporate new research that they're conducting with the University of Manitoba. And we look forward to seeing the recommendations that come from this work, and I am fully committed to continuing our collaboration. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister of Health and Social Services. Oral questions. Member from the Deh Cho.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The government has noted the importance of stabilizing operations in Enterprise. Can the Minister of MACA explain what goals or targets community services would have to meet in order for the department to be satisfied that the governance and financial issues facing the hamlet have been resolved? Thank you.

Thank you, Member from Deh Cho. Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First off, I would like to say that, you know, it's a last resort to put a government under public administration with the GNWT, and we've worked with the community many times throughout the last few years, including before our Assembly started, in order to maintain the government structure of Enterprise. So this isn't a new issue. This is a longstanding issue within the community.

So right now we're working with the public administrator who's in place right now to determine an action plan on what our processes are and how we're going to move through that. So one of the main issues is getting ahold of the accounting processes. There has been no documented accounting procedures done in quite a while, and we don't have any financial statements after 2023-2024 season -- or year, sorry. So the goal right now is to determine what our path forward is and how to get to where the community's back on track again. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Can the Minister discuss what steps the new administrator is currently taking to enter into municipal service agreements with Hay River and other NWT communities to deliver or operate services, public utilities, or facilities in Enterprise? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Currently, we are a little bit too early to determine that. We just had our administrator put in place, so it's currently -- the actions that he's doing right now is going through the operations of the community, finding out what resources are needed to operate. Currently, right now, they are operating as they were, so they've already had agreements in place or some agreements in place. So those are currently being worked on, and then obviously if there's any more that's needed, he will work those out in order to satisfy the community needs. So, again, it's just he's in the state of processing what exactly is needed and have a plan coming out with that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. Final supplementary. Member from Deh Cho.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister say whether there is a timeline or -- yeah, a timeline for when residents should expect an election to be held for the hamlet of Enterprise? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So currently, like I stated, with the new administrator put in place, you know, the assessment is developing a work plan on how we move forward with the community and the governance structure. Currently, at the time, it's all new so there is no timeline at present; however, I will say that I would rather have the residents govern their municipality than us, and the sooner we can get to that point and have a well-oiled machine of Enterprise back in order, we will have that in place and ready for them to take over. Our goal is to have some public meetings here as soon as June, and I hope to also be a part of one of those public meetings. So thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. Oral questions. Member from Monfwi.

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, summer is approaching, and many of our young people will be on school break, so talking about drug crisis right now is appropriate to send a message to the young people in our communities.

So, Mr. Speaker, I noticed there is a vacancy on the board for the representative for North Slave. Can the Minister of Justice speak to the current capacities of the Legal Aid Commission? Thank you.

Thank you, Member from Monfwi. Minister of Justice.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'll have to take that question as notice. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister of Justice. Oral questions. Member from Sahtu.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Following up on my statement, my questions are to the Minister of Infrastructure.

Can the Minister of Infrastructure share with anticipation whether there will be a Sahtu regional sailing reason, what actions are taken with or by MTS and Cooper Barging discussion. Masi.

Thank you, Member from the Sahtu. Minister of Infrastructure.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First off, I want to thank the member for acknowledging some of the hard work that's been done by the infrastructure staff over the last little while. Obviously navigating climate change is -- no pun intended, navigating climate change is not an easy task considering we have no control over that. However, the actions being taken by the MTS, our infrastructure staff and MTS, has many plans and layers of it to hopefully have a successful navigating system. And it's really hard to tell right now what that might entail due to the fact of we don't know what the water levels are going to be like.

So we are closely monitoring those water levels, and we're closely monitoring, you know, the ability to get barges and tugs up and down the river. And those plans have been underway for a while now. So our goal with MTS is to have somewhat of a barging season, which includes a smaller section of barging from Dooley Crossing, as stated earlier, to the Sahtu area and potentially from north to the Sahtu area. So looking at many options. And so the goal is to work with another barging company to try to get fuel and freight into the Sahtu region. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thanks to the Minister for that information. I'm glad to hear that there is a preliminary sailing season, hopefully sailing season discussions.

The Minister answered my next question, so I'll skip that one there and add another couple more. If water levels permit, will the Minister, to avoid and detect hazard areas, will there be a water depth surveillance crew accompanying the barges? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. MTS wouldn't be navigating the Mackenzie River without buoys set up by the Canadian coast guard. So that's a safety thing, and that's something that we'd -- like he said earlier in his Member's statement, we don't want to risk the environment, so we will wait for Canadian coast guard to put up the buoys in order to navigate the Mackenzie River. And from previous briefings, I know that they're really anticipating getting out there and looking at our waterways. We know some of the trouble spots of getting through, like the Fort Providence rapids -- rapid area, the Sans Sault area. There's quite a few areas that are concerning, and the coast guard would go out there and navigate them and send smaller vessels through first to determine whether or not they can get the buoys out there. So thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister of Infrastructure. Final Supplementary. Member from the Sahtu.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thanks to the Minister for that information there.

Moving along to my next final question here, is there -- can the Minister share the information, how much cargo is booked for the Sahtu, whether it's fuel or dry or modular units? Thank you.