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.

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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.