Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, at my recent constituency meeting, I had a good discussion with Frame Lake residents about their reaction to the after-action review of the 2023 wildfire season. One of the key concerns we discussed was the lack of trust and confidence in GNWT communications during the event, and I do want to take a second to acknowledge that the report made a point of noting that NWT Fires' regular updates were received positively.

My constituents were clear, Mr. Speaker, that it is important to them that the government rebuild trust with residents, as it's crucial that residents feel confident to look to their government for guidance during times of crisis. My constituents expressed concern that due to experiences of past evacuations, when there are future evacuation orders residents may not take them seriously. That concern in particular is one I want us to pay close attention to as its implications are very serious.

I know that the GNWT is in the process of preparing a response to the report, and I want to suggest that rebuilding trust should be a main theme which informs that response. Rebuilding trust and confidence in the public to look to their government for guidance and support first and foremost but also building stronger relationships and understanding with Indigenous and municipal governments and with the many NGOs we rely on to help deliver services to residents. Building trust and fostering confidence in the public and our partners that we are prepared and have solid plans and response structures in place is the key to ensuring future emergency response will be safe and successful. Just as critical as trust is ensuring that everyone implicated in planning is fully aware of their role and responsibilities from full-time emergency response staff to indirectly involved GNWT staff, all the way down to individual residents.

One of the key recommendations of the review that I think needs to be looked at closely, and taken seriously, is the recommendation to establish a dedicated territorial emergency management agency. This may be what's needed to ensure that trust and relationship building I have discussed above takes place. We have a lot of work to do, Mr. Speaker. I would like to explore more of the review's recommendations, but don't have time in a short statement. I wanted to highlight the primary concerns of my constituents today and will be following up comprehensively on the report going forward. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.