Please be seated. Thank you, colleagues. Before we start, I'd like to recognize a very important person to this 19th Assembly, Ms. Caroline Cochrane; Rory, the other half, so. So Shalene Woodward, Meredith Wilson -- okay, I am going to try this again -- Angela Gzowski and her partner Jeremy Bird. I would like to thank you very much for being here today and giving me the honour to recognize you. Welcome to the Legislative Assembly.

Ministers' statements. Minister of Finance.

Mr. Speaker, I stand before you today to talk about how the Government of the Northwest Territories is making improvements when it comes to our technology systems and online services. Our main goal is simple: We want to make government services easier to access and safer to use. We want people to be able to securely access services like applying for a permit, or accessing a marriage, birth or death certificate, no matter where they live in the Northwest Territories.

Residents can now access a wide array of services digitally, from applying for vital statistics documents or renewing driver's licenses and vehicle registrations, to managing apprenticeship profiles or obtaining fishing licenses.

Businesses benefit from the ability to apply for certain licenses and permits online, including those related to liquor sales or business operations outside of community boundaries, as well as submitting applications for electrical and mechanical safety inspections. We are also making it easier for families to access health care by enabling applications and renewals for healthcare cards online. These additions reflect our efforts to consider online service delivery in our planning processes and ensure that individuals and businesses can obtain services securely and conveniently, no matter where they live in the territory.

Mr. Speaker, over the past year, we have improved how we plan for future technology. Instead of creating systems in silos, we now follow shared principles for every new system. These principles make sure systems are secure to talk to one another systems and can safely share information when needed. This helps different government programs get what they need without repeating the same work and provides a value-add.

To ensure these principles are followed, a group of officials from across government reviews major technology project ideas early on. Previously, they mainly checked budgets and timelines. Now, this group asks important questions such a will this system connect properly with our other systems? Will it keep information safe? Will it help us offer more online services in the future? Only projects that fit within these rules will move forward towards funding approval.

A key part of these improvements is a new program called information technology, or IT, planning studies. These studies help identify exactly what is needed, look at different options, and work out the costs before we spend public money. This year we started six of these studies. They are looking at replacing older systems used for case management, health information, inspections, and various registries. This approach helps reduce risks, saves time in setting up systems, and lets us choose systems that many different program areas can use instead of building separate ones. The plan for how these studies will work has been put together and will start being used this year.

Mr. Speaker, we are also making important improvements to our IT teams and how we manage technology project implementations. This means making sure we have the right people and ways of working to build and handle technology projects efficiently. We have improved our process for planning projects, which will result in shorter, clearer projects with better funding plans, and this will improve the likelihood of projects being completed successfully. We have also spoken to decision-makers about how important it is to think about technology needs when they are creating new policies and programs. Good governance relies on secure, reliable, and modern technology systems.

Sound planning, improved management, and fiscal prudence is going to guide everything we do, and no technology project will be moving ahead unless it benefits the public, follows our IT principles, and the government department or program area is ready to move forward with that project. Simply put, we are treating technology systems like any other major infrastructure project: First we plan carefully, then we build.

Mr. Speaker, by taking this careful approach to our technology system investments, the government is getting ready to provide services that are modern, dependable, and easier for Northerners to use. We are focused on using public funds responsibly in this space and keeping information safe. I look forward to continuing to share updates with the Legislative Assembly as we work to make these plans a reality. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I am proud to recognize the outstanding achievement of staff at Housing NWT who were recently honoured with the Community Project of the Year award from Canadian Biomass. This award celebrates the district heating wood-pellet boiler system installed at Sissons Court housing complex in Yellowknife.I want to extend my sincere gratitude to the dedicated staff of infrastructure services at Housing NWT, as well as those from the Department of Infrastructure's energy, design and technical services group, for their support and commitment.

In 2022, Sissons Court's biomass heating plant replaced 45 aging fuel-oil furnaces and now provides renewable heating to 53 public housing units. This transition to wood pellets has lowered energy costs and reduced greenhouse gas emissions, advancing the Government of the Northwest Territory's mandate to deliver affordable and sustainable housing. The project was a locally driven and supplied initiative relying on partnerships between government and the private sector. The system was designed by a northern consultant team, TAG Engineering, with assistance from a technical team at the GNWT and was installed by Hay River-based contractor Taylor and Company.

The Yellowknife Housing Authority, with assistance from the local contractor J&R Mechanical, are dedicated to the ongoing operation and maintenance of the heat plant to ensure reliable heat for residents.

The Sissons Court project was funded in part by a federal funding program called the Low Carbon Economy Leadership Fund and showcases the power of collaboration between Housing NWT and local contractors. It is expected to generate significant long-term benefits, saving approximately $125,000 annually in energy costs and offsetting 300 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions in its first year of operation.

Mr. Speaker, biomass energy in the form of wood pellets is an important alternative in the Northwest Territories where traditional fuels such as oil and propane are costly and prone to market volatility. As demonstrated by this project, biomass is a proven and practical solution to implementing the GNWT's commitment to net zero by 2050. This biomass award marks a meaningful step forward in Housing NWT's mission demonstrating that sustainable energy solutions can be part of how we build stronger, more resilient communities across the North. Quyananni, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister responsible for Housing NWT. Ministers' statements. Minister for Education, Culture and Employment.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize an important cultural milestone. The NorthWords NWT Writers Festival is celebrating its 20th anniversary: Twenty years of championing northern voices and building community through storytelling.

Launched in 2006, NorthWords was born from a vision to bring Canada's most celebrated literary voices to the North and to elevate the powerful stories already being told in our own communities. That vision was realized by dedicated literary champions, including Judith Drinnan, Cathy Jewison, Doris McCann, Larry Adamson, and Richard Van Camp. With early support from partners like the Tlicho government and De Beers Canada, they created a festival that has become nationally respected for its celebration of storytelling, mentorship, and northern culture.

Over the years, NorthWords has welcomed major Canadian authors like Linden MacIntyre and Elizabeth Hay. These guests brought fresh perspectives and returned home with stories of the North's people, land, and creative talent.

NorthWords has also proudly amplified Indigenous voices. Esteemed authors and knowledge-keepers such as the late Lee Maracle, the late Richard Wagamese, Katherena Vermette, Duke Redbird, Niigaan Sinclair, and Rosanna Deerchild, have shared stories rooted in truth, history, identity, and cultural resurgence. Their contributions have fostered meaningful conversations and affirmed the essential place of Indigenous storytelling in our collective narrative.

Mr. Speaker, what makes NorthWords truly special is its ongoing commitment to northern writers. It has given a platform for authors from across the territory, like Richard Van Camp, Allison McCreesh, Fran Hurcomb, whose voices reflect the humour, complexity, and resilience of life in the North. Through NorthWords, these voices are being heard far beyond our borders. That is why the government has supported NorthWords over the years.

With that support, the festival has grown into a year-round literary organization offering mentorships, open mics, workshops, and publications like Coming Home: Stories from the NWT, which helped many Northerners publish their work for the first time.

Mr. Speaker, the anniversary is not just about looking back. It is a moment to recognize the role of the arts in building stronger communities, preserving culture, and helping people, especially youth, express who they are and where they come from.

I want to thank the organizers, the board members, and volunteers who have helped grow NorthWords into what it is today. NorthWords makes us as the North proud. As we mark this anniversary, let us celebrate the stories already told and commit to creating space for many more to come. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Ministers' statements. Minister of Health and Social Services.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to update this House on the work that's being done by the health and social services system on cultural safety and anti-racism, one of my top three priorities as Minister.

First and foremost, Mr. Speaker, our government has a duty to confront the persistent health inequities faced by Indigenous residents. Our commitment to cultural safety and anti-racism tackles a difficult reality and that is that these inequities stem from a health and social services system founded on colonial values that have marginalized Indigenous peoples and excluded them from decision-making. Those foundations continue to influence our legislation, policies, funding formulas, and clinical standards, embedding racism in the very structures that shape and care we provide.

Undoing this legacy is challenging work. It requires us to rethink governance models, realign resources, and place Indigenous knowledge and legal orders on equal footing with public government approaches. We have begun a sustained effort to audit existing policies for colonial bias, co-develop new accountability mechanisms with Indigenous governments, and elevate Indigenous leadership at every level of the system. This is complex and, at times, uncomfortable work, but it is essential if we are to create a health system that serves all residents equitably and without colonial harm.

Part of this work includes offering training to all GNWT employees, Mr. Speaker, and I want to commend my colleagues for participating in the cultural safety and anti-racism training offered by the department. We will continue to offer this training, including to GNWT deputy ministers and assistant deputy ministers in the coming year. I believe that any genuine organizational shift towards cultural safety must start with the commitment from leadership, and I am pleased to see the leaders of our public service fully engaging with this principle.

Like any effective work addressing anti-Indigenous racism, our work originates from within, guided by a dedicated team of Indigenous staff from across the Northwest Territories. They bring rich insights rooted in lived experience and Indigenous knowledge reinforced by extensive professional expertise. This team is responsible for developing an Indigenous made-in-the-North approach to cultural safety that challenges the status quo by identifying and addressing anti-Indigenous racism head-on.

Mr. Speaker, our goal is to support equitable access to culturally-safe relationship-based care that tangibly improves health outcomes for Indigenous people. We are doing this through the Office of Client Experience, primary care reform, and by improving access to care in small communities. Our team, with staff from across the health and social services system, is piloting a new equity tool to generate deep reflection, relationship-building, and accountability, to Indigenous communities.

The work to date has been informed by community voices and our progress has been driven by the principle of nothing about us without us. Instead of top-down directives, we are listening to the advice and guidance of the health and social services Indigenous advisory body. Our leadership in cultural safety and anti-racism is gaining wide recognition and respect with other departments and jurisdictions now seeking our expertise. We are proud of that. Real progress means embracing discomfort and rethinking long-held assumptions about expertise and decision-making power. Our team is guiding these candid discussions, fostering safe, productive learning spaces and, most importantly, building relationships rooted in trust with each other and with the communities we serve.

Mr. Speaker, racism is more than individual acts. It is embedded in the way we do business, from the beliefs and values that we have as an organization to the policies, practices, and unwritten rules we adopt. Racism is often unchecked, and systemic. If left unaddressed, racism flourishes and spreads. We will continue to bring these systemic barriers to light, placing Indigenous priorities at the centre, and delivering a meaningful change where it is needed the most. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister of Health and Social Services. Ministers' statements. Members' statements. Member from Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to echo the words of our Minister of education in congratulating the NorthWords Festival on its 20th year.

The NorthWords Festival is a celebration of northern writers and storytellers, bringing together authors, readers, and community members for readings, panel discussions, workshops, and special events. And one of the most anticipated event for the festival is tonight's book launch. It's called Book of Hope: Healthcare and Survival in the North, hosted by Hoteth Dega // at Yellowknife Books starting at 6:30 p.m.

Mr. Speaker, the Book of Hope is written by Agnes R. Pascal, who is Tetlit Gwich'in, originally from Fort McPherson and now residing in Inuvik. Her book is a powerful collection of firsthand narratives from northern and Indigenous cancer survivors and caregivers, offering insight into the unique challenges of healthcare accessibility in our communities.

As much as we've been focused lately on supporting healthcare staff, I think it's essential that we keep coming back to the experiences of patients, their journeys, both their literal travel and their life journeys, to understand the ways that our system as a whole works and doesn't work well. And on that note, I also want to take a moment to express any appreciation for the NWT cancer navigation team at the health authorities which is doing incredible work supporting members of our communities going through some of the toughest times of their lives. I am hoping that session doesn't go too long this evening so that we can all go over and attend the launch of this important book of hope.

Mr. Speaker, the NorthWords Festival so much for everyone of all ages. Some of the events this week are free, and others do require the purchase of tickets, but they're incredibly accessible. So I encourage everyone to try to get out to at least one event this week before the last day, which is Sunday.

Finally, a big thanks and congratulations to the NorthWords organizers, volunteers, and all of the participating writers and storytellers. Happy 20 years, NorthWords. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

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.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I want to continue the line of questioning and talk a little bit about my constituency experience with the NWT nomination program.

The Minister yesterday expanded on some of what she is going to be going to Ottawa and advocating for on behalf of the program and our residents, including restoring the allocation to 300, engaging -- asking the federal government to engage directly with GNWT and NWT stakeholders, allow the GNWT to extend work permits for a two-year NWT-specific frame, and to enhance support for settlement services. These are all fantastic pieces, Mr. Speaker, but I am most crucially interested in the third ask, which is to extend those work permits for a two-year NWT-specific work permit.

Constituents don't want to extend their work permits right now, Mr. Speaker, because the way that the program is structured means that if they extend their work permit, they are then losing out on the ability to get into the allotment that it currently exists, and then they are ineligible to seek that permanent residency track from our program.

Mr. Speaker, it's really important for newcomers who are on temporary work permits right now, it's important for them to get clarity on whether the GNWT will continue to only consider applications of those applicant who are -- whose permits are set to expire within a year or less. There's a lot of anxiety and frustration, Mr. Speaker. I've spoken about this many times, and I will be seeking clarity from the Minister of ECE later today. Thank you.

Thank you, Member from Great Slave. Members' statements. Member from the Sahtu.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Colville Lake school was a capital project approved in the later part of the 18th Assembly, 2019. Mr. Speaker, the residents, students, local DEA, and teachers of the community of Colville Lake was and remain steadfast on their new school's arrival. The completed procurement, construction, certifications, now the transportation.

Mr. Speaker, the winter road journey, after the highgrade at Fort Wrigley north, can be very challenging at best, creating difficulties on logistics and trucking companies.

Mr. Speaker, the journey, the winter road journey to Colville Lake is 645 kilometers with three ice crossings. These crossings represent additional weight limitations. Prior to this challenging journey, the over-dimensional three-part modular buildings first must be transferred from Edmonton to Wrigley, a distance of 1,618 kilometers, a section with challenges of overhead structures and structural bridges. As you can understand, Mr. Speaker, there are many considerations when planning a journey of this mobilization.

This coming transportation season, we cannot afford to let our community and the children down. Mr. Speaker, I raised these questions on numerous occasions: When will these long overdue learning facility units be delivered? Investing in our community, describing, upgrading our education environment to suit the positive outcomes and bring smiles to the residents, in particular our students, is the right thing to do and our mandate. An example to that, behind the dejishu, there sits four classes in one cubical room. Later, Mr. Speaker, I will have questions to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Mahsi.

Thank you, Member from the Sahtu. Members' statements. Member from Inuvik Boot Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, drugs and the criminal activity associated with drugs are ravaging our communities. All communities large and small are feeling the effects, Mr. Speaker. We've heard that loud and clear from Members in this House many times. We have legislation being considered to provide additional tools in our fight to deal with this dire situation:

• The safer communities and neighbourhoods legislation, allowing residents to make confidential complaints to investigators on illegal activity;
• The civil forfeiture legislation, designed to recover proceeds and instruments used to facilitate crime;
• Mr. Speaker, the trespass legislation to protect landowners from trespassers by deferring potential criminal behaviour or inadvertent damages that trespassers may cause; and, Mr. Speaker,
• Reviewing the Residential Tenancies Act give it the teeth required to assist in dealing with this illegal activity.

Moving this legislation forward as quickly as possible is paramount in our fight to deal with this problem. If there was ever a time to fast track legislation, Mr. Speaker, and put put all the resources necessary to expedite our process, this is it.

This is no time to drag our feet, Mr. Speaker. We need to move timelines up. We need to pull out all the stops. This is a key part of the mandate of this government, Mr. Speaker, and all of us in this House. Let's get it done. Let's let the residents know we are serious about dealing with drugs and crime in our communities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Inuvik Boot Lake. Member from Monfwi.

Student financial assistance. Mr. Speaker, as another school year ends, I want to recognize the high school students graduating across the Northwest Territories. This is an exciting time for our young people, filled with hope and ambition, as they prepare to leave their communities to pursue post-secondary education. However, Mr. Speaker, the reality for Indigenous students in our smaller communities is more complicated. The education outcomes in small communities continue to fall behind those in our regional centres.

Mr. Speaker, too many of our graduates do not meet the entry requirement for direct admission into the programs of their choice. Instead, they are forced to pursue academic upgrading before continuing their studies.

Mr. Speaker, we discussed this in the last sitting with the closure of the community learning centres. Our students do not want to return to high school or even Aurora College to complete their upgrading. Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, our current Student Financial Assistance Policy does not support students upgrading outside of Aurora College. Students and families who want to explore other institutions are denied funding. It feels like we are holding them hostage to limited options in Fort Smith, Yellowknife, or Inuvik. We also lack financial assistance for part-time studies. Students on income support or those working full-time in small communities deserve access to programs like personal support worker training without financial barriers.

Mr. Speaker, if we want to create a strong workforce and reduce dependency, we must invest in flexible, accessible education for all our youth, especially our Indigenous students in small communities. I will have questions for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment at the appropriate time. Thank you.

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

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