Debates of May 28th, 2025

Please be seated. Thank you, Jonas Lafferty for opening prayer and reflection. Ministers' statements. Minister for Environment and Climate Change.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I want to talk about the Government of the Northwest Territories' new approach to addressing climate change. From community resilience to economic opportunities, the challenges posed by climate change are urgent, complex, and interconnected with many other aspects of life here in the Northwest Territories. That is why the GNWT is moving to a joint approach that brings together climate change and energy strategies, with the aim of taking more efficient, coherent, and impactful actions across government.

Mr. Speaker, climate change is a reality that is affecting NWT residents, ecosystems, and northern ways of life. The territory currently experiences climate change effects through thawing permafrost and shifting weather patterns that will likely change even more over the coming decades. Through an integrated approach to energy and climate change, we will develop a better coordinated response that tackles both present-day impacts and future risks in the North.

Climate change and energy security are connected in a way that cannot be separated. We need to ensure that as we transition to a cleaner, net zero future, we are also preparing communities and residents to withstand the impacts of climate change. The interconnectedness of climate with energy, infrastructure, public health, environmental protection, and the economy requires that we align our efforts and resources.

Within this joint strategy, the Department of Environment and Climate Change's primary responsibility is to lead and work with other departments to build climate knowledge and implement climate change adaptation actions to enhance the territorial resilience against climate-related risk and disruption. The department is also exploring ways to reduce land-based greenhouse gas emissions. Important considerations for all GNWT climate change-related actions include:

• Maintaining affordability and security by addressing climate change-related supply chain disruptions, emergency management costs, and impacts on infrastructure and housing;
• Maintaining and growing our economy by supporting resource development that is consistent with our net zero commitment and advancing economic diversification opportunities like agriculture, tourism and the potential market for carbon offsets.
• Supporting safe, healthy, and resilient communities by addressing the impacts of a changing climate on public safety, culture, ecosystems, health, and traditional ways of life; and,
• Continuing to collaborate with Indigenous governments, Indigenous organizations, and community governments to coordinate adaptation actions.

The joint strategy will recognize that Indigenous governments and Indigenous organizations are developing and executing their own adaptation solutions that reflect their specific priorities and provides ways for us to advocate for and efficiently use resources together. The strategy will acknowledge that federal investment will be key to implementing the many climate change related actions that are needed.

Mr. Speaker, the GNWT's ongoing commitment to engage with Indigenous governments, Indigenous organizations, and other stakeholders through the Council of Leaders, NWT Climate Change Council, NWT Climate Change Youth Council, and other forums will continue to guide our efforts to advance climate action in the North. We are committed to regularly updating the public on the process of this joint strategy and to working together with all partners to address the urgent need for climate adaptation. We anticipate the final integrated strategy will be released in spring 2026, along with a revised climate change action plan based on extensive engagement and feedback we have received from Northerners. The GNWT remains committed to preparing the Northwest Territories to face the challenges and opportunities from climate change. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister of Environment and Climate Change. Ministers' statements. Minister responsible for Strategic Infrastructure, Energy, and Supply Chains.

Mr. Speaker, today I want to speak about the Government of the Northwest Territories' new integrated approach to energy and climate change, and how the Department of Infrastructure's work on energy will help build a stronger, more affordable, and more resilient future for the territory.

Energy powers our communities, heats our homes, fuels our transportation, and propels businesses and the economy. But today, the Northwest Territories faces some of the highest energy costs in Canada, aging energy infrastructure, and increasing impacts from climate change. Our approach to energy must evolve.

Last fall, Mr. Speaker, our government committed to achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. This commitment is driving the development of a new integrated strategy for energy and climate change. As our teams complete this work over the coming months, there are three themes I want to introduce today. This strategy will be designed to improve energy affordability and security, ensure community safety and resilience, and unlock new economic opportunities through the clean energy transition. It will be people-centered and built around enabling conditions that allow communities, economies, and governments to thrive in the face of climate change pressures. And, as a joint strategy, it will bring together expertise from across departments in a coordinated, whole-of-government approach.

First, strengthening our energy security by modernizing our energy infrastructure. Our power infrastructure is aging and increasingly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Overhauling our power generation assets, upgrading our electricity grid, and continuing to invest in local clean energy solutions across the territory are key steps we are taking to ensure our energy system can serve Northerners for generations. This will include refurbishing of key hydro assets in the North Slave as well as the development of an approach to modernize our grid and support the integration of renewable energy in remote communities. Our goal is simple: Ensure all communities have reliable and secure energy for decades to come.

Second, supporting energy affordability. Mr. Speaker, Northerners currently pay the highest electricity rates in the country, between 25 to 34 cents per kilowatt hour after subsidies. In some remote communities, the unsubsidized cost is as high as 74 cents per kilowatt hour. This is two to three times the Canadian average of 12 cents.

We need to give residents in hydro-served communities more affordable, lower-emission options like switching to electric vehicles and, where power supply is available, electric heating. These shifts increase power sales, reduce emissions, and then ease pressure on electricity rates.

Programs and services supporting residents, communities, and businesses to reduce energy consumption and adopt clean energy technologies, such as the Arctic Energy Alliance and the greenhouse gas grant program, will continue to be key moving forward and soon we will be announcing the full availability of an electronic vehicle corridor from Yellowknife to the Alberta border. The government's recent set of directions to the public utilities board will help support all of these important changes.

Third, unlocking economic opportunities through the energy transition. Clean energy is about more than reducing emissions. It is also about building a stronger, more sustainable economy. This includes creating good jobs, supporting new industries, and long-term growth supported by renewable energy, which in turn will support critical minerals development.

The Taltson Hydro Expansion Project is a leading example of this approach. This is not just an energy project. It is a project of partnership. We are advancing Taltson together with Indigenous governments in the Taltson Watershed - the Northwest Territory Metis Nation, the Akaitcho Dene First Nations, and the Salt River First Nation. This project has the potential to connect 70 percent of our population to clean, renewable hydro power while connecting two major energy grids. It will reduce our reliance on diesel, and it will help support the development of critical minerals opportunities by providing clean energy at the front end of those supply chains.

By investing in transformative projects, we are not just reacting to change we are shaping it. We are unlocking new economic opportunities, strengthening sovereignty over our resources, and ensuring that Northerners benefit directly from the transition to a clean energy future.

The Departments of Infrastructure and Environment and Climate Change will continue to work together to develop this joint strategy with a final release planned for spring 2026. Together, we are building a net zero energy future that is affordable, reliable, and resilient and led by Northerners for Northerners. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister responsible for Strategic Infrastructure, Energy, and Supply Chains. Ministers' statements. Mr. Premier.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to share that the Government of the Northwest Territories has launched this year's United Way Workplace Giving Campaign. This annual campaign gives GNWT employees a simple and meaningful way to support programs that make a real difference in communities across the territory. Through payroll deductions, employees can choose to direct donations to United Way NWT, helping fund local organizations that tackle poverty, support youth, and improve community health and well-being.

Mr. Speaker, over the past few years, Northerners have come together during some very difficult times, supporting one another through wildfires, floods, and other emergencies. GNWT employees played a big role in those efforts, and I want to thank everyone who stepped up.

This campaign is a chance to carry that same spirit forward by investing in long-term community support. United Way NWT works with organizations that know their communities best and are helping build a stronger, healthier North.

I also want to recognize the important role of the Union of Northern Workers, that the Union of Northern Workers continues to play in the success of this campaign. Their support and partnership reflect the shared values that guide our work as public servants.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage all GNWT employees to consider signing up. Every contribution makes a difference, and together we can help ensure that support reaches the people and places that need it most. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to provide an update on marine transportation service operation for the 2025 sailing season. Every spring, residents and businesses across the territory are eager to plan shipments for their essential goods and equipment by our barges along the Mackenzie River, Great Slave Lake, and all the communities in the Western Arctic.

As people are aware, in 2024 marine transportation services operations were affected by record low water levels. This created unnavigable conditions along the Mackenzie River and presented a challenge to the Canadian Coast Guard, who were unable to put buoys in the water. These buoys are key navigational aids. Not only was our sailing season disrupted but our marine operations for other commercial shipping companies were also cancelled. Thankfully, proactive contingency planning efforts made it possible for affected customers in the Beaufort Delta and Inuvialuit settlement region to make arrangements for their cargo to be redirected to our terminal in Tuktoyaktuk.

Mr. Speaker, our waterways represent an important piece of the North's supply chain puzzle. As the essential resupply option for many remote communities during the spring and summer months, marine transportation services' contribution toward the success of NWT's supply chain is undeniable. There is great work being done to contribute to this service and it spans various departments, divisions, and sectors, both within and outside of the Government of the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, to give you an update on the 2025 shipping season, the Canadian Coast Guard has not yet made final decisions on whether or not the buoys can be placed in the water and marine transportation services continues to monitor water levels along the Mackenzie River to assess options with resupply operations. Sailing plans are being developed based on cargo loads that marine transportation services is expected to receive if the river is navigable. We remain adaptable to the changing forecast this season and are continuing to work closely with the hydrology team at the Department of Environment and Climate Change to monitor water levels along the way.

In the event of last year's circumstances repeating themselves, marine transportation services has developed contingency plans that may give us the opportunity to ship from the south side of the N'Dulee ferry crossing, and staff are working closely with the Canadian Coast Guard to allow some buoys to be placed in key locations between the N'Dulee ferry crossing and Tulita. Should any route changes disrupt shipments, staff will be available to assist affected customers like we did last year. Our fuel services division is also involved should any logistic plans change, and our staff are prepared to work towards another busy winter resupply season to make up for any essential services that may be affected by low water levels.

Mr. Speaker, I want to make it clear, regardless of water levels improvements to procedures and service delivery continue to be made by our hardworking staff. This work includes using vessels more efficiently and reducing downtime during the sailing season.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, the team is watching the water levels closely and planning for each scenario. We will continue to keep the public aware once the coast guard has received a decision and as we better understand the water levels along the Mackenzie River and any impacts to this year's shipping season. And I'll just add, hot off the press, the Canadian Coast Guard has gone out today to assess the water levels at the mouth of the Mackenzie River. So thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister of Infrastructure. Ministers' statements. Members' statements. Member from Range Lake.

Mr. Speaker, the last year hundreds of Northerners who rely on extended health benefits were suddenly confronted by new income thresholds driven by cuts which would determine who our health system would support with the costs of their medication and who were now on their own.

This so-called rationalization of a crucial health care benefit has caused serious anxiety and hardship. These income thresholds are unfair to my constituents struggling with a cost of living crisis alongside the fact that many are already paying out of pocket for other necessary health services like home care and accessibility supports.

When these changes were announced, I also received calls from many seniors who were concerned their benefits were at risk too. But I was able to reassure them that the Minister of Health and Social Services has made it clear to this House, and to Northerners, that seniors' benefits would not be touched. But, Mr. Speaker, lo and behold, several seniors in my Range Lake riding were recently charged for over-the-counter medications and initially I believed this had just been an honest mistake, but I was shocked to find out it was I who was mistaken because somewhere along the way that promise to not touch seniors' benefits wasn't as much as a guarantee as we were led to believe. But we were able to push back, and the Minister was able to assure us that these constituents would not have to pay a cent for their medication because that was the right thing to do.

Yet I am still deeply concerned that these changes were made and proposed in the first place, and they could even return, Mr. Speaker, as in an email I've received, the Minister's office has stated, quote, "a decision has been made not to proceed with changes to the coverage for over-the-counter products under extended health benefits program at this time." Let me be perfectly clear, when I say the time to charge seniors for their medication is never - not after further consultation, not after establishing a new income threshold, never. And if the Minister can see the wisdom in reversing cuts to seniors' benefits, it's time she opened her eyes to the strain it is causing on other Range Lakers and reinstate full extended health benefits to all Northerners. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Home and fire insurability are major concerns in the NWT, and the cost of insurance premiums may continue to rise for homeowners. The level of risk determines the cost of insurance premiums. Canadian insurers can consider the likelihood of a customer or group of customers with a similar set of circumstances making a claim and how much those claims might cost. The price for premiums is based, in part, on an insurer's best estimate of the amount it will be required to pay out in claims in any given year.

The Office of the Superintendent of Insurance, or OSI, regulates the business of insurance in the NWT and enforces our Insurance Act and its regulations. The act and regulations cover licensing and regulation for insurance companies operating here.

It's difficult to establish how many homes are currently uninsured across the NWT and for what reasons they've been denied coverage. Reasons for denial may not be public or could be based on the insurer's proprietary risk assessment model. The OSI does not track this information, and it's difficult to connect the rising cost of premiums using this risk-based model to the consumer and community price indexes that are published by the NWT Bureau of Statistics.

While insurers themselves set the costs for their premiums and products, there are mitigation efforts that local governments could undertake to help reduce costs. For example, concerning commercial fire insurance, the presence of hydrants and a full-time fire department in a community could bring down costs. I'm not going to go down the municipal funding gap rabbit hole quite yet, though, Mr. Speaker.

Section 270 of the Insurance Act requires that the superintendent of insurance prepare annual reports for the Minister. Part of these reports track the increase in amounts of insurance premiums through the amount of gross receivable insurance premiums. For example, there was a 24 percent increase between 2019 and 2023; the last annual report being published on December 30th, 2023. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'll have questions for the Minister of Finance today.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And, Mr. Speaker, I'd like to build upon the statement made by my colleague just now. Mr. Speaker, home insurance is proving to be a growing barrier to homeownership in the Northwest Territories and a financial challenge for homeowners.

Mr. Speaker, my constituents have told me about their inability to obtain home insurance in some cases or costs of their insurance skyrocketing year over year. Some residents with insurance policies have had them cancelled because of wood pellet boilers being installed. As bad as it may be in Yellowknife, I can't imagine how difficult it must be for some homeowners in small communities to obtain insurance. Mr. Speaker, this issue is about accessibility and affordability of home and fire insurance in the NWT and has been raised in the House before. Residents have no recourse except to complain about unaffordable increases or their difficulty even getting a policy to the office of the superintendent of insurance and speaking to MLAs.

During the 19th Assembly, the honourable Member for Yellowknife South committed, as Minister of Finance, to instruct the Department of Finance to investigate Saskatchewan Government Insurance, a Crown corporation owned by the Government of Saskatchewan. Mr. Speaker, we need to follow up on this now to see if SGI can provide us affordable insurance in the NWT.

Established in Saskatchewan in 1944, SGI now provides insurance in five Canadian provinces as SGI Canada, operating in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, and Ontario. It has operated in Manitoba since 1993 and Ontario from 2001 and Alberta since 2006 and in BC beginning in 2015. It offers home, farm, business, and even auto insurance. I believe it could operate here. I will have questions for the Minister of Finance at the appropriate time, Mr. Speaker. We need to get a handle on this growing insurance cost issue in the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

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

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to discuss Northwest Territories Power Corporation, NTPC, and the Taltson Hydro Project which provides power to Enterprise and K'atlodeeche First Nation in my riding. NTPC's mandate includes investing in core assets, increasing the distribution customer base, reducing emissions, and reducing fuel consumption.

Mr. Speaker, it is important to promote affordable clean energy across the territory. But I want to see more affordable power rates in my riding, especially in Fort Providence and Kakisa. According to the 2023-2024 annual report, NTPC incurred limited physical asset damage during the wildfire season, but fires and evacuations greatly affected the corporation's ability to complete land operational work and capital projects. Mr. Speaker, one of these projects was the overhaul of the Taltson hydro facility which was originally scheduled to be completed by November 2023 but was only opened on April 1st this year after repeated delays.

Mr. Speaker, estimates for overhaul costs are now over $97 million. We know from the public accounts that in previous years, NTPC lapsed tens of millions of dollars in budget capital expenditures. Mr. Speaker, lapses and delays impact costs for residents, and they worsen greenhouse gas emissions because of increased reliance on diesel power generation. Project delays also mean fuel work opportunities for local residents.

Mr. Speaker, I want to know next steps for making clean energy accessible across the territory. I will have questions for the Minister responsible for NTPC at the appropriate time. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Deh Cho. Members' statements. Member from Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, for many years, Indigenous governments have raised concerns over the GNWT's approach to traditional use cabins. They have made it clear that requiring recreational leases and charges fees for,members' cabins does not align with their understanding of aboriginal rights. Mr. Speaker, I brought it up in this House before. I know my colleague, Minister Semmler, in 2023, brought it up as well.

Most recently, Mr. Speaker, ECC held a two-day workshop in Yellowknife meant to advance the conversation around this topic. It is my understanding that progress was made and GNWT is now working to develop follow-up materials for Indigenous governments responding to the discussions and proposals made through that forum.

Mr. Speaker, I understand that GNWT has made several key commitments that are meant to respond directly to the concerns raised by the Indigenous governments:

1. They committed to developing a unique authorization and management approach for traditional use camps and cabins;
2. Agreeing to set the annual rent for this new authorization at zero cost or nominal value of $1, eliminating this financial barrier to traditional land use; and,
3. Mr. Speaker, the GNWT is committing to working collaboratively with Indigenous governments to establish the terms and conditions for this new authorization so that it provides a level of flexibility and regional customization while still meeting the GNWT's basic interests in the management of public lands.

Mr. Speaker, it's my hope that these commitments demonstrate that our government does recognize the importance of traditional uses of the land by Indigenous people, that they represent a significant shift in our approach to land management, one that better respects the spirit and intent of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

While we work together with Indigenous governments on this longer-term solution, the government must also take immediate steps to address some present and ongoing concerns. Such, Mr. Speaker, is ensuring we continue the pause of collections program available to Indigenous people with recreational leases and ensuring we will not take collection action against them.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, we must ensure that, through the Intergovernmental Council Secretariat, the GNWT is advancing a potential amendment to the Northwest Territories lands regulation that will allow us to change a nominal fee for recreational leases held by the Indigenous cabin owners in the areas where their Indigenous government has an asserted or established right to harvest. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the territory needs transitional housing. Mr. Speaker, I have constituents who are homeless and in unstable situations. Mr. Speaker, we are in a crisis. Last year, one shelter director in Yellowknife estimated, quote, "if all shelters in town stopped taking in people or stopped taking people in when they reach capacity, there would be an extra 50 people living on the street." Mr. Speaker, I need to highlight this, that many of these people, quote, "many of these people" are our Indigenous brothers and sisters. They are someone's child, parent, or parents, grandparent, parents, siblings, aunts or uncles.

Mr. Speaker, this is a sensitive issue for many of our people who found themselves in tough situations. My heart goes out to them.

In April, media reports reported on Yellowknife, quote, "point in time count showing that 327 people were homeless in 2024, a 5 percent increase from 2021." Mr. Speaker, small communities face the same problem. Some single men will never get off the waiting list for housing. Some of them are saying we will never get a unit or a house in their lifetime. They will not see it. This is what they're saying. It's not my word; it's their word.

The federal and territorial governments signed an agreement in December 2024 committing $1 million each over two years. Mr. Speaker, this money is intended to alleviate capacity challenges identified by local shelters operator while addressing encampments and helping find homes for people sleeping in tents. Their goal is to increase supportive housing options for people at risk, but $2 million will not have a big enough impact. Mr. Speaker, can I have unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

Thank you. Mr. Speaker, we must use these programs to help people struggling in small communities. In Tlicho region, the government's Northern Pathway to Housing program partnered with Behchoko Friendship Centre to provide transitional housing, but people need wraparound supports for health and addiction needs like the ones offered by the Housing First program and the new housing -- and the new facility. How can we extend wraparound support to our small communities. I will have questions for the Minister of housing at the appropriate time. Thank you.

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

Mr. Speaker, we've all heard about the significant cuts coming to the Jordan's Principle program, a federal program that many schools depend on to support their students. For weeks now, schools across the North have watched as their application for Jordan's Principle funding for the fall have come back denied, leaving them with a massive funding shortfall. Let me give you a concrete example of how devastating these cuts are.

Last week, I learned that Lutselk'e Dene First Nations school is losing five full-time education assistants, all of whom were funded through the Jordan's Principle program. In Fort Resolution where the Metis students make up a large portion of the school population, new eligibility restriction means Deninu Kue School stands to lose a significant amount of federal funding. Meanwhile, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment currently funds just one student assistant in Lutselk'e and only for a few hours a week. This is a stark example of the chronic underfunding of Indigenous education in our territory despite the fact that education is also a sacred treaty right.

This longstanding neglect has already forced families to leave their traditional communities in search of better education opportunities and, now, even schools in Yellowknife are at risk. Together, the Catholic and public school boards in Yellowknife, they receive over $50 million from Jordan's Principle funding each year, funding that is now in serious jeopardy.

When schools reopen this fall, a crisis of Indigenous education will begin, unless this Minister talks immediate action to restore the Jordan's Principle funding. So today I'm calling on the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment to meet with school boards across the North this summer and to provide a clear and immediate commitment to restore at least some of this critical funding. If the Minister fails to take this opportunity, she risks becoming the first education Minister in the North leaving education in worse shape than she found it. And she also inherited this from the 19th Assembly so this is a very important to the Indigenous people in my riding. Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Minister for ECE at the appropriate time. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, when we see people on the street who are in a bad state, some of whom who are unhoused and some of whom prefer to live in encampments rather than in shelters, we tend to jump to different conclusions about what should be done. Some people believe they should be moved out of public spaces and ultimately that law enforcement officers should step in, and others see unhoused people as victims who simply require more supports and resources. Either way, we tend to focus on what should be done to these people or for these people. But what if we ask a different question? What can we ask from these people? What are everyone's responsibilities in this situation?

The government certainly has responsibilities to provide decent options for shelter. But we often overlook the fact that people who are unhoused, even when they have addictions, also need to be accountable, especially when they're threatening or harming others.

I think that asking for accountability is a basic sign of respect. It means recognizing someone as a self-determining human. The trouble is when it's GNWT staff who are tasked with enforcing accountability or consequences. Say someone who works for the government comes along and says, come on, you owe it to the GNWT to pay your rent on time or to stop damaging your housing unit or to stop disturbing your neighbours or stop bringing drug dealers around here. Well, people can rightfully say, I don't owe the GNWT anything. It's the government that set up residential schools and took our homes and land away in the past and got us into this mess in the first place. But what if a respected elder comes along and says okay, you owe it to your family, to your community, to keep your home safe, to keep your neighbourhood safe. What if an unhoused person has one of their peers or someone with lived experience come along and say hey, maybe you could settle down or stop yelling at people; you know better than this.

Our law enforcement system has a critical role, but it struggles to hold people accountable over the longer term. Putting minor offenders on a revolving door in and out of jail doesn't seem to help. That's where a move towards restorative justice approaches is so important. The community, as a whole, needs to hold an offender accountable. I'm hopeful that we can use these same kinds of restorative justice principles to address encampments in public spaces, public intoxication, and threatening behaviours. Mr. Speaker, can I ask for unanimous consent just to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and to my colleagues. So I am hopeful we can use these kinds of restorative justice principles to address encampments, public intoxication, and threatening behaviours, by figuring out perhaps community-led and peer support teams who might be able to more meaningfully hold people accountable for their actions. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I talked about the envoy yesterday, and I wanted to continue where I left off.

Mr. Speaker, as a reminder, just to set the table as they say, Ontario's budget is $232 billion. The GNWT hides in its shadow being 1 percent of that. But the Ottawa envoy is $140,000 a year. Mr. Speaker, the Quebec budget annually is approximately $166 billion. In round numbers, that's about 1.3 of our budget, in comparison to them, Mr. Speaker. So in other words, they pay their envoy $140,000. How are we seeing in comparison, in any straight line, why is our envoy worth $440,000, Mr. Speaker? Why is this envoy, this friend of the Premier's, worth two to three times as much as the Ontario or the Quebec envoy? I can't see the math, Mr. Speaker.

And by the way, for the record, I looked up the phrase envoy, and it could be used in many different ways. There's some interpretations that I want to say for the record. It can also be exchanged for the word ambassador. Mr. Speaker, this person is sent on a mission. Sounds like an envoy. And I thought, well, considering we're paying this person $440,000 a year, you know, we better address him properly. So how do you address an envoy or an ambassador? You use the phrase Your Excellency.

Mr. Speaker, is there value for money? Mr. Speaker, I mean, I see it more likely us bringing back the unicorns from our imagination to life than seeing value for money here.

Are there other options? Absolutely, Mr. Speaker. I've called and spoken to two different political advocacy groups. They hire a team at a fraction of the price. Their monthly fee runs between $2,000 and $25,000 per month. It's all about what you want, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, their range is based on a size of a team for your issues, your concerns. They'll focus, they'll sit in and negotiate and, of course, they'll fight for your issues. But what's interesting is they bring a plan, Mr. Speaker. They have a matrix of deliverables for your money, Mr. Speaker. You get to see where your money's going, Mr. Speaker. You ask, Mr. Speaker, what is this advocacy paying for? I know this $440,000, something is lacking. What is -- there's a word here I'm lacking. Oh, it's called transparency, Mr. Speaker. There's no transparency. Mr. Speaker, monthly, this is 300 -- sorry, monthly this is $37,000 for this ambassador. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Yellowknife Centre. Members' statements. Member from Hay River South.

Mr. Speaker, this week from June 4th to 6th, Hay River transforms from a quiet northern town to the Olympic Village of the Northwest Territories. Yes, it's that time again for the Annual NWT Track and Field Championships. If you're from Hay River, you know how significant this event is and how deeply the community is involved. It takes hundreds of volunteer hours and advanced dedication to put this together. The community's commitment will be ready to shine when over a thousand athletes show up to compete. If you're an athlete that's been involved for over 30 years, you likely have fond memories of this trip or this event.

I want to take the time to congratulate the track and field committee on organizing this year's event and thanks to your dedication, the field will once be filled again with young athletes from across the NWT. This commitment deserves the acknowledgement.

I'm also looking forward to being a part of this year's event. Now, I know what you're thinking. Wait, you're competing? And while I hate to disappoint in my bid for the NWT senior athlete of the year; no, it's not the 500-meter dash or the high jump. I'll be flipping burgers for everybody. So come on down to the world famous track burgers and enjoy the sights and sounds and the smells of one of the greatest north sporting events. Trust me, you don't want to miss these burgers or the action on the field.

And, finally, a huge thank you, Mr. Speaker, to all the volunteers and athletes and all the sponsors that make this event possible and unforgettable. To all the athletes, have fun, travel safe, and look forward to seeing you all next week. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I do every year after Youth Parliament, today I am bringing the words of the youth representative from Yellowknife South to this House, ensuring all Members and the public hear the fresh perspectives, innovative solutions, and policy insights reflected in the voice of our youth. And so, Mr. Speaker, this year, Yellowknife South, who was represented by Lauren Tordiff, and these words are hers:

As young people, we inherit the challenges of today and the responsibility to create solutions for tomorrow. If we want to tackle issues like the high cost of living, we must ask ourselves a tough but necessary question, do our current systems still make sense given today's challenges?

Take, for example, the cost of electricity in the Northwest Territories. Many residents struggle to afford power, yet we expect a Crown corporation to transition to greener technology while also keeping rates low. The current system forces the Northwest Territories Power Corporation, (NTPC), to pass the costs of infrastructure upgrades directly on to consumers. This makes it difficult for families and businesses to thrive. But what if we did things differently?

As the Minister responsible for Northwest Territories Power Corporation, I feel the need to promote safety, affordability, and easier distribution among the smaller communities, but how can we regulate this while distribution remains a regulated private sector activity?

The government will take responsibility for producing power and lead the transition to renewable energy sources without forcing residents to bear the full financial burden. Meanwhile, private companies could compete to efficiently distribute electricity in our communities. This would not only help reduce costs but also ensure that cleaner energy becomes a reality in our communities. We might also create opportunities for residents to become micro generators of power, feeding back into the grid and increasing system resiliency and capacity.

A larger problem that affects many communities of the Northwest Territories is the imbalance of energy distribution. The solution I propose is a generating system that will be able to produce enough energy, not only for the communities that are present today, but for what will be there in the years to come. So what would this look like?

In collaboration with Indigenous governments, we will build a mass generator for each energy district that will provide reliable, affordable, and environmentally sustainable power to all Northwest Territories communities. As young leaders, we must be willing to challenge the status quo. We cannot solve today's problems without outdated solutions if we have the courage to ask whether our current structures make sense, we can build a stronger, more sustainable future for the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Lauren for her strong representation of Yellowknife South. I have only one correction. It's not only young leaders who need to be willing to challenge the status quo. It's a challenge that all leaders need to accept. Thank you to Lauren and thank you for that inspiration, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Yellowknife South. That's the second time I've got to hear it, so it was an amazing speech there, and it's another one today.

Members' statements.

Colleagues, today, I would like to recognize an individual that received the Life Member Award (formerly called the Honorary Life Member) from the NWTRPA this past October. This award is not something given out annually but recognizes a member who has made an outstanding contribution to the recreation and parks field, who has significantly served the NWT Recreation and Parks, and is nearing or has reached the end of their career in the recreation and parks field. This past October, it was given to Colin MacPherson.

I have had the pleasure of working with him when he took the recreation coordinator position in Fort Liard. I can tell you he made a huge impact on the community and the youth. To this day, people in the community speak highly of him and the things he did for the community. One of the biggest highlights, besides the swimming pool, was the speed skating program. He worked hard to get youth engaged and to try out for the Arctic Winter Games. After leaving Fort Liard, he moved to the Yukon, then to Inuvik, and then to Norman Wells where he became the regional recreation development officer for the Sahtu region. Years later, he moved to Fort Smith and then to Yellowknife, where he is the manager of community services for the sport and rec division.

During his time in Norman Wells and Fort Smith, I got to work with him on various projects such as northern youth aboard program, the youth ambassadors program which takes youth to the Canada Winter and Summer Games, Arctic Winter Games, Pan Am Games, and Winter Olympic Games and on the development of sport and recreation policies that we are still using today.

Colin was our guys when it came to aquatics, whether it was facility side or the staffing part of the program, he was the one you'd call. He could come into a community, hear the problem, and provide great advice on how to fix it or where to get the necessary part. He was an asset for the communities that he worked with daily and a strong component of the team we worked with. I have included his nomination form at the end of my statement and ask that it be deemed as read and printed in the Hansard.

Nomination for the Life Member Award - NWTRPA

Nominee Colin MacPherson

Location Yellowknife, Northwest Territories

Career in Recreation Over 20 years with the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT)

Nomination Summary

I am honored to nominate Colin MacPherson for the NWTRPA Life Member Award in recognition of his outstanding career in recreation, his strong mentorship, and his dedication to fostering community well-being across the Northwest Territories (NWT). Colin's work has been (sometimes) quietly help guide the recreation field in varied NWT regions for years.

Outstanding Contributions to Recreation

Mentorship

Colin's commitment to mentoring others is very well known. Over his lifetime in recreation, Colin MacPherson has guided many people into successful roles in the recreation field. There are a lot of recreation leaders across the North who can attribute their knowledge and professional growth to Colin's mentorship. His willingness to share his expertise in community recreation has empowered people to excel and brought strength to the recreation sector across the NWT.

Leadership in Games and Events

Colin's leadership through volunteerism and participation in major games have left a lasting impact on athletes, youth ambassadors, and staff alike. From the Arctic Winter Games and the North American Indigenous Games to the Pan Am Games and even the Olympics, Colin has worn many hats: athlete, coach, mission staff, administrator, and always, Mentor. Each role he undertook with dedication, representing the NWT with pride and professionalism.

Promoting Healthy Living

Colin embodies and promotes a healthy, active lifestyle. Through his unwavering 100% effort, he inspires others to embrace challenges and prioritize active living. He has helped ensure communities across the NWT have the programs, facilities, and opportunities to stay active and healthy, helping make recreation accessible for children, youth, and adults and elders alike.

Advancing Youth Development

Colin played an important role in the development of the NWT Youth Ambassadors Program, helping establish its principles and criteria. This program has provided countless opportunities for youth to gain firsthand experience in recreation, leadership, and community service. The program's lasting impact is a testament to Colin's vision and commitment to empowering young people.

Workshops and Training

Colin has significantly contributed to the professional growth of recreation workers across the NWT. He has delivered workshops on all aspects of community recreation and safety training, ensuring individuals are well-prepared to serve their communities. His efforts have built capacity in most NWT communities.

Recreation Facilities and Programs

Colin has been a part of the development and operation of recreation facilities in various NWT communities, ensuring their long-term sustainability by training staff and fostering local ownership. His hands-on involvement extends to grassroots initiatives, like starting the speed skating club in Norman Wells, which continues to today.

Commitment to Excellence

Colin MacPherson exemplifies the values of dedication, leadership, and community spirit that this award honors. His contributions to recreation in the NWT have been wide reaching, fostering growth, opportunity, and resilience across the North. As Colin approaches the finale of his career, this award would be a fitting tribute to his long-standing service and enduring impact.

In closing, there are many stories that I want to share with you but being reflective of the time, I would like to congratulate him on receiving this award.

Members' statements. Returns to oral questions. Recognition of visitors in the gallery.

Colleagues, you just heard me give a statement about a friend of mine. He's up here in the -- sorry, I'm getting a little emotional here. I'd like to recognize Colin MacPherson as well as my friends and colleagues Damon Crosmann, Alicia Korol, Alison Brown, Conan Donahue, as well as the deputy minister Gary Brennan and, you know, my former MSA but he was also the executive director of the recreation and parks. Welcome to our Assembly.

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member from Hay River South.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I feel you stole my list. I want to echo the recognition of visitors in the gallery, same people there, but I would also like to add the YK city councillor Tom McLennan. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Hay River South. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member from Kam Lake.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have a fellow photographer in the House, Vincent Ret. Wanted to say a big old hello to him. He's an incredibly talented northern artist, and it's always lovely to have people in the gallery, especially ones as talented as him. Thank you.

Thank you, Member from Kam Lake. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member from Yellowknife South.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to have one of the younger residents of Yellowknife South in the House today, young Finnigan Gosselin has been spending the day job shadowing with his mom. Thank you.

Finnigan, thank you very much for keeping your mom working hard, so. We appreciate you being here. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member from Monfwi.

Masi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, [Translation] Masi, Mr. Speaker. Today we have -- we have Lucy Lafferty. She's a wife, and then she was a principal. She was also a director of education and also the -- and also she is the coordinator. She is very active for our language, Lucy -- Lucy Lafferty. The interpreter -- the interpreter here Jonas that isn't here, Jonas Lafferty, his wife is also here, as I'd like to say -- I would like to say thank you to Lucy Lafferty. And also the young people from Chief Jimmy Bruneau School here are also here, Shiloh Simpson and Nicoli Grosco, they are the page from the Chief Jimmy and Lucy Lafferty is from the community of Behchoko, the wife of Jonas Lafferty, interpreter.

[Translation Ends] Masi, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also recognize Tom McLennan who is one of our city councillors at the city of Yellowknife. So thank you, Tom, for being here today.

Thank you, Member from Yellowknife North. Member from Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It gives great pleasure to recognize, through you, to the House; I have several guests to acknowledge. First of all, I'd like to recognize Todd Cook. He happens to be the president and CEO of Northview Residential REIT. He's up there in the gallery. Sitting next to him is Linay Freda. I believe she is the vice-president of operations. And she's there as well. And next to her is a face many of us will know around this room, but certainly in the community, is Ms. Colleen Wellborn. She is the local, so the northern regional director here for Northview. And I want to give thanks quickly to Ms. Wellborn for her use and support of the community organization with Tony Foliot where they brought clothes from the South Slave to Yellowknife, and they've facilitated that and made sure that NGOs could benefit from that situation. Thank you, Northview REIT, and certainly Colleen.

And lastly, Mr. Speaker, I want to point out that every time my good colleague on my side, the Member for Range Lake, sounds like he knows what he's talking about well, there is the source of all the brilliancy in that relationship. Thank you very much.

Thank you, Member from Yellowknife Centre. Member from Range Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, I'd like to recognize the source of my brilliance, as my colleague said, and my favorite constituent, my lovely wife Colleen Wellborn.

Thank you, Member from Range Lake. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member from Deh Cho.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize the Dene Zhatie translators here from the region. In the House are Sarah Gargan and Mary Jane Cazon and to thank them for their contribution to keep the language alive. Mahsi.

Thank you, Member from the Deh Cho. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member from Frame Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I do want to address a small technicality on the recognition of visitors in the gallery today and congratulate councillor Tom McLennan on his purchase of a new home in the Frame Lake riding. Very excited to welcome him to Frame Lake. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Frame Lake. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Acknowledgements. Oral questions. Member from Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker; I appreciate it very much. Mr. Speaker, my question will be directed to the Minister of Finance regarding most recent bid on the liquor operations here in Yellowknife.

Mr. Speaker, a local bidder had bid on this project, and they -- their scoring seems to be quite subjective. I wrote an email because of the significant urgency on this. By the time they closed this contract, we don't want it to turn into a legal problem.

Mr. Speaker, by way of example, under northern experience, they got 50 out of 50, Mr. Speaker. But under local BIP, they got 1.8 out of 50. And under NWT BIP, they got 5 out of 150, Mr. Speaker. There's some mysterious concerns with these numbers, and I wish some urgency. Would the Minister pause this awarding of this particular contract to ensure these numbers are correct and all the numbers are correct? Thank you.

Thank you, Member from Yellowknife Centre. Minister of Finance.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, we did acknowledge the email that I got this morning from the Member and thank you for bringing this to my attention.

As with any other procurement matter, I'm not going to be putting these details on the floor of the House. I have already tasked the department to look into it and when we to get a matter where there's some concerns around a procurement scoring, much like a human resource matter, there are avenues and channels by which we can have our staff review it, can have it go through a review. And certainly, until that's been done, Mr. Speaker, I'm not going to be in a position to say one way or the other what may have happened or didn't happen or did happen, but I can say that we will review this urgently. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, although I would like to influence the outcome, that's not my question. My question is about pausing this to ensure there's a rigorous review before an awarding of a contract so there will be no necessity for legal action to work their way through this because, as I highlighted, the details are a little questionable. Would the Minister clarify for the House that she'll ensure the official awarding of the contract won't be done until there's a rigorous review of the numbers and their calculations? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I do appreciate the advocacy on behalf of constituents. I certainly want to ensure that our procurement review -- or procurement processes are accurate and fair. We are subject to procurement processes that maintain our obligations under trade, our obligations for open procurement, and, Mr. Speaker, I'm simply not in a position here today to say where we are at in this particular procurement process. I don't have it in front of me. As I said, this came in this morning. Happy to have it brought to my attention. It's not the first time I've had procurement brought to my attention. But it's -- so it's gone to the procurement shared services now and it really is not one that I want to be interfering with on the floor of the House. I recognize it's an important issue for many residents, and so I want to assure them again that we've sent it forward to procurement to make sure that it's done, and any award is done fairly and that any review is done fairly. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister of Finance. Final supplementary. Member from Yellowknife Centre.

Mr. Speaker, all the Minister would have to say is that she'll issue an email or instructions or whatever language she wants to use -- I don't care, it's fine, I'm fine with that -- that she'll issue some awareness that they need to ensure before they officially award the contract that these numbers are reviewed because it's taken four months, in January to now, for them to find out the details of why they weren't successful, would she be willing to issue that direction to ensure it's issued in the most fair and reasonable way? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the intention around fairness. Mr. Speaker, I -- again, without -- I don't have the details of the procurement here in front of me, as I normally wouldn't. That is a level of operations that Ministers would be inappropriate to get my hands involved in and certainly not here. So, again, I do appreciate the concern for fairness. I certainly can commit that I'll double down on saying to the department that we want to ensure that we are being fair and that we are maintaining and adhering to all of the procurement principles that we have. But beyond that, Mr. Speaker, I'm certainly not going to be, here on the floor of the House and without a fulsome awareness of the procurement details, issuing any directives to the department on this one. I will commit to the Member that we'll follow up as quickly as possible. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, since the news broke of the potential contamination in the Range Lake North School, my constituents have reached out to me who are nearby in the neighbourhood very concerned about the quality of their own drinking water. Can the Minister of education just reassure my constituents that there's no risk to contamination in the wider Range Lake neighbourhood. Thank you.

Thank you, Member from Range Lake. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have received information that the city of Yellowknife does regular testing of their water, and there is no concern. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, constituents are also wondering why we haven't historically tested schools for safe drinking water. Can the Minister explain why this has been a pilot project and not just ongoing work for the department. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I certainly as a parent share the concerns of many residents of the city of Yellowknife as well as the residents of the Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker, it is worth me saying right now that I was notified of this project and the results on Monday evening. Immediately from there was able to ensure that that drinking water and cooking water was no longer able to be used been those schools that were advised were experiencing concerns. Mr. Speaker, I can also advise this House and the Member that given the extreme concern with this situation that I have provided direction to the GNWT, because it is multiple departments and through the Premier's office, to do a third party investigation so we can understand the details of how we got here and how we're going to ensure that we are moving forward in a fulsome way. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Final supplementary. Member from Yellowknife -- or sorry -- Range Lake.

Yellowknife Range Lake. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to hear that. I know the Minister is taking it seriously. I have no reason to doubt that. My intention is get the information out to my constituents. But if they do come back and find a problem with the school, who's going to pay for that? Will the Minister provide funds to replace whatever needs to be replaced to ensure there is safe, clean drinking water for the kids in my riding? Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the schools in Yellowknife are interesting in that they are different from schools across the territory. So the schools in Yellowknife, for the most part, are owned by the education body themselves, but we have mechanisms to work together within the city of Yellowknife. First and foremost, we need to ensure that the water in our schools is safe and that kids in our schools are safe, and so as per usual, I will continue to work with our education bodies. I have a very close working relationship with the chair, and we will continue to work forward on this. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Oral questions. Member from Inuvik Boot Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, following up on my Member's statement today regarding the recent work done by the Department of ECC on the developing materials for the Indigenous governments around land leasing. My first question for the Minister of ECC is how would the department, I guess, define Indigenous traditional use cabins and who they are for? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Inuvik Boot Lake. Minister of Environment and Climate Change.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the Member for the question. I think that, you know, as we talk about traditional use cabins, traditional activities, traditional use of the land across the NWT, it's important first and foremost to identify that as the Minister and I stand here, it's not my place to identify how an Indigenous government or an Indigenous organization's defined what a traditional use cabin or what their traditions entail amongst the Indigenous governments and the Indigenous organizations. There are many differences in tradition in how they define lifestyle and what their -- how things were done by their ancestors. What I will commit to standing here is to work with all of those Indigenous governments and Indigenous organizations to ensure as we move forward, the policies and the work that we do together formed by those traditions and that we respect those in the path that we take. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And that's a good answer, Mr. Speaker. And I know that the Minister is well aware of what's happening here and what needs to be done and the length of time it's taken many years to get to where we are today. Following up on that, Mr. Speaker, one of the things that come out of the forum was the develop -- follow-up materials for Indigenous governments. Can the Minister speak to the timeline now as when we're going to follow up on that and, indeed, start this -- continue this consultation, gets that information out to Indigenous governments. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And, Mr. Speaker, I'm happy to report that the work has started. It's well underway. As the Member indicated, there was a meeting on the 20th and 21st of May that was very well attended with some really good work done by all participants. There was also a follow-up meeting this morning, actually, between ECC and the technical working group to, again, advance this initiative, and ECC is working very close with the technical working group through the Intergovernmental Council on land and resource management and under the development protocol to amend the NWT act and regulations. So this work is very collaborative. You know, we're very committed to following a process that is really working together to ensure that all of our interests are represented at the end of the day and that they are truly informed by the traditional knowledge within the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister of Environment and Climate Change. Final supplementary. Member from Inuvik Boot Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you to the Minister. I think we're starting to see a little light at the end of the tunnel here, and I know it's going to take a continued commitment from the Minister to keep pushing this issue forward and getting this work done. Follow-up question, Mr. Speaker, you mentioned the amendments to the Northwest Territories land regulations. Do we have a timeline for that? Has the department come up with a schedule and timeline to get these amendments done so we can move this forward? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as the Member pointed out, we have committed to, you know, trying to reduce the rent to a nominal fee or a dollar in the short-term, as well as, you know, ensure that we're addressing this in the long-term. Right now, currently, the way the legislation is written, we can't technically charge rent less than $150. So that's our -- really our short-term goal here is to address that. And as we work with our partners, giving a specific timeline to this process is difficult. There are many participants here. If I could, I'd be happy to do that tomorrow. But, you know, we have a process and a protocol that we follow to ensure that all the voices are heard. And I just wanted to reiterate my commitment to get this done as certainly, as quickly as we can. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister of Environment and Climate Change. Oral questions. Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I got my treaty book here. I highlighted areas in terms of education, and education is a treaty right. And so --

Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh, it's a prop. Okay, thank you. Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Minister of ECE is travelling to Ottawa next week to meet with her federal counterparts. Would she use this opportunity to advocate to restore these recent cuts to the Jordan's Principle program before they come into place with our new MP who is now the Minister of Crown and Indigenous Relations. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I share the Member's concern, and the answer is yes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If these cuts to Jordan's Principle go forward and it eliminates tens of millions of dollars from Indigenous students, will the Minister commit to working with the federal -- sorry, working with affected community school boards and First Nations to restore this critical funding over the summer? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have a close working relationship with our education bodies. I meet with them multiple times a year. I'm meeting with them again in June. This has been a conversation on our agenda all year. It is a huge concern for both education bodies and myself. Those conversations will continue. This conversation has also happened with the NWTTA.

Mr. Speaker, one thing that is -- needs to be very clear here is the GNWT cannot afford to take on the programs that the federal government introduces and does not continue. When this program was introduced, and over the last number of years, officials at the department of education have reiterated to officials within the federal government that we cannot afford to take on this program should they choose not to continue it. So that is why the Minister of Health and Social Services and I are teaming up together to deliver this message to Ottawa. That is why I have teamed up as well with education Ministers from the Yukon and also from Nunavut because this has an impact on Indigenous people across this country and across all three territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Final supplementary. Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Mr. Speaker, Jordan's Principle exists to close the gap in the standard of living between Indigenous and non-Indigenous children. Every dollar provided to our schools is, in effect, an acknowledgement by the federal government that their needs have to be met by our own territorial government. What has the department of ECE allowed our schools to become so reliant on this federal government and what's their backup plan should they provide -- this program doesn't go ahead? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. So, Mr. Speaker, within our school funding formula, we have accounted, within the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, for different positions within schools. The federal government, with their program, accounted for putting other positions in schools that were different from the method of supporting schools that ECE had in place. So, for example, there was program support teachers that are funded through Education, Culture and Employment. Those program support teachers have funded through our inclusive schooling directive and already last year we have jump started the process of reviewing our inclusive schooling directive to make sure that we are doing this work properly and that work is already underway. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Oral questions. Member from Monfwi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, thank you. It's good to see my two pages in here, Nicoli and Shyloh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister of housing explain what specific plans are in place to ensure transitional housing and wraparound supports like those offered in Yellowknife are extended to small communities across the NWT? Thank you.

Thank you, Member from Monfwi. Minister responsible for Housing NWT.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I was waiting for you to -- that's okay. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the Member for the question.

Transitional housing and wraparound supports, it's required all across the Northwest Territories. Looking at our waiting list, looking at Behchoko, we have over 130 families waiting for housing. In your Member's statement, you indicated some applicants may wait their entire lifetime for housing. So the work we do at housing, the money that this Legislative Assembly has approved over the next number of years, the federal engagement piece, the working with the Cabinet, the federal Cabinet, working with the new federal housing Ministers, these are the conversations we're going to have. This is a vision that we have. This is a priority of this Assembly. So continued good work and advocacy. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Given that the $2 million federal territorial funding for transitional housing is limited, how does the Minister plan to prioritize or supplement this funding to meet the urgent need for temporary housing with wraparound support in regions like Tlicho?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my most recent visit to Behchoko, and hopefully going into Whati over the summer, I see the need going into the communities, looking at what people need in communities to survive, and transitional housing is one of those pieces, including shelter space, including warming shelter space, including transitional housing, including THARP, including public housing, including market housing. So there's a huge need in the housing continuum across the North, and the Tlicho region is one of those regions and ridings that need housing. And, again, we have to look at this on a territorial basis.

We have 32 communities in the Northwest Territories that we provide public and social housing to, so these are the decisions we make and hopefully the plan over the next three years will encompass that decision. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister responsible for Housing NWT. Final supplementary. Member from Monfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister say how the department is working with other GNWT departments like Health and Social Services and with Indigenous government to expand programs like Northern Pathways to Housing and ensure they include long-term social supports for residents with addictions? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In this Cabinet, we are discussing housing all the time with the different departments, including justice and health and education, eulture and employment and infrastructure, and then with finance and our Premier involved, constantly. Housing is a priority of this government. We work towards that. How do we move ahead, that's important. So we need to have plans in place, including transitional housing in all communities. But how do we get there? We need to get the funding and supports working alongside Indigenous governments who are receiving distinction-based funding through the federal-earned funding..

These are engagements that we have at Council of Leaders, engagements we have in bilateral discussions and face-to-face discussions and phone calls and conversations that we continue to press the need for housing in our communities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister responsible for Housing NWT. Oral questions. Member from Great Slave.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Finance knows that I love data. So can the Minister tell us when an annual report for 2024, which is required by the Insurance Act, will be made public. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The insurance license year ends June 30th, so the June 30th, 2024, would be the end of that year. The annual report is then prepared thereafter. We could expect the 2024 Annual Report that gets prepared through the year will then be released in October, so the fall of this year. So roughly fall 2025. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the Minister for that. Can the Minister say whether the 2023 Annual Report, which is already out, takes increases resulting from claims made during the 2023 wildfires and evacuations into its calculations for gross receivable insurance premiums? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That is correct, it does. The insurance premium tax that gets paid to the GNWT does take into account any increases in total gross premiums for the calendar year. So the premium tax is three percent on general insurance, one percent on fire insurance, and that is, indeed, based on the previous calendar years' insurance premiums. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The superintendent reports on four previous years in each annual report. Can the Minister speak to what percentage increases to insurance premiums that the superintendent is tracking for 2024 or for even into 2025. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Obviously, the March 2023 -- or March 2025 year has not yet been completed, Mr. Speaker, but the 2024 amounts are still being finalized, and I can give you an estimate that we're sitting around $6.9 million. That would be 3.6 percent decrease from the 2023 reported premium tax. As I'd said earlier, we are now tabulating 2024. 2025 will be reported in a year -- just over -- just under a year from now. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister of Finance. Oral questions. Member from Frame Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Continuing on the insurance theme. Can the Minister tell us if the Office of the Superintendent of Insurance have received complaints from homeowners and/or businesses that they are essentially unable to access affordable insurance? Thank you.

Thank you, Member from Frame Lake. Minister of Finance.