Debates of Feb. 10th, 2026

This is page numbers of the Hansard for the 20th Assembly, 1st Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was know.

Topics

Oral Questions

Members Present

Prayer Or Reflection

Winter Road and Ice Crossing Implementation

Minister Absesnt from the House

Arctic Economic and Security Corridor Memorandum of Understanding

Mackenzie Valley Highway Community Sessions

Compassionate Accommodation for Medical Travel

Cultural Safety in the Health Care System

Black History Month Events in Yellowknife

Opening Comments

Abandoned Vehicles Amendments to the Motor Vehicles Act

Mandate and Priorities of the Legislative Assembly

Economic Future of the Northwest Territories

Celebration of Life of Dolphus “Duffy” Cazon

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Community Engagement on Makenzie Valley Highway

Cultural Safety and Stabilizing Workforce in Healthcare System

Accelerating Resource Development in the Northwest Territories

Land Tenure and Land Transfers

Amendments to the Motor Vehicles Act Concerning Abandoned Vehicles

Long-term Benefits of Resource Development in the Tlicho Region

Diamond Mine Socioeconomic Agreements

Implementation of United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Persons Concerning Healthcare

Fire Safety in Encampments

Cost of Living Subsidies for Power Rates

Air Ambulance Contracts

Taltson Hydro Expansion

Arctic Economic Security Corridor

Fire Marshall's Office and Encampments

Aspen Apartments

Tabled Document 459-20(1): Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Committee Report 26-20(1): Report on the Statutory Review of the Legal Aid Act Tabled Document 460-20(1): Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Committee Report 30-20(1): Report on the Review of the 2024-2025 Annual Report of the Northwest Territories Information and Privacy Commissioner Tabled Document 461-20(1): Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Committee Report 32-20(1): Report on the Review of the 2024-2025 Annual Report of the Northwest Territories Human Rights Commission

Bill 40: An Act to Amend the Vital Statistics Act, Deemed Read

Bill 41: An Act to Amend the Real Estate Agents Licensing Act, Deemed Read

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Concurrence Motion - Tabled Document 453-20(1): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2025-2026

Concurrence Motion - Tabled Document 454-20(1): Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures and Borrowing Authorization), No. 3, 2025-2026

Report Of Committee Of The Whole

Point Of Order

Orders Of The Day

Committee Motion 137-20(1): Concurrence Motion - Tabled Document 453-20(1): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2025-2026, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

February 10th

Kieron Testart Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So this is a large increase. Can the Minister tell us what this funding is inclusive of. Thank you.

February 10th

The Chair Richard Edjericon

Thank you. I will go to the Minister.

February 10th

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So this includes the drinking water testing and short-term remediations that were discussed just previously. There's also funds within this component here for funding under the national action plan to end gender-based violence. There's an amount here -- oh, sorry, Mr. Chair. Are we on -- my mistake. Let me just turn that to the deputy minister, please. I was looking at the wrong line item, please.

February 10th

The Chair Richard Edjericon

Thank you. I will go to the deputy minister.

February 10th

Vince McKay Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So this falls under the division in the department of education, income security, and they are responsible for student financial assistance, so they're seeking an increase to -- or a supplementary -- a supplement to their budget for the year to cover the costs of delivering that program over the course of this fiscal year. And that's due mainly to an increase in uptake more than was anticipated. Thank you.

February 10th

The Chair Richard Edjericon

Okay, thank you. I will go back to the Member from Range Lake.

February 10th

Kieron Testart Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. And are -- these student late fees from the last academic semester, are they covered by this increase? Thank you.

February 10th

The Chair Richard Edjericon

Thank you. I will go to the Minister.

February 10th

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Chair. No, Mr. Chair, this is related to, again, two main components. One is a shortfall in available funds because of a larger number of students who were applying as well as some changes in terms of the types of available -- or the types of a loan and the extent of a loan that was available for students. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

February 10th

The Chair Richard Edjericon

Okay, thank you. I will go to the Member from Range Lake.

February 10th

Kieron Testart Range Lake

Thank you. And are we seeing -- do we anticipate that we'll have to increase SFA budgets accordingly going forward to accommodate the increased uptake, or is this something that's somewhat of an anomaly based on trends of the program uptake? Thank you.

February 10th

The Chair Richard Edjericon

Thank you. I will go to the Minister.

February 10th

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So, Mr. Chair, there there is in the 2026-2027 Budget, a proposed increase. Obviously that remains to be seen, how that goes here, but it's still before committee. But there is a proposed increase to student financial assistance. Thank you.

February 10th

The Chair Richard Edjericon

Okay, thank you. I will go back to the Member from Range Lake.

February 10th

Kieron Testart Range Lake

And are these increases at all driven by increased fees at academic institutions, or is this merely driven by the number of students who are enrolling in the program? So I guess is it more expensive to go to university and that's why the rates are going up, or is it just because we have more students applying? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

February 10th

The Chair Richard Edjericon

Okay, thank you. I will go to the Minister.

February 10th

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I don't know that I can 100 percent give that analysis here. Happy to take that back to the department. The request really at this point is driven by the demand but then also some changes in benefit levels. It may well be that the need for changes in benefit levels has some connection to higher costs on the -- on the side of the universities and/or other institutions themselves, but at this point I don't have that kind of analysis here. Thank you.

February 10th

The Chair Richard Edjericon

Thank you. I will go to the Member from Range Lake.

February 10th

Kieron Testart Range Lake

Nothing further. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

February 10th

The Chair Richard Edjericon

Thank you. Are there any further questions? Seeing no further questions.

Department of Education, Culture and Employment, income security, not previously authorized, $3,335,000. Does committee agree?

February 10th

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

February 10th

The Chair Richard Edjericon

Okay, thank you. Department of Education, Culture and Employment, operations expenditures, labour development and standards, not previously authorized, $483,000. Are there any questions? Seeing no further questions.

Department of Education, Culture and Employment, labour development and standards, not previously authorized, $483,000. Does committee agree?

February 10th

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

February 10th

The Chair Richard Edjericon

Thank you. Department of Education, Culture and Employment, operations expenditures, total department not previously authorized, $6,056,000. Does committee agree?

February 10th

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Debates of Feb. 10th, 2026

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