Debates of Feb. 27th, 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

Northwest Territories Film Industry

Unsustainable Nurse-to-Patient Ratio in the Northwest Territories

Norman Wells School

Northwest Territories Association of Communities Annual General Meeting

Dental Care

Still Dead Festival

Inclusion in Youth Sports

Addictions and Wellness

Importance of Dental Therapists

Economic Effects of Mine Closures

Importance of Poetry

Nahanni Butte Housing Projects

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Dental Therapist Program

Educational and Economic Impacts in Norman Wells

Improving Dental Services in Small Communities

Nurse to Patient Ratios

Economic Impacts of Mine Closures

Addictions and Wellness Programming

Power Outages and Reimbursement for Damages

Closure of Inuvik Learning Centre

Environmental Remediation Securities

Capacity of Adult Correctional Facilities

Public Service Pension Centre Early Retirement Program

Spending on Contract and Agency Healthcare Staff

Follow-up To Oral Questions

Speech and Language Pathologists

Safety in Public Housing Units

Local Consultation

Return to Written Question 26-20(1): Application of Waters Act Provisions to the Sale or Tender of Mining Assets

Return to Written Question 28-20(1): Medical Travel

Return to Written Question 30-20(1): Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority Action Plans

Return to Written Question 31-20(1): Prenatal and Pregnancy and Postpartum Costs

Bill 29: First Responders Workers' Compensation Amendment Act.

Motion to Move to Third Reading

Point of Order

Committee Report 36-20(1): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on Bill 29, First Responders Workers' Compensation Amendment Act, Deemed Read, received and Adopted. Government Response REquested

Tabled Document 482-20(1): Additional Information for Written Question 30-20(1): Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority Action Plans

Tabled Document 483-20(1): 2025-26 Electoral Boundaries Commission Final Report

Taking Action on Energy Affordability and Security in the Northwest Territories

Bill 45: Civil Forfeiture Act

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Committee Report 35-20(1): Standing Committee on Public Accounts Report on the Review of the Auditor General's 2025 Audit of Protected and Conserved Areas in the Northwest Territories - Conservation and Planning and Implementation Line Item in 2027-2028 Main Estimates

Committee Report 35-20(1): Standing Committee on Public Accounts Report on the Review of the Auditor General's 2025 Audit of Protected and Conserved Areas in the Northwest Territories - Stabilizing Operational Capacity for Territorial Protected Areas

Committee Report 35-20(1): Standing Committee on Public Accounts Report on the Review of the Auditor General's 2025 Audit of Protected and Conserved Areas in the Northwest Territories - Funding Mechanisms for Inter-Generational Conservation Commitments

Committee Report 35-20(1): Standing Committee on Public Accounts Report on the Review of the Auditor General's 2025 Audit of Protected and Conserved Areas in the Northwest Territories - Conservation Work not Covered by Project Finance for Permanence Funds

Committee Report 35-20(1): Standing Committee on Public Accounts Report on the Review of the Auditor General's 2025 Audit of Protected and Conserved Areas in the Northwest Territories - Comprehensive Action Plan for Dınàgà Wek'èhodì and Dehcho Candidate Protected Areas

Committee Report 35-20(1): Standing Committee on Public Accounts Report on the Review of the Auditor General's 2025 Audit of Protected and Conserved Areas in the Northwest Territories - Coordination of Strategy for Advancing Candidate Protected Areas in Dehcho

Committee Report 35-20(1): Standing Committee on Public Accounts Report on the Review of the Auditor General's 2025 Audit of Protected and Conserved Areas in the Northwest Territories - Hiring for Positions Associated with Territorial Protected Areas

Committee Report 35-20(1): Standing Committee on Public Accounts Report on the Review of the Auditor General's 2025 Audit of Protected and Conserved Areas in the Northwest Territories - Response to Auditor General's Recommendation at Paragraph 56 of Audit Report

Committee Report 35-20(1): Standing Committee on Public Accounts Report on the Review of the Auditor General's 2025 Audit of Protected and Conserved Areas in the Northwest Territories - Regulations and Policy Instruments for Thaidene Nëné and Ts'udé Nilįné Tuyeta

Committee Report 35-20(1): Standing Committee on Public Accounts Report on the Review of the Auditor General's 2025 Audit of Protected and Conserved Areas in the Northwest Territories - Territorial Protected Areas Regulatory, Legislative and Policy Framework Updates

Committee Report 35-20(1): Standing Committee on Public Accounts Report on the Review of the Auditor General's 2025 Audit of Protected and Conserved Areas in the Northwest Territories - Historic Harms Raised by Indigenous Governments and Communities

Committee Report 35-20(1) Standing Committee on Public Accounts Report on the Review of the Auditor General's 2025 Audit of Protected and Conserved Areas in the Northwest Territories - Status Update on Action Plan under Section 10 of UNDRIPIA

Committee Report 35-20(1) Standing Committee on Public Accounts Report on the Review of the Auditor General's 2025 Audit of Protected and Conserved Areas in the Northwest Territories - Funding for Sustained Participation in UNDRIPIA Implementation

Report Of Committee Of The Whole

Orders Of The Day

Committee Motion 145-20(1): Committee Report 35-20(1): Standing Committee on Public Accounts Report on the Review of the Auditor General's 2025 Audit of Protected and Conserved Areas in the Northwest Territories - Coordination of Strategy for Advancing Candidate Protected Areas in Dehcho, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

The Chair Richard Edjericon

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? And all those abstaining?

---Carried

All right, I will go back to the Member from Range Lake.

Committee Motion 146-20(1): Committee Report 35-20(1): Standing Committee on Public Accounts Report on the Review of the Auditor General's 2025 Audit of Protected and Conserved Areas in the Northwest Territories - Annual Report Commitment in Nature Agreement, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Kieron Testart Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that this committee recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories publish the annual report committed to in the nature agreement, including progress on commitments scheduled for the previous fiscal years and anticipated timelines for establishing the candidate protected areas under the Healthy Lands and Healthy People work plan. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair Richard Edjericon

Thank you. To the motion.

Some Hon. Members

Question.

The Chair Richard Edjericon

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? All those abstaining? Motion carried.

---Carried

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

Committee Motion 147-20(1): Committee Report 35-20(1): Standing Committee on Public Accounts Report on the Review of the Auditor General's 2025 Audit of Protected and Conserved Areas in the Northwest Territories - Hiring for Positions Associated with Territorial Protected Areas, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Kieron Testart Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that this committee recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories demonstrate how current measures to involve management boards and hiring are improving Indigenous representation and how these measures will be sustained and strengthened;

And further, that the government establish timelines, metrics, and clear indicators of success to show how these actions ensure meaningful community representation in hiring for positions associated with territorial protected areas. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair Richard Edjericon

Thank you. To the motion.

Some Hon. Members

Question.

The Chair Richard Edjericon

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? All those abstaining? Motion carried.

---Carried

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

Committee Motion 148-20(1): Committee Report 35-20(1): Standing Committee on Public Accounts Report on the Review of the Auditor General's 2025 Audit of Protected and Conserved Areas in the Northwest Territories - Response to Auditor General's Recommendation at Paragraph 56 of Audit Report, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Kieron Testart Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that this committee recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories table, by the end of the May/June 2026 sitting a detailed update, including an implementation framework for territorial protected area agreements that responds fully to the auditor general's recommendation at paragraph 56 of the audit report. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair Richard Edjericon

Thank you. To the motion.

Some Hon. Members

Question.

The Chair Richard Edjericon

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? All those abstaining? Motion carried.

---Carried

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

Committee Motion 149-20(1): Committee Report 35-20(1): Standing Committee on Public Accounts Report on the Review of the Auditor General's 2025 Audit of Protected and Conserved Areas in the Northwest Territories - Regulations and Policy Instruments for Thaidene Nëné and Ts'udé Nilįné Tuyeta, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

February 27th, 2026

Kieron Testart Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that this committee recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories finalize the regulations for Thaidene Nene and bring forward any outstanding policy instruments required for Thaidene Nene and Ts'ude Niline Tuyeta sequenced with the approval of management plans and supported by publicly shared target dates within one year. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair Richard Edjericon

Thank you. To the motion.

Some Hon. Members

Question.

The Chair Richard Edjericon

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? All those abstaining? Motion carried.

---Carried

I will go to the Member from Range Lake.

Committee Motion 150-20(1): Committee Report 35-20(1): Standing Committee on Public Accounts Report on the Review of the Auditor General's 2025 Audit of Protected and Conserved Areas in the Northwest Territories - Territorial Protected Areas Regulatory, Legislative and Policy Framework Updates, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Kieron Testart Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that this committee recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories update the regulatory legislative and policy framework so that it works coherently with territorial protected areas under the Protected Areas Act and resolves existing gaps;

And further, the Government of the Northwest Territories should begin the required policy work to identify and assess options for legislative amendments and bring forward recommended changes for decision. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair Richard Edjericon

Thank you. To the motion.

Some Hon. Members

Question.

The Chair Richard Edjericon

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? All those abstaining?

---Carried

I will go back to the Member from Range Lake.

Committee Motion 151-20(1): Committee Report 35-20(1): Standing Committee on Public Accounts Report on the Review of the Auditor General's 2025 Audit of Protected and Conserved Areas in the Northwest Territories - Conservation Planning with Partners, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Kieron Testart Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that this committee recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories table in the May/June 2026 sitting a plan that sets out how the government will lead conservation planning in collaboration with partners through the Northwest Territories Council of Leaders and the Intergovernmental Council of the Northwest Territories with overriding Indigenous authorities;

And further, that the plan outlines the sequence of Government of the Northwest Territories decisions required to advance each protected area. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair Richard Edjericon

Thank you. To the motion.

Some Hon. Members

Question.

The Chair Richard Edjericon

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? All those abstaining? Motion carried.

---Carried

Thank you. I am going to go to the Member from Range Lake.

Debates of Feb. 27th, 2026

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