Please be seated. I'd like to thank Ms. Cleary for the opening prayer and reflections. Ministers' statements. Minister from ITI.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in 2016 actor Denzel Washington was asked why playwright August Wilson insisted that only a Black filmmaker should direct the screen adaptation of his Tony Award-winning play Fences. Denzel answered, It's not color, it's culture. Steven Spielberg did Schindler's List. Martin Scorsese did Goodfellas, right? Steven Spielberg directed Goodfellas. Martin Scorsese probably could have done a good job with Schindler's List. But there are cultural differences.

He continued, I know, you know, we all know what it is when a hot comb hits your head on a Sunday morning, what it smells like. That's a cultural difference, not just color difference.

Who tells a story and where they tell it, matters. Here in the Northwest Territories, we have storytellers and filmmakers who understand this place in a only a way Northerners can: Its beauty, its humour, its everyday truths. They understand the sound of a frozen lake, the feel of a kokum's hand, the smell of a freshly smoked hide. They know the excitement of Hay River's Polar Pond Hockey, the bonds built over picking aqpiks in the tundra, and the realities of life in remote northern communities. As Northerners tell stories, whether passed down by ancestors or unfolding today, they are blending tradition, creativity, and new technologies to bring them to the screen.

In the budget address, the Minister of Finance said, For too long, the North has been a fairytale for Canadian identity about snow and cold, dogsleds and aurora. Fairytales are not real. But Mr. Speaker, fairytales and folklore make great movies, especially here in the Northwest Territories.

The finance Minster also said, The true story of the North lies with its people. And this is true and these stories, our stories, need to be told.

Today, I want to talk about the people who are ensuring that northern stories not only endure but reach further than ever before.

It is an industry that is coming into its own as an economic force: Breaking down stereotypes, telling real northern stories to the world, and growing through collaborations and mentorships between Northerners and southerners.

Mr. Speaker, across the Northwest Territories, filmmakers and production organizations are building a more established and confident film sector. Their efforts are strengthening local capacity, opening doors for northern talent, and supporting good jobs in communities. At the same time, their work is showcasing the people and places of the Northwest Territories to wider audiences.

The Northwest Territories Film Commission supports projects from development to delivery and promotes the NWT as a filming destination. Their programs are working. Every dollar of support given to this program adds $8.90 to the NWT's film and media sector. Since the rebate program's launch, it has supported over 20 projects, filmed in communities across the territory. We have seen a change in the type of productions, indicating growth in the industry.

Most of the activity was once generated by documentary and reality-style series, but we are now seeing feature length films like Red Snow and Elijah and the Rock Creature, and scripted television series like Alaska Daily and Arctic Air. Recent filming in the territory includes high-profile projects, which remain confidential, but signal strong confidence in the NWT as a place to produce high-quality screen content.

In the past, we have seen shows like North of North become wildly successful. While filmed in Nunavut, this production is an indicator of the significant appetite for northern stories and the ample space for the Northwest Territories to meet that interest.

Mr. Speaker, there is no shortage of talent in the Northwest Territories. Our writers, directors, producers, performers, and technicians continue to demonstrate exceptional creativity and professionalism. They strengthen the territory's reputation as a place where compelling stories are told authentically and with care.

This flourishing in film has been powered by local producers and organizations like Dead North, the NWT Professional Media Association, and Western Arctic Moving Pictures. In fact, a few big milestones lie ahead for the industry this year. In 2026, Western Arctic Moving Pictures will mark its 25th anniversary, and the Yellowknife International Film Festival will celebrate 20 years of supporting filmmakers, audiences, and screen culture in the North.

The film and media sector is a growing economic driver with real value to the territory, with knock-on benefits to other sectors like tourism. Data shows that people have travelled to the NWT inspired by something they watched, like Ice Road Truckers, Arctic Air, and Alone. The industry also creates new opportunities in smaller communities by hiring locals, like the Alone franchise did in two different seasons, to fill positions as guides, knowledge-holders and wildlife monitors.

Our landscape, our stories, and our people have the ability to tell the rest of the world who we are, showcasing that while there is ample magic here, the finance Minister was right in the budget address: We are not a fairytale. We are real people with the creativity, humour, and sheer will to tell the tales of the North in a way that draws attention, attraction, and investment from across Canada and around the world. I am confident that the future of filmmaking in the Northwest Territories is ripe with possibility. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, nurse-to-patient ratios measure the average number of patients assigned to each nurse in our hospitals. When those ratios become too high, workloads become less manageable, compromising the quality of care and even threatening patient safety. High nurse-to-patient ratios not only compromise care, they also take a serious toll on our nurses, creating a cycle that worsens staffing shortages as burnout drives them away. Overwhelmed nurses must decide what patients receive timely care, leading to chronic stress, exhaustion, and a feeling that they cannot provide the quality of care they passionately want to deliver. Excessive overtime only accelerates this burnout, forcing nurses to work longer and take less time to care for themselves.

Research shows that whenever nurse-to-patient ratios are high, they identify understaffing as the reason they consider leaving their jobs. Many transfer to less demanding settings, while other nurses leave the profession altogether. Recruitment also suffers as new nurses are far more likely to leave frontline practice within their first one to two years.

Here in the NWT, recruitment and retention are the Minister's top priorities, yet our vacancy rate stubbornly remains among one of the highest in the country. The facts are clear why. This government's half-measures aren't breaking this cycle of burnout. The Minister often points to staffing problems across Canada as if they are beyond our control, but it's time to look to the solutions provinces are already implementing. Emerging evidence shows that mandating minimum nurse-to-patient ratios strengthens staffing, increases recruitment, and improves quality of care.

British Columbia is leading the way. In 2023, their government signed a memorandum of understanding with the BC nurses bargaining association to implement minimum ratios, and evidence shows that hospitals with improved staffing are already seeing real benefits. Now that we have a proven solution to turn to, it is time for this Government to spare no effort, mandate reasonable nurse-to-patient ratios, support our nurses, and empower them to deliver the standard of care that Northerners deserve. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I want to speak about the impacts on the Mackenzie Mountain School in Norman Wells.

Mr. Speaker, Norman Wells and the Sahtu region face two converging crises threatening our families and children. Imperial Oil's closure, being one, has already forced 11 students across five families planning to leave Norman Wells, with eight more potentially affected. That's nearly 20 percent of our student enrolment population, children uprooted from their schools, parents forced to choose between community and economic security. Simultaneously, the federal government cuts the Jordan's Principle funding or stripped away critical supports.

Mr. Speaker, for years, this funding provided specialized educational assistance, supports to occupational therapists, and health supports that showed us what's possible when schools are properly resourced.

Mr. Speaker, now it is being stripped away. Hundreds of student support assistants are being lost across Northwest Territories. In the Sahtu, students are losing specialized equipment, health services, and therapy. Without specialized staff, all students suffer and, critically, we lose the ability to ensure safety, education of our staff and students.

Mr. Speaker, these positions provided meaningful employment to northern residents, many Indigenous. That employment is disappearing precisely when Imperial Oil closure eliminates other jobs. We cannot stand by while the gap between Indigenous students in the North and their southern counterparts widens. We cannot accept our children losing education security. The Sahtu is resilient, Mr. Speaker, but resilience requires support, partnerships, and action planning.

Mr. Speaker, our children and families deserve better, and I encourage this government to act with urgency on this crisis demands. Later, Mr. Speaker, I will have questions to the Minister of ECE. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Northwest Territories Association of Communities are holding their 60th annual AGM here in Yellowknife this week. I attended the event last evening, caught up with some old colleagues, and had an opportunity to again touch base on some of the issues that the communities are facing.

Mr. Speaker, I spent 11 years in municipal politics, so I know the great work that this organization does on behalf of their communities and all our communities across the Northwest Territories. I know they've got, Mr. Speaker, meetings scheduled with Cabinet this weekend as well so I'd like to wish them all the success. If you have an opportunity to drop by -- they're at the Chateau Nova over the weekend -- and say hi to some our community leaders, mayors, councillors. I certainly encourage you to do that. And, again, wish them all the success. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Despite the well-established connection between oral health and overall well-being, far too many Northerners continue to face significant barriers when trying to access even the most basic dental care. Mr. Speaker, this lack of access does not only impact residents; it also carries a substantial financial burden for the government. When dental services are not available in communities, preventable oral health issues escalate to emergencies requiring medical travel, an expense that continues to grow year after year.

Oral health is not a luxury. It is a core component of general health, affecting nutrition, speech, confidence, mental health, and the management of chronic disease. Untreated dental problems often lead to infections, pain, difficulty eating, and serious medical complications. These cases too often result in emergency room visits or specialist referrals that require costly travel arrangements, accommodations, escorts, and sometimes repeated follow-up appointments.

The result is avoidable strain on both residents and the government's already overextended medical travel budgets, yet many residents in small remote communities wait months, sometimes years, for a visiting dental provider, if one arrives at all. Others must leave their communities at significant personal and financial costs. These gaps in coverage create inequities that Northerners should not be expected to accept.

Mr. Speaker, we must do better; invest in reliable, community-based dental services. It is not only the right thing to do for residents; it is also fiscally responsible. Strengthening dental services contracts improve recruitment, retention, and collaboration with Indigenous governments on local preventative programs. We will reduce medical travel costs and promote healthier communities. Oral health must be treated as a priority, not as an afterthought. This government must take meaningful action to ensure every community has dependable access to dental care. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I will have questions for the Minister of health.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On this Freaky Friday, I would like to build on our ITI Minister's statement earlier and highlight yet another of Yellowknife's burgeoning new arts festivals.

On February 16th, the Still Dead Film Festival rose like a zombie from the grave of the infamous past film festival Dead North and brought indie horror film back to life in Yellowknife. 350 excited filmgoers dragged, stumbled, and crawled their way into the sold-out Capitol Theatre to enjoy an evening of laughs and screams with the creativity and talent of Yellowknife's amateur filmmaker scene on display. I was lucky enough to get tickets, along with my colleague from Great Slave, and I really enjoyed the films.

In what is becoming a running trend for these local festival statements, again, I really enjoyed Johnny Vu's entry which disturbingly parodied the perils of trusting ChatGPT for life advice. Along with his co-creator Elliot Pope, they deservedly nabbed the audience choice award. Best film went to Heart Above All by Chris Aitken and Emmanuel Ramos. Best sound to Paired by Jocelyn Shepel, best acting to Paul McKee, best effects to Monsters by Tanya Krueger and Carson Asmundson. And a big shout out goes to Kai Walden who won the best emerging filmmaker award. Congratulations to all film members, filmmakers, crews, and actors on a job well done.

Mr. Speaker, festivals like this are so good for our community. They bring people together and give them a creative outlet when they might otherwise be shut in from the cold and isolated from connection. As one filmmaker I spoke to said to me, making that movie got me through the winter. It also highlights how important movies and gathering as a community at our beloved theatre are to Yellowknife. I have to mention the Capitol Theatre's contribution to making this festival happen and the great support manager Chris Wood has always shown to our local film scene.

I'd be remiss if I failed to mention the brain trust behind bringing this mainstay of Yellowknife's film scene back to life, led by none other than former Yellowknife North MLA Rylund Johnson and his fellow organizers Heather Heinrichs, Qillulaaq Arngna'naaq, and Keelen Simpson. Thank you to them, the filmmakers and everyone involved in our incredible growing northern film scene. You are contributing so much to our community.

Thank you, Member from Frame Lake. Member from Yellowknife North.

Mr. Speaker, how many of us stopped playing sports when we were kids because we weren't good enough to make a team or because we kept getting benched in favour of the better players on the team? How many of us didn't try a sport at all because we thought well, I am not the athletic type, I'd never be able to compete with the athletic kids? Or how many of us were on a competitive team but there were so many practices and games, it was so intense, there was so much pressure, it took over our lives and then we quit because it just wasn't fun anymore?

Sports are supposed to be fun. It's supposed to be a game, play. As we get older, hardly any of us become professional athletes. We tell ourselves we should stay active but realistically, none of us are going to make time for sport in our busy adult lives unless it's fun. And yet for some reason, so much of our system of organized sport revolves around the idea it has to be competitive, that we need to focus resources on the most skilled players and weed out the rest. The idea that the drive to win is the thing that's going to motivate us the most, even from a young age, to try and push to be our best selves, that if we're out there giving everyone participation medals and no first place trophies that we will never develop excellence.

Well, we can look to the country that won the most medals in the recent Olympic Games, Norway, a country of only 5.6 million people, tiny even compared to Canada and yet they have the best winter athletes in the world. Yet, they do not have any system of competitive sports for youth under the age of 12.

Their national youth sports strategy is called Joy of Sport for All. It's about ensuring there's a place for every child in every sport and encouraging everyone in the family to play sports together. Of course, there's also an emphasis on building competence in sports. It's more fun when you can feel confident in your skills. I think Norway's model is a good reminder that we can afford to shift resources towards more emphasis on inclusion in youth sports. We need to recruit more coaches who may not be or have ever been the elite athletes themselves, but they're able to create joyful spaces for kids to play and grow and build physical and mental resiliency. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. At the beginning of our term, this Assembly has identified addressing the effects of trauma as a key priority. The commitment recognizes what many of our residents already know, that individuals collective and intergenerational trauma lies behind many of our health and social challenges facing our small communities. To this end, the Government of the Northwest Territories has provided community-based programs, smaller healing initiatives across the territory, and this funding makes a big difference to my communities. But at the same time, a serious gap remains in our continuum of our care. The Northwest Territories has no dedicated territorial-wide trauma treatment centre. Now Indigenous-led efforts are stepping up to fill that gap.

Over years, I have learned about the work of the Endacho Healing Society which has been steadily advancing the establishment of a northern Indigenous-led trauma healing lodge. Unlike community-specific projects, their initiative can serve residents from across the Northwest Territories and generations. It is a lot of work that they have taken on, years of planning, feasibility work, and partnership building to integrate a culturally grounded approach with clinical support in a setting close to home.

As always, I remind my colleagues, health is a treaty right. Honouring that right means confronting the intergenerational trauma of colonialism that underlies violence, addictions, and upper representation in the justice system. Strengthening our trauma healing capacity through Indigenous-led initiatives is how we can truly uphold these rights and implement UNDRIP into the delivery of these critical health services.

A territorial-wide healing lodge represents the first major step towards long-term, systematic investment in Indigenous healing. Healing is health, and health is the foundation of community, safety, and well-being. There is still time in our term for this government to act decisively on our priority of adjusting trauma. We know that works, we know where capacity must be built, and we know where resources are needed. It is time to build a territorial-wide Indigenous-led trauma tragedy that honours treaty rights, strengthens communities, and ensures healing is finally accessible to all. Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the health Minister at the appropriate time. Thank you.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am going to talk today about something truly sparkling. And no, it won't be about the northern lights although they are pretty spectacular. Today I want to talk about healthy smiles and the amazing folks that make that happen.

There was a time when dental therapists were common which, you know, I hope to see again one day. Imagine this: We all know this story. You're down south, and even that could mean Yellowknife, that could mean somewhere else. You have a toothache, and you need to call a dentist. Boom, you get it done. Mr. Speaker, but that sometimes isn't as easy as you think. It's kind of like finding a polar bear who can do the dance of a ballet. Rare, serious, interesting, but difficult to find. But guess what? Northerners are known for standing up to challenges. They don't back down. We're known as tough. Mr. Speaker, that's why, in the old days, the northern dental therapist program was so successful. We need to bring them back.

Mr. Speaker, dental therapists, in their own way, were kind of like the James Bond of the NWT dental world. They were cool under pressure. They saved people day to day. Their dental tools were kind of even like their special gadgets. They were, at a time, fearless in the community, helping people far and wide. Mr. Speaker, they were giving kids check-ups, and hopefully they were not involving too much wiggling, teaching us about how to outsmart those sugar bugs. Mr. Speaker, they were patching up the chops and giving people good smiles, and they were doing it with great enthusiasm. Because without them, many of us may be eating lukewarm bannock and sipping tea in prayers.

Mr. Speaker, what's at this point is smiles are important. They can be bright like the aurora. They give people their own individual power. But the time has gone by long enough, we need to bring the dental therapists back.

Mr. Speaker, their honesty was truly appreciated. They were heroic in their efforts. They didn't do everything in the dental system, Mr. Speaker, but they did confront the challenges before them. Every moment we postpone in bringing back this program, we put people at risk. I don't want to see us putting our good old kiddos through a risk. I want them to be living a happy, cavity child-free experience, Mr. Speaker. I want our elders to feel more confident when they tell their stories of wisdom and the occasional fishing story that I am not so sure is truly accurate. But the truth be told is we have a vision, we can tackle this problem, we can get behind this. Let's make our communities stronger. And stronger communities are happier, Mr. Speaker, with a smile. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in communities across the Northwest Territories, the conversations have shifted. Instead of talking about the next shift or the next rotation, families are talking about layoffs, closures, and what comes after the mines.

Mr. Speaker, for many families, this is not just about economics; it is about the loss of stability, of long-term plans, and the trauma of watching that unravel almost overnight. Mr. Speaker, for many Indigenous communities, the mines brought opportunities, but they also came with enormous sacrifice. Mr. Speaker, pristine lands were altered and will never fully return to what they once were, even with reclamations. Despite these impacts, Mr. Speaker, the mines provided stable employment, good wages, and the ability to build a good life for employees and their families. Mr. Speaker, it has also allowed many to remain in their home communities, connected to their culture and heritage, in places where the cost of living is high and steady income is essential.

There were also personal sacrifice made, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, rotational work meant extended periods away from family and missing many milestones and important moments that could not be recovered. Employees and their families accepted that reality because each rotation brought the security of a steady paycheque.

Mr. Speaker, today that security is slipping away. Families who sacrificed so much are left wondering whether they will be able to stay afloat or will have to rely on social assistance. Mr. Speaker, this is a grief. It is a loss of identity, loss of purpose, and loss of the security that people have relied on for years. Families who gave so much in good faith deserve more than uncertainty. Mr. Speaker, they deserve a government that stands with them, supports them, and protects them as they face this loss. Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Minister of ITI. Thank you.

Thank you, Member for Monfwi. Members' statements. Member from Great Slave.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I had a thought on this bright and cold morning as I walked into the Assembly this morning, and I know that when we get overwhelmed in this House we often go for a walk to get some fresh air and reinvigorate our spirits. In wintertime in Germany, residents throw open the windows to clear out the stale air, and I hope that I can do a little bit of that today. Poetry does this for the soul. So today I wish to share a poem by Mary Oliver with the House.

You do not have to be good.

You do not have to walk on your knees for a hundred miles through the desert repenting. You only have to let the soft animal of your body love what it loves.

Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.

Meanwhile the world goes on.

Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain are moving across the landscapes, over the prairies and deep trees, the mountains and the rivers.

Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air, are heading home again.

Whoever you are, no matter how lonely, the world offers itself to your imagination, calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting - over and over announcing your place in the family of things.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Colleagues, I would like to share with you some very exciting news about housing in the community of Nahanni Butte.

The Nahanni Butte Dene band merits profound recognition for delivering 17 new housing units from 2023 to 2025, directly uplifting 17 families in this isolated northern community. This year marks further progress:

• One new transitional/short-term accommodation unit;
• Three additional rooms expanding the general store's capacity in 2024; and,
• A completed staff housing project.

Over four years, the band addressed minor and major repairs across 14 existing homes, with ambitious renovation plans extending beyond 2030.

These milestones gleam against Nahanni Butte's formidable challenges: No all-season road access and three months of annual isolation demands ingenuity at every turn.

Band staff demonstrated unrelenting commitment, partnering creatively to truck materials, coordinate fly-in crews, and navigate winter delays. Their solutions transformed housing to the number 1 priority identified in the 2021 community needs and demands study from aspiration to achievement.

As the keys transfer to shortlisted applicants today, the community extends heartfelt gratitude to vital supporters:

Housing NWT for core funding;.

• Federal partners CIRNAC, CMHC, HICC, CanNor, and NICHI for bridging gaps; and,
• Northern Industrial Construction for their expert execution.

This coalition proves remote communities thrive through unified effort. Colleagues, stable homes restore dignity, anchor families, and foster self-determination. Nahanni Butte's success counters overcrowding, health risks, and youth exodus that plague small communities. Each unit signals hope, enabling elders to age in place and children to thrive locally.

I have had the opportunity to visit these homes and speak with the tenants and leadership. They are very happy and proud of the new units and the band's commitment to its membership. I hope you will join with me to celebrate this model of Indigenous leadership and partnership. I continue to urge sustained investment to match their vision through 2030 and beyond. Nahanni Butte Dene band, your perseverance inspires every Northerner facing isolation. Thank you for showing us what's possible.

Members' statements. Returns to oral questions. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member from Range Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to recognize some Yellowknife firefighters who have joined us today, Christian Bittrell, Adam Katcher -- I am going to struggle with this one -- Justin Zawirucha and McKinley Moore. Thank you very much for being here today. Thank you.

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Hay River North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to recognize some pages that we've had here from Hay River for the week. Natalie Boucher from Hay River North, as well as Kennedy Bolt and Malikai Beaulieu from Hay River South. We're always happy to have the youth in the chamber, and I hope they learned something. Thank you.

Thank you, Member from Hay River North. Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery. Member from Hay River South.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, would also like to welcome members of the International Association of Firefighters Union and the Yellowknife firefighters into the chambers. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. If we missed anyone in the gallery today, welcome to your chambers. We thank you very much for allowing us 19 people to represent the Northwest Territories, even if it is only for a short-term of four years. I hope you are enjoying the proceedings. It's always nice to see people in the gallery.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery. Acknowledgements. Oral questions. Member from Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my Member's statement today, I talked about the dental therapist program. It was an enjoyed program in the Northwest Territories. It even had schooling and training in Fort Smith, then it went to Saskatoon, and then it went the way of the dodo bird. They're trying to revive it and hence that's the theme of my Member's statement today, which is trying to be very friendly and remind people how important and critical it was to service this.

So my question for the Minister of Health and Social Services is what is she doing to help bring back this program to life so we can have dental therapists in our communities where we need them most. Thank you.

Thank you, Member from Yellowknife Centre. Minister of Health and Social Services.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And, Mr. Speaker, right now I believe the only place in Canada, since 2011, is in Saskatchewan. They have just revitalized a bachelor of dental therapy and began intake in 2023. What happened over the history of this was that the federal government quit funding it, and we in the Northwest Territories were a satellite to the program that was federally funded. And, yes, it was an amazing program and we had many graduates into our communities. I believe we still have a couple that are within the system. And the Minister of ECE and I have had these conversations and also have had a conversation with the president; however, I will continue to follow up with the Minister on that conversation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister provide me, and certainly this House, some information with respect to what infrastructure the department of health is going to be moving forward on this in partnership with the current dentist organizations here in the Northwest Territories? In other words, they can't do it all. Can we build some type of partnership and infrastructure to meet the needs of Northerners? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, at this time, where we are focusing on is during COVID, as many people know, that we ceased to be able to send dentists into the community. Those RFPs that went out to the private dentists who do provide that support in small communities, right now we are working with Indigenous Service Canada to be able to get that up and going, and we should be -- I believe we're ready to be putting out those RFPs soon so that dentists will be traveling back into the communities. We are not at the stage in health to be doing any of the training of that. That is a discussion that I can have with the Minister of ECE. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister of Health and Social Services. Final supplementary. Member from Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Whatever follow-up the Minister can provide me would be greatly appreciated.

Mr. Speaker, my last question is about recruitment, retention, and certainly about training and incentives. Mr. Speaker, as we are aware, Saskatchewan is moving forward on this. Is there a way to create some incentives so we can hook our northern students who are taking science who might be interested in this career? Is there a way we can create incentives so they may follow through and, again, so they can help serve Northerners where we need them best. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. You know, when we look at all of our health areas, we at NTHSSA do provide a bursary to those that are accessing health programs and, you know, this -- I would have to follow up to ensure that this one may fall under that area. However, you know, we do know that dental hygienists -- you know, we're looking at the option of dental hygienists because they do have a much more expanded scope now than they did years ago, and so we're looking at how to be able to implement dental hygienists into our system as well. Going forward, you know, I will continue to have those conversations with the college with the hopes that one day we may have a dental therapy program in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister of Health and Social Services. Oral questions. Member from the Sahtu.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Following up on my statement, and questions to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

My first question: What immediate relief and support measures can the Minister commit to providing the Norman Wells and Sahtu region to address the educational and economic impacts of the Imperial Oil closure as well as the Jordan's Principle gaps? Thank you.

Thank you, Sahtu. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. So, Mr. Speaker, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment has a suite of workforce development tools, working with existing employers to help do things like retrain, support through wage subsidies, and also ensure that we're helping businesses kind of shift their existing practice. In addition to that, industry, tourism and investment also has funding programs for people who want to start up businesses or who want to expand the existing practices and knowledge base through networking and skill development as well through the SEED program. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am very glad that I am getting some supports here. As my statement had mentioned on March 16th on the SEED, business side impacts by the ESSO closure, I am more specific to the students and the school impacts.

My second question there, Mr. Speaker, is what specific actions the Minister is taking to work with the federal government to restore or protect Jordan's Principles in the Sahtu region. Mahsi.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I want to start off by saying that Norman Wells residents can rest assured that the delivery of junior kindergarten to grade 12 education in Norman Wells will remain, will be uninterrupted, and that access to high school programming will remain in the community. So that is not at jeopardy.

In regards to Jordan's Principle, we continue to advocate, not just myself as education Minister but also as a Cabinet, given the impact does absolutely have an all-of-government impact and all-of-Northwest Territories resident impact. In addition to that, I continue to work with education Ministers from across the territory given that we know the territories are absolutely built different and have a different ability to react and absorb changes to the Jordan's Principle program. With the announcement that happened yesterday, both from a political level and a departmental level, we've reached into the federal government to find out exactly what this announcement means, if they're changing criteria, if they're going to go back to working directly with schools, and how we can make sure that northern families are served by this announcement as well. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Final supplementary. Member from the Sahtu.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thanks to the Minister for the reassuring potential of the incoming funding.

Mr. Speaker, situations like this needs more than three questions. But my last question is will the Minister commit to joining me and Norman Wells for a town hall to address the Imperial closures in the community underneath the portfolio of ITI and at the same time at a town hall to address the impacts of our education system, particularly our school and children and the teachers that come on in delivering education security. We need some supports from the Minister saying yes, I will come, but we'll iron out the logistics. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Member is absolutely right. Conversations like this take absolutely more than three questions and also making sure that the residents that we are trying to speak to are at the table is incredibly important, and I would be more than happy to travel to the Member's constituency and specifically Norman Wells. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Health and Social Services.

Can the Minister outline what specific steps the department is taking to improve the consistency and availability of dental services in small and remote communities, particularly in communities that have gone extended periods without a dental visiting -- a dental provider. Thank you.

Thank you, Member from the Dehcho. Minister of Health and Social Services.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To the Member's question, right now what we are doing, immediate steps what we are doing is ensuring that there is a process for everyone who is covered under their insurance, applicable insurance. So for First Nation/Inuit, that would be through NIHB; Metis benefit, then they would go through that program or extended health benefits or employer benefits. But while saying that, that will help to access the travel to get to the dentist in the capital, or if you're in the Beaufort Delta sometimes it helps to get you to Whitehorse, what we're doing right now is we've -- we have done and completed the analysis. As many of the small communities, the dentists have highlighted the equipment in the communities as not -- you know, it's broken, it's not working. So we have done an application to the oral health access fund, and we are just waiting on that to see if all of that will be funded therefore then we will move forward and replace all of the equipment that needs to be replaced in all of our small communities.

We are also working closely with health and social services and Indigenous Service Canada on an interim solution and getting those RFPs out to being able to -- for those communities that do have working equipment, to get the dentists traveling back into those small communities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you to the Minister for that lengthy answer. And I will have -- some of the questions I have is -- she's answering them. So given the significant and rising costs associated with medical travel for preventable oral health issues, can the Minister explain how improved community-based dental services could help reduce pressure on the GNWT's medical travel budget and what actions are being considered to achieve these savings? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So, Mr. Speaker, routine dental treatment services for NIHB-eligible residents are federally funded, and so anybody traveling for those dental services from the small communities that are 100 percent recoverable through NIHB for that travel and the appointment. While we don't fund the NIHB dental contract, what we're -- access to the community-based care would naturally decrease in the number of cases requiring out-of-community or out-of-territory travel that ISC is currently assessing on a case by case. So everybody has to put in the application before traveling, and those are assessed by ISC, because they're the payer.

One of the things that we are doing is we have -- we do have some dental therapists still in the system so those regional dental therapists are working with the regions. However we noted, to the previous Member's comments, is that there's not very many of them out there. So what we're looking at is the option of different, like dental -- or dental hygienists at this moment. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister of Health and Social Services. Final supplementary. Member from the Dehcho.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My next question is what work is the department undertaking with Indigenous governments, local health authorities, and dental professionals, to develop sustainable, community-driven, preventable oral health programs that reduce long-term dental issues and improve overall health outcomes? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, within the communities, dental -- or sorry, community health reps can be doing a lot of that health promotion, especially in the public, in the schools, making sure that, you know, it's an important part of teaching kids to make sure they're brushing their teeth. Also, the other piece underway is the modernization of dental equipment as I mentioned. But I would like to say that there are some Indigenous governments that have taken some more leads in this area, and I would -- the IRC for instance, they have established their own program, you know, with funding from ISC, and they hire their own. They've trained community members to do health promotion on dental care in the communities. They've hired dental therapists that come in and meet with residents in those communities. So there are some areas that Indigenous governments are taking lead, and we're working -- we'll always work with them. Thank you.

We just spent 15 minutes on three sets of questions. Please be brief with your questions and brief with your answers.

Oral questions. Member from Range Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In 2023, British Columbia became the first province or territory in Canada to establish minimum nurse-to-patient ratios. In partnership between the provincial government and BC nurses' union, implementation will occur over three years. It's worth $750 million, and there's an additional $237 million that's being spent for immediate recruitment and retention to fill an estimated 8,000 new nurses.

Has the Minister reviewed B.C.'s minimum nurse-to-patient ratio system and will she implement it in the Northwest Territories? Thank you.

Thank you, Member from Range Lake. Minister of Health and Social Services.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I believe that NTHSSA has assessed the ratios based on what -- our model of care is a little different than BC, and so what has happened is that they are -- the department is actually taking -- examining this to understand where and what the numbers would be based on our staffing model versus BC. And the chief nursing officer and the director of patient care are actually travelling to BC to meet with and learn from what BC has learned from this change. And so once they return from that, I am hoping that I would have a better understanding. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think the biggest thing that BC is learning is that they don't have enough nurses. So some of the things they're doing is fast-tracking the licensing of international-educated nurses, providing financial incentives for retired or inactive nurses to return to the frontline, and expanding nurse seats in schools across the province. So will the Minister pursue those lines of incentives to ensure we are recruiting nurses along the same lines as British Columbia? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, what I can say is that we are working closely with CAN on how to move international-educated nurses into our system. We are working -- you know, we do graduate -- I believe this year is another large class that will be graduating from the nursing program. I am not sure how much more capacity our college could have to expand that. But I also know that we have many, many NWT residents that are also outside the territory currently training, and a lot of them want to come home and, you know, we have jobs for them. So we just need to ensure that we are making sure that we do set up the proper mentorship and on-boarding of these staff. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister For Health and Social Services. Final supplementary. Member from Range Lake.

Thank you. And I think details are important here, Mr. Speaker. But, I mean, if anyone woke up this morning and felt the minus 40 wind in their face, they'll know that it's way more enjoyable to be working as a nurse in sunny British Columbia in Vancouver and Victoria. So we are now competing with a jurisdiction that is doing a hell of a lot to recruit 8,000 nurses. How is the Minister going to keep pace when a province is spending billions of dollars on nurses and we are still struggling to figure out how to retain them? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Potato/potata. Well, I mean, I love the North. I would never move to Vancouver or anywhere in BC; I don't like the rain, I don't like the fires. So I believe that, you know, the North is a place where you go when you want a lifestyle and many people love and enjoy -- like, the nurses that I worked with in Inuvik, and they continue -- they're there, they love it, it's their home. You know, and I think this is the thing, is we have a work-life balance and, you know, unfortunately, sometimes, you know, we talk about, yes, there's times where nurses have to work overtime and, you know, those are the things that we are challenged with and I won't -- I won't, you know -- yeah, we have to compete across everyone moving here and when we -- you know, when we hear about the cost of what houses are here versus Vancouver, I mean, you could still buy a nice house and a lot here than you can in a condo in downtown Vancouver or somewhere. So thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister of Health and Social Services. Oral questions. Member from Monfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I know that we have no control over the market but when I think and talk about the mine closure, I feel sad knowing the outcome for the people and the environment. With that in mind, Mr. Speaker, my question is for Minister of ITI.

Given the fact that impacts of mine closures extend far beyond employment, how is ITI coordinating with education, culture and employment and health and social services to ensure a unified approach to workforce transition, mental health supports, and family stability for affected workers and communities? Thank you.

Thank you, Monfwi. Minister of ITI.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, and thank you to the Member for the question. It's definitely top of mind for many that are supporting these workers, that are neighbours of these workers, that are employers of these workers, because it's certainly mine workers directly but then also those that are employed with contractors and subcontractors as well that will be impacted. These are conversations that are happening not only with myself but also with the Minister of Health and Social Services and staff at department level and also with the mines themselves. So the mines do have mental health support staff. So for example, Diavik has people that they work with and that serve workers of the mine both at site and then also continued relationships away from site. And so some people I know have asked to stay on with the same people and indicated a desire to continue those relationships, and then also ensuring that the staff themselves are aware of what supports are available to Northwest Territories residents. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. What specific mechanism has ITI established to coordinate long-term planning to maximize local employment and Indigenous business participation in reclamation work? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So Mr. Speaker, certainly as far as connecting businesses themselves to different workforce development funding tools, so accessing those wage subsidies that I spoke with earlier to the Member of the Sahtu, and accessing those training dollars that are available to employers that want to be able to retrain their staff. There are employers in the territory that are working to do on-the-job training for workers that are shifting from one work environment to another. And then the good news is, though, is a lot of people coming out of the mines have skill sets that they're able to take to these new roles. Some of those supports include things like communicating to my federal government counterparts how the federal procurement processes sometimes don't serve our end goals and also supporting the messaging coming out of industry who are also taking those messages themselves to the federal government. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister of ITI. Final supplementary. Member for Monfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, how is the department working with other departments and Indigenous governments to support the creation of new local industry to ensure communities can retain workers displaced by mine closure? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So Mr. Speaker, we are working both here in the NWT to make sure that people can remain employed here in the Northwest Territories. And so that's everything from participating in career fairs that bring together multiple employers that are looking, including the GNWT, that are looking to hire some of these workers that have been displaced. Some of them are looking to retire, so making sure that they have the support to understand, you know, what their rights look like from an employment standards perspective. And then some are looking to start up businesses and so making sure that they're connected with their regional coordinator if they're looking to pursue funding, for example like SEED funding or other funding sources from the GNWT. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister of ITI. Oral questions. Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, just a follow-up on my Member's statement. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of health.

Does the Minister agree that the Northwest Territories currently lack a coordinated territorial-wide trauma healing strategy,a nd will her department commit to developing one that integrates Indigenous-led initiatives and community-based programs? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. Minister of Health and Social Services.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, myself as Minister, and I know the Premier, have had discussions during my time as a Cabinet Minister, and I think these discussions started prior to this government, working alongside and supporting the Endacho Healing Society on their work towards a trauma treatment centre in the Northwest Territories. And right now we are, you know, collaborating with them and the work that they are working to get -- you know, the funding that they need to do this through Indigenous Services Canada, and we will continue to work with them. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, does the Minister agree that establishing a dedicated, in-territory, Indigenous-led trauma healing lodge would strengthen the North's trauma continuum of care and reduce reliance on out-of-territory placement? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yes, this is one of our priorities of this government, that we all said that we needed and we wanted, and so that's why we are committed to working and moving this type of a project and supporting the Endacho Indigenous-led to being able to establish within the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister of Health and Social Services. Final supplementary. Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, given that the department currently funds out-of-territory trauma placements, will the Minister commit to funding in territory trauma treatment with equivalent service exits? And what is the concrete timeline for establishing a formal partnership with a northern Indigenous-led trauma healing lodge? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, our whole point of supporting this is to being able to utilize the services within the Northwest Territories. So, however, we continue to work through these to support them be established, and then those conversations and how we, you know, ensure that residents who are needing this, that we're able to support them through that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister of Health and Social Services. Oral questions. Member from Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So I have questions this morning for the Minister of the power Corporation, NTPC.

So we know we've experienced power outages, some lately, and these can be costly to households and businesses when it causes damage to equipment, appliances. So my first question to the Minister is are there any circumstances where NTPC or Naka Power would be liable to reimburse households or businesses for the cost of any damages to their equipment or appliances? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Yellowknife North. Minister responsible for NTPC.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, any payments on behalf of any utility, and in the case of Yellowknife it would be Naka most likely but they too would be subject to fairly standard terms and conditions, standard insofar as they're utilized across Canada. And in those circumstances, it would really be only, you know, if there was something rising to the point of negligence and not an outage that is unfortunately a run of course type of outage. But short of that, Mr. Speaker, there's not a provision under which the utilities pay customers back for surge damage that they may experience. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So is the Minister aware of how this practice would compare to standard practices from other utilities or governments in other parts of Canada in terms of funds or opportunities for people to be reimbursed for damages due to power outages? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And so, again, you know, I am cautious that I don't want to speak for Naka but certainly the NTPC and Naka's terms and conditions are, you know, I think fairly well known if not publicly posted on their websites, and they are, indeed, consistent with utilities across Canada. In speaking to the CEO of NTPC, I know there are quite a number of avenues where the utilities maintain contact with one another. And, lastly, Mr. Speaker, I would note that the public utilities board, for us, also provides oversight over all of those terms and conditions to maintain that consistency. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister responsible for NTPC. Final supplementary. Member from Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So does NTPC provide any fact sheets or information to residents to help them understand what -- or businesses, to help them understand what they can be doing to prevent damage to equipment or appliances such as various types of surge protection devices? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you, Mr. Speaker, I really appreciate that question. The customer service branch does send out various bill -- the little stuffers that can go out now and again when folks receive their power bills. At least, speaking on behalf of NTPC. I would expect that Naka likely does that as well. But I also expect that both utilities put a fair bit of information out on their websites, on their social media pages, and I will happily ask them to do that again now, particularly in the winter months when we are experiencing -- or at risk of experiencing more outages. Folks can look to what to do in a power outage and they'd find information, I know, on NTPC's website. I think BC Hydro has some good information. And I know I've looked, I think, at Hydro Quebec as well in the past for some of this type of information and would encourage people to have a look and to heed the advice. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister responsible for NTPC. Oral questions. Member from Inuvik Boot Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on February 9th, I gave a Member's statement on the Innovate Centre in Inuvik and the dire situation that it's in and requested that the Minister speak with the chair of Aurora College to look at continuing the funding.

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of ECE. I guess my first question is, is she aware that they've now been given notice that the funding will be done at the end of March and the Innovate Centre is to shut down maybe, Mr. Speaker, forever. Thank you.

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

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, certainly the Member has raised this in the House and in this building before, and it's certainly a huge loss to the community. I definitely always think that there are creative ways that we can look at futures of buildings and programs and see how they can evolve and that often requires a broad conversation with lots of people at the table so that we can make sure that we're being creative in future uses as well. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I wholeheartedly agree but similar to what happened with CLCs, it can happen so quick. What the centre is looking for, Mr. Speaker, is one-year funding, approximately $200,000, to continue and do that work that the Minister is talking about, to find new ways to kind of have the Innovate Centre amalgamate with the community. So what I am asking the Minister, can the Minister find a way to keep this centre open, to find that $200,000 to keep this centre open for another year to do the things that she's suggesting they do?

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there is not dollars within the education, culture and employment budget that have been dedicated to this purpose. There is, however, the SEED programming which does and has seen applications come through, for example, in order to hire and work with consultants on the evolution of businesses, and certainly a SEED application might be a space where some of those dollars can be discovered to really help plan for the next chapter and next phase of this program. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Final supplementary. Member from Inuvik Boot Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, I agree, but as the Minister knows, SEED funding does not cover core funding and it would be good for the governance, absolutely to get that, but this is a volunteer board. Can the Minister commit to once again bring this up with the chair of Aurora College -- I had asked for that back on February 9th -- to implore him to find a way to -- and the board, to keep this centre open for another year so they can find a way to keep it open forever. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I can certainly commit to discussing this with the chair of Aurora College board of governors. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in December, Burgundy Diamond Mines received a large enterprise tariff loan in the amount of $115 million, as we saw in the news. Mr. Speaker, was Cabinet -- oh and sorry, my questions are for the Government House Leader on this item.

Was Cabinet asked for their views on the $115 million loan and what should be done with it? Thank you.

Thank you, Member from Frame Lake. Mr. Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That's more properly addressed to the Minister of Finance so I would like her to answer that question. Thank you.

Minister of Finance.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the LETL loans are arm's-length from the federal government but it is administered or overseen by the Department of Finance for the federal government, and so that's what brings it to me.

Mr. Speaker, we certainly were aware that there was a request being made for the loan. I know there was outreach from the company. There was outreach from Indigenous development corporations. I don't know if any of them were asked their specifics, what -- we were certainly asked for information about the state of the economy, the state of tariffs, the impacts of tariffs on the economy, impacts of tariffs on mineral resources, and we certainly were, in that sense, following up quite clearly. But our input was not as to what the details of what the loan would be used for. I am not -- I think that would have been between the LETL entity and the company directly. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I think the Minister effectively just answered this question, but, Mr. Speaker, the news article on this mentioned that there's creditors to pay, severance payments to workers, local contractors. Did GNWT contribute in any way to any provisions requiring our northern workers and contractors are taken care of as part of the conditions on this loan? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And, again, Mr. Speaker, not necessarily in the context, again -- I mean, I didn't have any direct contact, nor do I recollect any of us having direct contact with that entity from the federal government. But certainly raising the fact and raising very clearly the fact that a sudden and unexpected closure would have pretty dramatic impacts on a number of employees here, would have a number -- would have impacts on our government, and would have impacts on development corporations who are quite deeply enmeshed in this industry right now, and certainly made that point quite clear, as I believe they were as well. And in that sense, the implication being, Mr. Speaker, that we are concerned, as we were when we offered relief in the spring. We're concerned about jobs in the North. We're concerned about contractors in the North. And we're concerned about procurement in the North. So I am confident that message was heard. Thank you.

Final supplementary. Member from Frame Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the Minister for those answers. Finally, Mr. Speaker, is funding for the independent environmental monitoring agency up to date, and was that considered in provisions in this loan as well? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is up to date, Mr. Speaker. Again, I don't know what specific details were discussed on the loan, but it is up to date and we are certainly monitoring ongoing. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister of Finance. Oral questions. Member from the Yellowknife Centre.