Please be seated. I'd like to thank Ms. Elias for the prayer. Ministers' statements. Minister responsible for Housing NWT.

Mr. Speaker, Members of this Legislative Assembly have spoken about the importance of repairing our existing social housing units. I want to assure Members and all Northerners that real, measurable progress is happening. Today I will highlight the work Housing NWT and local housing organizations have done over the past year in repairing and improving social housing units across the NWT.

Since the start of this fiscal year, 278 social housing units across the territory have received much-needed repairs through collaboration between Housing NWT, local housing organizations, and contractors. These repairs were supported with the GNWT's three-year $150 million funding commitment to replace and upgrade social housing units across the North. Units received repairs to structures, electrical systems, heating systems, plumbing and drainage systems and freeze protection systems. Regular repair work, including repairs to freeze protection systems, help protect buildings from severe weather and ensures residents have safe and reliable homes all through the winter. This protection is crucial in the NWT, where extreme cold, high winds and long winters place immense pressure on buildings. Not only does repair work and proper maintenance help extend the lifespan of our units, it also contributes to our tenants' overall safety and well-being.

A maintained home offers more than shelter; it provides a sense of security and peace of mind. Over the years, I have seen firsthand how access to a safe and healthy living space can transform lives. Individuals and families can focus on work and school, and elders can remain comfortably in their communities. A reliable, well-maintained home provides the stability people need to focus on their health and responsibilities.

Mr. Speaker,

• A total of 94 units were repaired in the Beaufort Delta this year, including upgrades to Kiglavik House for seniors in Tuktoyaktuk.
• Eight units were repaired in the Nahendeh, where our teams completed a full renovation following long-term occupancy of a social housing unit in Fort Simpson.
• In the North Slave, 25 units were repaired, including siding replacements at Bigelow Crescent in Yellowknife and exterior renovations at a four-plex in Whati.
• 49 units were repaired in the Sahtu, including complete renovation of four units in Norman Wells.
• 102 units were repaired in the South Slave, including boiler replacements at Whispering Willows and Riverview Lodge in Hay River.

In addition to these repair projects, Housing NWT also allocated $14.7 million this past fiscal year to support LHOs' maintenance activities across the NWT. To help accelerate repairs, in 2026 Housing NWT will pilot a trades team initiative, with regional trade professionals hired into the Beaufort Delta, Sahtu and the Nahendeh districts to support local housing organizations in repairs and maintenance and improve the quality of our housing assets for residents.

The GNWT's investments reduced the number of social housing units sitting empty due to repair needs, helping more families and individuals access safe housing sooner. This work also created steady employment opportunities and gained experience for apprentices, tradespeople, and local businesses.

With the support of over 40 journey-certified staff working with our local housing organizations, our apprenticeship program continues to provide up to 15 apprenticeship learning opportunities each year. I strongly encourage residents interested in trades to explore this program. It offers a path to becoming a skilled housing maintainer, plumber, carpenter or oil heat systems technician, right in your home community, while helping create safer and more sustainable homes for Northerners.

Housing NWT has been taking steps to better ensure maintenance activities are documented, reported, and acted on consistently and effectively. A capacity gap assessment for maintenance activities performed by LHOs was recently completed and a modernized maintenance management system has been implemented, with new training and online reporting tools available. Housing NWT is also partnering with the Department of Infrastructure to pilot a new condition assessment approach to rate and track conditions of our units in three different communities. Lastly, we are finalizing the evaluation framework for the social housing maintenance programs.

At Housing NWT, we remain committed to making full and effective use of the resources available to us and ensuring that as many units as possible are repaired and restored for families and individuals in need.

I want to thank the local housing organizations, contractors and trades teams who make this work possible. Their efforts create safe homes for the people who live in them. I look forward to seeing many more homes repaired by the end of this Legislative Assembly. Quyananni, Mr. Speaker.

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

Mr. Speaker, I would like to provide Members an update on the board governance structure and future opportunities for the Northwest Territories Power Corporation, or NTPC. The vision of NTPC is to enrich the lives of Northerners by providing power that supports living, working, and investing in the Northwest Territories. Strong, independent governance is an important part of delivering on that vision.

Mr. Speaker, this year marks an important step forward with the transition to a hybrid board of directors that includes seven independent Members from across the Northwest Territories, alongside two senior representatives of the Government of the Northwest Territories. This governance model balances local representation, diversity and expertise, with a whole of government perspective and is consistent with the priorities of this Assembly.

The Board is chaired by Judy Goucher of Hay River who brings with her, to the role, more than 15 years of experience as a senior utility executive in the NWT and ten years of experience in GNWT financial management, providing a balanced foundation for the governance responsibilities of a public utility. The independent members of the board come from communities across the territory and bring a broad mix of Indigenous, governance, public-sector, regulatory, and technical experience, informed by first-hand knowledge of northern energy systems, infrastructure, and the impacts of climate change in the North. Together, these perspectives strengthen oversight and support informed, long-term decision-making.

In 2025, the GNWT issued a direction letter to the new public board of directors for NTPC and NT Hydro. This letter provides clear policy direction from the GNWT as the sole shareholder, outlining priorities and expectations to ensure strategic oversight and effective governance.

Mr. Speaker, the board has completed an extensive onboarding process and is actively working with NTPC management preparing a response to the letter of direction issued by this government. This work reflects a clear focus on accountability, planning, and the responsibilities that come with governing a public utility on behalf of Northerners.

Energy is fundamental to daily life in the Northwest Territories and a key priority for this government. With aging infrastructure and the growing impacts of climate change, this area faces considerable challenges but also promising opportunities. Those opportunities lie in modernizing how we plan, invest, and make decisions about energy infrastructure in the North, in ways that reflect northern realities and support long-term affordability, reliability, and resilience. Working together will be critical to achieving these goals.

I met with the new board members when they were in Yellowknife for their onboarding. The Members expressed their appreciation for the appointments, acknowledged that NTPC has a critical role in the North's future economic growth, and conveyed their commitment to work with management to be responsive to our letter of direction. This governance structure provides a solid foundation as NTPC plans for the future and the new hybrid board is well positioned to provide effective oversight as NTPC continues its work to deliver reliable, affordable, and sustainable power for communities across the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister responsible for NTPC. Ministers' statements. Members' statements. Member from Range Lake.

Merci, Monsieur le President. [Translation] INSERT* [Translation Ends].

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to wish my eldest child and only daughter a happy 33rd birthday. Yes, Mr. Speaker, I am that old. Haley Rodgers, my daughter Hailey Rodgers, when we first moved to Inuvik, I think she was one years old when we went up there. Obviously grew up in Inuvik, went off to U of A, got her teaching degree, taught in Inuvik for six years, Mr. Speaker, and actually was a page in this House. I can't remember the Assembly when Mr. Roland was -- when Premier Roland. She now resides in Anchorage, Alaska. She resides there with her husband, Staff Sergeant Anthony Ross of the U.S. Air Force, and she has now just about completed her psychology degree which I am sure will come in handy once I retire. So I want to wish her the happiest of birthdays. A very proud father, obviously, and can't wait to see her this summer. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] INSERT* [Translation Ends] Mr. Speaker. On June the 8th, I had the privilege of joining Premier R.J. Simpson, Minister Cleveland, and Minister McKay on a visit to the community of Colville Lake where we met with Chief Shawn and the Council of Behdzi Ahda' Firstf Nation. This visit marked an important milestone for the community. Together we signed a work plan that sets out clear timelines and steps towards building a new junior kindergarten to grade 12 school in the community.

This work plan represents more than just a document, Mr. Speaker. It represents accountability, partnership, and a shared commitment between the Behdzi Ahda' First Nation and the Government of Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, our time in the community was focused on listening to priorities, strengthening relationships. The new school will be more than just a learning centre. It will serve as a community hub, supporting culture, language revitalization, and student well-being for generations to come.

On the interim, Mr. Speaker, I am extremely pleased to report that the Colville Lake School three modulars complex arrived in the community this morning. The journey took 650 kilometers under very challenging seasonal winter road conditions for dimensional loads; a big mahsi to the Department of Infrastructure and the transportation crew. This proves a united approach proves successful and contributes to achieving education under successful modern interior conditions. Mr. Speaker, this defines collaboration when governments work together with First Nations. When departments coordinate effectively, we achieve meaningful results. Later I will have questions to the appropriate Minister. Mahsi.

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

Mr. Speaker, as a former chief of the Yellowives Dene First Nation going back to the 1990s, I had the privilege of working with chief and council, a working committee that was made up of negotiators, lawyers, community members, and former leaders.

Alongside my colleagues, we worked to establish a resource development agreement with BHP Bilton Diavik Diamond Mines, De Beers, Gahcho Kue, and out of those agreements we got skilled miners, skilled tradesmen, and heavy equipment operators. Through these efforts, I have learned how challenging cultivating Indigenous-led mining economy can be, but also essential that work is to creating jobs, developing the skilled workforce, attracting investment, and opening business opportunities for our community members and developing corporations.

This week, I just learned that Winter Bailey, a member of Deninu Kue First Nation, has been honoured with the Indigenous Trailblazing Award for women in mining by Women in Mining Canada, celebrating the Prospector and Development Association of Canada Convention. I want to extend my congratulations to her for this award, and I have long admired the important work she has done.

Winter began her career on site in the mining industry and advanced into a leadership position with Diavik Diamond Mines, eventually becoming one of the first Indigenous women on Diavik management team. In her role, she has shared her expertise across Canada and the United States, South America, and Australia, building relationships with fostering collaboration with Indigenous communities and industry partners.

Trailblazer is a fitting word to describe her. She has forged a new path by building strong partnerships with Indigenous communities, negotiating and implementing long-term impact benefit agreements, ensuring high standards for training and establishing scholarships, apprenticeship programs that support northern residents entering mining and STEM careers. Her leadership sets a powerful precedence for future generations. Winter's work exemplifies what responsibilities community-focused mining can look like. She has advanced Indigenous participation, equity, and leadership while weaving traditional knowledge into the fabric of our northern economy. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my Member's statement. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. Our territory has a long and proud history of mining. As we navigate a low point in the economic cycle, we rely on incredible homegrown talent like Winter and the many individuals she's inspiring. Thanks to her vision and leadership and our communities are building on her examples, creating a strong foundation of Indigenous expertise. We must harness that talent to develop a thriving Indigenous-led mining economy for the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Mr. Speaker, I often stand up with lots of concerns about health care, but today I can say I am finally hopeful we are headed in the right direction, at least for primary care. We know that at least a quarter of Yellowknife's residents are not yet assigned to a primary care team, and so I've been asking for a clear pathway with resources to get everyone attached to a team. It's not as simple as just making the list of patients longer for each team. That could actually make things worse and take away appointment slots by piling more paperwork on the limited pool of existing practitioners. Now, we've finally got a commitment that a primary care workforce plan will be completed within the year so we can set out how many and what kinds of practitioners are needed on these teams. Now, I've been yammering on about a health care workforce plan for two years now so it's good to see it finally being done.

We have a commitment to make renewed efforts to fill all existing vacancies of nurse practitioners and community health nurses on primary care teams, including those on temporary leave, such as parental leave. And I know it can be difficult to backfill these, but it's crucial to maintain patient access.

We have a commitment to bring forward money in the May sitting to add more nurse practitioner and community health nurse positions to primary care teams where there's been chronic physician vacancies, and work will be prioritized to ensure that practitioners on the teams know exactly how they're supposed to work together with clear roles and workflows. Expanding the lab at Stanton to a 24/7 model will be a significant improvement for all NWT patients who need lab work done quickly in order to move forward with appropriate treatment. I am also hopeful that putting in place nurse case managers will be a big step in improving the medical travel experience and lowering stress and hassle, as well as saving the system money.

Ensuring that community health worker positions and home care positions are filled and properly supported, those individuals have the training they need and access to virtual supports and team supports I believe will be significant. Mr. Speaker, I ask for unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So in closing, together, these commitments are significant, and I finally feel confident telling my constituents, both practitioners and residents, that in the coming year, they will begin to see real improvements on the ground in health care. Thank you, Mr. Speaker

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier this week, I spoke to this government's difficulties advantaging bills in a timely manner which fall under our Intergovernmental Council protocol. I want to emphasize this is not the only area we struggle on legislative timelines or responsiveness, and I have a few theories as to why this is. One is what we are repeatedly being told by Cabinet which is that our government has limited capacity to draft or move legislation forward. I think we need to look further into that aspect of this issue and consider the significance of it to my next point, which is our government's apparent difficulty responding to emerging or specific issues. In this area, it's a bit of a mixed bag.

With Bill 15, our Assembly demonstrated an ability to act so quickly on an emerging issue that we passed a bill through all its stages in a matter of weeks. But on other issues raised by the public or MLAs, they have not been met with openness or responsiveness. In the follow-up to delivering our report on Bill 29, I spoke with firefighters who mentioned that they had been liaising with the WSCC and advocating for changes to bring the NWT in line with other jurisdictions on presumptive coverage for seven years prior to a Private Member's bill finally coming forward, not a government bill.

During review of Bill 26, another Private Member's bill, nurses presenting to committees cited decades of advocacy on the issue of establishing a labour relations board, which has only this year, in response to the pressure created by Bill 26, been proposed by the government to finally be resolved through legislation.

Mr. Speaker, there is a place for Private Member's bills when addressing very specific amendments or minor changes, but Private Member's bills are limited in their ability to address complex legislative change, issues which require a lot of input and expertise, or coordination with other jurisdictions. Furthermore, what does it say about the effectiveness of government if we have to increasingly rely on Private Member's bills to advance issues of public interest?

We have a unique form of government, and I think one of the arguable drawbacks of consensus is the government doesn't have as strong of an incentive structure to respond to public pressure. For that reason, I think we need to think more about how GNWT can improve its responsiveness as part of our ongoing cultural shift towards service orientation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Across the Northwest Territories, our families and our communities continue to feel the heavy impacts of alcohol misuse. We see it in the hurt that families carry, in the strain on our frontline workers, and in the weight our communities shoulder as they work to keep people safe.

Alcohol misuse affects every region of this territory, and it touches people from all walks of life. These harms are not numbers on a page; they are lived experience, shared stories, and generations of trying to heal. Communities have been asking for support and for change for a long time. That is why in March 2023, the Government of the Northwest Territories released its first alcohol strategy. It was built from conversations with leaders, service providers, and people with lived experience, and it laid out 15 actions meant to reduce harms through better prevention, safer communities, stronger supports, and coordinated actions.

The goal was clear, to have all actions completed by March 31st, 2028. But, Mr. Speaker, nearly three years later, I have not seen any updates on how this work is progressing. I know there is internal reporting, but that information has not been shared with the people who are directly affected, and while researchers have written about how the strategy was developed, there is nothing that tells us how things are changing today in our homes and in our communities.

Mr. Speaker, with just two years left before the 2028 target, people want to know what has been done, what is working and where more help is needed. Our residents deserve transparency in this important work. I will have questions for the Minister responsible for Health and Social Services on the progress of alcohol strategy so communities can see the path forward and be part of it. Thank you.

Thank you, Member from the Dehcho. Members' statements. Member from Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I want to talk about no fault insurance and the impacts it can have to improve lives of Northerners.

Mr. Speaker, it's a simple idea. It's an idea that can impact every Northerner who gets behind the wheel, whether it's a truck on the highway or a snow machine on the tundra. The idea is simply based on common sense. Right now, across the country we are seeing a shift. Jurisdictions are moving towards a no fault system, and they aren't doing it for the sake of bureaucracy; they're doing it for the sake of the people and the impact it has on them.

In the old system, when an accident happens the first question we ask is who can we blame. In a no fault system, we ask a better question, how can we help. Instead of waiting for a court date, getting your doctor, instead of getting lawyer's bills, you get income replacement. We're choosing rehabilitation over legalization and litigation, Mr. Speaker. Why aren't we thinking about ways of healing people over the necessity of useless paperwork?

Mr. Speaker, we can fix the system. This is about predictability. It's about knowing that your neighbours, whether downtown Lutselk'e or in Yellowknife, are treated with the same fairness you are. No guessing games, no fine print, Mr. Speaker, just transparency, consistency that treats every family with the dignity they deserve. And let's be clear about the bottom line.

When we cut out the endless back and forth of courtrooms and other types of processes, we save money but, more importantly, we also make sure that the premium dollars go to where they mostly belong. It's directly to the injured, Mr. Speaker, not the administrative loops that legal hoops cause and create legal fees. Mr. Speaker, we're looking for a process that helps to avoid conflict and ahead accepts or acknowledges compassion.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, the rest of Canada is modernizing this way ahead of the Northwest Territories. We cannot afford to stand by while the people that deserve the systems needs to step up built around efficiencies. They deserve the fairness and a system that takes care of them, because at the time of crisis the last thing you need to be doing is looking for a lawyer. We should be asking someone for help, and they should be there to help you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Yellowknife Centre. Members' statements.

Colleagues, this past weekend I had the opportunity to attend parts of the 60th Annual General Meeting of the NWT Association of Communities, including the awards banquet. I had the pleasure of witnessing an exciting milestone for the Northwest Territories, the first ever presentation of the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs' Community Excellence Award. This new award honours NWT communities that demonstrate excellence in areas aligned with MACA's mandate to support capable, accountable, and self-directed community governments that foster safe, sustainable, and healthy environments for residents.

Colleagues, the inaugural recipient of this prestigious award was the Nahanni Butte Dene Band. This designated authority delivers essential municipal services and programs while working tirelessly to ensure their community remains a strong, healthy, and vibrant home.

Since 2021, the Nahanni Butte Dene Band has undergone a remarkable organizational transformation, strengthening governance, building capacity, and implementing clear, transparent policies, and long-term planning processes. These efforts have resulted in 29 major infrastructure and planning projects, improving housing and community services, enhancing food security, cultural programming, and environmental stewardship. The Nahanni Butte Dene Band's achievements stand as a testament to the power of good leadership and community-driven vision.

Later that evening, I had the honour of watching Minister Semmler present the Healthy Communities Award. This award recognizes community-led initiatives that promote physical, mental, cultural, and social wellness across the Northwest Territories. It celebrates communities that make healthy living more accessible and sustainable for residents. Every one of the NWT's 33 communities plays a vital role in shaping wellness and is eligible for this recognition.

The Village of Fort Simpson nominated the Dehcho First Nations health and wellness division for their exceptional contributions. The division works closely with residents from nine communities across the Dehcho region to deliver programs grounded in local priorities and lived experience. Their initiatives include on-the-land healing, an Indigenous cooking program for diabetes, and the development of a traditional midwifery program. Staff also connect residents with traditional healers, food security supports, and foot care services, helping people access care close to home.

I would like to congratulate the Dehcho First Nations health and wellness division for their excellent work in supporting the health and well-being of Dehcho residents and the Nahanni Butte Band on receiving the first MACA Community Excellence Award. Thank you.

Members' statements. Member from Monfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I want to share the story of a little boy from the Tlicho region who brought a lot of love and light to the people around him. His name was Kevin Nitsiza Jr.

Kevin was brave and a true fighter. From the very beginning of his life, he lived with a rare and severe genetic condition known as MECP2 duplication syndrome. Doctors believed he would only have a short time to live, but Kevin kept fighting and proved them wrong, showing a strength and determination that inspired everyone around him.

To raise a child with that kind of fighting spirit takes strong and resilient parents. Mr. Speaker, Kevin Jr.'s parents, Ashley and Kevin Sr., showed that strength every day. They stood beside their son through every challenge, carrying responsibilities, and making sacrifices that very few of us can fully understand. For nine years, they poured their love, time, and care into Kevin's life, always fighting to give him the best they could.

On March 2nd, Kevin's brave fight came to an end, leaving a deep loss for his family and community. Mr. Speaker, I want to use this time to celebrate Kevin's story but also to give this Assembly an opportunity to reflect.

Kevin's story is truly inspiring, but it also reminds us of the difficult and often heartbreaking realities families face when caring for a child with complex needs. Kevin's family experienced that reality firsthand. They had to leave their home in Whati so Kevin could receive the medical care he needed. They had to leave behind the love and support of aunties, uncles, cousins, and extended family. They were denied access to low-income support, disability programs, and social housing, even though it was clear they needed help. Again and again, obstacles were placed in front of a family already carrying so much.

Mr. Speaker, these are failings of our systems and of our government. We must do more to protect our people, especially those who are vulnerable and who need it most. Families like Kevin shouldn't have to fight so desperately just to access the support their children need.

Mr. Speaker, before I close, it was also important to Kevin's family that the support of their community be recognized. They shared that the phrase, it takes a community to raise a child, felt especially true in Kevin's life. They want to acknowledge the family that stood beside them, a family that extends throughout the Tlicho region and includes so many people who cared for Kevin along the way. They also want to recognize the support of the Tlicho government and the schools he attended here in Yellowknife. He was enrolled in Wiilideh school.

When he was in school, 32 classmates were given an opportunity to play with Kevin ten minutes throughout the day. Kevin was a popular child in school. He will be missed and remembered by the teachers and students alike. When Kevin was able to attend school, those were some of his happiest moments. His family shared that those days brought out his biggest smile.

Kevin was never able to walk or run or do many things, many of the things most children do growing up but when he passed, his mother shared with me a beautiful vision. She said she saw Kevin run through the gates of heaven, free and full of joy. As he passed through those gates, he turned back with the biggest smile and thanked his parents and his community for the love and care that have filled his life.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Ashley and Kevin Jr., their family, and the community that loved Kevin so deeply. Mr. Speaker, today Kevin is being laid to rest but his spirit remains here with his family and loved ones. May he now run freely among the angels in heaven in joy and in peace. Masi, Mr. Speaker.

Our condolences go out to the family. And I had the pleasure of talking to the Member this morning about this, and she did a beautiful celebration of his life.

Members' statements. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member from the Sahtu.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It gives me great pleasure to recognize Modina Spears, the mother, and daughter, Aurora, who had left the Northwest Territories 21 years ago after being with Aurora's father, Angus Shea, a resident, a wonderful man and a kind man from Fort Good Hope. And in addition to the recognition, Mr. Speaker, Aurora is accompanied by her newly fiancee Kane Simpson who just shared their engagement vows in our great ice castle down in the old part of the community. So they traveled, Modina traveled from Alberta, and Aurora and Kane traveled from Abbotsford. Welcome home. Enjoy your stay in the North. Mahsi cho.

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member from Great Slave.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to recognize and welcome my constituent Kaiyer Brennan to the Assembly. He is here as a page this week. I know that all of the Members appreciate all of the pages, and I appreciate his time and efforts, and I hope he's learning about consensus government. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member from Range Lake.

Mahsi, [Translation] *INSERT [Translation Ends]

Member from Mackenzie Delta.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I'd like to recognize three pages from the community of Tsiigehtchic, Ms. Sydney VanLoon, Ms. Rose Blake, and Ms. Arianna Cardinal. I'd like to welcome you to the Assembly, and we appreciate the work that you've done this past week and thank you for your work. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. If we missed anyone in the gallery today, welcome to your chambers. Hope you enjoy the proceedings. It's always nice to see people in the gallery.

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Notices of motion. Motions. Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the motion I have here today is protection of transboundary water and the rights of Northerners.

WHEREAS water is essential to ecosystems and communities of the Northwest Territories;

AND WHEREAS water flows through interconnected watersheds that cross provincial and territorial borders, with Northwest Territories waters strongly affected by the conditions in neighbouring Alberta and British Columbia;

AND WHEREAS since 2023, hydrology updates confirm that many Northwest Territories rivers and lakes have experienced record low or wellbelow average water levels, reflecting severe and ongoing drought conditions;

AND WHEREAS upstream industrial development in Alberta's oil sands region relies on large volumes of water and uses extensive tailings pond systems;

AND WHEREAS in 2022-2023, tailings affected wastewater seeped at the Kearl oil sands mine in Alberta beyond the lease boundary and public notification was delayed for approximately nine months, prompting concerns among downstream users including communities in the Northwest Territories;

AND WHEREAS Alberta's Water Amendment Act 2025 merges the Peace-Slave and Athabasca basins and introduces new low risk inter-basin transfer pathways, changes that environmental and Indigenous organizations have warned may reduce oversight and heighten ecological and downstream risks;.

AND WHEREAS Alberta's Water Amendment Act 2025 proposes to allow the treatment and release of oil sands tailings despite the methods for treatment not being fully established and insufficient scientific evidence demonstrating that such actions can be conducted safely, potentially impacting downstream waters and watersheds in the Northwest Territories;

AND WHEREAS the Government of Canada and several provinces have adopted a "one project, one review" approach to streamline environmental and impact assessments, including formal cooperation agreements with New Brunswick and Ontario, which aims to reduce duplication but also shift greater reliance onto provincial assessment processes;

AND WHEREAS Indigenous leaders in the Northwest Territories have publicly raised concerns about inadequate consultation regarding Alberta's Water Amendment Act 2025 and the potential severe impacts on watersheds and downstream users;

AND WHEREAS section 35 of the Canadian Constitution 1982 recognizes and affirms existing Indigenous and treaty rights, including those under Treaty 8 and Treaty 11, which guarantee Indigenous peoples in the Northwest Territories the right to continue their traditional livelihoods, such as hunting, fishing, trapping, and gathering, which rely on the waters and ecosystems of the territory;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, second by the Member for Dehcho, that this Legislative Assembly calls on the Government of the Northwest Territories to formally oppose Alberta's Bill 7, Water Amendment Act 2025, and any upstream policies that could enable inter-basin transfers or basin mergers without robust science-based safeguards and full consideration of downstream impacts on the Northwest Territories;

AND FURTHER, that the Government of the Northwest Territories urge the Government of Canada to ensure that "one project, one review" agreements preserve strong, enforceable protections for water quality, aquatic ecosystems, and cumulative effects oversight, including in shared watersheds that affect the Northwest Territories;

AND FURTHERMORE, that the Government of the Northwest Territories ensure its transboundary water agreements allow for transparent, timely, and proactive notification and information sharing from Alberta and federal regulators regarding any incidents or releases with potential transboundary effects consistent with best practices learned from the Kearl tailings seepage events;

AND FURTHERMORE, that the Government of the Northwest Territories ensure that its transboundary water agreements allow for transparent, timely, and proactive notification and information sharing from Alberta and federal regulators regarding any proposed or actual treatment, discharge, or release of oil sands tailings with potential transboundary impacts;

AND FURTHERMORE, that the Government of the Northwest Territories reaffirms that First Nations, Inuit, and Metis peoples must be meaningfully consulted and involved consistent with their rights on decisions affecting shared waters and watershed governance;

AND FURTHERMORE, that the Government of the Northwest Territories strengthen and publicly communicate its ongoing hydrologic monitoring and drought reporting for the Northwest Territories, including clear summaries of conditions, drivers, and implications for communities and ecosystems;

AND FURTHERMORE, that the Government of the Northwest Territories respond to this motion in 120 days.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. To the motion. Member from Dehcho.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Water is life. This is something our elders have taught us for generations. It is something we know not just in our minds but in our hearts. Many of us grew up drinking directly from the Mackenzie River or any river in the North from the lakes, from the river and from the clear streams that nourished our families and sustained our communities. Some of our people still do today. That deep connection to the land and water is not a memory; it is a living part of who we are. It reminds us that we have a responsibility, a duty to protect our waters so the future generations can enjoy the same gifts we were given.

Mr. Speaker, every decision made in the upper Mackenzie River basin, whether in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan or the Yukon, flows down to us. The GNWT has clearly acknowledged this reality. The NWT is the ultimate downstream jurisdiction directly impacted by upstream water management decisions. When large-scale industrial activities such as oil and gas development, pulp and paper operations, and hydroelectric projects occur upstream, it is our waters, our ecosystems, and our people that bear the consequences.

Because of this, Mr. Speaker, we can't rely on hope alone to protect the safety and purity of our water. We must take action. Over the many years, the Government of the Northwest Territories has done just that through the negotiations of transboundary water agreements with upstream jurisdictions.

These agreements are rooted in the 1997 Mackenzie River Basin Transboundary Waters Master Agreement between Canada, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, the Yukon, and the Northwest Territories. This master agreement commits all parties to work cooperatively to protect the ecological integrity of the entire basin and to make decisions in a way that sustains the water resources for present and future generations.

Mr. Speaker, these agreements are not just technical documents. They are powerful tools, tools that affirm our right to clean water that recognize the importance of aquatic ecosystem health and that ensure upstream governments cannot unreasonably harm downstream jurisdictions like ours. Bilateral agreements with Alberta, British Columbia, and updated agreements with the Yukon set clear expectations for water quality.

Groundwater protection and ecosystem health, they require cooperation, information sharing, and joint stewardship. They give us a seat at the table so that decisions affecting our waters are not made without our knowledge or our voice. These agreements also recognize something fundamental, the central role of Indigenous peoples and Indigenous knowledge in protecting the land and water. The Mackenzie River Basin process and its bilateral agreements emphasize the importance of Indigenous participation, ensuring that traditional knowledge and community experience shape decisions that affect our shared waters. This is not only good practice; it is an expression of respect for the people who have cared for these lands since time immemorial.

Mr. Speaker, protecting our water is not just environmental policy. It is about the health of our families, the safety of our food source, the well-being of our communities, and the future of our culture. Water holds our stories, our history, and our responsibilities. It connects all of us, upstream and downstream alike. As legislators, we must continue strengthening our protections, holding upstream partners accountable, and ensuring that the commitments made in these important agreements are upheld. We must continue speaking for the water because the water cannot speak for itself, and we must always remember that the decisions we make today will shape the world our children and grandchildren inherit. For these reasons, Mr. Speaker, I fully support this motion and its goal of protecting the waters and the rights of the people of the Northwest Territories. Mahsi.

Thank you, Member from the Dehcho. To the motion. Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, at the heart of this motion is the health of our people. My communities face alarming high rates of cancer, chronic illness, illnesses that are forced our people to face serious challenges at an even younger age and take our elders from us too soon.

In the past year alone, as the MLA for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh I have contributed to over 20 funerals. And that is only a fraction of the loss our communities have endured. Countless others are battling cancer and serious illnesses, and my office works tirelessly to advocate for them and ensure their treaty rights to health are honoured. This is an experience I know I share with my colleagues who represents Indigenous communities because our people are far more likely to be affected by cancer and other serious illnesses.

These disparities in health and well-being of our people are stark examples of ongoing inequity of our community faces with Indigenous people experiencing these health risks at much higher rates than non-Indigenous populations. Our people spend much time on the land, sustaining ourselves directly from hunting, fishing, trapping, and we rely on these waters, on our ecosystems, which rely on these waters as well. When the land and water are sick, we are sick.

Here in Yellowknife, we live in the shadows of Giant Mine. The mine is a legacy of -- or, and painful reminder of how our authority, stewardship over land were taken from us, of how the government of the day gave industry a blank cheque to carelessly unleash harmful chemicals from arsenic to uranium, dumping them on our land and onto our waters and exposing our people to them for decades.

It is in our communities. We have lived on this land since time immemorial who bear the consequences. Undoing these policies, repairing the harm, and restoring the stewardship of the land is one of the greatest efforts of the reconciliation era.

I am proud to say that through our resilience, our advocacy, and our fight back, we are turning the tide. But there is still a long way to go. Through the advocacy of First Nations and Inuit, we are working to force government to uphold treaty rights and those treaties are promised, no interference in the mode of way of life.

Right now, there are transboundary agreements with Alberta to -- they monitor the water and uphold the interests of downstream communities. But, unfortunately, this agreement is without any co-management of our First Nation so instead our communities must rely on our government to protect us because we have no voice at this table. Unfortunately, this transboundary agreement is breaking down.

Most recently, an incident in Imperial Oil Kearl mine of north of Fort McMurray leaked contaminants, tailings, into surrounding watersheds and groundwater, at least 5.3 million litres of industrial wastewater that flowed into the forests, wetlands, and rivers, which feed directly into the Athabasca River. Despite this contamination being known by the company and Alberta energy regulators for months before it became public, neither the Government of the Northwest Territories nor affected Indigenous governments were formally notified as required.

Our government stated that they learned of the Kearl incident second hand from Indigenous governments or the media. Rather than our official Alberta notification, they described this as a serious failure to share information, a violation of the transboundary agreement communication provision which called for prompt and transparent exchange whenever shared waters could be affected. At the time, they also noted that the lack of transboundary around Kearl was not an isolated incident, pointing to a border -- ongoing pattern of information sharing issues with Alberta.

So what is our government doing about this given that the transboundary agreement has no teeth? So far, not enough.

The lack of consultation and the clear shortcoming in this agreement, no enforcement measurements to consequences is even more evident now that Alberta has introduced Bill 7 to amend the Water Act. This bill does two dangerous things.

First, it sets an objective to treat and release contaminated tailings ponds, ponds that in total are twice the size of the city of Vancouver. The science does not support the idea that these tailings can be treated safely. Once released, they will have immeasurable impacts on downstream communities, and Alberta has provided no clear explanation of how or why this will happen, only that panels will be appointed to get it done.

Second, the plan to merge water basins is in direct violation of our transboundary agreement. This will fundamentally alter the flow of balance of watersheds, affecting lakes, rivers, wetlands, and groundwater. It will degrade water quality and disrupt ecosystems that rely on seasonal flows, spawning cycles, temperature ranges, sediments levels, and oxygen levels.

All of this is being done without consultation with the Northwest Territories, without respecting our transboundary agreement, and with complete disregard for our treaty rights on health and our way of life.

When I speak of Alberta here, I am not talking about the people and certainly not the First Nation, many of whom are now taking the Alberta government to court. This decision are being made by the UCP government which has a long history of ignoring nation-to-nation relationships and giving industry unchecked power.

If we rewind the clock 20 years, when this transboundary agreement was being formed, the old PC government faced pressure from sectors of the oil industry that rejected the notion of consensus, accountability, environmental oversight, or Indigenous co-management. This led to the creation of the Wild Rose Party which spent a decade dismantling the PC regulations and calling for a radical degradation of the oil industry. Their leaders at the time, Daniel Smith, now Premier of Alberta, continues to prioritize her long-time donor, appointing them to oversight regulatory boards across the government. Now those donors want tailings ponds dumped immediately in violation of the agreement with water basins merge, and they are ignoring Alberta's bilateral commitments to our territory.

This is why, in this motion, I hope this Assembly speaks with one voice, sending a strong message that the government must uphold treaty rights, protect people and the ecosystem, defend the small, critical advances we made on environmental oversight, lead the way to national Indigenous co-management access across provincial and territorial jurisdictions.

At the federal level, big changes are happening. MOUs are being signed with Alberta. Regulatory processes are being streamlined and strategic industries expanded. Water, strategic resources, our rights are sacred. We need our government to speak up. Our government must protect our rights of our health and our waterways and ensure that we sit at the federal table as equal partners making our voices heard loud and clear. We must show leadership, uphold our treaty rights, and defend our people and our land. Alberta may have the rights to do what they want for their territory, but there's downstream communities. We have rights, and we need to make that clear. I hope my colleagues join me in sending this powerful message to Alberta and give our government the momentum they need to work harder. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. To the motion. Member from Frame Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'll be brief. I certainly can't find the words as eloquently as my colleagues have already illustrated, so I'm happy to stand here and support them and support the words that they've already shared. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Frame Lake. To the motion. Member from Great Slave.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I will also be brief. And I want to thank the mover and seconder of this motion. I spoke in depth to my feelings on this matter on February 26th, and I will let those comments stand, and I will support this motion. Thank you.

Thank you, Member from Great Slave. To the motion. Member from Mackenzie Delta.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will be brief too. You know, this fight has been going on for a long time. My Uncle Charlie Snowshoe, who has passed earlier, he is a great advocate of this protection of the water from Alberta and B.C. coming in downstream and would adversely affect our region way up in the northern part of Canada. So I too will be supporting this motion. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Mackenzie Delta. To the motion. Member from Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It was a very detailed, well thought out and passionate motion, Mr. Speaker. I can't imagine not supporting this. The fact is, in brief, could you imagine if you didn't have water to drink, what would you drink? We all know it's the essence of life. It sustains all our biodiversity, our ecosystems. It's simply down to the survival. It's hard to believe; it's that simple, the survival of who we are. The water has many meanings in many cultures, and I certainly think it has no less importance here in the Northwest Territories as it does anywhere else. But if you don't have water, you have nothing. So I'll be supporting this motion. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Yellowknife Centre. To the motion. Member from Range Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm pleased to stand in support of my colleague's motion. You know, I'm -- when I worked at the Yellowknives Dene First Nation, you know, I walked into the Chief Drygeese Centre and saw the motto every day As Long as the Sun Shines, the River Flows and the Grass Grows, so will the Treaty and the land and the people be sustained. And water is life, land is life, and doing what we can to protect it and ensure that the rights -- the treaty rights of Indigenous people are intact, especially in government to government relationships, in this case with the government of Alberta, are very important and part of reconciliation, and I thank the Member for bringing this forward. This is an important issue. I've heard about it, certainly, from Indigenous leadership, and the Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh is certainly someone I respect as a leader for these concerns in the Northwest Territories. And, again, I thank him for bringing it forward, and I will support it. Thank you.

Thank you, Member from Range Lake. To the motion. Member from the Sahtu.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I too will stand in support to this motion. As our elders have always said, and as previous speakers mentioned, water is life and water brings stability and health and goodwill to our communities. And I can't say any more than what was already said, Mr. Speaker. Mahsi cho.

Thank you, Member from the Sahtu. To the motion. Member from Monfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, this is important for NWT and the people. And like my colleague from Dehcho said, water is life, and we have heard many times from our elders, they said water is our father and it is important for our survival. So I will support this motion. Thank you.

Thank you, Member from Monfwi. To the motion. Member from Thebacha.

Mr. Speaker, as this motion makes a recommendation to government, Cabinet will be abstaining from the motion. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Thebacha. To the motion.

Question is called. Does the Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh wish to close debate.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I'd like to thank my colleagues on this very important issue. And, Mr. Speaker, I ask for a recorded vote. Thank you.

Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh has asked for a recorded vote. All those in favour, please stand.

All those opposed, please stand. All those abstaining, please stand.

Thank you. Colleagues, all those in favour, 11. Opposed, zero. Abstentions, seven. Motion is carried.

---Carried

Motions. Member from Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have two motions to read into the record. I'll obviously do one at a time. The first one is with respect to the Electoral Boundaries Commission. So, Mr. Speaker,

WHEREAS Tabled Document 483-20(1), 2025-2026 Electoral Boundaries Commission Final Report, has been tabled in this House;

AND WHEREAS the 2025-2026 Electoral Boundaries Commission Final Report requires detailed consideration;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the Honourable Member for Yellowknife South, that Tabled Document 483-20(1), 2025-2026 Electoral Boundaries Commission Final Report, be referred to Committee of the Whole for consideration. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Yellowknife Centre. To the motion.

Question has been called. All those in favour, please raise your hand. All those opposed, please raise your hand. All those abstaining, please raise your hand. Okay. Motion carried.

---Carried

Motions. Member from the Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My second motion is regarding the Legislative Assembly Compensation and Benefits Report.

WHEREAS Tabled Document 445-20(1), 2025 Review of Members of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly Compensation and Benefits Report, has been tabled in this House;.

AND WHEREAS the 2025 Review of Members of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly Compensation and Benefits Report requires detailed consideration;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife South, that Tabled Document 445-20(1), 2025 Review of Members of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly Compensation and Benefits Report, be referred to Committee of the Whole for consideration. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Yellowknife Centre. To the motion.

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? All those abstaining? Motion carried. Motions. Member for Monfwi.

I have two motions, Mr. Speaker, waiving of rent for elders in public housing unit, Mr. Speaker,

WHEREAS elders aged 65 and over living in public housing in the Northwest Territories often face financial hardship due to fixed incomes and rising costs of living;

AND WHEREAS the limited affordable housing options in the Northwest Territories disproportionately affect elders in smaller and remote communities;

AND WHEREAS elders contribute significantly to the cultural, social, and community fabric of the Northwest Territories and deserve dignity and security in their housing;

AND WHEREAS elders play a vital role in preserving Indigenous languages, culture, and traditions, and ensuring their well-being strengthens communities;

AND WHEREAS housing insecurity among elders can lead to negative health outcomes and increased reliance on health and social services;.

AND WHEREAS waiving rent for elders in public housing would reduce poverty, improve health outcomes, and support aging in place;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the Member for Dehcho, that this Legislative Assembly calls upon the Government of the Northwest Territories to implement a policy to waive rent for all elders aged 65 and over residing in public housing units as soon as administratively feasible;

AND FURTHERMORE, that the Government of the Northwest Territories respond to this motion in 120 days.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Monfwi. To the motion. Member from the Dehcho.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Colleagues, I want to voice my strong support for this motion calling on the government to implement a policy to waive rent for all elders aged 65 and over residing in public housing. This is not simply a matter of financial relief. It is a matter of dignity, equity, and respect for those who have built and continue to sustain our communities.

Across the Northwest Territories, elders living on fixed incomes face increasing financial pressures. The rising cost of food, fuel, utilities, essential goods, place an ever-growing burden on those least able to absorb it. For many elders, every dollar is already stretched to its limit. When rent becomes one of the most significant monthly expenses, the result is hardship; hardship that no elder in our territory should experience especially after a lifetime of contributing to the well-being of their families, communities, and cultures.

This issue is even more pronounced in our smaller and remote communities where affordable housing options are extremely limited. Elders in these regions often face higher costs of living and fewer economic opportunities, intensifying the strain. Housing should not be a source of insecurity for the knowledge-keepers, language-holders, and cultural leaders who play such vital roles in the life of Northwest Territories.

Elders are central to preserving Indigenous language, cultural practices, and community identity. When elders thrive, communities thrive. Ensuring stable and secure housing for elders supports healthy aging in place, allows them to remain in their home communities, and strengthens intergenerational ties that are fundamental to cultural continuity.

There are also clear social and health benefits. Housing insecurity is linked to poor health outcomes and greater reliance on health and social services. By waiving rent for elders in public housing, the government would reduce poverty, reduce stress, and promote better physical and mental health measures that would likely reduce pressure on government systems in the long run.

Rent waivers are not merely a financial policy. They are an investment in community strength and cultural resilience. They honour the contributions of elders that elders have made throughout their lives and acknowledge the responsibility we carry to ensure they are cared for with the respect they deserve.

For these reasons, I urge the members to support this motion. Let us act decisively to ensure that elders aged 65 and over living in public housing can live with dignity, security, and peace of mind. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from the Dehcho. To the motion. Member from Monfwi.

I want to say thank you to my colleague from Dehcho.

Mr. Speaker, across the Northwest Territories, many elders who reside in public housing are facing increasing financial hardship. With fixed incomes and continuously rising cost of living, even modest increases in expenses can push elders into difficult choices between essentials like food, heat, medication, and housing.

Mr. Speaker, these challenges are felt most acutely in our smaller and remote communities where affordable housing options are limited and the cost of living is even higher. For many elders, public housing is not just a place to live; it is the only viable option available to them.

We must remember that elders are the heart of our communities. They are the keepers of our languages, our knowledge, and our traditions. Their contributions -- cultural, social and emotional -- enrich the Northwest Territories in ways that cannot be measured in dollars. Ensuring their well-being is not only an obligation, it strengthens families, communities and the continuity of culture for future generations.

Housing insecurity among elders is not just a housing issue. It has direct impact on health, increasing pressures on our health care and social systems. By waiving rent for elders in public housing, we can reduce poverty, improve health outcomes, and support elders to age in place with dignity.

Mr. Speaker, through this motion we are expressing a clear expectation that elders should no longer face financial strain simply to maintain a safe and stable home. It urges the government to take meaningful action to eliminate rental costs for elders in public housing, ensuring they can age in their communities with dignity, security, and the respect they deserve. I urge all Members to support this motion and reaffirm our commitment to honouring and protecting our elders. Masi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Monfwi. To the motion. Member from Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will be voting in favour of this motion. I like the spirit and intent of it. If anything, I have based my career on -- a lot of it was supporting seniors and elders, and any way to make their life better is certainly an issue, you know, I will take on, a fight I'll take on anytime. I have not forgotten the journey of those who have come before us, and to me it's an important story of their life that we must make sure that the winter of their life is not as burdened as much as possible.

As this is a public housing issue, I'm also worried -- and it gives us a chance to do some evaluation with respect to it, cost it out. And often I've thought about the issue whereas in it's just a shell game, you know. For example, housing or maybe health is paying the rent -- sorry, my apologies, income support is paying the rent of housing, which is just a government shell game, taking one money from one pocket and moving it into the next. And I don't see any true efficiency of that. It's like once people are assessed, you know, maybe that's when you say okay, they've been fully assessed at this time. So we need to stop doing this process. All we're doing is making work and making paperwork, and that's certainly not efficient. This process could actually help define and save government money in the long run.

So in short, Mr. Speaker, I'll be supporting this motion. I would like to know some details further along the lines when the government does its evaluation for implementation because I'm confident they'll see the wisdom of this motion.

And, lastly, I want to thank the Member for Monfwi. She continues to be an ardent champion on supporting elders as well, and I must acknowledge her strong will and the voice of her peoples. So I cannot imagine not helping carry some of that voice and passion with her. Thank you.

Thank you, Member from Yellowknife Centre. To the motion. Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Yeah, thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise as well to give support to this motion. I just want to just reflect back to the 19th Assembly when we had a social development committee that travelled to Behchoko and to talk about housing in that community. And I recall we had an elder that came to that meeting, and it was very touching because that elder lived in public housing but his senior income from his pension was about 80 percent garnished and he got $20 a month, and that's very disturbing, all because the NWT Financial Act talks about that. So that Act needs to be updated in line with UNDRIP.

But, Mr. Speaker, as we get claims done and self-government agreements done, similar to what's going on in Behchoko, you know, our elders are the ones that are, I guess, teaching us right from as we're growing up. And I was raised by an elder too, like, my grandparents. And it's very important that -- you know, that these homes that they're talking about that -- that I really support this motion because it brings a lot of memories to them in these homes. But I've got to think back to as well that in 2038, Housing NWT is also going to be -- their agreements with CMHC are going to come to an end. And what becomes after 2038? What becomes of all the housing assets, the liabilities? All that needs to get sorted out. So it makes only good sense that we start looking at this and look at ways to liquidate these assets, even if they're old. I'm sure that we could figure that out at the community level. So, Mr. Speaker, I do support this motion. Thank you.

Thank you, Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. To the motion. Member from the Sahtu.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I too will support this motion. I've had tea and bannock with a number of elders throughout the communities that I represent and talked to the elders in some other communities, and I don't think we should be treating our elders in their golden years of their journey but be there to ease the tension as we all know the cost of living is so high in all our communities, they're really extremely battling the hardships of stretching their dollar values and still being there for their children, their grandchildren, who is always requesting some money assistance for their toys or whatever the children want or request at the time. So that's just part and part of a parcel of my efforts to show support for our elderly community. Thank you.

Thank you, Member from the Sahtu. To the motion. Member from Thebacha.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as this motion makes a recommendation to government, Cabinet will be abstaining from the motion. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Thebacha. To the motion. Member from Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So first I want to say I really appreciate the intent of this motion. My colleagues have spoken to the financial hardship that many elders experience, and I agree that it seems that even though we have housing subsidies and we have income support that those things don't necessarily have appropriate thresholds and that we may be still demanding too much rent, for example, from people who are in demonstrated financial need so it is a significant hardship on them.

My colleagues also mentioned that it may be the case that elders who may not be in such financial hardship or need may not have other options in a community except to live in public housing and that also speaks to the need for us to create more housing options in communities that are appropriate for people both in varying levels of financial need but also in need of various kinds of supports, and we need that fuller spectrum or range of housing options.

And I think my colleagues also spoke to the fact that there's a different motivation besides solely financial hardship driving a request like this that even if a person -- if an elder is not necessarily in need that we want to have a way to show our appreciation for them and what they've contributed throughout their entire lives, to their families to their communities, and I think we often -- or the government often forgets about that side of things. I think we focus solely on, you know, demonstrate your financial need and and that's that's the only or main factor in our financial support programs. And I think if if we take that desire seriously, that part of these support programs is to show our appreciation and support for people and what they've done, it would create a different angle and an approach both to income support and public housing but I think we need to contemplate more fully, it's not cut and dry, but I think something we need to think about more seriously.

I would certainly be interested to hear back from the government in terms of what would be the financial implications of a policy change like this, but I think it's it's worth having this conversation, it's worth getting a response back from government, getting more information so we can explore this, so I will be supporting the motion. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Yellowknife North. To the motion. Member from Frame Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker I'm going to be brief and do my level best to not repeat what's already been said. So appreciate the comments by the Member for Yellowknife North and want to echo some of those. Mr. Speaker, I think that, you know, I've spoken a bit during this session -- this sitting, sorry, about turndown thresholds and how they affect our ability to effectively provide social supports, and I think that's a relevant part of this conversation. And you know, the availability of housing is another big one. You know, we just received the housing needs assessment and as the Member for Yellowknife North just pointed out, you know, the need is great. It also pointed out that the need amongst Indigenous people in particular is higher than that in our remote communities; we have a lot of housing need. And so that lack of availability is a significant contributor to this issue, and so I think -- I'm happy to support the motion. I think it's worth noting that, you know, where we can incorporate income testing into our programs to ensure that we are helping the people with most need is really important and so I am interested in hearing the government's response to this, hearing how the government is changing the way it is approaching this issue and listening to the voices of our Indigenous Members that speak so well to the issues that they see in their communities and how we are, you know, constantly on the journey of decolonizing our government. And so I am very curious to hear the response to this and how the government wants to approach it. I know that it is very difficult for us to help everyone as much as we want to but that doesn't negate the need for thinking how we can do things better, how we can do things more efficiently, and how we can deliver programming in an effective way and thinking more about how our government can be service-oriented as opposed to mired in process as it often feels like we are. So anything that we can do to address those issues I hope can be seen in the response to this motion.

And, you know, I just want to say again I was very very impressed with what was in the housing needs assessment and very impressed with some of the innovative work that I see our housing department doing and hope that addressing this motion can become a part of that as well, so. I am supportive of the motion and appreciate the Member from Monfwi bringing it forward. Thank you.

Thank you, Member from Frame Lake. To the motion. Member from Great Slave.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I also too want to thank the Member for Monfwi for bringing this forward. Not too long ago, she and I spoke after a long day and talked a lot about elders and folks with disability, and so I do also want to tie this back to my statement earlier this week that certain issues that no longer have Ministers responsible for that portfolio, one being seniors and elders and the other being disability, are issues we still need to really drill down into, Mr. Speaker, and I really appreciate the Member for Monfwi for being that tireless advocate.

I do believe that the mover and the Minister responsible for Housing NWT have been doing some really good work together, have been having really good positive conversations. We've seen that now with some of the programs that have been announced this past week, and I think there's more good work to be done ahead, and so I look forward to the government response to explore and understand and cost out and to develop a good way forward on the intent of this motion. So thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Great Slave. To the motion. Member from Range Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I too will be supporting this motion, not only do I, you know, have parents who are elders themselves but elders are the foundation of our communities and the cultural fabric that holds the North together. And, Mr. Speaker, if there's anything we could do to make the North more affordable for everyday people, then it's an issue that I am going to support, and this motion is calling exactly for that. It's addressing a policy that can be changed in order to make things just a little bit easier for people who have given so much to our communities and it's a no-brainer, in my mind. The only thing I'd say is the government response here is going to be important because the motion does say as soon as administratively feasible. And I would hate for the government to come back and say well, until -- once we have the money we'll do it and we'll never have the money because there's too many priorities. So I really will encourage in the response that does come that there is an actual effort put into finding a way to do this in a realistic way that can benefit the lives of seniors and elders living in the Northwest Territories. So I look forward to that response as to my colleagues -- as colleagues have mentioned, and I thank the mover for her tireless advocacy for seniors and elders in the Northwest Territories. And I will be supporting it. Thank you.

Thank you, Member from Range Lake. To the motion.

Question has been called. Member from Monfwi, do you wish to conclude debate?

I want to say thank you to, like to all the colleagues here, to Dehcho for seconding the motions and to all my colleagues here, the Regular MLAs for speaking in favour of the motion. You know, this motion is really important for many of our elder senior citizens living on fixed incomes. The struggles are real especially in small remote communities, so I know in many of the small communities where elders are paying rent from $75 to $400. That's in my region. But what about the communities further up North? Maybe they're paying more than that but I'm not sure. But so this will really help and alleviate some of the financial stress that the elders are going through. And, you know, speaking about that, seniors, because of their grown children, they were not on the lease and they were employed, they are still stuck with that arrears. Just like my colleague from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh mentioned, that elders, one of my elders are getting garnisheed, his pension is getting garnished. So this will really help a lot of our elders to enjoy their golden years. Thank you.

Thank you, Member from Monfwi.

Mr. Speaker, I ask for a recorded vote.

The Member for Monfwi has asked for a recorded vote. All those, please stand.

All those opposed, please stand. All those abstaining, please stand.

Thank you, colleagues. All in favour, 11. Opposed, zero. Abstentions, seven. Motion has carried.

---Carried

Colleagues, being cognitive of the time and realizing that the next motion is going to take more than 19 minutes, I am going to give us a break. Thank you.

---SHORT RECESS

Motions. Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

WHEREAS section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982 recognizes and affirms existing Indigenous and treaty rights, and the Government of the Northwest Territories, as an agent of the Crown, has a fiduciary obligation to respect these rights, including ensuring timely and equitable access to health services and treatment as recognized under constitutionally entrenched treaties, including Treaty 8 and 11;

AND WHEREAS many residents of the Northwest Territories, including treaty beneficiaries, experience limited access to timely appointments, diagnostics, and surgical services for services available in the territory, leading some to seek necessary care outside the territory;

AND WHEREAS residents, including treaty beneficiaries, who travel outside the territory to receive necessary care on time do so without support from medical travel, creating financial barriers that may constitute discrimination in publicly-funded health services, contrary to the treaties that affirm the right of Indigenous peoples to access care irrespective of territorial or provincial borders;

AND WHEREAS current medical travel policies, which administer non-insured health benefits (NIHB) to Status First Nations people, do not provide escorts for residents requiring medical evacuation outside the territory;

AND WHEREAS residents, including treaty beneficiaries, are therefore required, in medical ambulance situations, to pay out-of-pocket to serve as escorts for patients being medically evacuated from the territory to receive care, incurring significant costs despite treaty rights that extend irrespective of territorial boundaries;

AND WHEREAS Status First Nations who rely on non-insured health benefits for transportation benefits apply through medical travel, which must obtain federal approval before travel can be authorized, yet appeals of denials are not processed through medical travel;

AND WHEREAS the requirement for medical travel to obtain federal approval, combined with the fact that appeals of denials are not handled by medical travel, creates additional administrative barriers and slower response times for Status First Nations compared to other residents;

AND WHEREAS the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada Calls to Action 18-24 call upon governments to close gaps in health outcomes for Indigenous peoples and recognize their distinct health rights, and the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Calls for Justice identify equitable, barrier-free access to health services as essential to the safety, dignity, and human rights of Indigenous women and girls;

AND WHEREAS the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples affirms the right of Indigenous peoples to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, and requires governments to take effective measures to ensure access to health services without discrimination;

AND WHEREAS the Government of the Northwest Territories United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Implementation Act requires territorial laws and policies, including health policies, to be developed in collaboration with Indigenous peoples and in a manner consistent with section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982;

AND WHEREAS the Legislative Assembly adopted Motion 49-20(1) on March 6, 2025, calling on the Government of the Northwest Territories to establish compassionate support for patients transported via emergency ground or air ambulance;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the Member for Monfwi, that the Legislative Assembly calls upon the Government of the Northwest Territories to strengthen the medical travel policy by establishing a rapid-response emergency support mechanism, including a contingency fund, to provide interim approval and funding for medical travel escorts in extraordinary circumstances while awaiting federal NIHB decisions, where delays risk undermining patient safety, continuity of care, or the exercise of Indigenous peoples' rights to access health services beyond territorial borders as per recognized treaty obligations;

AND FURTHER, that the Government of the Northwest Territories build greater flexibility into medical travel determinations of whether in-territory care is "reasonably available," explicitly considering significant diagnostic, surgical, and treatment wait times;

AND FURTHERMORE, that the Government of the Northwest Territories implement a compassionate medical evacuation policy with all reasonable speed so that medivac supports complement and integrate with the medical travel policy, including guarantees for patient escorts where needed;

AND FURTHERMORE, that the Government of the Northwest Territories ensure that all amendments to the medical travel policy are made in accordance with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Implementation Act, consistent with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous peoples, and in a manner that respects and upholds Indigenous and treaty rights recognized and affirmed under section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982.

AND FURTHERMORE, that the Government of the Northwest Territories respond to this motion within 120 days.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. To the motion. Member for Monfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I do support this motion. You know, when we're traveling -- this is what our elders always say. When we are traveling, when we travel or go south or wherever we're going, you know, they always say, pray to have a good, safe travel, you know, that we're all going to come home safely. And that's the advice that elders, they always give us and they give it to the young people. And, you know, when we're traveling, nobody wants to get sick. So this is where medical travel denies people who are already on the road trip. And it's beyond our control. So that even when people are traveling, you know, they're already traveling already but they are limited with cash already. And because it's not going through -- they're there already so they're not going to be eligible for medical travel. So that's why we're asking that the system, to strengthen the systems, to allow people who are already traveling too. Because, you know, medical travel, many families are traumatized by the medical travel funding, especially for escorts. People are having a hard time finding medical escorts in many of the small communities because they are always saying, I don't have any money. We don't have enough money. And it comes down to that. There is funds in place but it's not enough.

You know, finding a medical travel should not be an issue, but it's becoming an issue for many of the smaller communities. But when people are already traveling and they're down south or wherever they're at, you know, and I know I heard the Minister say something about travel insurance. Well, in some cases, you know, on the emergency base, how are some of -- you know, people travel at the last minute. They don't have time to get travel insurance. And where do they go? How do they get the travel insurance?

So all of these things, due to technology, due to lack of services, we don't have access to lots of programming services, especially in small communities, so. Because for all the reasons, I do support the medical travel motion presented by my colleague from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. Thank you.

Thank you, Member from monfwi. To the motion. Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Before I speak directly to my motion, I want to start by reminding this House and our government that our treaty rights are symbolic. They are recognized and affirmed in the Canadian Constitution of Canada. And section 35, again, the Constitution Act states that the aboriginal and treaty rights of the aboriginal people of Canada are hereby recognized and affirmed.

And further affirms the aboriginal people include First Nation, Inuit, and Metis peoples of Canada. And that treaty rights include those that exist through historic treaties and modern agreements. These rights are not optional. They are not imaginary. They are a constitutional obligation.

We must also remember that what the Crown itself promised when treaty was signed in 1900, the Crown stated that supplies of medicine would be placed in charge of a person selected by government at a different point and distributed for free to those Indians who might require them.

The Crown acknowledged that it would be difficult to provide physicians across such vast territory, but it will promise that the government will always take opportunities to provide medical services to those in need. Those promises did not appear over time.

They did not end with the passing of a generation.

Through the Indian Act and the creation of the Government of Northwest Territories, responsibilities for delivering services were delegated. But the Crown obligation to treaty people remained.

That means that the GNWT is part of the Crown governance in this territory and has a foundational obligation to uphold Treaty 11 rights, including the rights to access care and medicine.

And we all swore an oath in this Assembly to honour and respect the treaty signed with Indigenous people and to serve the people of the Northwest Territories faithfully. Our own Assembly priorities recognize the responsibility that commit us to improving access to health care, addressing trauma, and working in true collaboration with Indigenous governments.

And the Premier's mandate letters are clear. Ministers are directed to advance reconciliation and good governance by implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People, advancing Indigenous rights agreements, implementing the Truth and Reconciliation Call to Actions, and working in partnership with Indigenous governments while maintaining openness, transparency, and accountability.

Mr. Speaker, those commitments must mean something in practice, because the reality facing our communities today is a growing health care crisis. I will be brief to you on the provision of this motion, because I have spoken at great lengths through this session about upholding our treaty rights to health. And my perspective and the perspective of my communities is already clear. But I brought this motion forward because our people are getting sicker and the government is not reacting. Preventative care is failing.

People cannot access service in time. Conditions worsen until emergencies occur. Then our people are flown south for treatment. And when that happens, their treaty rights to health, regardless of jurisdiction boundaries, is not being honoured by this government. This is not the fault of our frontline workers. Our doctors and nurses and health professionals, from our hospitals to our communities' healthcare centres, are doing extraordinary work under very difficult circumstances but the resources that are given are inadequate. The policies that govern access to health care are broken.

The Minister may want to frame this issue in affecting all residents, and she is right to do so.

Because this crisis is not limited to Indigenous people. It's affecting every community across the North. Today, there was a story on CBC about seniors whose family had to pay thousands of dollars out-of-pocket just to be by her side while she was incapacitated and close to death.

Mr. Speaker, this is heartbreaking. Where were her rights under the Canada Health Act blocked behind broken policies, just like my people's sacred treaty rights? This is what my constituents face all the time. Having to beg for escort with their flown to Edmonton or Calgary while incapacitated and facing serious surgeries is undignified. Our people need their loved ones by their side to understand treatment plans, to advocate for them, and someone to make end-of-life decisions. In our Indigenous culture, when someone is sick we stand beside them. We do not leave them alone in hospital rooms to be checked on once an hour. That might keep someone alive but does not respect our people's honour of our treaty rights. If we invest properly in primary care and prevention, maybe we would not be spending so much on emergency medical travel to begin with. Instead, more and more people are leaving the territory, even for services that technically exist here because wait times are unacceptable.

Treaty beneficiaries have rights everywhere. Those rights do not stop at the Alberta border. But this government is placing bureaucratic barriers between people and their rights simply to preserve jurisdictional authority, and it is causing real harm.

People are paying out of pocket for care without support from their own government. There must be flexibility in recognizing that our system is not meeting the people's needs.

And this motion addresses another problem, non-insured health benefit, NIHB. Too often, my constituents are flown out on a Friday by medical air ambulance but NIHB cannot process escort approvals until Monday or Tuesday. That means families either wait helplessly or pay thousands of dollars out of pocket with no guarantee of being reimbursed fully. This is unacceptable.

The solution is straightforward. The GNWT establish an emergency contingency with a medical travel budget to approve weekend escort travel for Treaty 8 and Treaty 11 beneficiaries when NIHB approvals were delayed. The government could then seek full reimbursement from NIHB afterwards. This would allow people to access care immediately without forcing families to financial hardship. Mr. Speaker, there is a consensus in this Assembly that solutions like this are needed. Look to our previous motion: We keep calling for action and action has yet to be taken and that consensus is not a design of us Members. This consensus comes directly from the needs of our communities. So I believe this motion gives the government another opportunity. The Minister can introduce greater flexibility for out-of-territory care. The government can't temporarily cover escort travel costs while NIHB approvals are pending.

And we can begin to honour both public health care obligations and treaty rights to health care.

So I ask my colleagues to stand in support of this motion and help make the Assembly work for our people, uphold our rights, and create healthy communities and government policies which are there for people when they need it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. To the motion. Member from Range Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you to the mover and seconder for bringing this motion forward. Medical travel is a huge issue in the Northwest Territories, and as our primary care system continues to face challenges, medical travel becomes all the more common and not just for small communities but for Yellowknife as well.

In my previous term as an MLA, I dealt with, I'd say, a handful of medical travel issues over the course of four years. Now I deal with them, if not weekly, you know, multiple times a week. It is an incredible volume of concern coming forward, and often it is the gaps that we're talking about that the policies don't address.

Now in this case in particular, this motion is very important because it speaks to something that the mover has spoken very passionately about, which is treaty rights. And, Mr. Speaker, we are all treaty people, and in this House we are sworn to uphold those treaties. And when there is a question that those treaties are not being given the fullness of attention that they deserve to be carried out in more than spirit but in reality, then we must confront that directly and ensure that they are. And this motion gives clear advice to government on how to do that.

It is the second time a compassionate medical travel policy has been called for in this House. I hope this motion passes as well. I don't know how many motions it will take, how many budget discussions, how many questions on the floor, until we get one. But the longer we don't have policies like this, the longer we don't have special contingency funds to support treaty people, the more people are going to suffer when their loved ones are in desperate situations. And that's who we're here to help. We're here to help working people, treaty people, people who are our most vulnerable when they're at their lowest point. And that is why I support this motion and that is why these motions are so important.

And I hope this government is listening, because they haven't been so far.

And it takes media stories, motions on the floor, it takes everything, and yet nothing moves. So I sure hope this is the one that kicks in and we start seeing some progress. Because I am getting tired of saying the same thing when the answer is so clearly in front of our eyes: Help the people who need it the most. When loved ones are in hospital, fly their loved ones down there to be there to support them. It's what doctors advise. And it is what the Member is calling for as a treaty right as well. And I am going to defer to his judgment on that. He's a treaty expert, Mr. Speaker. So I hope this motion does carry. I hope it results in real change. Because if we are continuing on this path, then every sitting there will be a new compassionate medical travel motion. Every time money is spent, it will come up.

Every time there's an opportunity to ask questions, it will come up again. And it won't stop until it changes. So change it. Very simple, do what the motion says. Help people who need it the most. Help working people. Help treaty people. Now is the time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Range Lake. To the motion. Member from Mackenzie Delta.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I too will be supporting this motion. I dealt with personal issues in regards to medical travel. At one time my granddaughter was on life support, and her mother couldn't fly down on the same plane with her, so she had to go down a day later. But what if my granddaughter didn't make it at the time? It's because of policies that we have to go through.

And there was another instance where my niece was in a coma for about a month, and the whole family was fortunate that they had the financial resources to go down. But the majority of the Northwest Territories residents don't have that opportunity or advantage of having financial resources available to be with their loved ones and have to see them go down on their own. So it is important that for the well-being of our residents, the mental well-being, it's stressful when you have to see your loved one going on a plane and you can't be with them, or if they're down in southern Canada already. So it is important that we uphold these treaty rights and obligate them and make life easier for the residents of the Northwest Territories. So I will be supporting this motion. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.