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.