Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Member snuck one by there, switching topics for the second question. But we're back on track now. The mandate letters are public. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Debates of March 5th, 2026
This is page numbers of the Hansard for the 20th Assembly, 1st Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was know.
Topics
Question 1180-20(1): Promoting Population Growth
Oral Questions
March 5th
Question 1180-20(1): Promoting Population Growth
Oral Questions
March 5th
The Speaker Shane Thompson
Thank you. Member from the Yellowknife Centre, your time is up for those questions. Oral questions. Member from Range Lake.
Question 1181-20(1): Land Tenure Applications
Oral Questions
March 5th
Kieron Testart Range Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I was quite taken with the Premier's comments about land access, amongst other things. Yellowknife is the best place to live on earth. And speaking to that, we need to grow Yellowknife. So I'd like to know from the Minister of Environment and Climate Change -- we often talk about this, memorandum of agreement with the City of Yellowknife on land tenure issues. So I'd like to ask the Minister today, because we've never delved into it, how does the MO -- how much shorter will timelines be because of this MOA? How does the MOA shorten timelines for land tenure applications? Thank you.
Question 1181-20(1): Land Tenure Applications
Oral Questions
March 5th
The Speaker Shane Thompson
Thank you, Member from Range Lake. Minister of Environment and Climate Change.
Question 1181-20(1): Land Tenure Applications
Oral Questions
March 5th
Jay MacDonald Thebacha
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think the key -- one of the key positives of the MOU is the ability to communicate with the City of Yellowknife. We've had very good communications at our officials level. The city is bringing forward their asks and what they'd like to see. Our officials are looking for solutions that will improve the timeline through this process. We also have identified some potential positions in the -- when the budget is passed that will support the land transfer. And this is all part and parcel of ensuring that we are improving our timelines and responding more quickly to these requests. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 1181-20(1): Land Tenure Applications
Oral Questions
March 5th
Kieron Testart Range Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So how -- again, the Minister just committed that timelines would be shortened with new staffing with the success of this new communication. How much shorter? Because time is of the essence. Again, we are expecting transformational, generational change, massive investment from the military. We need to be ready. So is the Minister -- can the Minister tell me how much shorter that timeline's going to be?
Question 1181-20(1): Land Tenure Applications
Oral Questions
March 5th
Jay MacDonald Thebacha
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So, Mr. Speaker, what we've done here is, as we look at the current challenges and, really, the pressures that we're facing, at last count that I recall it was 560-some-odd applications for land related to housing across the territory. As a result of that, we've identified more resources to assist in this, and we're focusing those resources primarily on the consultation phase, and we're looking at about a 15 percent increase in our operations as a result of that investment. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 1181-20(1): Land Tenure Applications
Oral Questions
March 5th
The Speaker Shane Thompson
Thank you, Minister of Environment and Climate Change. Final supplementary. Member from Range Lake.
Question 1181-20(1): Land Tenure Applications
Oral Questions
March 5th
Kieron Testart Range Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just want to make sure we're not talking about different issues. Freeing up land for housing is different than freeing up land in the city for development. So how much shorter is that timeline going to be, especially in areas that have been identified for investment from the military? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 1181-20(1): Land Tenure Applications
Oral Questions
March 5th
Jay MacDonald Thebacha
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there's conversations that are going on right now with the city, with DND, you know, that relate to the theoretical possible investment in Yellowknife, according to the earlier comments. So, you know, we have really focused on this and working together with the city. I think this is a priority that we've -- the city has identified, we've identified. We've gone back, we've looked at what's currently available, what the interests of the parties are, what other areas will be required to support that investment. So we are certainly engaged in that conversation. We have been for quite a while, and we continue to do that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 1181-20(1): Land Tenure Applications
Oral Questions
March 5th
The Speaker Shane Thompson
Thank you, Minister of Environment and Climate Change. Oral Questions. Member from Yellowknife Centre.
Question 1182-20(1): Naming of the 50th Street 50-Plex
Oral Questions
March 5th
Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to bring up one of my absolute favourite subjects, and I was driving downtown in the riding of Yellowknife Centre on 50th Street, and as I was admiring the posters on the future Tony Whitford building, and I'm looking forward to hearing from the Minister as to when that will officially be designated the Tony Whitford building. So obviously this is questions to the Minister of housing.
Question 1182-20(1): Naming of the 50th Street 50-Plex
Oral Questions
March 5th
The Speaker Shane Thompson
Thank you, Member from Yellowknife Centre. Minister responsible for Housing NWT.
Question 1182-20(1): Naming of the 50th Street 50-Plex
Oral Questions
March 5th
Lucy Kuptana Nunakput
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Speaker, Housing NWT and this government received a number of applications for naming of buildings, of the two buildings, so these applications have gone before the honours advisory committee. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 1182-20(1): Naming of the 50th Street 50-Plex
Oral Questions
March 5th
Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When can we have a formal answer, or when -- maybe I should back up. When is the honours committee going to meet on this particular subject so we can formally name the Tony Whitford building on 50th Street for people here in Yellowknife and the Northwest Territories recognizing his commitment?
Question 1182-20(1): Naming of the 50th Street 50-Plex
Oral Questions
March 5th
Lucy Kuptana Nunakput
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the honours advisory committee has been given the applications and the naming of these two buildings here in downtown Yellowknife, so it's really the administration with the honours advisory committee to set up the meetings themselves. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 1182-20(1): Naming of the 50th Street 50-Plex
Oral Questions
March 5th
The Speaker Shane Thompson
Thank you, Minister of responsible for Housing NWT. Final Supplementary. Member from Yellowknife Centre.
Question 1182-20(1): Naming of the 50th Street 50-Plex
Oral Questions
March 5th
Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre
Mr. Speaker, a lot of people are waiting for that banner to be raised about the Tony Whitford building. Is there any reason why the department of housing did not set a deadline when to respond to -- with their particular recommendation, again, naming that new building the Tony Whitford building? Thank you.
Question 1182-20(1): Naming of the 50th Street 50-Plex
Oral Questions
March 5th
Lucy Kuptana Nunakput
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the deadline was set. It was set for February 8th, from what I understand, and there was a number of applications, and those are now with the honours advisory committee. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 1182-20(1): Naming of the 50th Street 50-Plex
Oral Questions
March 5th
The Speaker Shane Thompson
Thank you, Minister of responsible for Housing NWT. Oral questions. Written questions. Returns to written questions. Replies to Commissioner's address. Petitions. Reports of committees on the review of bills. Reports of standing and special committees. Tabling of documents. Minister of Justice.
Tabled Document 488-20(1): Plain Language Summary for Bill 45: Civil Forfeiture Act
Tabled Document 489-20(1): Statement of Consistency for Bill 45: Civil Forfeiture Act
Tabled Document 490-20(1): Trespass Legislation What We Heard Report
Tabling Of Documents
March 5th
Jay MacDonald Thebacha
Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following three documents: Plain Language Summary of Bill 45, Civil Forfeiture Act; Statement of Consistency for Bill 45, Civil Forfeiture Act; and Trespass Legislation What We Heard Report. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Tabled Document 488-20(1): Plain Language Summary for Bill 45: Civil Forfeiture Act
Tabled Document 489-20(1): Statement of Consistency for Bill 45: Civil Forfeiture Act
Tabled Document 490-20(1): Trespass Legislation What We Heard Report
Tabling Of Documents
March 5th
The Speaker Shane Thompson
Thank you. Tabling of Documents. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.
Tabled Document 491-20(1): Annual Report for the Education Bodies of the Northwest Territories for the 2024-2025 School Year
Tabling Of Documents
March 5th
Caitlin Cleveland Kam Lake
Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document: Annual Report for the Education Bodies of the Northwest Territories for the 2024-2025 School Year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Tabled Document 491-20(1): Annual Report for the Education Bodies of the Northwest Territories for the 2024-2025 School Year
Tabling Of Documents
March 5th
Tabled Document 492-20(1): Inter-activity Transfers Exceeding $250,000 (April 1 to December 31, 2025)
Tabling Of Documents
March 5th
Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South
Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document: Interactivity Transfers Exceeding $250,000 April 1st to December 31st, 2025. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.