Please be seated. Good afternoon, colleagues. Welcome back to the House. It is great to be here.

I'd like to thank Jonas Lafferty for opening today's sitting with a blessing. Thank you.

Colleagues, please join me in welcoming all our interpreters back to the House. It is an honour to have them here using our language in this House, both when we speak and when we have our proceedings interpreted. It shows our respect for the languages and cultures of our people, and we could not do it without our interpreters. We are grateful for your hard work and dedication.

Colleagues, please remember to speak slowly and clearly so our interpreters can do their job. Now we can clap.

Colleagues, I'd also like to take a moment to briefly talk about our new Interpreter Career Pathway program. We launched this program since this House last sat, and I would like to share a few details with you today before we begin.

The Interpreter Career Pathway program, which we are running as a joint initiative with the Government of the Northwest Territories, will train fluent Indigenous language speakers to become interpreters specializing in legislative proceedings at the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly. It has been developed to strengthen interpreter capacity, directly addressing the growing demand for new interpreters as some of our current interpreters approach retirement.

Program participants will receive paid training that combines on-the-job experience as well as in-person and online learning throughout the year. Trainees will shadow experienced interpreters in booth during at least two Legislative Assembly sessional proceedings and participate in simulated interpretation sessions.

The program focuses on advancing language development specifically to our political content, including focused legislative terminology learning and skill development related to simultaneous interpretation in legislative settings.

Throughout the program, participants will develop the skills and confidence to deliver simultaneous interpretation services in a legislative setting. They will develop the foundational knowledge and skills necessary to support a career pathway interpreting our proceedings, ensuring residents have continued access to proceedings in Indigenous languages.

I am pleased to welcome our first round of Interpreter Career Pathway program participants to the chamber today. Please join me in welcoming -- and I apologize to the people if I say your name wrong --

• Cecile Bonnetrouge-Deneyoua
• Brenda Michel
• Agnes Mitchell
• Bessie Inuktalik
• Susanna Qitsualik
• Susan Peffer
• Jennie Vandermeer; and,
• John James Gon.

Colleagues, the Interpreter Career Pathway program isn't our only -- first of all, we should recognize them and say thank you very much.

Colleagues, the Interpreter Career Pathway program isn't our only exciting program. I would like to take a moment to celebrate our 22nd Youth Parliament, which took place from April 27th to the 30th. It was a great time. I was impressed by all of our participants.

Our Youth Parliament program brings together young people from across our territory to learn about consensus government and to speak about the issues that are important to them, their peers, and their communities. Please join me in thanking this year's participants and congratulating them on a job well done.

A program like this requires a lot of work and planning, so I also would like to thank our staff who delivered this program for our youth.

Finally, I want to thank the Members of this Legislative Assembly who were able to participate. Thank you for making our Youth Parliament program a success. Many of you volunteered as pages for the model session and met with your youth representatives during the program.

Colleagues, I have received the following correspondence from the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, the Honourable Gerald W. Kisoun. It states:

Dear Mr. Speaker:

I wish to advise that I recommend to the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories, the passage of Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 1, 2026-2027; Supplementary Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures), No. 1, 2026-2027 during the May-June sitting of the first Session of the 20th Legislative Assembly. Yours Truly, Gerald W. Kisoun.

Ministers' Statements. Mr. Premier.

Mr. Speaker, as we begin this sitting of the 20th Legislative Assembly, we are entering a period of opportunity unlike anything we have never seen before in the territory. The rest of Canada and countries around the world are looking North for defence, secure supply chains, critical minerals, Arctic research, strategic infrastructure, and reliable partnerships. Increasingly, they are looking to the Northwest Territories.

Our responsibility as a government is to ensure those opportunities create lasting benefits for Northerners. That means stronger communities, better infrastructure, good jobs, and new opportunities for the next generation to build their futures here.

The work ahead requires cooperation across the territory. No government can build the future alone. Success depends on close and continued collaboration with Indigenous governments, community leaders, businesses, non-governmental organizations, federal partners, and residents.

That spirit of working together has long been one of the NWT's greatest strengths. Across the Northwest Territories, residents continue to show determination, resilience, and a deep commitment to one another. Communities are stepping up for each other. Indigenous governments, municipalities, businesses, and residents are working together to solve problems and create opportunities.

Mr. Speaker, this government has spoken often about the importance of major infrastructure projects to the future of our territory. Today, we are seeing real progress.

In March, the federal government referred the Mackenzie Valley Highway, the Taltson Hydro Expansion, and the Arctic Economic and Security Corridor, to the major projects office. That decision marked an important milestone for the NWT, and reflected years of advocacy and partnership planning and building.

These three projects will connect communities, enable economic growth, and create long-term opportunities for Northerners. Improved transportation corridors, energy infrastructure, airports, and supply chains will strengthen the territory's economy while helping lower the cost of living and the cost of doing business in the North. These projects will also create opportunities for skilled tradespeople, Indigenous businesses, heavy equipment operators, environmental monitors, engineers, and young Northerners preparing to enter the workforce.

This progress did not happen overnight. Indigenous governments, community leaders, Members of this House, industry partners, and the federal government all played a role in bringing us to this point. Their efforts deserve recognition and thanks.

This government is now working closely with the major projects office and federal departments to improve coordination and communication, and to identify opportunities that will streamline regulatory processes while maintaining strong environmental oversight, and meaningful engagement. At the same time, we are positioning the Northwest Territories within Canada's growing focus on Arctic sovereignty and national defence.

The GNWT is working proactively with the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces to ensure territorial priorities are reflected early in planning processes. Defence investments in the North must create lasting benefits for Northerners through jobs, support for local and Indigenous businesses, and infrastructure that strengthens communities long after deployments or exercises conclude.

This work reinforces Canada's presence in the Arctic while helping to build a stronger and more connected North.

Mr. Speaker, the momentum is real, but success is not guaranteed. We have a lot of work before us, and we are doing everything we can to get ready and meet the moment. Major projects require continued collaboration, thoughtful planning, and long-term commitment. Strong partnerships with Indigenous governments, communities, regulators, industry, and the federal government will remain essential as this work moves forward.

Mr. Speaker, even more than large-scale projects, residents want to see progress in their home communities and daily lives.

The suitability, accessibility, and affordability of housing is one of the priorities of the 20th Legislative Assembly, and housing remains one of the clearest examples of this government delivering visible, on-the-ground results.

Since the start of the 20th Legislative Assembly, Housing NWT has completed 96 new social housing units across the territory. Another 180 units are currently under construction, and 84 more are in planning and procurement. In total, 360 housing units are planned in 24 communities during the life of this Legislative Assembly.

Much of this work focuses on replacing housing units that have reached the end of their serviceable life, meaning they are too expensive to maintain, and may be uninhabitable. Targeted investments in repairs and maintenance are also helping protect existing housing stock and extending the life of homes.

Nearly all new Housing NWT capital projects are being delivered through modular construction. Many of these homes are prefabricated within the Northwest Territories before being assembled in communities. This approach improves efficiency, reduces construction risks, and supports the delivery of durable and energy-efficient homes designed for northern conditions.

The progress being made would not be possible without partnerships. These projects are being delivered alongside Indigenous governments, local housing organizations, community governments, contractors, and federal partners. Housing NWT continues to expand agreements with Indigenous governments across the territory because local involvement is essential to long-term success.

These projects are making a real difference for residents. They are helping families access safe and stable housing while reducing pressure on aging infrastructure and are improving living conditions in small communities.

Mr. Speaker, keeping communities safe remains one of the core responsibilities of this government. As the territory enters wildfire and flood season, preparedness remains top of mind for many Northerners.

Over the past year, the GNWT has worked with communities and Indigenous governments to strengthen emergency readiness across the territory. Community wildfire protection plans have been updated. Critical infrastructure assessments have been completed. Thermal scanning has been used to identify winter holdover fires. Emergency planning and coordination efforts have continued to improve.

The GNWT has modernized its wildfire program through improved training, updated modeling tools, increased FireSmart investments, with $1.8 million per year committed to the program until the end of the 2027-2028 fiscal year, and the creation of a new Wildland Urban Interface program that strengthens coordination between community fire departments, and wildland firefighters.

Emergency Preparedness Week, which took place earlier this month, also serves as an important reminder that preparedness is a shared responsibility. Governments have a critical role, but residents also play an important role by creating emergency plans, preparing emergency kits, and staying informed during emergencies.

I want to thank the firefighters, emergency management staff, Indigenous governments, municipalities, volunteers, and community leaders who continue to work tirelessly to protect Northerners.

This government is also continuing work to strengthen public safety legislation by prioritizing new laws, including the new Trespass to Property Act, and the proposed Civil Forfeiture Act and Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act, to protect property and improve community safety.

Mr. Speaker, supporting the well-being of residents means helping people build healthy, stable, and hopeful lives. This government continues to invest in children, families, workers, and communities across the Northwest Territories.

Earlier this year, the GNWT and the Government of Canada announced the creation of 355 new childcare spaces across the territory, exceeding our original commitment of 300 spaces. These new spaces will support working families, create jobs, and help ensure children have access to safe and licensed care closer to home.

This government is also strengthening inclusive schooling across the territory. In April, the GNWT announced an additional $30 million in stable funding to support inclusive education in the 2026-2027 Budget. This investment will help stabilize services and ensure students receive the supports they need to succeed.

Economic uncertainty continues to affect some sectors and workers, particularly within the diamond mining industry. In response, Canada and the GNWT jointly launched the Workforce Tariff Response Initiative. This government will help residents affected by tariffs and global market changes access training, employment supports, and financial assistance as they retrain, upskill, and transition into new opportunities.

Mr. Speaker, partnerships remain essential to everything this government hopes to achieve. The Northwest Territories has always been strongest when people work together, and that spirit of collaboration is clearly visible across the territory today. It can be seen in housing partnerships with Indigenous governments, in wildfire preparedness and emergency management efforts, and in major infrastructure planning and economic development initiatives.

It can also be seen in the work underway to support community programming in former community learning centres. Engagement with communities and Indigenous governments has already led to five subsidized lease agreements that will help ensure these facilities continue serving local residents.

This government remains committed to meaningful engagement and shared decision-making because local involvement leads to stronger outcomes for communities.

The future of the Northwest Territories cannot be built by government alone. Residents also play a role through volunteering, championing local initiatives, mentoring, building businesses, and continuing to invest their energy and optimism in the North. To the thousands of residents who show up for the territory every single day, thank you for everything you do to help make the Northwest Territories what it is.

Mr. Speaker, when we talk about the future of the Northwest Territories, we are ultimately talking about the next generation. We are talking about young people growing up in communities across this territory who deserve access to quality education, safe housing, strong infrastructure, meaningful employment, and opportunities to succeed without having to leave the North behind.

This government is working to help build that future. We are investing in infrastructure that connects communities and supports economic growth. We are strengthening housing, education, childcare, and workforce development. We are ensuring the Northwest Territories plays an increasingly important role in Canada's Arctic future.

The work ahead will not always be easy, challenges will continue to arise, but the Northwest Territories has never been defined by the obstacles in front of us. This territory is defined by the people who continue to meet those challenges with determination, creativity, and a willingness to work together.

Today, there is real reason to feel hopeful about where the Northwest Territories is headed. Opportunities are growing. Partnerships are strong. Momentum is building. Together, we are building a brighter future for the Northwest Territories, and for the generations that will follow. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Premier. Ministers' Statements. Members' statements. Member from Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, with the increased momentum and funding behind major projects such as the Mackenzie Valley Highway and the Arctic Economic Security Corridor, once again it's easy to paint the regulatory system as the bad guy, the thing standing in the way of our big plans and our future prosperity.

First, I want to point out that the regulatory system is often used as a convenient scapegoat when project delays are actually due to other factors such as uncertain financing. But I do think there is legitimate frustration with the regulatory system in how it often forces industry or proponents to spend money on the minutiae while seeming helpless to protect the big picture things that we really care about. We're missing the forest because we're too busy counting the trees. We're busy helping individual caribou cross a road but somehow haven't managed to prevent the Bathurst Herd from plummeting from 186,000 animals to 3,600 animals in only 20 years of diamond mine operations.

When the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act was first designed and passed back in 1998, it was cutting edge in Canada because it established ways to manage cumulative impacts, that bigger picture, like allowing for strategic regional environmental assessments. But this promise, I would argue, has never been fulfilled.

I understand that for the first few years there was a need to gather more information, build up monitoring, but now it's been almost 30 years, and it's time to get serious about using that accumulated information and wisdom, both traditional knowledge and science-based, to manage projects differently. The whole point of these nation-building projects is to catalyze larger-scale mining and oil and gas development across entire regions. No one project would be the death of an entire caribou herd, for example, but if you keep adding more and more and more disturbances, at some point it's too much and a population could collapse. So it's our job to know where those tipping points are and to stop before the point of no return.

While some industry and infrastructure proponents will likely be upset at the idea of hard limits, the idea that some projects or routes might get a no, there are benefits. Mr. Speaker, I ask for unanimous consent to conclude my statement. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Unanimous consent granted

So the benefit in the approach that I am proposing is in proponents knowing the rules well ahead of project planning and the potential to take away some of the regulatory burden that forces proponents to monitor the millions of minutiae towards actions that would protect the most important big-picture values like caribou herd survival. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Merci, Monsieur le Presidedent. [Translation] insert* [Translation Ends].

Mr. Speaker, last year my colleagues issued a red alert on mining in the NWT, warning that 30 percent of our economy and the jobs, revenues, and royalties that support our communities, were at risk. We knew closures were only a matter of time, and now that time has come.

Earlier this month, despite a $175 million federal loan and $60 million in emergency financing, Arctic Canadian Diamond Company, and its parent Burgundy Diamond Mines, entered creditor protection, a last resort after exhausting their cash reserves. The move follows a collapse in the diamond market driven by lab-grown diamonds, weak consumer demand in Asia, and US tariffs on India, which left Ekati with a $120 million net loss and pushed the already heavily indebted companies carrying roughly $655 million in liabilities into crisis. Creditor protection halted collections, leaving suppliers, contractors, and Indigenous development corporations exposed to $63 million in unsecured debt and the territorial government, our own government, owed just about $10 million in taxes and fees.

Northern workers and businesses are struggling to understand how, even after the Government of Canada committed to a staggering $235 million bailout to support Ekati, the jobs have disappeared and nobody can be paid what they are owed. A bailout can be justified, Mr. Speaker, if it sustains the northern economy, but I draw the line when taxpayer support leaves Northerners and their businesses holding the bag while workers are left behind.

In moments like this, we need leadership. The federal government has stepped in to support our mines. Now the territory has to step in and support our people.

Mr. Speaker, this government's absence of leadership on this file has strapped Northerners onto a resource rollercoaster and we are plunging with no end in sight. My constituents have a clear message for this Premier, Mr. Speaker: Get us off this dangerous ride so we can stand on solid ground again. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise to address a grave concern affecting our community of Inuvik. I am speaking, Mr. Speaker, of the recent cuts to the French immersion program and the layoff of 13 teachers. In a community of just 3,300 people, losing 13 educators is not just a statistic; it represents a substantial loss, support of our students, families, and the broader community.

Mr. Speaker, the invaluable contributions of our teachers extend beyond academics. They are coaches, mentors, and active members of our community, serving on various non-profit boards and helping to shape the very fabric of Inuvik. Their presence is integral, not just in the classrooms, but in the lives of our children and families.

I have received an outpouring of concern from parents whose children have benefited tremendously from the support of these educators. I have heard firsthand the anxieties expressed by students, worried about what their future of schooling will look like without the essential guidance they have come to rely on, whether transitioning from a French immersion setting to a different learning environment or having to succeed without teachers' assistance, both pose significant challenges and uncertainties for these students.

Mr. Speaker, we cannot turn a blind eye to the implications of these cuts. We must hold ourselves accountable and ask the tough questions. How do we ensure that every child in our community has access to quality education that respects their linguistic and cultural heritage?

Our government has received, Mr. Speaker, over $40 million in funding from the federal government aimed at ensuring we provide Francophone options. This funding underscores our commitment to education, yet we find ourselves at a crossroads where our French immersion program is being dismantled.

The decisions on how our curriculum is developed rest, Mr. Speaker, with the district education authorities, yet we must ask ourselves how did we arrive at this point?. The French immersion program has a long-standing history in Inuvik, existing long before Jordan's Principle funding came into play. To assert that Jordan's Principle funding cuts are solely responsible for these layoffs is an oversimplification that disregards the complexities at hand.

Mr. Speaker, the parents of my community, the teaching staff of my community and, most importantly, the students of my community are looking for answers. Answers and solutions, Mr. Speaker, answers that to date I have not been given.

As a military community, and Inuvik has been a military community for many years, and we expect, again, it to grow with the investment coming from DND, we know that one quarter of Canada's military is Francophone. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To say that the closure of the French immersion is a step in the wrong direction is certainly an understatement, Mr. Speaker. It's time to prioritize our students, invest in our teachers, and uphold the values of inclusivity and diversity in education that our community stands for. We must do better for the future of our children and for the future of Inuvik. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Welcome back, colleagues.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address what can only be described as a historic NWT milestone. The Prime Minister of Canada, on March the 12th, came to Yellowknife and announced NWT priority projects, a referral to the major projects office in Calgary. More specifically to the Sahtu, Mr. Speaker, is the Mackenzie Valley Highway.

Mr. Speaker, additional news of this milestone was we will start building the highway this summer; a moment of construction we were waiting for decades for, Mr. Speaker. However, failure of leadership on renewal or extension of the only allowable permit is a setback.

Last November, Mr. Speaker, the land-use permit to construct the remaining half of the 13-kilometer Prohibition Creek access road expired. Mr. Speaker, the economic imperative on project transition is critical to efficient project management. Permitting is definitely mandatory, essential. This allows project execution, one element in building a disposable economy.

The Prime Minister's announcement was 77 days ago. We need to put more words into action. Mr. Speaker, this project is estimated at $6 billion. The right-of-way Wrigley to Inuvik, 800 kilometers, of which, Mr. Speaker, 70 percent is within the Sahtu region. You can do your math on the expense.

70 percent, Mr. Speaker, the Sahtu is not a footnote in this project. We are the backbone of it. Without Sahtu, stakeholders' readiness, land access, maximum security benefits create uncertainty and prevails. But readiness, real readiness, both modern treaty holders require more than slogans and press releases. It requires the Government of the Northwest Territories to recognize and respect both comprehensive land claim agreements, section 35 duty to consult -- Mr. Speaker, I request unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

Thank you. Thank you, colleagues. Both comprehensive land claim agreements, section 35 duty to consult, SSI, GTC, PKFN are waiting.

Mr. Speaker, the people of the Sahtu have been let down and expired permit and empty talk about readiness do not inspire confidence; they only stir frustration and distrust. I will have questions to the appropriate Minister. Thank you.

Thank you, Member from the Sahtu. Members' statements. Member from the Deh Cho.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker, and welcome back to everybody.

Mr. Speaker, the Deh Cho region is facing a growing mental health crisis. In our communities, many people are living with the impacts of addictions and violence, often rooted in deep trauma. Without proper mental health support, that harm can spread through families and place heavy strain on the home. In some cases, it leads to family break down or child apprehension, criminal activity. As those pressures build, the effects are felt across the wider community creating safety concerns and contributing to increased crime. Over time, these harms can become a cycle, and the longer it goes unaddressed the harder the cycle is to break.

Mr. Speaker, this is not about blaming our people; it is about recognizing that those who are struggling need consistent support and those who are vulnerable need protection. Families deserve peaceful homes, elders deserve to live without fear, and our youth need hope for the future. This government has made safer communities a priority but safety cannot depend on enforcement alone. The RCMP, teachers, nurses, and frontline workers are often left responding after the damage has already been done. That is not prevention. That is a reaction. Real prevention means early intervention and effective programs grounded in culture and connection.

Mr. Speaker, our people have the knowledge and strength to guide this work, but local leadership needs the resources and flexibility to build solutions that reflect Deh Cho community realities. The GNWT must move beyond one size fits all approaches and work directly with Deh Cho leadership to develop local mental health and healing strategies. When communities are trusted and supported to lead, healing can begin. I will have questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services at the appropriate time. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from the Deh Cho. Members' statements. Member from Great Slave.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Welcome back.

Mr. Speaker, one of my favourite sayings, one that I try to live my best -- my life by is be kind because everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle. The unseen struggles that we all deal with weigh heavy on each of us. And by us, I mean every person you meet. With that in mind, one of the things I am most grateful in my life -- for in my life is that I have been able to access therapeutic supports for my mental health in modalities that work for me. At my lowest, I have had people hold me up and connect me with professionals that could help me add adaptive tools that I needed to get through the battle a bit better.

Mr. Speaker, I know my battles are small in scale compared to those that some residents in this territory face every day. I am privileged to always have had a roof over my head, a warm place to sleep at night. When I talk to street-involved people, they are, by and large, trying their hardest to be kind in our community because their battles are extreme.

Mr. Speaker, if we truly want our territory to succeed and if the rising tide of federal investment is going to raise all ships, we must ensure that we are also raising Northerners with the least and those who are fighting the hardest battles.

Incoming DND and infrastructure federal investment must be balanced with social services spending. I am thankful that the Premier spoke to this directly at my constituency meeting last week and his statement today. He heard from my constituents that federal dollars are top of mind. Jordan's Principle funding and job training initiatives to meet these investments were two hot topics.

The Premier noted at the constituency meeting that the federal government does not fully realize the scope of social need in our territory. I am also grateful that the last week's Council of Leaders communique aligns with what my constituents see here and happening in Yellowknife too.

Mr. Speaker, I have previously spoken to the actions within the government's business plans on our priority of addressing the effects of trauma. Those actions are framed in Cabinet's mandate that they will, quote, "prevent, interrupt, and address the effects of trauma", end quote. Those actions were created well before federal announcements earlier this year. These actions are not meaningless but do seem very small in the face of our lived reality and with the opportunities we have before us now.

Mr. Speaker, we can't have a prosperous territory for residents without having a healthier, healing territory first and foremost. It's only appropriate, then, that the head of government should advocate tirelessly for the NWT's extreme need for its social priorities. I will have questions for the Premier later today. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Residents in my constituency are witnessing trouble and steady rise in illegal activity within their communities. Increasingly, these activities are occurring openly in broad daylight in full view of community members. The consequences are serious and far-reaching, negatively affecting the well-being of residents, undermining public safety and placing our children at significant risk.

Mr. Speaker, the issue I am referring to is the illegal sale and distribution of drugs and alcohol operating out of our public housing units in our communities. Residents are observing public housing units being used as hubs for the unlawful sale of drugs and alcohol on a near-constant basis, often without visible consequences. This activity has grown over time and now threatens the safety, stability, and social fabric of our communities.

Mr. Speaker, while local authorities and housing associations are making efforts to address and limit these activities, it is increasingly clear that existing measures are not sufficient. These illegal operations can no longer be tolerated. In many ways, we have allowed this behaviour to become normalized and embedded in everyday community life.

Mr. Speaker, it is understood that mechanisms currently exist to respond to these situations; however, these mechanisms are limited, complex, and too often fail to deliver timely and effective outcomes. The current housing policy and legal processes required to address illegal activities within housing units can be lengthy, layered, and burdensome. In many cases, these delays provide opportunities for drug dealers and bootleggers to alter their behaviour, relocate to another housing unit, or simply wait until enforcement attention subsides. This reality is deeply concerning. Community members are left feeling frustrated and vulnerable while dangerous activities continue unchecked.

Mr. Speaker, the residents have the right to safe homes, healthy communities, where families and children can live, grow, and prosper without the threat and harm caused by the sale of illegal drugs and bootlegged alcohol. I will have questions for the appropriate Minister at the appropriate time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from McKenzie Delta. Members' statements. Member from Monfwi.

Masi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, [Translation] insert* [Translation Ends].

Mr. Speaker, the discovery of elevated lead levels in school drinking water has left many with unanswered questions. The government's response has focused on flushing protocols and remediation. These measures address future risks, but they do not address the past. Former students and staff deserve to know what years of exposure could mean for their long-term health.

The drinking water results from Chief Jimmy Bruneau School and Chief Jimmy Bruneau residents show lead levels far above Health Canada guidelines. Multiple fixtures tested at nearly 20 times the guideline. One fixture in the residence building tested at approximately 22 times the guideline after setting overnight and remained at 12 times the guideline during regular daytime use.

Mr. Speaker, until 2006 that building housed students from across the Tlicho region. Some were young mothers living with their children. House parents and residence managers lived there as well for many years. This was not short-term exposure but months and sometimes years of relying on that water every day. By 2006, Chief Jimmy Bruneau School was already 35 years old. Today, schools far younger are recording lead exceedances. The possibility that lead was present while this residence building housed students and families cannot be ignored.

Mr. Speaker, this issue does not only concern current and future students. It also concerns former students and staff who lived there and trusted that the water they used every day was safe. What is needed now is transparency, not only about the safety of water today but about the risk that may have existed for years. Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services. Thank you.

Thank you, Member from Monfwi. Members' statements. Member from Frame Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Somehow it feels like it's been a long time since we were last in the House, even though our last sitting was less than two months ago, and I think it may be due to just how much has changed in the short time between March and now. As we all know, the federal government recently announced a huge suite of investments in our territory which completely shifted the narrative from what are we going to do about the circumstances facing our territory to how are we going to do it. For me, the most important question is what I've already been asking and advocating for since becoming an MLA: How can we maximize benefits of investments and development in the territory for our residents.

Mr. Speaker, the territory has been in this position before. 30 years ago, a huge wave of development swept over the territory with the diamond boom. It brought a lot of benefits with it but, as I have repeatedly noted, a lot of the potential benefits flew right over our heads. As we have recently seen also, the difficulty with having such an undiversified economy is that if one commodity is hit with challenges, we can quickly end up in serious trouble. I am fearful that all this time later, these circumstances will repeat themselves if we do not take action to learn from the past and make changes.

We need to ensure contracts for large projects are issued in such a way as to ensure northern businesses can directly benefit from opportunities and can plan and grow as necessary to rise to the challenge. We need to strengthen the Heritage Fund Act to ensure future resource revenues are better captured and invested. We need workforce development plans and goals in place to maximize local employment for large projects. In particular, Mr. Speaker, I remain concerned about the pace of transition of Aurora College to a polytechnic university. The polytechnic continues to stand out as the natural anchor for workforce development planning. We need to work closely with and fund Aurora College appropriately to finish the transition and get out into the communities and start preparing people for what's coming. Let's change the narrative this time and ensure we are preparing our territory to maximize benefits from outside investment and ensure that development is something we are fundamentally a part of, not just something that happens to us.

Lastly, Mr. Speaker, we need to continue our efforts to diversify our economy and lift ourselves out of the boom and bust cycle. That's how we develop this territory right and ensure that we learn from the mistakes of the past. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Let me begin with a simple question to the House: Raise your hands if anyone likes the idea of higher fuel prices. I didn't think so. I didn't think I'd see a one, Mr. Speaker. Yet today that's exactly what our people are faced with. They're forced to live with these prices as they skyrocket upwards. It's a burden felt at every single kitchen table, every small business, and let me tell you when they're facing the pumps, it doesn't matter if you live in Yellowknife, the Sahtu, or even in the Mackenzie Delta, everyone is feeling the pinch of the pump price, Mr. Speaker.

Now, just under a month ago, the federal government took action. What did they do? Well, there was a nationwide announcement that they'd have a fuel tax holiday of 10 cents per litre off gasoline and 4 cents off diesel. For families, now, Mr. Speaker, trying to stretch that dollar, that is real relief, Mr. Speaker, and it's been welcomed relief seeing what's going on. So across Canada we're seeing other leaders take action, whether it's the Premier of Manitoba or Ontario. It doesn't matter about your politics; they care about their people and they're showing it.

Mr. Speaker, it's time we look and step up. That's what the people are asking for. There's an uncomfortable truth, unfortunately, because this government isn't doing anything.

So let's start with first. What are they doing? Nothing.

Second of all, with respect to this, the hands have been tied.

So while our residents look for leadership of this government and not see it, I am saying we need to look within ourselves to find how do we unlock legislation that has been in place since 1997 that has frozen our tax rates on gasoline.

Mr. Speaker, I think about that. Nearly 30 years ago, almost a generation ago, wrote a law that stuck our gas prices into an Act, and we just can't change it if the times like this, where we're facing a modern crisis of affordability, and yet we can't do anything. Mr. Speaker, those rates are trapped in rigid legislation. We need to reflect and ask ourselves how do we get them into nimble regulations.

As families are facing these challenges, whether you're a truck driver going down the Mackenzie Valley Highway someday or maybe you're just a family trying to get by buying groceries here in Yellowknife, we're all facing these challenges of crisis.

The seed of opportunity here, Mr. Speaker, is this government could do something. It could pivot very quick. It could move and move that locked-in gas fuel tax rate into regulations, and we could be helping people. Mr. Speaker, as my time dwindles away, I will have questions for the Minister during oral question period. Thank you.

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

Colleagues, it's been my practice in the past, I will present the Member statement on behalf of the Nahendeh Youth Parliamentarian, Ms. Raphaellel Joseph. She spoke about the inadequacies she experienced firsthand as an immigrant wanting to work in Canada. To give you some background, she's an immigrant from Australia and the United Kingdom. Her family and her moved from England to Canada so her mom could take up a teaching position in Fort Simpson. Since then, she has been building their lives here in the Northwest Territories adjusting to the completely new community, climate, and way of life.

I am currently in Canada on a student visa and have been living here for almost two years. In that time, I've gone to school here, made new friends, and tried to become part of my community, while also still being aware that my status is temporary. Right now, my family and I are working towards becoming permanent residents so that we continue to contribute to Canada long term and full settled here.

As I stated, I have a student visa. This only allows me to go to school and let me travel within Canada as well as visit my extended family in Australia and the United Kingdom. I feel grateful to have been given the opportunity, a chance to live here in Canada, but also very happy to be able to live here in the Northwest Territories. I've made great friends and experienced some new things in the NWT like snowboarding, speed skating, taking part in Super Soccer Cager, and many more experiences.

I have experienced struggles, Mr. Speaker, as it relates to getting a job in Canada, specifically in my community of Fort Simpson. In regional areas such as Fort Simpson, there are opportunities to work at the local store. I am willing and able to work, and I cannot due to the restriction placed on my visa. This made me feel limited compared to my classmates who can apply for a job, gain experience, and earn their own money. I want to be independent, start building their skills early, but the rules don't give me that opportunity. Financially, it can be difficult. Even though I live with my parents, there are personal expenses like clothes and activities that I wish to help pay for. Not being able to work means I have to rely entirely on my family.

The restrictions doesn't just affect my ability to earn money. It affects my independence and my sense of belonging. I want to change, to contribute, learn, and grow like any other student. But right now, the opportunity feels out of reach.

One big improvement would be clearer and more flexible work rules for young students. Allowing part-time work, like a set number of hours per week during the school year, would make a huge difference. It would let students gain experience, earn their own money, and feel more independent, just like their Canadian classmates.

Another thing that would help is better communication on the rules. A lot of students and even employees don't fully understand what study permits holders are allowed to do. If the government provides simpler, student-friendly explanations, employees might be more willing to hire them instead of avoiding the situation altogether.

Fairness matters. High school students on student visas often live with their family, following the same rules, and go to the same schools as Canadian students. Giving them similar opportunities to work part-time would help them feel included and give them the real-world skills that benefit them and the community long-term.

Members' statements. Returns to oral questions. Mr. Premier.

Mr. Speaker, I have a Return to Oral Question 1071-20(1) asked by the Member for Yellowknife Centre on February 24, 2026, regarding the Cost of Living.

The Government of the Northwest Territories takes a comprehensive approach to address cost-of-living challenges while maintaining fiscal stability. Our approach combines immediate financial relief measures with strategic infrastructure investments and intergovernmental advocacy which allows us to address both acute cost pressures and underlying structural factors, while recognizing the diverse needs of different regions and communities across the territory. Measures include changes to income security programs, emergency evacuation funding and measures to lower energy costs for residents. Later today, at the appropriate time, I will table a document titled Additional Information for Return to Oral Question 1071-20(1): Cost of Living, that gives a comprehensive list and details of the extensive actions that the government has taken to support residents with the cost of living.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Premier. Return to oral questions. Minister of Justice.

Mr. Speaker, I have a Return to Oral Question 1189-20(1) asked by the Member for Yellowknife Centre on March 6, 2026, regarding the cemetery legislation.

The GNWT works with Indigenous communities and the federal government to identify and document residential school burial locations and there are special provisions for the protection of burial sites in the Archaeological Sites Regulations administered by the Department of Education, Culture and Employment.

The Sahtu Dene and Metis Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement, Gwich'in Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement, and Tlicho Agreement all address the protection of burial sites as well as other specific responsibilities on those lands.

Municipal governments in the NWT may exercise their general bylaw making powers to establish and operate cemeteries within their municipal boundaries under the Cities, Towns and Villages Act, the Hamlets Act, the Charter Communities Act or the Tlicho Community Government Act. These Acts are administered by the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs.

Cemetery legislation varies across jurisdictions in Canada but generally supports community involvement in the care and maintenance of cemeteries and provides consumer protections related to accessing cemetery services for individuals and their loved ones. In the NWT, consumer protection matters currently fall within the scope of the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs under the Consumer Protection Act.

The GNWT is not contemplating the development of cemetery legislation at this late stage in the mandate of the 20th Legislative Assembly. Indigenous communities and others with questions relating to the operation of cemeteries may raise these matters with their local municipality. Matters relating to the protection of on the land burial sites should be brought to the Department of Education, Culture and Employment. Such discussions may assist in identifying issues that could be considered in future legislative initiatives, if warranted.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister of Justice. Return to oral questions. Recognition of visitors in the gallery.

Colleagues, I'd like to recognize four young ladies from Radium Hot Springs, BC: Jane Power, Cynthia Ibeck, Katherine Locke, and Clara Reinhart. Welcome to our chambers.

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member from Inuvik Boot Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to recognize Dana Hemming. Dana is a former resident of Inuvik and a long-time family friend. Her and her husband Dan lived in Inuvik for several years and welcomed their three children there. Dana is currently a parole officer for Corrections Canada based in Edmonton and is in Yellowknife lending a hand to the office here. So welcome, Dana. Nice to see her at the legislature.

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member from Yellowknife Centre.

First off, I want to recognize, Mr. Speaker, Kayina Garcon. She is my summer student this year. She's actually a returning person helping me at my constituency office. She's in the gallery today, and it's a great pleasure to have her back this year again. She's been doing fantastic working with me. And furthermore, I always like to recognize one of our interpreters Ms. Sarah Cleary. She's so kind and wonderful, and she provides services to us at the Assembly and I am always grateful when I see her. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member from the Sahtu.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize today here Ms. Jenny Vandermeer-McPherson. Welcome to the Assembly. Mahsi.

Thank you. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member from the Deh Cho.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I'd like to recognize one of the Interpreter Career Path trainees, my sister Cecile Deneyoua-Bonnetrouge. She's in the -- Cecile Bonnetrouge-Deneyoua, she's in the gallery, as well as Mary-Jane Cazon, our interpreter for the Deh Cho. Thank you.

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member from Nunakput.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to recognize Susan Peffer. Susan is a longtime colleague of mine, and it's nice to see that she's participating in the internship program. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Welcome, Susan.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to recognize Mr. John Gon who I think is in the interpreter's program as well and is a resident of Frame Lake. Thank you.

Thank you, Member from Frame Lake. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member from Monfwi.

Masi, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] insert* [Translation Ends].

Thank you, Member from Monfwi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery.

If we missed anyone in the gallery today, welcome to your chambers. We greatly appreciate you giving us the honour of representing you and the people of Northwest Territories. It is always nice to see people in the gallery.

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Acknowledgments. Oral questions. Member from Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My Member's statement today was really talking about the fact that Ottawa isn't going to save us. We have to save -- from ourselves, and we need to help Northerners with the cost of fuel and cost of living.

Mr. Speaker, noting that the cost of fuel tax rate has been locked into legislation since 1997, is the Minister aware of this and is there anything she can do about the challenge that other folks are rising to which is giving fuel tax holidays to their residents? Thank you.

Thank you, Member from Yellowknife Centre. Minister of Finance.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we've been watching this closely. Obviously saw that Canada did institute a fuel tax holiday. Very few, if any, of the other provinces or territories are actioning that. And, Mr. Speaker, the reason is, at least from our end, when we did some quick math in terms of what an average gas tank impact would be, under $10, which certainly does add up. Nonetheless, the impacts on the other side to the revenue that the government would receive is in the order of $15 million. We already pay significant impacts as a result of fuel and will continue to pay those impacts, and as a result of which we're also paying higher subsidies. So for instance on territorial power support programs, for example, or seniors home heating for their fuel costs. So at this time, Mr. Speaker, with that, trying to figure out that balance, we want to ensure that we have the fiscal capacity to maintain programs and services for residents. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I am not sure where the Minister got their $10. I am not going to say that math is bad. That's the Department of Finance; their math hopefully is good. But I can tell you that my gas on my small vehicle went up almost 40 bucks, so I am not sure where they got -- since the price jump.

Mr. Speaker, is there anything the Minister can do to move this out of legislation into regulation so we can pivot if that becomes the policy discussion of the day to help meet this challenge? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we are not right now considering moving or changing where the gas tax resides. And what I was speaking to earlier is just the change from if we were to set to remove all of our gas taxes. So as I say, that change is not being contemplated at this time. Thank you.

Minister of Finance. Final supplementary. Member from Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, frustrated constituents corner me at the gas station and say this government can give millions of dollars away to diamond companies that are closing, why can't they help me with the direct support.

Mr. Speaker, what can the Minister of Finance do to help people who are watching millions of dollars leave the territory when they feel they need something to help them get by? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there's a few different issues that seem to be coming out there but, Mr. Speaker, I will confine this to speaking about what could be done with respect to gas taxes or gas rates.

Mr. Speaker, I don't have any control over the Strait of Hormuz. I have no control over the WAR in Iran, and I am unable to reduce gas prices at this present time. We do control gas taxes but, again, that impact is actually fairly small in comparison to the real impacts that we are all facing and that the government is facing from an increase in rising prices of gas. We are working to ensure that there is an increase in good jobs, more good jobs coming, more opportunities coming, so that people can continue to have good paying jobs here in the Northwest Territories to mitigate the costs and the volatility that is existing in the world at this time. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister of Finance. Oral questions. Member from Range Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On a similar topic, the $63 million in unsecured debt that the Burgundy and ACDC owned mining group owes northern suppliers, contractors, and Indigenous development corps, is unsecured, meaning no one can collect on it until the rest of the financial restructuring is done. That means Northerners and northern companies are holding the bag.

So how is the Minister of Finance working to support those companies? We've already seen the federal government step in and spend an extraordinary amount of money, so what are we doing to ensure that that $63 million is paid to Northerners as they deserve? Thank you.

Thank you, Member from Range Lake. Minister of Finance.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, a CCAA proceeding is a legal proceeding. We are attending at that proceeding and we are a party there as the GNWT. Certainly would want to ensure that anyone that is a company that is -- also has the opportunity to attend at those proceedings. But, Mr. Speaker, at some point, a legal proceeding, I am somewhat limited to speak to. More broadly, though, Mr. Speaker, there's so much activity happening at this point in time with respect to ECE's efforts on the workforce development front and ITI's efforts in terms of supports for businesses. And as well, of course, the question seems to be a little bit difficult in that I am not quite sure if we want to support the mineral industry or don't want to support the mineral industry, but to try to ensure that there was some stability for the industry, some stability for this company, certainly the federal government decided to issue a loan. That was on their decision to do so, but it certainly gave a fair bit of time for companies to be managing their affairs, to be getting paid, and to be having a bit more of a runway before we are at the stage we're at now. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, to be clear, I support the mining industry. I think we all should be supporting the mining industry. It's not their fault this happened; it's the global market conditions. But what has happened is they owe Northerners a lot of money. So if the legal proceedings are not the avenue to do that, then what avenue does our government have? What tools do we have to support the businesses that are owed this? We've already seen 90 jobs leave Hay River and other parts of the Northwest Territories. We're going to see more if this money is not paid. So what are we going to do? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this is a fairly large -- a large breadth of things that need to happen and that are happening. Everything from starting, Mr. Speaker, with respect to working -- worker training programs that are happening for individuals who have been employed at the mines. Fortunately, because of the planned closure for Diavik, that system was already well developed when Burgundy found itself in CCAA. Those pathways have been promoted widely through ITI and ECE and certainly happy to make sure that that information gets out to residents. Beyond that, Mr. Speaker, we're working to ensure that companies and development corporations and communities are ready for the opportunities that we're now seeing. $11 billion coming in for the Department of Defense, three projects that have been around forever, all referred into the major projects office. That's out of the 17 across this country, three here in the Northwest Territories. And we're going to work with businesses and development corporations to make sure they can take advantage of them and be ready to maximize their opportunities. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister of Finance. Final supplementary. Member from Range Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I am not talking about the Ekati workers. I am talking about the businesses that are owed this money where the unsecured debt is. So I don't have the same access to the federal government that the Minister has. It seems like the answer is going to be go to Ottawa anyway, so will the Minister speak to her federal counterparts and tell them to pay this bill? Because someone's got to at the end of the day. Because if it goes sideways and that money isn't paid bout, then we are going to -- these northern companies that have done the work, that have employees that need to be paid to put food on the table, they're not getting what they're owed, and someone has to pay that bill. And if it's not this government, then it should be Ottawa. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, when the diamond markets for -- well, the diamond markets have been struggling now for some time since COVID and not rebounding as they were expected to. During the course of probably about a year ago, Mr. Speaker, it would have been a very sudden and extreme shock were Ekati to have gone immediately into bankruptcy. And, Mr. Speaker, we had been speaking to Ottawa at that time. Ottawa did step in. They have tried to support a restructuring and provided a significant loan. It is a loan. It's certainly not by any means going to be a bailout. It's a loan that bought a significant amount of time. A number of companies that had contacted us and development corporations have had that time now to re-examine their own arrangements, their own workforce arrangements, their own engagements with the mine, and now the situation while we are in a CCAA is not good news, it is a much more orderly proceeding. We are at that proceeding, businesses are at that proceeding, and the federal government is there. And once again, we did speak to and engage with the federal government. They have stepped in to ensure that this could be a sales process, which once again buys a bit more time, allows the process to be more orderly, be more planned, and for all parties, including the businesses, to have an opportunity to see if there's opportunities for them through this process. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister of Finance. Oral questions. Member from Great Slave.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we cannot be fully prepared in accessing opportunities for all residents of the NWT without helping some residents heal. Can the Premier tell me what counselling options, on the land or otherwise, does he discuss as needed and urgent with his Indigenous government counterparts at the Council of Leaders and bilateral meetings. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Great Slave, Mr. Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am lucky to have a strong team around me, so it's the Minister of health who has those discussions at the Council of Leaders and the bilateral meetings. That being said, what the Member is talking about is a constant topic of discussion. I've said before that I think trauma is the biggest issue that our territory faces. What's the point of having economic opportunities if people aren't in a place where they can go take advantage of them. So I fully agree with it from that sense.

At the Council of Leaders, there is a health and social services working group at the officials level which works among all of the Indigenous governments who are involved as well as the Government of the Northwest Territories to look at those different options that would suit Indigenous governments, and that helps inform our advocacy efforts in Ottawa as well as our own policies.

In the last federal budget, there was an announcement of a northern and Arctic health assessment which the federal government is looking across the North at what services are provided, what can they do to enhance services, reduce the need for medical travel, make sure services are closer to home. And we convened a meeting of the Council of Leaders maybe a couple months ago maybe now and we had the federal officials in front of us, and feedback was provided by the Council of Leaders to them.

We always discuss the mental wellness and addiction recovery fund which is a very flexible fund that Indigenous governments and communities can access.

Jordan's Principle, that's always a topic of discussion. And, of course, when -- you know, at the Council of Leaders and bilaterals, we do joint federal engagement. So it's not just us going to Ottawa; it's much more powerful when it's us and our partners discussing these things. I will stop there. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, with that in mind, then, can the Premier explain if and how he advocates for investment and wellness -- investment into wellness and healing when speaking to tables where the major projects and investments from the military are on the table insofar as for us to have the full benefits for everyone in the territory. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And yes, I do combine those two the same way that the Member is saying, without having a healthy population who could take advantage of opportunities what's the point of having opportunities. And so when I meet with the Prime Minister, I raise that very issue. I talk about the trauma in the territory, the great potential that we have in the territory, and our need to ensure residents can take advantage of that potential. So this is something we discuss at the Western Premiers conference as well. So in a lot of my federal engagement, my engagement with other jurisdictions, this is also a topic of discussion, and I make a close connection between those two things, the infrastructure development and the mental wellness. Thank you.

Final supplementary. Member from Great Slave.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I hope those discussions can turn into actions in short order.

Mr. Speaker, last week, the Yukon Government and Canada announced up to $100 million in funding to the Yukon housing corporation who will then distribute $93 million to build up 500 new homes. I know the Premier spoke to 360 homes being developed in this Assembly. Can he elaborate if the NWT is anticipating to see any matching federal dollar announcements to start to address the continued crucial needs for our housing, especially for those who are under-housed and inadequately housed. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So Nunavut has seen a large injection of federal dollars towards social housing. The Member just referenced a contribution to the Government of Yukon. So that's two of the three territories. One more territory left. And so yes, I fully expect that we're going to see some housing money, and I hope to be standing next to the Minister of housing when she makes that announcement. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Premier. Oral questions. Member from the Sahtu.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My follow-up to my statement is to my questions to the Minister of strategic infrastructure there. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My first question, is the Prohibition Creek access road permit being applied for this summer's half-project, 7-kilometre procurement? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from the Sahtu. Minister responsible for Strategic Infrastructure, Energy and Supply Chains.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yes, we are proceeding to have a secured land-use permit and water license application for phase 2. I'd also note, Mr. Speaker, that we have a funding request in through the Arctic infrastructure fund that went to Canada already last month or earlier this month. And with that, Mr. Speaker, I would expect that the full project would move to procurement thereafter but those first two steps have already been taken. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thanks to the Minister for that response.

My next question on the permit that exists here until this November, and that's the DHU-1 quarry permit at Great Bear, the Great Bear Rock area. Is that project -- is that permit going to be executed and tendered out for the permit allowance for drilling and blasting and stockpiling the material for the Bear River bridge this winter? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And, Mr. Speaker, the Member is correct that this is currently a permitted quarry. But beyond that, Mr. Speaker, what we have done is put in -- again, on invitation -- a request for funding for the Great Bear River bridge to come back as a full project. Once we have that funding, we'll be proceeding with the planning phases on that project. The design and planning now are a few years old. With that in hand, we'd be in a better position to go back, and it may be that we'd be renewing the permit and then proceeding to get it fully ready for production. But to do so in advance, Mr. Speaker, we'd be putting it out of sync in terms of wanting to make sure we have the planning and design done and updated on the Great Bear River bridge prior to proceeding with the rock quarry permit. So again, Mr. Speaker, it is permitted for now, I acknowledge that, but we would have to simply bring that back, and I would not anticipate any difficulty in that regard. We are doing a lot of work right now to make sure that Mackenzie Valley Highway actually has a speedy and thorough and smooth procurement -- or sorry, permitting process for its entirety, including this project. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister responsible for Strategic Infrastructure, Energy and Supply Chains. Final supplementary. Member from the Sahtu.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thanks for that information and response from the Minister here. That leads me to the structural Great Bear River bridge that once was designed and procured in 2006. So if the design was completed at that time, it's similar in location, the colour is the same. So given those specs here that do exist, when is this government going to apply for the land-use permit and the water permits necessary for that structural bridge? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we do have the land-use permit and water license applications drafted and ready to roll for the Great Bear River bridge. As I mentioned, we've put the application in on invitation to the Arctic infrastructure fund which would be a significant, significant boost of funding to be able to get some of that work going to bring it back up to speed. It's several years old now. It does need to come back up and make sure we have a cost estimate that is well advanced, not Class D or Class 4, but bring it up so that it's well advanced and we know exactly the cost so we can then move forward with a plan to move out and to get to construction. But we do need to be at that point where we have that initial funding to get to the construction estimate and then at that point move forward. But that is exactly the work that's happening now. And as the Member said, Mr. Speaker, we have the design -- we have a base design, we have a land-use permit, we have a water license. They're historic, they need to be reviewed, they need to be updated, but that's much faster than starting from scratch. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister responsible for Strategic Infrastructure, Energy and Supply Chains. Oral questions. Member from Inuvik Boot Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

As I had said in my Member's statement, Mr. Speakber, there is much anxiety amongst the parents and students in my community right now given the recent announcements. So my first question is fairly simple, Mr. Speaker. My community wants answers, parents and students want answers, answers that can only be given by the authority in charge of education in this territory, Mr. Speaker. My question is simple: What do I tell my constituents we are doing as a government to resolve this issue?

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

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I want to start by reiterating to the Member that I am absolutely deeply committed to ensuring that NWT students have access to quality education, and that includes education in our official languages.

Mr. Speaker, I understand and acknowledge the plight of both students, families, teachers, across this territory that the needs of students have changed over the course of the last decade dramatically. And for that reason, we are taking action to stabilize the education system. While these changes certainly are made at the local level, we do have a role to play here at education, culture and employment and at the Government of the Northwest Territories, and we are taking action to help stabilize our education system in the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So apart from telling my constituents that we are taking action, I understand that, and I understand that the Minister is well aware of what's happening across the territory and that she's certainly passionate about education in this territory, but what I want is what is that action going to be, Mr. Speaker. Is that action going to be in the form of a supplemental appropriation that we can actually approve during this sitting if we'd like to ensure that French immersion is, indeed, still in Inuvik where it's certainly been there for many, many years? So what specific action am I going to go back to my constituents and say this is what this government is going to do to ensure that we don't lose one quarter of our teachers in a community of 3,300 people, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. In short, the answer is yes, there is a supplemental appropriation coming forward specifically for inclusive schooling in the life of this sitting. That supplemental appropriation for inclusive schooling does account for the fact that there are more demands on our school boards and on our education systems.

What we do know from the Beaufort Delta District Education Council is they considered things like enrolment, staffing, sustainability of programs, and also community interest. There are a lot more demands on our school boards across this territory for programming, and that's causing them to have to make very difficult decisions. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Listen, and I appreciate that, that there's a supplemental appropriation coming. But, again, the answer I am looking for is will that supplemental appropriation either through -- I don't know if it's going to be through a ministerial directive or if it's going to be -- is that supplemental appropriation going to ensure that the French immersion continues in Inuvik and it doesn't get cut as was announced last month? Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, under the Education Act, no, I do not have the authority to direct a district education council to have a specific school program like French immersion that they deliver within their schools. So while we set the curriculum, the actual programming that is delivered, that decision is made at the local level. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Oral questions. Member from Mackenzie Delta.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Further to my Member's statement, when someone is allocated a unit they sign a tenancy rental agreement, and one of the clauses is on evictions if they're engaging in any illegal activities within the housing unit.

What is the Minister -- can the Minister outline what steps her department, in collaboration with the local housing authority, are taking to reduce and prevent illegal activity in public housing units across the Northwest Territories? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Mackenzie Delta. Minister responsible for Housing NWT.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this is something that Housing NWT and our territories facing over the last number of years is the rise in illegal activities across the North, specifically in public housing units. But I will tell you this: I don't have much patience for illegal activities in public housing units, and I encourage the local housing organizations to proceed with any type of rental office order and termination notice for leases and evictions. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That's really good news to hear, some implementation on some of these policies.

How does the Minister measure the effectiveness of current responses to illegal activities in public housing, and does she believe those measures are producing meaningful results? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this is again a community issue, a territory-wide issue, and it's something that Housing NWT and our local housing organizations are facing on a daily basis. So the effectiveness is within the community itself. It's working with the staff, it's working with the tenants, it's working with the organizations, and it's working with leadership. We all have to be speaking the same language, especially in a community when we're facing immense illegal activity. We're facing public housing units where tenants are, you know, harbouring drug dealers, and this is really concerning, especially the effects of trauma and the effects with children across the North. So it's something, again, that I work with the local housing organizations and Housing NWT to encourage them, to counsel them, to provide them supports because they're the ones working with the tenants on a daily basis. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister responsible for Housing NWT. Final supplementary. Member from Mackenzie Delta.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Education and implementation of these policies is important and working with the local leadership, working with the housing authorities to ensure that everybody is aware that these measures may be impacting themselves and their families. A lot of them have small children but, you know, they're killing our own people.

So what assurances can the Minister provide to residents who feel unsafe and believe illegal activity in public housing has become normalized in our communities? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is not normal, and that's the message that everybody needs to lend across the North, that this is not normal, and people need to vocalize their concerns to the local housing, to leadership, to community council, to the RCMP. They need to be vocal, and we can't stay silent. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister responsible for Housing NWT. Oral questions. Member from Frame Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

Mr. Speaker, there remain a number of milestones for the polytechnic transition which are behind schedule. Can the Minister detail for the House how she is working with the board to get the college back on track? I know we have some new board members. I am sure they're excited to meet with the Minister. Thank you.

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

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. We do have some new board members. I very much look forward to getting to sit down and meet with them shortly here.

In addition, Mr. Speaker, imminently we expect to be receiving the review back from the external reviewers who provided their evaluation and submitted it to the CAQC out of Alberta. We expect to hear their formal recommendation any day now, and that will give us an idea of what needs to be done for Aurora College to continue to pursue its journey to becoming a polytechnic and through accreditation.

Mr. Speaker, in addition to that, I continue to work very closely with the board chairperson, including advocating for additional funding through federal resources and third party funding as well. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And the Minister perfectly segued into my next question.

Mr. Speaker, I was going to ask, is she seeking funding for campus infrastructure? I know that we need campus upgrades, there's housing upgrades that are needed from the Build Canada Strong fund for our communities to help build up the college and help prepare it for the expansion that will come with the transition. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yes, I am working very closely with the college based on their prioritized direction of what infrastructure they would like to pursue for both third party funding and federal funding as well. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am sure all of us are very excited to hear about the fruits that come from that advocacy, Mr. Speaker.

Thirdly, has the board identified any needs which aren't currently being met to deliver programming, complete the transition, or prepare for the workforce buildup that we're going to need with the major projects announcements? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in this role I can confidently say I have never spoken to any organization who has said don't give us any more money. And certainly there is always ways for institutions, especially educational institutions and especially at opportunities right now, to find different ways to pursue funding and to pursue opportunity. And certainly we're at a time where we're going to have to be very strategic, we're going to have to be very purposeful in our choices, and we're going to have to make sure that we're prioritizing both, you know, education and investment that Northerners are looking for and Northerners need, because we're going to need full classrooms. Thank you.

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

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

Can the Minister identify what resources are available to support Deh Cho community governments in delivering prevention-focused mental health and addiction supports? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Minister of Health and Social Services.

Mr. Speaker, the mental wellness and addiction recovery fund prioritizes Indigenous governments and supports the delivery of community-based mental wellness and addiction recovery programs that meet the unique needs of respected communities. There's the community suicide prevention fund that communities can apply on. And I just want to highlight that the Deh Cho First Nation has a multi-year agreement from 2025 to 2027 and that they are accessing annual funding for mental health and wellness programs for the Deh Cho First Nation. The Ka'a'gee First Nation has also an application under review under the community suicide prevention fund for this year. And the Chief Sunrise Education Centre and KFN has a signed agreement under the suicide prevention fund for their community this year.

Mahsi for that. Can the Minister explain how the GNWT is improving access to mental health and addiction supports for residents in Deh Cho communities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the department is committed to ensuring people can access a variety of flexible mental health and substance use supports based on the unique challenges, needs, available supports. The GNWT provides counselling, GNWT mental health counselling. We now provide detox and facility-based -- we provide detox, and we also provide facility-based addiction treatments. People who want to access facility-based addiction treatments, they can access the mental health supports within their community. We have psychiatric care. We have land and culturally-based healing that we provide funding for to Indigenous governments.

And I just want to highlight that many of our Indigenous governments is -- the fund that we created, we used to have on the land and we had different pots of funding, and we amalgamated them from recommendations from the Indigenous governments so that they could access those and to be able to have multi-year funding so when they were creating and hiring staff and program supports in their communities that were structured for their communities, that they could -- they could gear that. So I can share that again with the Members. There's -- you know, there's multiple, virtual supports for those who want to access virtual supports and many other supports that -- and I can share the online information as well to the Members so they have that there in their offices. Thank you.

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