Debates of May 27th, 2026

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.