Thank you, Member from Frame Lake. Members' statements. Member from Deh Cho.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the safety and well-being of children is one of the most important responsibilities we hold. When concerns are raised, they must be met with honesty and accountability. Policies and programs matter, but the hefty lifting is done by the people who show up for our children every day. That work deserves recognition.

Today I want to show my gratitude to our community workers, along with our teachers, mentors, first responders, and everyone who helps to care for and protect children in our communities. I also want to recognize two people, one of which has been awarded for the work he did in our community of Fort Providence. Both are greatly appreciated and honoured for their contributions to the community.

First, I want to recognize Constable Andrew Nunez. Andrew was recently honoured with the 2026 recipient of the IOD RCMP Community Relations Award for his contributions to the community engagement in Fort Providence. He is a former child protection worker, which speaks to his longstanding commitment to children and community safety. Congratulations to Constable Andrew Nunez.

I also want to recognize Thursten Gohl. Thursten has been honoured for his dedication as a coach and mentor for the positive example he sets for young people. His service reminds us how powerful it can be when a young person has someone steady in their corner. A big mahsi to Thursten.

Mr. Speaker, children and community members remember the adults who made them feel safe and cared for. They remember the person who believed in their future. In small communities, that kind of presence can change a life.

To all the community workers who continue to carry the weight of a community system, to Andrew and Thursten and to everyone who cares for and protects children, thank you. Your work matters deeply, and our communities are stronger because of you. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from the Deh Cho. Members' statement. Member from Yellowknife North.

Mr. Speaker, we need to get our act together with our apprenticeship and trades program. It's not serving apprentices or employers the way it should be, and now more than ever this territory needs skilled tradespeople. If we're going to build and maintain the new housing we need, if we're to ensure upcoming major projects actually use northern labour, if we are to boost employment numbers in smaller communities, all of these need a well-functioning apprenticeship program.

First, we need to seize every opportunity and be more flexible to offer trades programs closer to people's home communities. That way, they can maintain more continuity with their employers while literally building up their own communities.

Now, we have an ATOC board that is set up to be a bridge between industry and government and advise the Minister but ATOC seems to have no role in directing or advising Aurora College which is, of course, our only trades training provider. That's a problem because the college is arm's length from the Minister and a lot of the valuable feedback from employers relates to problems with implementation.

For example, the college often doesn't offer courses every single year so unless an apprentice is given special permission to go down south to continue their training, they have to wait a year or two which stalls their progress and momentum. Sometimes college trades courses are even cancelled at the very last minute, leaving students high and dry.

There's no formal system to connect employers with apprentices whereas an employer could call up an Alberta Trades Institute and get a list of, say, second-year electrician apprentices they could reach out to. But ECE or Aurora College can't offer that information so an employer has to wait for students to come to them.

We have heard a major bottleneck is a shortage of Red Seal journeypersons. One strategy might be to assess whether there are cases where a journeyperson might be able to safely supervise more than two apprentices at a time, which is currently the limit in our regulation.

Mr. Speaker, these are just a few ideas to help draw attention to the need to improve our apprenticeship and trades program to ensure the success of our apprentices, our northern businesses, and ultimately our territory. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to continue, like my colleagues, on the auditor general's report with respect to the child and family services. Mr. Speaker, it's not that just things are getting worse. It's the fact that we can't seem to realize or recognize how much worse they're getting.

Mr. Speaker, if I was, in theory, to provide an armchair diagnosis on this government, I would say it's somewhere between the Frank Sinatra stubbornness of doing it my way or the ODD, that's the oppositional defiant disorder, Mr. Speaker, because the government doesn't seem to want to take advice and realize the concerns we're raising.

Mr. Speaker, if the 2026 Auditor General's Report wasn't just bad enough, again I quote the former Minister in 2028, it was gut-wrenching, that report. Sorry, I said 2028, my apologies, I meant 2018. And the 2014 report was an abysmal failure. That in itself should have been a call to action to the facts, if anything the baseline. One would stand to wonder, repeatedly, doesn't the auditor general have more important files to go to? No, apparently this is the file they keep coming back to and saying things aren't getting better and no one seems to be changing that.

Mr. Speaker, you know when things go wrong when the government spends more time defending how great they are and the Minister, and I think they've lost focus. And the focus is this:

The razor focus we have, along this side of the room, at least most of us I should say, is the kids that are the victims of this process. And while we hear things like oh, everything's fine, we got modest improvements. Well, the auditor general is the gold standard of reports. This is an abysmal failure, Mr. Speaker. So let us get on the vanguard of solutions and let's turn inaction to action, Mr. Speaker.

Now, I personally am going to say they haven't failed me; they've disappointed me. But they failed the children that are intended to be in the custody. And when I look to the Minister, Mr. Speaker, and say she's disappointed me, again I say she was doing a heroic job in the four years she was a Member. So what happened that turned the lights out on this issue? So the Minister has been in charge of this issue for 909 days. I say to this, if you're not interested in making things improvement, ask for a shuffle, Mr. Speaker. And I want to finish by sincerely saying I thank the Minister for joining us today so we can deal with this issue face to face.

Member from Range Lake, can you please withdraw that last comment.

Withdrawn.

Members' statements. Member's statement. Member from Hay River South.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate an incredible but unique milestone, the 56th Anniversary of a legendary northern institution, Buffalo Airways. Talking to Mikey McBride the other day and I asked him why 56 years was a time to celebrate? In his usual comical tone, why not? We kept forgetting about all the other years.

What started as a small, ambitious business in Hay River, like others Kingland Ford, Wesclean Queen, and Igloo Building Supplies, Buffalo has grown to a world famous aviation icon. Founded by Buffalo Joe McBryan himself, this family-operated company has spent over half a century providing hard northern work and mastering the skies of the North with any weather.

Mr. Speaker, Buffalo Airways is the definition of a northern success story. From its humble beginnings flying under-serviced routes, it has expanded to reach far beyond the borders of the Northwest Territories. Today, it is recognized globally. Millions of people from around the world know their name, their vintage aircraft, the northern spirit and through the television show they had, merchandise and a numerous global fan base. I will also mention Mikey's YouTube channel.

But their fame has never changed their local humble heart. Buffalo always remained deeply committed to the communities that built them. They are a lifeline for the north. They deliver critical cargo, transport passengers with their charters, and provide essential firefighting services to help protect our North during wildfire seasons. During the 2023 wildfire in the Hay River area, Buffalo Airways soared high and transported many of our needs. They worked nonstop for us in the area and transported many people with the wildland urban interface program from Alberta, but they also transported essential cargo to Hay River.

Mr. Speaker, Buffalo Airways brings the spirit of the Northwest Territories to the global stage. I want to congratulate the McBryan family on the success of Buffalo Airways. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Hay River South.

Colleagues, I had the opportunity to witness Enbridge Line 21 full-scale emergency response exercise last year at N'dulee Crossing, Fort Simpson and Fort McMurray, underscoring the critical importance of robust emergency preparedness on the Norman Wells Line 21 pipeline system and demonstrated the high standard of training delivered by private industry in partnership with northern and Indigenous communities. This multi-day exercise showed how detailed planning, realistic field deployment, and genuine collaboration can reduce risk to land, water, and communities along the pipeline corridor.

At its core, the full-scale exercise was designed to test how Enbridge and its partners could respond to a potential incident on Line 21 from early notification and command decision-making through on-the-ground containment and recovery actions. By the activity and evaluation, evaluating the company's emergency response plan in real time, the exercise provided an opportunity to verify that internal procedures, communication, and logistics are not only complementary with regulatory expectations but also practical and effective in the unique condition of the Deh Cho and Sahtu region.

This kind of scenario-based training is essential to ensuring that if an incident occurred, responders are acting from practical experience rather than theory.

Equally important, the exercise highlighted the growing role of Indigenous governments and local leadership in shaping and delivering emergency response. Collaboration with Liiklii Kue First Nation, the communities of Wrigley, Fort Simpson, Jean Marie, Sambaa K'e, Norman Wells, Tulita, and one Alberta community, was not a symbolic gesture but a recognition that these who live along the line bring critical knowledge of the land, river system, and community needs. Their participation helped ensure that response strategies respected community priorities, traditional use areas, and culture value while also building mutual confidence that local perspectives are embedded in emergency planning. This approach reflected a broader shift towards partnership-based emergency management and that support reconciliation and shared partnership.

The Deh Cho focused activities during the FSE showcased the scale and professionalism of the private sector response capabilities. Establishing an incident command centre in Fort McMurray to oversee field operations at N'dulee Crossing and Fort Simpson demonstrated Enbridge is prepared to coordinate complex multi-site responses using recognized incident command structures and integrated planning.

Recognizing the time, I would like the rest of the statement be deemed as read and printed in Hansard.

In closing, I would like to thank Enbridge for including me in the exercise. It was an eye-opener, and I feel comfortable they are prepared for the future.

The participation of representatives from Norman Wells, Tulita, Wrigley, Fort Simpson, Jean Marie River, Sambaa K'e, and Chateh ensured that decision-makers could see first-hand how an incident would be managed and how information would flow between the IMC, field teams, and affected communities.

On the ground, the exercise mobilized approximately 111 Enbridge personnel, 34 local contractors, 8 on-site observers, 14 observers at the IMC, and 4 regulatory representatives, supported by 3 helicopters and 6 Enbridge boats. This level of deployment reflects a significant private-sector investment in equipment, training, and logistics capacity dedicated to environmental protection and public safety. Involving local contractors not only builds regional economic benefits but also ensures that people with direct knowledge of local rivers, currents, and access routes are fully integrated into response teams.

The Emergency Response (ER) Day and community feast in Fort Simpson, which drew an estimated 200300 community members, were equally important components of the exercise. By making response equipment visible and explaining how it would be used during a real incident, Enbridge and its partners helped demystify emergency operations and provided residents with a clearer sense of what to expect and how to engage if something goes wrong. Public-facing events like this build transparency and trust, giving community members a chance to ask questions, share concerns, and see that safety is supported by real, tested capability rather than assurances alone.

Taken together, the 2025 Line 21 Full-Scale Exercise demonstrates that high-quality training led by private industry, when done in partnership with Indigenous governments, local contractors, and regulators, is a cornerstone of responsible resource development in the North. It strengthens technical readiness, deepens relationships with communities along the pipeline, and helps ensure that, if an emergency occurs, responders are equipped both professionally and culturally to protect people, lands, and waters.

Members' statements. Member from Nunakput.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as Member for Nunakput, I'd like to offer my condolences to the many families whose loved ones have passed on in the last number of months.

Condolences to the family of Miss Lucy Wolki with her recent passing - one of our matriarchs of Tuktoyaktuk, an elder, a sister, a mother, and annannak. A kind and gentle soul.

Condolences to the family with the recent passing of Ms. Violet Kikoak I saw Violet grow up from a young girl in our community and take care of her parents and raise her family, a mother, annanak and sister. Violet was kind and a friend to many.

Condolences to the family with the recent passing of Mr. James Adam - a young man, a husband, father and son to Sandy and Sarah. Another tough loss for the family with so many young children.

Condolences to the family of Mr. David Noksana Sr. with his recent passing - an elder, a father, attatak, and brother. A good friend to many. David had many talents and was a confident person.

Ms. Louisa Gruben. Condolences to the family of Louisa with her recent passing. Louisa is a mother, annanak, sister, and good friend to many in the community. Louisa always let others stay in her House when they had no place to stay at home.

Condolences to the family of Mr. Freddie Voudrach. Freddie is a husband, father, attatak and a friend to many in the community. He would stop me in the Northern store and ask how his MLA was doing and make sure you take good care of us.

Condolences to Millie and the family of Mr. John Russell with his recent passing. John was a local businessman and a hardworking individual that took care of his family - a husband, a father, and attatak.

Condolences to the family of Ms. Maria Pokiak. A very young lady who left behind young children, a difficult loss - a mother, a sister, and a daughter. She will be missed.

Condolences to the family of Mrs. Linda Thrasher. Linda was a quiet individual in the community but always had a ready smile. She will be missed. A mother, annanak, and sister.

We lost another elder in our community, Mrs. Dora Raddi. Dora was a mother, annanak, and a sister. She struggled in the last few years but was so strong. Condolences to the family.

Mr. Fred Emaghok passed away in Whitehorse where he had lived for a number of years but was brought home to his family for burial. Condolences to the Emaghok family.

There has so much loss throughout the region. It's difficult especially in the smaller communities as it is much more apparent, and I want to provide my condolences as many times as MLA I am not able to the service. Quyananni Mr. Speaker.

Our condolences to all the families. And thank you for the recognition in this House today.

Members' statements. Members' statements. Return to oral questions. Return to oral questions. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member from Range Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am very pleased to recognize two of my neighbours from the Range Lake riding, Hannah and Elise Neudorf. Elise is five months old so I am excited that she's getting her first look at democracy in action. I'd also like to recognize Fiona Ray. Fiona is an Indigenous social worker. She also happens to be the daughter of Gordon Ray who was a former Member and Minister of this Assembly. Thank you all for being here today and observing our proceedings.

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

I wish to follow in the same vein as my colleague for Range Lake. I'd also like to recognize Fiona Ray, a social worker, a warrior for the cause to keep machinery running. And we don't have enough Fionas up there, and I really wish we do. And I've known her for a long time. But I also want to say, a shout out to the memory of her father. He was a good friend of mine. I knew him in his post-political career but I also remember him when I was a page here, and that he was always such a wonderful man to get to know. And when you crossed his -- when you crossed his way, point of view of the world, he made sure he told you. He had an opinion, and it was usually quite sharp. But I miss him because he was a great guy.

Thank you, Member from Yellowknife Centre. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. If we missed anyone in the gallery today, welcome to your chambers. You've allowed us, the 19, to be present and represent the people of Northwest Territories. I hope you are enjoying the proceedings, and it is always nice to see people in the gallery.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to acknowledge the graduation of Christina Johnston from the Aurora College school of health and human services with a Bachelor of Science in nursing degree. Christina was born and raised in Yellowknife's Range Lake riding, and her family has a history of working in the medical field. She continues a journey now in nursing as a registered nurse in the Northwest Territories. Congratulations on this milestone, Christina. I am looking forward to your promising career in northern nursing. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Acknowledgements. Oral questions. Member from Great Slave.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister of Health and Social Services explain what parties within the GNWT provided the extensive requirements for a new electronic health records system RFP; that is, if the oversight included end users such as healthcare professionals, both medical and administrative, as well as technical or subject experts. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Great Slave. Minister of Health and Social Services.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the requirements that were developed through a structured collaborative process led by the department working closely with three health and social services authorities. There were nearly 500 people across the GNWT health system who provided input. This included frontline users such as physicians, nurses, allied health professionals, administrative staff who use the electronic records every day. Their involvement ensured that the requirements reflect the real practical needs in the healthcare setting. It also included technical and subject-matter experts who were involved, including IT specialists, health informatic professionals, privacy and security experts, and procurement advisors. Thank you.