Debates of June 4th, 2026

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

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize Kam Lake residents, and my neighbours, Carole Tetlow and Randy Cleveland and thank Randy for insisting Carol let him take him out for dinner or take her out for dinner over 50 years ago, because otherwise I wouldn't be here. Thank you.

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member from Mackenzie Delta.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I too would like to recognize Sue Look, Alice Charley, Annie Rose McNabb, and Bella Husky. Welcome to the chambers. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Mackenzie Delta. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member from Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, I will start by recognizing and thanking the pages who have been so diligently helping us out this week who are from YK North. We have Annika Oguta, Louisa Casey, and Cooper Dempsey-Pickles. Thank you for your patience and work this week. And of course I also want to recognize YK North constituent Marie Wilson, not only former Commissioner of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, member of the Order of Canada and Order of NWT, and also more recently an author. And I apologize for other constituents that might be in the gallery that I cannot see. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to also recognize Mrs. Esther Semmler. We are proud to boast that she's a Frame Lake resident. And also my friend, Kyla Kakfwi-Scott. I always appreciate her sagely advice and appreciate her work in the Assembly. And I just wanted to note that Mr. John Gon has been part of the new interpreters program and has been in and out of the Assembly, and I wanted to thank him for his work, as well as all the interpreters, always, for their hard work. And, of course -- I am being poked here. I wanted to also note Regan Junkin, my new constituency assistant who, as Kate said, has been doing a fantastic job and we're so happy to have her in the office. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wanted to start by recognizing the interpreters. It's not something I've often done, but I sped through my Minister's statement today as I saw the clock tick down. So thank you for your work, and I am sorry. And, Mr. Speaker, I also wanted to recognize I have a returning page from the Yellowknife South, hoping that he might come in the room, and I am lucky. Joshua Kostache, thank you for all your hard work. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Yellowknife South. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I too would like to recognize everybody in the gallery. Welcome. Good to see everybody here today. Also, I would like to recognize the interpreters, all of them that are here, including Jonas Lafferty and Maro Rose Sundberg, Bertha Catholique, and Dennis. I just want to say mahsi. I am happy you guys are here. Mahsi.

Thank you, Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member from YK Centre.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am first going to thank the Member from Mackenzie Delta pointing out that somebody in the gallery is a constituent of the Yellowknife Centre, and that's Ms. Bella Husky. I've been a friend of hers for a long time. I am not with spectacles today so I can't see that far, but I also heard through recognition that Ms. Kyla Kakfwi-Scott is also in the gallery. And I know she likes being recognized. No, she's very shy so she's probably like, err, please to stop. That said, I wish to welcome them and all their friends today. Thank you.

Thank you, Member from Yellowknife Centre. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member from Range Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yeah, we've got many returning pages today and over the course of the week so I'd like to recognize Range Lake page Isaac Straeder for his hard work over the course of our sitting. It's been a small but mighty sitting, and he's done a great job. Thank you, Isaac.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I too would like to rise and recognize everyone in the chamber, as well as in the gallery, as well as the translator for Dene Zhatié, Mary Jane Cazon. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from the Deh Cho. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. If we've missed anyone today, we would like to thank you very much for allowing us to represent the people of Northwest Territories for a short period of time. We greatly appreciate that. I hope you enjoy the proceedings. It is always nice to see people in the gallery.

Notices of motion. Motions. Member from Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River North, that notwithstanding Rule 2.1, when the House adjourns on Thursday, June 4, 2026, it shall be adjourned until Tuesday, October 20, 2026;

AND FURTHER, that any time prior to October 20, 2026, if the Speaker is satisfied after consultation with the Executive Council and Members of the Legislative Assembly that the public interest requires that the House should meet at an earlier or later time during the adjournment, the Speaker may give notice;

AND THEREUPON, the House shall meet at the time stated in such notice and shall transact its business as it has been duly adjourned to that time.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Yellowknife North. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? All those abstaining? Motion carried.

---Carried

Motions. Member from Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

WHEREAS the Consensus Government Process Convention on Priority Setting and Reporting calls for the establishment of a Special Committee on Transition Matters;

AND WHEREAS transition to a new Assembly is an appropriate time for reporting on matters of ongoing action, discussion and consideration;

AND WHEREAS Members of the 21st Legislative Assembly may wish to consider how to build on the direction and deliberations of the 20th Legislative Assembly;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River North, that pursuant to Rule 9.2(8), the Legislative Assembly hereby establish a Special committee on transition matters;

AND FURTHER, that the following Members be named to the Special committee:

• Mrs. Sheryl Yakeleya, Member for Deh Cho;
• Mr. Julian Morse, Member for Frame Lake;
• Mr. George Nerysoo, Member for Mackenzie Delta;
• Honourable Lucy Kuptana, Member for Nunakput;
• Mr. Daniel McNeely, Member for Sahtu; and
• Honourable Jay MacDonald, Member for Thebacha.

AND FURTHERMORE, that the Special Committee on Transition Matters be established by the terms of reference, identified as Tabled Document 533-20(1).

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.