Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, homelessness is a complex, multifaceted tragedy experienced by many individuals and families in the Northwest Territories and is an epidemic across Canada. It was my desire to see our government do more for our most vulnerable residents, including those who experience homelessness, that led me into politics. I am very proud to say that later today I will table A Way Home: A Comprehensive Strategy to Address Homelessness in the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, the factors that lead to homelessness are often complicated and nuanced, as are the supports needed to prevent it and help those living in it. Our government recognizes the need for a more integrated approach to addressing homelessness. This is why we have committed to developing a whole-of-government strategy to address homelessness in the NWT.

Mr. Speaker, there is no one-size-fits-all solution that will prevent and end all homelessness in the Northwest Territories. To develop and implement person-centered solutions, we must commit to working together with multiple GNWT departments and with Indigenous and community partners. We have the knowledge and the expertise, and many of the programs and services needed, to significantly reduce homelessness by addressing the factors that lead to homelessness.

Mr. Speaker, this document incorporates the feedback received on the draft homelessness strategy tabled on March 30th, 2023. I would like to thank the Indigenous governments, community governments, non-governmental organizations, private industry stakeholders, and members of the public for their contributions to this long-awaited strategy. I would also like to thank the Standing Committee on Social Development for their thoughtful feedback on the draft strategy and for their recent report on homelessness prevention which helped inform the action areas outlined in this strategy.

This strategy sets the path towards strengthening our collective efforts to addressing homelessness and to providing better support to individuals and families experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, homelessness. The strategy identifies actions that we can take to practically address homelessness in all its forms, including enhancing supports for those at risk of becoming homeless and improving person-centered services for those experiencing chronic homelessness. The ultimate goal proposed by the strategy is to support all communities in the territory to achieve "functional zero" homelessness.

A functional zero objective recognizes that, while we cannot expect homelessness to be fully eradicated, we can take action to ensure that homelessness is prevented wherever possible, and when individuals and families do experience homelessness it is brief, rare, and non-recurring.

Mr. Speaker, our continued collaboration with community partners is essential for achieving these goals. The actions identified in the strategy recognize the important contributions of Indigenous, community, and non-governmental partners in implementing people-centered solutions. The Government of the Northwest Territories has an important role in supporting these partners across the territory as they continue to identify and implement local solutions that address homelessness.

In addition to identifying a need for better collaboration with partners, this strategy acknowledges the need for improved coordination of the Government of the Northwest Territories' programs and services. It outlines the importance of ensuring that these programs and services align with the needs of the territorial residents and communities. The Government of the Northwest Territories program design and service delivery should not be a barrier to access.

Mr. Speaker, a home is more than just a roof over your head. It is a connection to the land and the water, culture and family. This strategy recognizes the need to honour individuals' agency, dignity, and strengths, and to connect them with the culturally-safe support they need. I would like to once again express thanks to Indigenous governments and organizations, community governments, non-governmental partners, and the public for their contributions in developing this strategy. I look forward to continuing to work alongside all of you to make meaningful change through our collective efforts to address homelessness in the Northwest Territories. Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document: Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 1487-19(2): Public Inquiry into Kosmos 954
Crash. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I did not mean to imply any negative. It was an observation. When I was talking, I looked at the Member and the Member was -- had some very serious facial expressions. It was an observation. I perhaps inappropriately spoken out. So I will take whatever consequences that the Speaker feels justified. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I actually agree with the Member a hundred percent, so. I heard from -- and I will use an example on that. The previous grand chief of the Tlicho government said that too many times politicians listen, but they don't hear. But that same grand chief, before the election came, said to all of his council this Premier not only listens, she hears. So I just want to say that, that's important that we all not only listen, that we hear what they're saying.

As for the ongoing implementation plan, yes, there will be some work on that. Mr. Speaker, this -- these -- this work is not going to happen overnight. This work is going to take decades and decades, years and years, to get through. And so that is a commitment that other legislations are going to have to do. But we're not waiting for it.

Mr. Speaker, we've done a lot with the -- around the United Nations Declaration, and not with -- without even hearing the words, we've done a lot because it's the right thing to do, to work in partnership with Indigenous governments. As a Metis woman, I hold that to heart. And, I mean, the Member can make faces at me, whatever she wants, but I do know that it is important to me as an Indigenous woman.

Mr. Speaker, I'll just ignore that that she's making faces but I'll ignore that. So in this -- in this government, we're not waiting --

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think it all depends on semantics, how you phrase things. So you can say five out of 15 never signed, or you can say ten out of 15 have signed. And there was a protocol, Mr. Speaker, that within the Council of Leaders we knew that we wouldn't have 100 percent, and Indigenous governments said we want to have majority. They defined what it would look like because that was the principles we're working on. So as we're working with the ones that haven't, there was various reasons. Even some that think that the GNWT aren't a public government, I won't name, I have had meetings with. I have meetings all the time. But as for the act itself, Mr. Speaker, there is a protocol now that is being read into the House. The committee is doing their work. I am not trying to under step committee. I am waiting until the committee is finished their work and brings back the recommendations because it would be inappropriate, in my opinion, Mr. Speaker, to be trying to get them to sign onto something when committee is out there doing their work at this point.

But, Mr. Speaker, I have very open-door relationships with the Indigenous governments, and at any time -- in fact, every chief has my phone number. They phone me day and night. I'm always willing to meet with them. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Actually, I won't speak about the court process. That's still in the process so I'll wait to see what happens. But I am a bit puzzled actually. I was just talking to the chair, Duane Smith yesterday, and I thought we had a good relationship. So I'm not sure about the eroded trust. I know that health has been working closely with their departments. I know I get along really well with the president. But I will make a point, Mr. Speaker, because I am meeting with him coming up here in the next few days that I'll actually sit down and talk to him. If there's an eroded trust, then I don't want to wait until after this. I want to address it now. When this first got brought to as a concern, I did meet with the president of the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation and shared my concerns. I thought we had a good understanding. But I guess the Member has different information, and I'll find out. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As stated, right now all those agreements are in the final stage of them; they are in the consultation phase. I have sent letters to the Indigenous governments applicable saying here's the agreements. They are in confidence, let me know if you have concerns. I can't speed up -- I'm not willing to push them on that. But if the Member thinks that he should -- that we should, then I would invite the Member. I'll give the list of the Indigenous governments. He's more than willing to write a letter to them and say he wants it done by this Assembly. But, Mr. Speaker, I've been firm all through this Assembly, and I've stated that with the United Nations Declaration, if we respect Indigenous governments, then it cannot be on the timeline of this Assembly so that Members here can take glory. It has to be done right. And that means that the Indigenous governments have to be ready to sign on. I'm ready to sign today. But I respect them, and I will wait until they have done their process. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think in this term of this government we've done a lot in regards to land claims, self-government agreements. In fact, we had two years of COVID that people don't -- would rather not remember, including myself, and that often I've said you can't talk about that. But the amount of work that this government has done in the two years after COVID with these agreements has been phenomenal, Mr. Speaker. As I said yesterday, we have three agreements in draft. They're not called draft because they're not done or proposed. They're called draft, Mr. Speaker, because part of the process of actually doing agreements is that we have to consult with all the other Indigenous governments to make sure that they don't have concerns, that we're not impeding on their rights. So they're called draft, Mr. Speaker, because once we get that consultation process done, which usually takes between four months to eight months, then we have a final agreement. But in that time, if an Indigenous government says, whoa, you're stepping on my rights, I'm not okay with this, then we may have to change that agreement and that's why they're called draft, Mr. Speaker. So I am hopeful that at least one of them -- the Norman Wells Self-Government Agreement -- I am hopeful that we'll be able to sign it off final agreement in this government. At that time, it would be public.

In saying that, Mr. Speaker, if it's not done, all three in this government, I would say in very early in the next government that that agreement will be the first one to cross the line. And once they're done, I believe they're public. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, like I said earlier, all agreements are a little bit different in terminology. Some of the agreements actually have it that they can be opened at any time. I do think that if agreements -- I think that an agreement that's signed at any time should actually be looked into it. It should not be something that is one time, if you made a mistake you're stuck with it forever. However, in saying that, Mr. Speaker, I'm also very conscious of the amount of agreements that we want to get across the table and so, therefore, Mr. Speaker, I've been really focusing on getting the unsigned agreements done but still being flexible and working as much as possible with the existing agreements and the Indigenous governments applicable. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.