Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today marks the 18th year anniversary for the Bear River Bridge application from the Department of Transportation to the Sahtu Land and Water Board dated February the 22nd, 2006. It is a historic annual on the Sahtu determination. The milestones continue in collaboration between the Sahtu Secretariat Incorporated and the Government of the Northwest Territories on the $140 million infrastructure funding announcement dated June 2018.

Mr. Speaker, this determination continued by witnessing the April 2019 signing of the memorandum of understanding for both parties to champion the Mackenzie Valley Highway regulatory process.

In achieving this, Mr. Speaker, Sahtu determination seen the submission of the DAR, or Developers Assessment Report, October 12th, 2023. This submission starts the Mackenzie Valley Highway project environmental assessment. Mr. Speaker, the Sahtu determination continues with enthusiasm to complete and resubmit the Great Bear River Bridge permit application.

In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, critical to project's fruition is permitting and funding. In recognition, this project has a pre-equity position. Projects are essential to public transit while creating a disposable economy. Mr. Speaker, in tribute, the Cece McCauley legacy continues. Mahsi cho.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To the motion, I can only -- not being from a community that was directly impacted, I could only imagine, and I can't say any more than what was already said by my colleagues. When I look around this room, the majority of the leaders here represent communities that seen flames. And from the Sahtu, looking at the outside looking in, the pictures that I've seen on social media throughout the summer and into the fall is so harsh or so dramatic or so devastating to put it into words, and when I hear stories of a vehicle stopping at the flames and the ladies putting their head down and crying in fear of going further, it just goes to show the trauma that is still experienced and the nightmares of what was seen months ago.

In the spirit of what my colleagues are saying here, we're not to point fingers or put blame but learn from it; learn from decisions that were being made. This is learning by examples on developing your experienced skills so in the future you can make proper decisions from the experience you had. Now, having an independent third party with a different set of lens will share the views of a thorough third party investigation, if you want to use that word. But I'm sympathetic -- not sympathetic, I'm in total support of this motion for those reasons. We don't want to put blame. We want to learn from it and want to move on. And this Assembly, I think, is seeded with reputable leaders to do just that. Now there's other incidental costs that might come in effect, but that's part of the job we're here to do.

So in saying that, Mr. Speaker, mahsi, I will be supporting this motion to simply restore trust and show the people that we are here, we heard them, we fully understand. And I just wish to say God bless them, and I hope that they don't have traumatized nightmares moving forward. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My last question to the Minister on the subject here is I'm very glad that there's a working relationship, more importantly communication with the department and the communities so the community leaders could feel very comfortable and safe as we approach the summer months here.

My next question is, is the department working to upgrade the emergency response plans in each community? Mahsi.

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

Moving on to my next question, I'm glad to see that there is a monitoring assessment and an inventory of these holdover fires in the different locations across the territory. In particular, I've heard remarks made to me on several sites along the winter road south of Tulita, so if the Minister could put that on the radar for assessment.

My next question is is there communications underway with each community on the assessment and inventory catalog to the holdover fires close to the communities? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Further to my statement on holdover fires aka zombie fires, my first question to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, in preparation for the upcoming 2024 summer fire season what is the Department of ECC doing to assess holdover fires in our territory? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, holdover fires is inevitable in many parts of the Northwest Territories, a harsh reminder of last summer's wildfire disasters. NWT residents not only remember; they never forgot the devastation and most importantly losses. It is unimaginable the trauma that family displacements left with direct losses.

Mr. Speaker, these fires smolder through the winter only to return in the spring and are becoming a huge cause for concern amongst researchers and fire managers. Mr. Speaker, as of January the 1st, Alberta wildfires is reporting 51 active wildfires in the province - a notice of reality, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, last summer was a unprecedented year for wildfires throughout Canada. The Northwest Territories seen the loss of 4 million hectares. Mr. Speaker, by no means I share this statement to residents on reliving the past or the trauma, only taking a proactive measure on fire management readiness and preparedness with the first step on holdover fire assessments. Later I will have questions for the appropriate Minister. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the Minister share that review with this side of the House here so we can see what work has been done and what policy recommendations, particularly the recommendations themselves, to the review? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thanks for the reply to the Minister. My next question there, Mr. Speaker, is looking at the structure and how to update that from 2016, will the Minister conduct a governance review of the TLC and regional wellness councils to review on recommendations for updating this current system? Mahsi.