Thank you, Member for Kam Lake. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.

MS. SEMMLER: COMMITTEE APPROACH

Committee took two approaches to this report. First, a suicide prevention approach that is focused on strategies that reduce the likelihood of someone losing their life to suicide, participating in suicidal behaviours, or suicidal thoughts (suicidal ideation). Second, a trauma-informed approach that recognizes a person holistically and acknowledges that a person may have or is currently experiencing trauma. Committee incorporated this approach several ways, including centering the voices of individuals with lived experience, providing private and confidential listening sessions, and only asking questions with consent.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Youth-led Mental Health and Wellness Conference

"Throughout the process, avoid tokenization. Have lots of youth. Value their lived experience. The youth of today have the insights and experience needed to represent what NWT youth are experiencing." This was from Community Building Youth Futures.

Youth want a youth-led territory-wide conference in a regional centre or small community outside of Yellowknife that focuses on fostering mental health and wellness with workshops and activities. Potential topics for workshops and activities mentioned were positive relationship development, emotional intelligence, healthy ways to manage grief, anti-bullying, practicing advocacy and grassroots movements, sobriety, self-care, Indigenous languages, Indigenous culture, trauma and intergenerational trauma, mental health first aid, grant proposal writing, sports, and art. Youth require support from the Government of the Northwest Territories to advance this undertaking. Youth-led organizations want to lead and develop a conference but need the GNWT's financial and human resource support.

Committee believes a youth-led conference can be organized within six months. Committee therefore recommends:

Recommendation 1: The Department of Health and Social Services provide financial and human resource support to youth-led non-governmental organizations to host a territorial youth conference on mental health and wellness before the end of the 19th Assembly.

Mr. Speaker, I'd like to pass it on to the Member for Deh Cho.

Thank you, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes. Member for Hay River North.

HON. R.J. SIMPSON: Background

The special committee began work on December 4, 2020 and heard from legal experts, scholars, researchers, Indigenous governments and nations, and the GNWT. On March 30, 2022, the committee published the interim report: "what we heard" about the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and Negotiating Agreements, summarizing the comments, issues and outlooks expressed by experts, scholars, Indigenous governments and organizations, and the GNWT. Throughout the process, we respected the confidentiality requirements of ongoing negotiations and the confidentiality commitments of the Indigenous governments and nations. The interim report is attached to this report as Appendix A. Public presentations were recorded and are available on the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly YouTube Channel.

This Report

As a result of the committee's deliberations during the past two years, committee is making a series of recommendations aimed at:

• Ensuring informed governance.
• Enabling an NWT constitutional framework.
• Monitoring UNDRIP implementation.
• Making GNWT policies consistent with UNDRIP, and
• Moving land agreements to a conclusion.

ENSURING INFORMED GOVERNANCE

Most legislatures, including the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly, provide orientation programs to new Members. The information generally focuses on the functioning of the NWT legislature, consensus government principles and process conventions, rules and procedures, Caucus, Cabinet and committees, budget process, legislature services and issue briefings.

In Caucus, all Members develop the priorities at the beginning of the term for a Legislative Assembly. The committee heard that educating Members in Caucus on Indigenous negotiation tables and current mechanisms for collaboration would be an excellent opportunity to share the perspectives of Indigenous governments. In addition, presentations to Caucus would show the different ways to view UNDRIP.

Committee agrees that it is an excellent opportunity to inform Members at the beginning of a new Assembly on the jurisdictions of all governments and the mechanisms for discussion and finding solutions.

Committee impresses on the Assembly and the GNWT not to underestimate the significance of existing mechanisms in their role of moving reconciliation forward and preparing the implementation of UNDRIP.

Consequently, committee makes the following recommendation:

Recommendation 1: The Special Committee on Reconciliation and Indigenous Affairs recommends that

1. the Office of the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly includes in all transition and orientation material for all MLAs post-election, and
2. the Office of the Secretary to Cabinet of the Government of the Northwest Territories includes in post-election materials specific to Cabinet

an introduction to the history and role of each of the following:

1. NWT Council of Leaders
2. Modern Treaty and Self-Government Partners Forum
3. Intergovernmental Council and Intergovernmental Council Secretariat
4. The jurisdictions of public government, exclusive and inclusive Indigenous governments
5. NWT Council of Leaders UNDRIP Memorandum of Understanding.

I would like to pass the reading on to the MLA for Yellowknife South. Thank you.

Good afternoon colleagues. Wasn't that a great way to start our sitting? Please join me in thanking the Kole Crook Fiddlers for starting things off here today and, especially their great leader, Linda Duford.

---Applause

I also want to thank Sarah Cleary for our opening prayer today. Thank you.

---Applause

Colleagues, we last convened in this Chamber on November 3, 2022, and it is great to be back. I know you have been busy with your duties as members, Ministers, and with committees, but I hope that everyone had a wonderful holiday season and are feeling refreshed and prepared for this sitting. I know that I am looking forward to it.

Before we begin, I want to take a moment to congratulate our Team NWT athletes who competed in the 2023 Arctic Winter Games in Alberta. Team NWT put on a great performance and brought home many ulus to prove it.

I also want to congratulate and say a special thank you to the Fort McPherson Tetlit Gwich'in Dancers, who won the hearts of many with their wonderful performances. Congratulations to all of our athletes and performers.

Colleagues, I want to thank the pages that will be with us during this sitting. We are fortunate to be welcoming pages from Wrigley, Inuvik, Hay River, Ulukhaktok, Whati, Tulita, Fort Smith, and Yellowknife. I have said many times that the youth are our future. I am proud of our page program, which allows us to bring in youth from across our territory. I am honoured and inspired to have our future leaders with us in this chamber.

I would also to thank our interpreters for the incredible work they do for us each and every day. During this sitting we will have interpretation into Dëne Suliné Yatié, Dene Zhatié, Inuvialuktun, Sahtúot'ine Yati, Tlicho, and French. It is because of their hard work and dedication that we are able to honour our official languages.

Finally, I would like to take a moment to remind each of you, as Members of this Legislative Assembly, to conduct yourselves in keeping with our rules and traditions. When we show respect for each other, for this institution and for our rules, we show respect for those who have elected us to represent them here in this chamber. That doesn't mean we will always agree. We won't. Disagreement, even passionate disagreement, is a part of our job. However, when we disagree, we must do so with the dignity and respect that our people expect from us.

Now, colleagues, it is my duty to advise the House that I have received the following message from the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories. It reads: Dear Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise that I recommend to the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories, the passage of:

• Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures), 2023-2024;

• Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2022-2023;

• Supplementary Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 2022-2023; and

• Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 1, 2023-2024 during the second session of the 19th Legislative Assembly.

Yours truly, Margaret M. Thom, Commissioner.

Thank you, colleagues.

Ministers' statements. Minister responsible for Housing NWT.

Thank you. Good afternoon, colleagues. Today is the first time this House has met since the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Before we begin, I ask you to join me in a moment of silence for our late Queen.

Thank you, colleagues. Please be seated.

Members, I also want to take a moment to reflect on the passing of Elizabeth Harnum and Elaine Keenan-Bengts. Ms. Harnum was the Northwest Territories' first Languages Commissioner and was an advocate for the revitalization of our Indigenous languages. Ms. Keenan-Bengts was the Northwest Territories' first Information and Privacy Commissioner and was a strong champion for the protection of people's personal information.

Since we last met, we have also lost a former Member of this Assembly, Alfred Moses. A Member of the 17th and 18th Legislative Assemblies, Alfred served as a regular Member, committee chair and Minister. Alfred and I worked together for eight years here at the Legislative Assembly. I am grateful to have become friends with him during that time. Alfred was a champion of our youth and healthier communities. His passing was a great loss for the town of Inuvik, the Beaufort-Delta and the Northwest Territories.

As a territory, we are a better place because of the service, dedication, and passion of Ms. Harnum, Ms. Keenan-Bengts and Mr. Moses. On behalf of this House, I offer our deepest condolences and gratitude to their families.

Many of our communities throughout the Northwest Territories are dealing with the loss of loved ones. It is, especially gratifying to see how our communities come together at times of tragedy. Continued prayers for all those throughout the Northwest Territories as we come together and show we care and help out as much as we can.

Colleagues, please join me in thanking the Aklavik drummers for joining us today.

---Applause

It was my pleasure to welcome them to this Chamber, and I feel blessed to be able to share their talents with you and everybody who is joining us in the gallery or following our proceedings on television or online. It is an honour to be able to see and hear our culture in this House.

I would also like to take a moment to advise Members that we will be providing interpretation into the following languages during this sitting: Chipewyan, Inuvialuktun, North Slavey, South Slavey, Tlicho, and French. Please join me in thanking our interpreters for the work they do; they make it possible for us to use and honour our languages. Mahsi.

---Applause

Members, I would now like to welcome you back. We last met in this Chamber on June 2nd. I know that each of us were busy with the ongoing business of government and committees; however, I hope that you also found time to connect with family and friends and recharge your batteries. Our jobs are not easy, and to effectively represent our constituents we need to take care of ourselves. It is an honour for us to be here on behalf of our constituents and all residents of the Northwest Territories.

Members, I would like to remind you to conduct yourselves in keeping with the rules of this Assembly. Show respect for one another, for this institution, and, most importantly, for the people we represent in this Chamber. We won't always see eye to eye with each other. That is not possible. But we can and must treat each other with dignity and respect. We are here to serve as representatives for the people that elected us and put their trust in us. Take pride in that work.

Now, colleagues, it is my duty to advise the House that I have received the following message from the Deputy Commissioner of the Northwest Territories.

It reads: Dear Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise that I recommend to the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories, the passage of Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), 2023-2024; Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 2, 2022; Supplementary Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures), No. 2, 2022-2023 during the Second Session of the 19th Legislative Assembly. Yours Truly, Leonard Kenny, Deputy Commissioner.

Thank you, colleagues. Ministers' statements. Minister responsible for Education, Culture, and Employment.

Please be seated. Colleagues, before I adjourn, I know you all don't want to go leave us today here, but. Before I adjourn our sitting until October 13th, 2022, I would like to thank you for your productive sitting.

During this sitting, Members have passed five pieces of legislation, seven motions, and reviewed three committee reports. It was a short but business-filled sitting.

Please join me in thanking our interpreters for the important work they do making our proceedings available in our official languages.

---Applause

Colleagues, also join me in thanking the pages. It was a pleasure having them back in the Chamber. Hopefully some of them will be back one day as MLAs. Mahsi.

---Applause

Members, you have raised and discussed many different and important issues this session. It is fitting that you discuss issues related to systemic racism facing Indigenous people and violence against Indigenous women.

It was three years ago today that the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls presented their final report and the Calls to Justice. It is important that Members continue to raise awareness of these important issues.

June is National Indigenous History Month. We must remember and celebrate that in 1975, the Northwest Territories Council, as it was known then, was the first Legislative Assembly in Canada to have a majority of Indigenous Members, a tradition we have maintained along with our sister territory Nunavut.

The unique system of government we both share is not perfect but it reflects the Indigenous values of cooperation, respectful debate, and working together.

Many celebrations and assemblies lie ahead of us this summer. It will be the first time in two years where we can gather in large groups to celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day, as well as our different assemblies.

Members, enjoy this opportunity to get out and celebrate with your constituents. Our summer is short but our days are long. I encourage you and all residents to enjoy the days ahead with family and friends, get out on the land, lakes, rivers, and oceans, that surround us. But please be safe and encourage your constituents to do the same.

While we look ahead to good times, we cannot forget those residents across the Northwest Territories who have been affected by flooding this spring. This will be a season of repairing and rebuilding. I know you will all continue to support these residents.

Thank you, Members. Mr. Clerk, orders of the day.

Yesterday, the honourable Minister of Health and Social Services rose on a Point of Order in response to a statement by the Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. The Minister believes the Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh was out of order. She said he made allegations against her and imputed false motives. The Minister relied on Rule 3.2(3) sub-sections (h) and (i).

When deciding whether language used in this Chamber is unparliamentary, Speaker Lafferty, on June 23rd, 2017 said that the Speaker must take "...into account the tone, manner and intention of the Member speaking; the person to whom the words at issue were directed, the degree of provocation; and, most importantly, whether or not the remarks created disorder in the Chamber."

I note that I have no jurisdiction over comments made outside this House or in the media.

I reviewed the unedited transcripts from Hansard from May 30, 2022. The Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh used language that was strong, even inflammatory. Previous Speakers have decided that such language is not always a violation of the Rules of this Assembly.
however, the Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh did more than use strong and inflammatory language.

On page 9 of unedited Hansard, the Member said "it is not appropriate to attempt to silence, validate criticism of their portfolio by threatening the integrity of the healthcare services in the community that I represent." The Member went on to say that the Minister was "even trying to gaslight patients who received unacceptable care into believing that it was their own fault for failing to advocate for their own medical conditions."

These two comments went beyond what is appropriate debate. The Minister has a valid Point of Order.

Rule 3.2(3)(h) makes it clear that it is out of order to make an allegation against another Member. In this case, the Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh made two allegations against the Minister. Also, the Member's language was unparliamentary.

The Member accused the Minister of gaslighting patients. Gaslighting is a practice of psychological manipulation which is meant to make a person question their own version of events.

I note that on July 7, 2020 the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island found that an allegation of "gaslighting" was unparliamentary and out of order. I agree.

I expect Members of this House to conduct themselves appropriately. The language you use in the House should reflect this. While it is appropriate to share what constituents are saying to you, you must share those concerns in a manner that is consistent with the rules.

As I have found the Member out of order, I will now ask the Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh to apologize to the House and withdraw the specific remarks found out of order.

Good afternoon, colleagues. Welcome back to the Legislative Assembly. With the easing of COVID-19 restrictions, we have returned to our usual Chambers setup and operations. Our gallery is open to the public. We are able to increase the number of interpreters here. We will be providing interpretation into Chipewyan, Tlicho, North Slave, South Slave, Inuvialuktun, and French this sitting. Please join me in thanking our interpreters for their dedication and important work that they do in preserving, strengthening, and honouring our official languages.

---Applause

Colleagues, we have removed the extra tables from the Chamber. You have returned to your normal seats, and I am pleased to welcome pages back to the chambers.

It is an honour to share this space with our youth. They are our future. Please join me in welcoming our pages back. Mahsi.

---Applause

Not only are we welcoming youth into this Chambers as pages for this sitting, but we also recently hosted our 18th Youth Parliament. I know many of you have had the opportunity to meet our youth parliamentarians, many of you volunteered your time to serve as pages during our Youth Parliament session, or watched online or from the gallery.

It is wonderful to hear youth read their Members' and Ministers' statements and to move and debate motions on topics are for which they clearly had great interest and passion. It is also exciting to hear them speak our official languages.

Colleagues, I want to congratulate and thank Koby Elanik who represented the Mackenzie Delta and served as speaker for our Youth Parliament. He did a great job. It was an honour to have you take my chair.

The youth are our future and based on what we seen and heard during the 18th Youth Parliament, I am confident our future is in good hands.

Colleagues, as you know the territory has experienced flooding again this spring. I know many people have been affected by the flooding, especially in Sambaa K'e, K'atl'odeeche First Nation, West Point Nation, and Hay River. I also know that other communities, including Aklavik, are currently preparing for possible flooding. I want to thank the community leaders for the efforts they are making to prepare for and minimize the impacts of any flooding that may occur. We are resilient people who help each other during times of need. That's part of what makes the Northwest Territories such a wonderful place to call home.

Finally, I would like to thank the Prince of Wales and and Duchess of Cornwall for their recent visit to the Northwest Territories during their recent Canadian tour. I know that some of you had the opportunity to meet the Prince and Duchess while they were here, and I know that many people in Dettah and Yellowknife were honoured and excited to have had the opportunity to host such important guests.

Now colleagues it is my duty to advise the House that I have received the following message from the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories. It reads:

Dear Mr. Speaker. I wish to advise that I recommend to the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories the passage of Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 1, 2022-2023; and Supplementary Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures), No. 1, 2022-2023 during the second session of the 19th Legislative Assembly. Yours Truly, Margaret M. Thom, Commissioner.

Thank you, colleagues.

Ministers' statements. Minister responsible for Municipal and Community Affairs.

Well colleagues, this day didn't end like I thought it would.

On behalf of the House, I thank the Commissioner, the Honourable Margaret M. Thom, for being here today. It is always a pleasure to have her in the Chamber.

Colleagues, we have just had our first experience with the remote participation in this sitting of the Assembly. It was not perfect, but I believe it was very successful. I am very pleased that Members who otherwise would not been able to join us were able to fully participate in and contribute to this sitting. I thank all Members for your patience with the hybrid sitting.

I want to extend a special thank you to the staff who worked long hours to make this hybrid sitting possible, especially Mr. Vince McLeod and Mr. Chris Cartwright. Thank you, we couldn't have done it without you.

Colleagues, I also want to thank the interpreters who have joined us throughout the sitting. Our official languages are vital to the people of the territory and our cultures.

When we use our languages in the House, we honour them. We honour our cultures and all people of the territory. The interpreters make it possible for us to use our languages on a daily basis, and I thank them for their service and commitment to honouring our official languages.

Members, I also want to thank each of you. The last few days of this sitting have been challenging, but you have done a lot of important work in this House and should be proud of yourselves. I know that I am proud of you and I am proud of my role and the work you have done.

Also, a job well done to the Members and staff that took part in the MLA-media hockey game last night, and won 6 to 3. The last time we had the game, media won 6 to 1 and a good job once again.

Colleagues, you have concluded consideration of the operations budget, which I know included some difficult conversations and decisions. You have read several very important committee reports and considered legislation. This is in addition to the statements and questions that are a daily feature of our proceedings.

The debates and discussions in this House have been very interesting and sometimes they have been intense. That is good. It is a vital part of our work as legislators.

Consensus government does not mean that we always agree. We won't. Conflict and disagreement are unavoidable in our line of work. Consensus government does not mean that we will always get our way. That isn't possible. Consensus government means that all MLAs in this House have the opportunity to share their views, to influence policy and legislation, and to represent their constituents to the best of their ability. You have all done that and have maintained your professionalism throughout. Thank you.

This House will not sit again until May, but we will remain busy. Our days will be filled with the ongoing business of committees and government and serving our constituents.

Thank you, colleagues.

Mr. Clerk, orders of the day.

Good afternoon, Members, and welcome back to the Assembly. I hope that it was a productive March Break - speaking with constituents, spending time with family and friends, and getting out on the land to start of spring in the North.

Members will note some changes in the legislative Chamber. Today, the Legislative Assembly will host its first hybrid sitting, with Members participating remotely.

Pursuant to Rule 10.1(2)(b) I have, at their request, allowed the following Members to participate in part of this sitting remotely:

• Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.
• Member for Kam Lake.
• Honourable Member for Yellowknife South.

Pursuant to Rule 10.2, these Members will be counted for the purpose of determining quorum, are considered to be in attendance, and may vote on any matter in which they are entitled to vote as though they were participating in person.

For those Members attending in person and visitors in the gallery, you will be required to use a headset on channel 2 to hear Members who are participating remotely. Without a headset, you will not be able to hear these Members.

Also for Members in attendance, pursuant to Rule 10.3(2), all votes on readings of bills and any other motion that requires notice will be conducted as recorded votes.

Members, our first hybrid sitting will be a challenge but I know you're up to it. Members have a busy and full week of work ahead of them with important matters before you. This work must be done.

I ask that today, and every day, Members exercise patience as well as resolve any technical issues that arise. Also, it is more important than ever that we talk slowly and wait for your microphone to turn on. And if you do not, the interpreters or those appearing remotely will not hear you.

As always, I expect the respect and courtesy shown to each other will continue throughout this hybrid sitting. Thank you, Members.

Ministers' statements. Honourable Premier.