Mr. Speaker, I would like to address the Government of the Northwest Territories Affirmative Action Policy. This policy was implemented to ensure equal representation of Indigenous people in the government workforce.

An article in News North on February 4, 2020, indicated that the NWT Bureau of Statistics states that only 30 percent of the Government of the Northwest Territories workforce is Indigenous, while 59 percent non-Indigenous and 11 percent non-designated. At the senior management level, this number is even lower with only 20 percent having Indigenous ancestry. These numbers are not representative of the Indigenous population of the NWT, which stands at a little more than 50 percent.

Mr. Speaker, one of the common complaints from Indigenous leaders, leaders within the community, and long-term, non-Indigenous residents is that the affirmative action appears to be in name only and is not implemented as designed. Conversations at local levels also speak to this being an issue, and these conversations have been questioning this policy for many years now.

Mr. Speaker, considering the high number of non-Indigenous Government of the Northwest Territories employees as compared to Indigenous employees, it appears that the Affirmative Action Policy is not being followed or implemented as planned.

Mr. Speaker, it is essential that we ensure our government is representative of the people it serves, and that we are following the priority hiring when competitions are held.

Mr. Speaker, neutrality in the hiring process must be followed. Every citizen of the NWT should have access to a fair and equitable interview and hiring process. The way it is now, it is not what you know. It is who you know. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, today, I would like to use my Member's statement to take the time to give thanks and appreciation to my constituents of Thebacha.

Mr. Speaker, last weekend, on February 1, 2020, I had an open house for my constituents in Fort Smith, and it was a very well attended event. My constituents really enjoyed having the opportunity to meet with their MLA and hear the updates I had to share with them for what I have been working on since getting elected.

Mr. Speaker, I am grateful to be the Member representing Fort Smith. Showcasing your community at this level is a tremendous opportunity for all Members of this 19^th Assembly. I also would to thank the staff who serve the Members of this Assembly for their hard work and ability to keep us informed always. I want to wish everybody a great weekend, and I look forward to continued dialogue on matters that concern the community of Fort Smith and the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table two documents relating to my Member's statement and oral questions earlier today. First, a joint letter from Fort Smith leadership, dated June 17, 2019, regarding the Fort Smith airport infrastructure, and a letter dated July 8, 2019, which was a reply from the then-Government of the Northwest Territories Minister of Infrastructure. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, senior management within the Department of Infrastructure still insists that this decision was given by Transport Canada. Will the Department of Infrastructure share this letter of direction from Transport Canada?

The new lights that were installed at the Fort Smith airport were not the Arctic kit that was supposed to be installed at the airport, as said in the July 8, 2019, letter from the former Minister of Infrastructure. My question is: when will this be addressed?

What was the point of spending $2.3 million on an airport runway that was operational and running fine?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Further to my Member's statement, the community of Fort Smith's concerns regarding narrowing of the airport has not been addressed. My question is: why are safety issues at the Fort Smith airport not being addressed?

Mr. Speaker, for my Member's statement today, I would like to address the point made in yesterday's Commissioner's address regarding modernizing airport infrastructure in the NWT.

On June 17, 2019, the leadership of the community of Fort Smith wrote a letter to the former Minister of Infrastructure regarding narrowing the main runway at the Fort Smith Regional Airport. The leadership felt that, by narrowing the runway, disastrous results could happen if Fort Smith had to evacuate due to forest fire or other natural disasters. The leadership felt that this decision was made unilaterally, without consent from the community of Fort Smith. A drastic change without consultation with the community of Fort Smith is not acceptable.

I have also been informed that the "Arctic Light LED Package" was not put in at the airport, therefore causing multiple safety issues relating to risk factors of take-off and landing. In discussion with the former Infrastructure Minister and senior management of that department, I was told that Transport Canada instructed the Department of Infrastructure to narrow the airport's runway by 50 feet on both sides and change their lighting system, at a cost of $2.3 million. No other airport in the NWT was forced to endure such extreme changes to their airport infrastructure.

Mr. Speaker, the point of modernizing airports has failed in Fort Smith, based on the reduction of the runway that was forced on our community. I will have questions for the Minister of Infrastructure at the appropriate time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, it is extremely crucial that all boards, including the NWT Power Corporation, are reflective of the interests of the people of the Northwest Territories. Therefore, when will the NWT Power Corporation board be reinstated with members at large, and not just filled by deputy ministers?