Motion 79-19(2): Expression of Gratitude to Clerk, Tim Mercer, for Dedicated and Exemplary Service, Carried  Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, when I first got elected to the Legislative Assembly and came here, I found a situation where, you know, like I explained earlier today, that, you know, the slow pace of government and being in private sector for 50 years, I was a bit puzzled

Member's Statement 1511-19(2): Internet Connectivity in the Northwest Territories  Mr. Speaker, today I'm going to speak about the state of internet connectivity in the NWT and lack thereof. Mr. Speaker, two months ago the Auditor General of Canada released a report titled Connectivity in Rural and Remote Areas, which stated that rural and remote communities a

Question 1509-19(2): Improving Connectivity in the Northwest Territories  Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in April during the CRTC public hearings on telecommunication services in the far North, your deputy Minister of Finance testified. In his testimony, he stated that Indigenous households have an internet take-up of only 63 percent compared to

Question 1509-19(2): Improving Connectivity in the Northwest Territories  Mr. Speaker, overall there's a lack of competition with internet service providers in the NWT. Does the Minister agree that having more options of internet services for the NWT residents will help reduce the household costs of internet and also bolster the speed of internet in th

Question 1509-19(2): Improving Connectivity in the Northwest Territories  Mr. Speaker, can the Minister explain what the Government of the Northwest Territories has done over the course of the 19th Assembly to address the issue of internet disparity between the small communities and regional centres within the NWT? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 1509-19(2): Improving Connectivity in the Northwest Territories  Mr. Speaker, does the Minister agree that increasing access to high-speed internet will overall help to advance economic reconciliation for Indigenous peoples and communities within the NWT? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 1517-19(2): NorthwesTel and Bell Billing and Services  Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, two days ago on May 23rd, I went to NorthwesTel which is owned by Bell in the Northwest Territories, to help a Hay River evacuee pay for their phone bill because it was going to be cut off. NorthwesTel told me they don't do Bell payments there

Question 1517-19(2): NorthwesTel and Bell Billing and Services  Mr. Speaker, in addition to natural disaster emergencies, there's also a major concern about the lack of cellphone infrastructure on all NWT highways. Between Fort Smith and Hay River, there are no cell services. Between Behchoko and Yellowknife, there are no cellphone services.

Question 1517-19(2): NorthwesTel and Bell Billing and Services  Mr. Speaker, could the Minister tell us what NorthwesTel's master plan is for addressing some of these issues? Have they shared any plans with you or Cabinet and not with all of us? NorthwesTel and Bell need to start being accountable. Does the Minister agree? Thank you, Mr. Spea

Question 1517-19(2): NorthwesTel and Bell Billing and Services  Mr. Speaker, the master plan and accountability issues of NorthwesTel must be shared with all Members of the Legislative Assembly, and it should include how they're going to lower their rates and create more choices. In this day and age, it is extremely important that the people

Tabled Document 931-19(2): Reports of the Auditor General of Canada to the Parliament of Canada: Connectivity in Rural and Remote Areas, Independent Auditor's Report, 2023  Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the 2023 Independent Auditor's Report of the Auditor General of Canada to the Parliament of Canada on Connectivity in Rural and Remote Areas. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Member's Statement 1523-19(2): Thank-you and Congratulations  Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, to begin today, I want to acknowledge all the residents of K'atlodeeche First Nation, KFN, and Hay River, who had to evacuate their homes due to the wildfires over the last couple of weeks. On that same note, I want to thank all the leadership

Member's Statement 1531-19(2): Disaster Response Policy  Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, for my statement today, I want to speak once again about the Disaster Assistance Policy under the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs. Mr. Speaker, last May the Government of the Northwest Territories completed a comprehensive revie

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery  I'd like to recognize Dr. Sharma's Indigenous and global health research group with the University of Alberta. They're doing community visits in the North. And especially my friend of that group, Rachel Austry, Indigenous community project lead. And I'd like to say hi today. Than

Question 1526-19(2): Disaster Assistance Policy  Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, under the new Disaster Assistance Policy, if a home was built in an area after it was designated as disaster prone, unless mitigation measures were taken to reduce the risk then disaster assistance is not eligible. Can the Minister explain ho