Caroline Cochrane

Mr. Speaker, I have a Return to Oral Question asked by the Member for Great Slave on October 18, 2022, regarding a Memorandum of Understanding with the Canadian Red Cross.

The Emergency Management Act empowers local authorities to enter into agreements for emergency management supports, which could include agreements with the Canadian Red Cross. The issue of the Government of the Northwest Territories entering into a moratorium of understanding with the Canadian Red Cross was raised at the NWT Association of Communities' annual general meeting on September 17th, 2022.

The GNWT recognizes the...

Mr. Speaker, I would like to defer that to the Minister of Justice.

Mr. Speaker, I welcome my colleagues back for the February to March 2023 sitting of the 19th Legislative Assembly. I hope you all had an opportunity over the last few months to spend time in your constituencies hearing from residents and stakeholders so we can collectively and collaboratively work together to advance the priorities of the people who elected us to represent them.

With just under eight months left in the life of this government, we have much work to do. We must find ways to continue to advance the priorities of the 19th Legislative Assembly in the spirit of partnership and...

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Yes, we recognize that there is no government system that's 100 percent perfect. I haven't met one government out there yet that should be able to say that they have everything down and they're doing everything right, and not even one person. I'm 62 years old pretty soon here, Madam Speaker, and I've said when I was 50 years old that I can either sit and just curl up, or I can keep continuing to learn. So all of us have to continue to learn and continue to grow and government departments also. So I think that's why we made the commitment at the council of leaders that...

Thank you, Madam Speaker. That is, again, one of the reasons that we brought together the council of leaders, because it's not only land claims and selfgovernments that we need to work with, we need to work with all Indigenous governments. So that was the focus of the council of leaders. We also meet with bilaterals with all Indigenous governments across the Northwest Territories some twice a year, some once a year, sometimes three times a year. But, again, the whole key is to be able to sit at the table together to address the issues together. And that's what we're trying to do in this...

Thank you, Madam Speaker. This week I've delivered Member statements on the theme of Remembrance Day. As Remembrance Day approaches, I want to take some time to honour those who aren't always talked about when it comes to the sacrifices made by the men and women who represent our nation and help defend democracy so people around the world can live free of oppression.

Madam Speaker, when someone is asked to defend our nation, they leave behind family, friends, children, parents, and loved ones. These people continue to go to work, take care of their home and children, they live their lives...

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I agree 100 percent that we all need to work together to actually address the issues. And we try to do that. There will be times that we don't agree, but it's not a matter of just one person trying to get their way. And I think that we have to recognize that in relationships. We all make commitments at the beginning of this government to work on relationships. But it can't be one person. It can't be the Premier alone. So every single Member here has to try to work on the relationships. We're not going to get everything we want. We don't have enough money. I've already...

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The question is really difficult. I mean, I'm going to start with the last part of it that says what I can do to make sure my luggage is put on the train that's already left, I'm guessing you kind of wait for the train to come back. But, really, and seriously, in seriousness, Madam Speaker, I hear the Member, and I do agree with him that we can't be working in silos anymore. We've done that for too long. And so I think that that's recognized by this government. And so we're trying to look at ways that we can work better with the Indigenous governments. You know, we've...

Madam Speaker, I've tried this dozens and dozens of times; I think I got the name once right but I'm going to try again. I want to recognize a constituent of Range Lake, David Wasylciw. No? Thank you.

Madam Speaker, settling and implementing treaty, land, resources, and selfgovernment agreements is a priority for the Government of the Northwest Territories and a key part of the mandate of the Government of the Northwest Territories. Concluding agreements with our Indigenous government partners will advance reconciliation, recognize and affirm Indigenous and treaty rights, support program and service delivery by Indigenous governments, and set the stage for economic selfdetermination.

I understand why many MLAs and residents want to see faster progress on resolving outstanding land claims...