Frieda Martselos

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is my home. I was born here. I am Dene. I lived, worked, and invested in the NWT all of my life. Since the start of this 19th Legislative Assembly, I have been eagerly awaiting the opportunity to deliver my response to the Commissioner's opening address, which was delivered by Commissioner Margaret Thom on February 5, 2020.

What the Commissioner outlined was a mandate of the 19th Assembly. While I may not agree with all of the priorities that were listed, there are a number of them that I do support. In addition, I will outline my priorities that I would like to see...

Madam Chair, some of the comments that were just made are enlightening. One hundred percent for projects, it's possible. Us underestimating the Indigenous peoples is not okay because I know that you've got to engage the Indigenous people. There are people that the claims have been settled, and they are, in part, in that partnership. No matter which project it would be, I firmly believe that Indigenous people have come a long way. If you want to do amazing things, you can do amazing things. It was very positive, what the Minister had just said, Madam Chair. I never give up. As a leader, you...

Thank you, Madam Chair. I know this is part of our mandate that we set out together, all of us. I am very much about the economy. We have to set the stage to ensure that we are still open for business. I am very strong about the economy, always was, ever since I have been here. Even before, in my previous leadership, everything was around business and the economy, even in what I have done in my previous leadership, setting up the First Nation to ensure that when I leave they are set up for life.

I think it's extremely important that a strong economy is best for all the people of the Northwest...

Lastly, Mr. Speaker, the town of Fort Smith is saddened by the passing of Mrs. Betty Mason. Betty was well known for the years she worked at the town hall, including when my husband Peter was mayor. Betty was a huge presence in the community, and, after retiring from the town office, she worked at Kaeser's Stores, where everyone was greeted with a smile and a laugh. Betty was well known for her great sense of humour, and everyone was a target of teasing, no matter who you were.

Betty was loved by all and will be sadly missed by her St. John's Anglican Church family and the town of Fort Smith. I...

Madam Chair, I am asking, when a natural disaster happens, and the house is completely destroyed, because we did have a tornado in Fort Smith, and if we have a senior who is involved and has ownership of that house, and it's completely destroyed, if they are moved into a smaller unit, do they still have to have that means test and pay the full amount?

Thank you, Madam Chair. When a natural disaster happens, where do the funds come from for that? Like, for a natural disaster within a community, I would like to know: where would the funds come for that?

Mr. Speaker, would the Minister ensure that the commander of "G" Division makes it a priority for the members of the Fort Smith detachment to make enforcement of criminal activity in the drug trade a priority?

Would the Minister consider asking the commander of "G" Division, or his or her designate, to meet with the community leaders of Fort Smith to address this major problem that is inflicting many members of our community and affecting family life?

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the Minister of Justice's statement and respect it, but there are gaps in the system. Mr. Speaker, in my 13-plus years in leadership, I have constantly brought up the lack of enforcement in the drug trade in the community of Fort Smith. Members of the community have approached me on numerous occasions over the years and have stated that they have gone to the RCMP with pertinent information about suspected criminal activities taking place in the community but feel that nothing becomes of it.

There has not been a large drug bust in the community in about 20 years...

Thank you, Madam Chair. I just want to reiterate my question. They're not asking for an extra home or anything. All I want to know is: where does it come under? Two things. One is: do they have to have a means test when they move into another unit during the time of what their future is going to be? They've been through a lot of trauma, this family; and the other one is: as far as I know, they're not asking for another home. It was a natural disaster that happened. It was a tornado, where it destroyed their whole home, and I just want clarification.