Frieda Martselos

Thank you, Madam Chair. I also want to just touch base on the longterm care facility for Fort Smith, the 24bed, the planning process will start after the next election. I'm just wondering, there will be public consultation with the seniors' society and the caregivers with regards to this facility; is that part of the process, Minister?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, tomorrow is September 30th, which is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. This day recognizes the dark history and legacy of residential schools, the missing children, and the survivors from these institutions. This date is a date of remembrance and of reflection for all Canadians across the country. It's also a day to acknowledge our country's colonial history and all the trauma, pain, and suffering that has been done to Indigenous peoples. It is also a day that we commemorate the families, communities, and survivors of those impacted by...

Thank you, Madam Chair. Also, I just want to ensure, for the record, that there's some assisted living accommodation within this facility. You know, there's a lot of people that are kind of in between longterm care and having to have that extra care sometimes, and I'd like to see this facility going in that route because that's what the seniors' society would appreciate. So I just want for the record to put that in. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I MOVE, second by the honourable Member for Hay River North, that when this House adjourns on Friday, September 29th, 2023, it shall be adjourned until Tuesday, October 3rd, 2023;

AND FURTHERMORE that at any time prior October 3rd, 2023, if the Speaker is satisfied, after consultation with the Executive Council and Members of the Legislative Assembly, that the public interest requires that the House should meet at an earlier time during the adjournment, or at a time later than the scheduled resumption of the House, the Speaker may give notice and thereupon the House...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister confirm that the forthcoming new collective agreement will be fair and favourable to ordinary workers? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, according to a July 2023 UNW press release, the Government of the Northwest Territories has expressed desire to have a new collective agreement in place before the territorial election this fall. Does the Minister anticipate that a new collective agreement will be signed before election day on November 14th? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, today I want to speak about the ongoing negotiation regarding the new collective agreement for the Union of Northern Workers, UNW.

Mr. Speaker, all throughout my life I have always been someone that is workerfriendly. I have always cared deeply for my community, and for the wellbeing of all my constituents and for all the people of the NWT. Plus, the Government of the Northwest Territories, the major employer of many NWT residents, so it is extremely important that the new collective agreement is fair and beneficial for all employees. That is why I am concerned about the status of...

Thank you, Madam Chair. I look at the capital budget, and I'm very happy with what's in there. I think there are some areas that are you know, we're always talking about green energy, and we're going to go ahead with the planning of the expansion of the Taltson. There are some issues that I will put in a statement next week. But, you know, overall and the territorial fire centre is more important now than ever. And I'm very happy that it's in this capital budget. I think that, you know, looking at that old building that's over 50 years old and all the plugins that we saw and now they're...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister provide the House with an update in general terms on the status of negotiations for a new collective agreement? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, does the Minister of Finance have any timelines for when a new collective agreement will be signed between the Government of the Northwest Territories and UNW? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.