Frieda Martselos

Madam Speaker, I understand at negotiations there are too many opinions. Speaking with one voice is extremely important when at negotiations. I've been there and done that. I'm also very respectful of the Indigenous leadership in their meaningful negotiations, and we must be able to mediate conclusions to some of their outstanding issues to succeed. Does the Premier agree with that? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, today I'm going to speak about two major Indigenous government agreements residing within the Thebacha constituency.

First, Madam Speaker, the NWT Metis Nation has been negotiating with the Government of the Northwest Territories and the Government of Canada, for at least 26 years, in an effort to eventually reach a final selfgovernment agreement. I have spoken several times about this claim throughout this term, and there seems to have been little done in advancing, let alone finalizing this claim. I know the leadership of the NWT Metis Nation is keen...

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I too will be supporting this motion because we've had several overdoses and suicides in Fort Smith in the last especially the last year, especially during the pandemic. And, you know, I also want to just question the fact that, you know, it's time for integrated services in all communities, especially when it comes to mental health issues. Mental health issues is a very delicate situation. A lot of us many of us, even as parents, don't understand sometimes. And, you know, and we don't realize that it is a very serious issue and, you know, many of us have had to...

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I wish to table the terms of reference for the 19th Legislative Assembly Special Committee on Transition Matters. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker, the negotiating team that goes to these negotiations must have a mandate and needs to be able to call people to make decisions, otherwise meetings later on will be months away and decisions are never made. That is how the federal government operates. The territorial government needs to follow the same standards and process with meaningful decisions. Does the Premier agree with that? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I know the Premier is a very compassionate leader when it comes to Indigenous issues. But when you have so many claims to work on and cannot concentrate on two or three that can be done in a single term, that's a problem. I would like to see at least one claim finalized within this term since we have only one year left. Does the Premier agree? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, to begin today I would like to respond to the answers the Minister of Housing NWT gave me during the question period yesterday.

Overall, the Minister did not give me actual answers to my questions. She told me that her department is examining the constituent housing files I referenced in my statement yesterday. She said there are many complex issues within my constituents' situations and that Housing NWT needs to be fair in their treatment to all clients. The Minister said she needed more time to get the facts straight.

Well, Madam Speaker, it's easy for...

Thank you

Mr. Speaker, I guess I'm a little bit puzzled with some of the answers. Will the Minister support a pilot project for tiny homes in Fort Smith, because that would be a real solution to fighting homelessness, rather than just renting a building, as it would give homeless people some dignity and confidence back into their lives. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, can the Minister explain why it has taken up to three weeks for her office to respond to my emails about constituents' urgent housing concerns? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.