Frieda Martselos

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. I give notice that on Wednesday, November the 2nd, 2022, I will move the following motion:

Now therefore I move, second by the honourable Member for Hay River North, that Mr. Floyd Andrew Powder of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, be recommended for appointment as sergeantatarms of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly by the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories has recommended by the Board of Management of the Legislative Assembly;

And further, that the Speaker be authorized to communicate the effective date of the appointment to the Commissioner;

And...

Madam Speaker, negotiations and implementations of claims is probably the hardest task of this government. The will of the leader to help mediate the process is crucial to the outcome. Does the Premier agree with that? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

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

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...

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table a letter from the NWT Senior's Society dated October 22nd, 2022, to the Minister responsible for Housing Northwest Territories regarding Seniors' Housing. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, hearing about a nonexistent homeless strategy, while there's no homeless shelter in Fort Smith, is not okay. Will the Minister ensure that these three constituent files will be provided with positive solutions to their situations so they are not out on the street? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.