Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister responsible for Homelessness. The question is in regards to the conflicting figures that sometimes we use. The point is that homeless people are just not numbers. They are actually people, so my question is to the Minister: what steps is the Minister taking to correct the conflicting figures in terms of homelessness and to try to get a true picture, especially as it relates to engaging our federal colleagues in regard to funding on housing and homelessness? Mahsi

Mr. Speaker, homelessness looks different in the North than in southern Canada. Homelessness is less visible here, but just as distressing. Our harsh winter temperatures force the homeless indoors where they wind up couch surfing, moving between the homes of family and friends for two or three days at a time. They arrive late, leave early, and spend their days walking around. They struggle with addictions. They hide from local housing organizations so their hosts don't suffer the consequences such as increased rent or renovations for housing an extra person. It's a hard life.

The statistics on...

My final question is just a follow-up in terms of some of the information that the Premier has shared. One of the things that is disappointing is that there wasn't an exercise in terms of working with elders for them to document their experiences. One example in my home community that served the Sacred Heart Mission School, there was a society that was established to help former students to deal with the traumas of the past, but at the same time to guide the process in terms of giving expertise to the federal government. Has this government undertaken steps to ensure that bodies of that nature...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Premier of the Northwest Territories. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission report has recommendations in terms of how do we address the whole residential school experience in terms of its impact in First Nations communities. The Government of Northwest Territories has been playing a lead role, which I commend, and I’d like to see the GNWT play a continued role at the national level. My question is to the Premier. There is great work with other partners at the national level and I wanted to ask the Premier if he could update this House as to what...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Detachment, abandonment, and denial are a few concepts I have come to learn in my brief personal journey. As I contemplate these three new concepts, I wonder just how many further issues there are because of the effects of the residential schools in our families and communities. [English translation not provided.]

I remember as a child, travelling by boat with my parents into my home community of Fort Providence. What impressed me was a towering building sitting atop the riverbank. There are times that I recall having to visit that large building, and I was scared to go...

Thank you to the Premier in terms of highlighting some of the major initiatives that are happening at the national level. The impacts of residential schools are prominently and significantly, of course, felt at the community level, and that's where families that have gone through this experience, from my parents to their parents, generations. The impacts are deep-rooted. What steps is this government undertaking to ensure that the federal initiatives of healing and wellness are brought to the community level?

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. Like all people that have been affected by residential school, my hope is that the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission final report will not be in vain. That the Government of Canada and the GNWT will work together to ensure initiatives of wellness and that healing will reach back into the far reaches of our nation and families. I dream that one day the Dene values of honour, love, and respect will be upheld in their highest level. That we learn once again to take care of ourselves and our relationships...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to deal with the motion I gave notice of earlier today.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I recognize constituents from the Deh Cho riding and congratulate the new elected mayor of Enterprise, Craig McMaster, and also leaders that perhaps I can’t see, so I'd like to acknowledge their presence as well, and at the same time, recognize people from the New Day Program: Laura, Lisa, and William as well.

Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to be back in the House as a Member of the18th Assembly. I am looking forward to working with both my new colleagues and returning Members over the next four years. As I have done in the past, I would like to update this House about some of the noteworthy activities taking place in my beautiful Deh Cho constituency. In December, municipal elections were held across NWT. I would like to congratulate the new Mayor of Enterprise Craig McMaster and the new Mayor of Fort Providence Sam Gargan, along with their new hamlet councils. Our number one job as a government is...