George Nerysoo

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Orin Gwiinzii. Good day, colleagues. Today I would like to give my perspectives on the 2024 2025 Budget of the Government of the Northwest Territories and how it will affect the residents of our communities. Although the government has to make some very difficult choices for the benefit of our immediate future and the continued lifestyle of all our residents who are dependent on the operation of our daytoday wellbeing. We, as a government, and the residents of the Northwest Territories, must play an important role in making this budget work for all involved. Myself, as...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. That's all. Thank you.

I was referring to the Indigenous language revitalization. It was revised in 2023 at 200, and main estimates for 20242025, it's cut to zero. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I've always stated that our Indigenous languages are in great  are in need of revitalization, especially the Gwich'in language. It's dying at a fast rate. And a lot of our elders, who don't get to go out as often as they'd like, because and we're losing a lot of elders too. So the Indigenous language broadcasting, I see is cut by $52,000. Can the Minister give me some insight on why the cut has been made? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. In Inuvik at the Aurora College facility, they have these trailers, trades trailers I think they're called. They've been sitting there for a number of years without moving to any of the communities, outlying communities. I know in my community of Fort McPherson, they've been expressing interest in seeing if they can bring these trailers to the communities and get some of our local people trained in some trade or another. Is it covered in here on page 55 or 56 somewhere? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Okay, thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you to the Minister for the response. This is just really more of a comment. Having the success of these clients that return from the treatment centres is a responsibility of not only the client, him or herself, but also the families. The family requires counselling because they have to adapt to these changes that this individual is trying to make, and also the community. It affects everybody. It affects us all here as MLAs and as Ministers, the Premier, and everybody. It affects all of us. One person that is struggling with alcohol has an impact on all of...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister describe the wraparound supports provided to clients on income assistance with respect to productive choices? How is the department helping people make productive choices that will actually improve their independence and selfreliance? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you for the commitment from the Minister. The Minister acknowledged in the House on February 8th, 2024, the intended goal of productive choices is not being met. Can the Minister describe how the department tracks clients' productive choices? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

On March 25, 2024, committee received a public briefing from the Minister and his staff on Bill 2. The Minister's presentation is included in Appendix B.

Between March 2024 to April 2024, committee engaged the public. Committee hosted four public meetings in Inuuvik, Aklavik, and YellowknifeSombak'e. There were two public meetings held in YellowknifeSombak'e one of which was with the RCMP and the other was with the public. A total of 55 people attended committee's public meetings.

Committee also sought written submissions on Bill 2. We sent nine targeted engagement letters...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I too feel it is important that this senior management position be located somewhere outside of the city of Yellowknife. I come from a region where language is in dire need of revitalization. The Gwich'in language is one of the hardest languages to learn, and it's the least spoken language within the Northwest Territories, Indigenous language. We're losing our language at a fast pace. Our elders are we're losing our elders at an equally fast pace too so they're taking this language with them. We have a few knowledgeable people, such as our translators back there, that do...