Jane Weyallon Armstrong

Mr. Speaker, thank you. Mr. Speaker, I realize that the GNWT is more than $1 billion in debt, and we are at 96 percent of the debt limit. Yes, we are in fiscal restraint, and I commend the Cabinet for its effort to meet the needs of the people. The Cabinet has done its best to work with the people and especially our colleagues on this side too. I know not everyone is going to agree, but the Cabinet Ministers listen and work with us. That is a good thing. Not only that, but some of us Regular MLAs make budget requests and feel that our requests and proposals were listened to by the government...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this time to congratulate all of the students who are graduating from kindergarten to grade 12 in the Tlicho region. Graduation is a milestone achievement and a stepping-stone to new opportunities. I am proud of all the students for staying in school and putting in the hard work. Thank you to all the parents for supporting their children through school. And thank you to all the teachers and educators for their guidance. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, can I have unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

Mr. Speaker, this Bill will mostly improve access to education for non-Indigenous students. The role of the GNWT is to close the gap in education outcome. We know students in small communities need more support to succeed in post-secondary education. We need focus and attention on improving the education outcomes from students in small communities. They should remain the focus for the student finance assistance program. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, forest fire 2023 was a disaster for a lot of us, and it was a nightmare for many who lived through the ordeal. People from Behchoko and Edzo, even Hay River North and South, they experienced that as well. So, Mr. Speaker, I can tell you it could happen worse for Behchoko. By the grace of God, Behchoko was safe. You know, so we lost four housing and we lost 15 cabins on Highway 3. But Enterprise did not have the same experience. Forest fire almost wiped out the whole community. As a result, until this day, the residents are still suffering. They're affected...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, [Translation]

Yes, for recognition, I'd like to recognize my Grand Chief Jackson Lafferty.  He's here in the House.  I'm thankful for that.  And we also have other Tlicho members,  Louis Mackenzie, Julie Mackenzie are here in the audience.  And also Jonas Lafferty, Mary Rose Sundberg, interpreters, I'd like to thank them.  They've been interpreting for us throughout the session. 

I'd also like to recognize all these people who work for us in the House.  I am so thankful for them.  They've done a good job for us throughout the session.  It is the spring session. ...

Mahsi. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

[Translation] I'd like to -- I'd like to, but still what I'm going to be talking about of how the kids that are in school, the kids that are in school, what is it that we can -- how we can improve the education for the young people at this time. [Translation Ends].

Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories has jurisdiction over educating all students in the NWT. The GNWT must provide access to the same quality of education regardless of the location or size of their communities.

Mr. Speaker, we have an excellent student financial assistance program. It is...

Thank you. No, well, it's in my region and it's in her region, in all the North, because especially for seniors and elders aging in place, it's difficult for them to make ends meet so they you know, like, they do parttime job here and there or contract work and when income tax season comes, you know, a lot of times some of them they're denied the program. So I just want to ask the Minister if they can increase the income threshold to accommodate elders, retirees, so they can so they can apply for these programs, be eligible for the programs. Thank you.

Thank you. This fuel tank replacement for homeowners, I know that's a popular program because a lot of people in my region applied and got their fuel tank replaced and etcetera. So for this fiscal year, I see the program is I don't know if it's discontinued, but there's no money allocated. So if the Minister can explain why this fiscal year, because people are going to be asking.

Thank you. So with that amount, so how much is allocated to Tlicho region of that amount?

In June 2023, part of the 19th Legislative Assembly, we passed a motion here for longterm tenants for housing or houses to be transferred to longterm tenants who lived in it for over 20, 30 years. So I just want to know since that time to be homeowners, that's what we asked for. Since that time, I just wanted to ask the Minister to date, how many houses were transferred to longterm tenants in the NWT?