Jane Weyallon Armstrong

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'll do this in Tlicho for the intro.

[Translation] 62@9:30

[Translation Ends]

Mr. Speaker, June is the month of high school graduations. On behalf of the Tlicho region, I want to congratulate all students graduating high school, especially those graduating from Chief Jimmy Bruneau school in Edzo, Mezi Community School in Whati, and Jean Wetrade School in Gameti.

Mr. Speaker, I believe that in general, all youth who graduate high school likely had good attendance throughout their schooling. It is sad that our territorial budget for some schools is decreasing due to...

Madam Chair, I move that this committee recommends the Government of the Northwest Territories work with the federal government in establishing legislation specific to the Sixties Scoop and creating programming to assist those impacted by the Sixties Scoop in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Madam Chair, I move that this committee recommends that in the formulation of regulations for the Missing Persons Act, the Government of the Northwest Territories require the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to include a schedule in the annual report referenced in the Missing Persons Act that outlines statistical missing persons information in the Northwest Territories;

And further, that the regulations state where the annual report will be published. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Madam Chair, I move that this committee recommends the Government of the Northwest Territories work with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and justices to evaluate any cultural safety programming or training being offered to Royal Canadian Mounted Police Members and justices to ensure it is traumainformed and otherwise responsibly addresses those working with missing person cases in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Madam Chair, Bill 2, missing Persons Act received second reading in the Legislative Assembly on February 26, 2024, and was referred to the Standing Committee on Social Development for review.

Throughout the committee's review, the committee met with the Minister of Justice, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and over 55 members of the public in three public hearings held in Aklavik, Inuvik and Yellowknife. The committee also received five written submissions on the bill.

On May 28, 2024, the standing committee held its clausebyclause review of the bill with the Minister of Justice. The committee...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I also support this motion because this has an impact on my community and other Tlicho communities in the regions, and it also has an impact on the flyin community as well. So there is an increase in drug usage, and it is affecting a lot of our community members, the vulnerable people, the vulnerable and the children as well. So I do support this motion. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, can the Minister explain if the department has any plan moving forward to help increase attendance rates in schools, especially in the small community? Thank you.

Yes, thank you. Can the Minister commit to reviewing the information bulletin 640.01, forgiveness and remission under the Financial Administration Manual to deal with this circumstance. Thank you.

I'm done with this part.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this is for Minister of Finance, and I think Minister of housing can answer this as well, but due to FMB, I'll stick with Minister of Finance. The Financial Administration Act allows the financial management board to forgive debt owed to the government or a public agency where it would be just, unreasonable to do so. Can the Minister agree that it is not just or reasonable to require repayment of debt to the GNWT for elders that cannot afford their housing. Thank you.