Kate Reid

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize folks who are joining us today for the proceedings from the YK Group for Ceasefire. They are the reason for the petition that you saw earlier this week and the motion you will see later today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this motion is, as folks before me have said, highly emotional, and I also believe it's a highly personal choice, and I respect every single Member in this House to take what decision they take to heart and I respect whatever choice that may be and what that looks like for them. I'm here in my role as a Member to represent my riding and also my own conscience.

I want to speak a little bit about why this motion is important to me and why I feel it's the right thing to do.

When I first met with a Palestinian member of our community in Yellowknife late last...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We're all a little bit tired now. It's been a long session. Gets longer next year.

Mr. Speaker, this motion provides further action to Petition 120(1) that I brought forward this past Tuesday on behalf of the Yellowknife Citizens for Ceasefire. As I've mentioned previously, the petition includes 645 signatures from residents of the Northwest Territories. Residents who signed are from the following communities:

Yellowknife

Whati

Wekweeti

Lutselk'e

Inuvik

Hay River

Ulukhaktok

Behchoko

Tulita

Tsiigehtchic

Fort Smith

Fort Simpson, and

Fort McPherson.

This is a territorial issue, and...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the Premier for that. Just a comment really; I will follow up with the Minister of ECE on that program.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I understand that the Premier's position is generally to stay out of international affairs, and that is his prerogative. However, as the territory grows, especially with newcomers from many diasporas abroad, what actions is the Premier comfortable in taking to make them feel welcomed and supported in times of hardship and if he feels that that is the responsibility of the federal government? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier this week I brought forward a petition from 645 NWT residents calling upon this Assembly to direct the Premier to ask the Canadian government for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. Mr. Speaker, I will also be calling a motion for the Assembly to direct the Premier to do just that later today.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the Premier for his last commitment on this topic to me in this House. We did, indeed, meet with a member of the Palestinian here in Yellowknife, a resident who has family and ties to Gaza in Palestine.

Mr. Speaker, although I can't...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you for the opportunity to ask a second set of questions, colleagues.

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs looks a little bored today, so I thought I'd  so I thought I'd ask him a question that springs out of the fantastic opportunity that we're celebrating here tomorrow, Mr. Speaker, the outstanding volunteer awards.

Does the Minister have any inklings or desire to create more opportunities to support our wonderful volunteers in this territory? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think the Minister also answered my next question, which is great, which had to do with what training and professional development may be required for teachers and other school staff to ensure that they understand safe practices, language, and inclusive environments for all students? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Members of the 2SLGBTQIPA+ community are watching their rights erode in other jurisdictions in Canada. Pride flags and crosswalks have been banned in Westlock, Alberta, and politicking by the UCP has resulted in gender affirming health care being removed for youth. The community has also seen disregard for queer lives lead to the death of a young twospirit person in Oklahoma after they were beat up in a school bathroom mere weeks ago. What assurances can the Minister of ECE give to us and the public today that trans and queer youth are safe in NWT schools...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I too have been a volunteer for many years before stepping into this House, and I'm sure the Minister knows as well, burnout is really real in our territory when it comes to volunteers. If you want to  you want to get something done, you ask someone who's doing eight other things, Mr. Speaker. So I'm wondering is there anything we can do for the wider volunteer just pool of folks who are out there and interested in things to support them, to get training perhaps on how to be on a board? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.