Richard Edjericon

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Your committee has been considering Minister's Statement 420(1), 520(1), and 17-20(1), and Tabled Document 2820(1), and 2920(1), and would like to report progress. And, Mr. Speaker, I move the report of Committee of the Whole be concurred with. Thank you.

Thank you. I now call Committee of the Whole to order. What is the wish of the committee? To the Deh Cho MLA.

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to talk about this fire that happened in the fall in 2023. It just so happens that just after the long weekend on July 1st, my wife and I were going to go down to Fort Smith to see family and friends and join in the events that were happening in the town of Fort Smith. But prior to driving that way, I was passing Behchoko and as I was passing Behchoko, you could see smoke way in the back. And as I was driving, I told my wife that I don't see no planes there, nobody doing anything about that fire it appears. And you know, in the early days, you know...

Committee, we will proceed with the first item.

There's a motion on the floor to report progress. The motion is in order and nondebatable. All those in favour? All those opposed? Thank you. Motion carried.

Carried

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following documents: Correspondence from Gerald Antoine, Dene National Chief, to Commissioner Margaret Thom dated February 13th, 2024. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, the North is full of dedicated Indigenous people who are eager to contribute their great skills to our public services.

In the 19th Assembly, I was closely involved in looking for ways to increase Indigenous hiring to the GNWT workforce, participating in the reports on the Indigenous representation in the Northwest Territories public service. I want to thank my colleagues at the time who participated and the chair and the cochair, Rylund Johnson and Frieda Martselos, as well as the Member from Kam Lake and the other Member from Inuvik Twin Lakes. A lot of hard work went into this...

Thank you. Thank you, committee. We will proceed with the first item. Okay, thank you.

There's a motion on the floor to report progress. The motion is in order and nondebatable. All those in favour? All those opposed? Okay, motion carried. I will now rise and report progress. Thank you.

Carried

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I too want to recognize the former Dene National Chief Noleen Villebrun.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Indigenous representation report from the 19th Assembly was expected to increase Aboriginal hiring in the public services. I raise two issues here today on P1 positions. Mr. Speaker, in the 20th Assembly I heard from the Premier, Minister, that they were  they want to work collaboratively and to build trust with Indigenous governments. My question to the Premier  and I want to apologize for not getting these questions to you a little bit earlier. And I just want to say that can the Premier provide an update to the House about what action the 20th Assembly's taken to...

Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Minister's Statement 420(1), Minister's Statement 520(1), Tabled Document 2820(1), Tabled Document 2920(1). And, Mr. Speaker, I move the report of Committee of the Whole be concurred with. Mahsi.