Colleagues, I'd like to thank the Commissioner, the Honourable Gerry Kisoun, for being here today to provide assent to our legislation. It was an honour to have him join us in chambers today.
Members, before I adjourn our sitting until the new year, I'd like to thank you for a productive sitting. It was short but business-filled sitting.
This House considered and passed the 2025-2026 Capital Estimates. Committee has provided numerous reports on bills and other matters. They have reviewed and we have appointed the executive director for the Human Rights Commission and a new sergeant-at-arms.
I'm looking forward to working with our new sergeant-at-arms, but I want to take this moment to thank our outgoing sergeant-at-arms, Mr. Floyd Powder. Mr. Powder has been with the Legislative Assembly since October of 2022 and has been instrumental in helping us conclude some very important projects and improvements, including the completion of the walking path to the Legislative Assembly building and installation of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls monument. Although he wasn't with the Assembly for a long time, his contributions have made a lasting impact, and I thank him for his commitment and dedication to this institution. I wish Mr. Powder all the best in his upcoming and well-deserved retirement.
While most of us know Floyd for his work here, he is better known for his important work he does outside of this building in supporting and honouring our veterans, especially our Indigenous veterans. Mr. Powder has been deeply involved in the Last Post Fund Indigenous veterans initiative which aims to provide grave markers to Indigenous veterans in unmarked graves. Thanks to this initiative, we now have more than 30 headstones in the Northwest Territories honouring these fallen heroes. Further, we are expecting up to ten more next year.
He is also the Northwest Territories Metis Nation's representative to the Metis Nations Council's Veteran Council and works with the Aboriginal Veterans Autochtones furthering Indigenous initiatives. Earlier this year, Mr. Powder received the Minister of Veterans Affairs commendation, and next week he will be traveling to Cyprus for Remembrance Day services to commemorate Canada's contribution to the United Nations peacekeeping forces in Cyprus and to honour those who lost their lives and made sacrifices during this mission.
Floyd was one of those who served as a peacekeeper in 1985 and 1986 as a member of the Canadian Airborne Regiment. Please join me in thanking Mr. Powder for his service to this institution, to our country, and to our people.
---Applause
Colleagues, I'd like to recognize the upcoming retirement of a long-serving staff member of the Legislative Assembly. Ms. Cynthia James has announced that she will be retiring early in 2025, which means this was her last sitting. We will miss her presence in the chamber as a table officer, and in committee meetings as committee clerk. To begin, I would like to thank and recognize Ms. James for her work in supporting the people and communities who were impacted by floods, forest fires in recent years, especially Fort Simpson, Deh Cho First Nations, Hay River and Katl'odeeche First Nation. Ms. James was one of the key organizers in fundraising activities to support these communities when they were faced with springtime flooding and forest fires.
Ms. James has been a part of this Legislative Assembly team since 2011 when she started as a Member's secretary. Since then, she has served as the executive assistant to both the Office of the Speaker and Office of the Clerk, and for the last six years served as a committee clerk supporting various committees, including:
Standing Committee on Social Development;
Standing Committee on Government Operations;
Standing Committee on Public Accounts; and,
Special Committee on Reconciliation and Indigenous Affairs.
Working with the Standing Committee on Government Operations and the Standing Committee on Public Accounts has given her the opportunity to work closely with the Office of the Auditor General of Canada on the public accounts and performance audit review. I know that she enjoyed this work and that the committee and staff at the Office of the Auditor General appreciated her support.
Without taking away from all of the committee work she's done, I have to say I know Cynthia is honoured to have served the special committee. She's supported the review of important legislation over the years, including the UNDRIP legislation through this committee and did so with great professionalism and pride. Colleagues, please join me in thanking Ms. James for her years of service and wishing her all the best in her upcoming retirement.
---Applause
Folks, we will not sit again in the chamber until after the holiday season, so I would like to take a moment to wish each of you Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year. I know the ongoing work of government and committees will continue but as we return to our homes and constituencies, I encourage you to find the time to reconnect with those most important to you. We should enjoy and cherish the time we have with them, our families and closest friends, this season. These people, and the supports they provide, are what makes it possible for us to do our jobs as Members of this Legislative Assembly. Please, let them know how much you appreciate all they do for you.
Colleagues, I know that this time of year can be difficult for some people, and I ask each of you, and all residents of the Northwest Territories, to be kind and supportive. We are the territory of people who value each other and support each other. It is what we do, and the holiday season is an especially important time for us to be there for each other.
If you believe somebody is in need of support, reach out to them. If you are in need of support, reach out to somebody you trust. Colleagues, we are all in this together, and it's time we put our best foot forward to support our friends and families and communities.
Finally, before we adjourn, I would like to take a moment to thank our interpreters and our pages. As an institution, we strive to make the best possible use of our official languages. Our interpreters make it possible for us to do so. They make it possible for us to share our ideas and words with residents in our official languages, and we are honoured that you are able to do this for us.
Colleagues, every sitting day I feel both proud and inspired when I see our pages in this chamber. I've said it many times, but these young people are our future and every day they show us that our future is in good hands.
---Applause
Colleagues, thank you for your time and attention. Finally, Madam Clerk, orders of the day.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Orders of the day for Wednesday, February 5th, 2025, 1:30 p.m.
Prayer
Ministers’ Statements
Members’ Statements
Returns to Oral Questions
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Acknowledgements
Oral Questions
Written Questions
Returns to Written Questions
Replies to the Commissioner’s Address
Petitions
Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills
Reports of Standing and Special Committees
Tabling of Documents
Notices of Motion
Motions
Notices of Motion for the First Reading of Bills
First Reading of Bills
Second Reading of Bills
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Committee Report 17-20(1), Standing Committee on Procedure and Privileges Report on the Review of the Rules of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly
Report of Committee of the Whole
Third Reading of Bills
Orders of the Day
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Madam. Clerk. This House stands adjourned until Wednesday, February 5th, 2025, at 1:30 p.m.
---ADJOURNMENT
The House adjourned at 1:51 p.m.
