Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to announce the release of Living Well Together, the online Indigenous cultural awareness and sensitivity training program for employees of the Government of the Northwest Territories.
Developed by the Department of Finance in collaboration with the Departments of Education, Culture and Employment and Health and Social Services, Living Well Together replaces the GNWT's previous Aboriginal cultural and sensitivity training for its employees. It is a direct response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's call for action with respect to professional development and training for public servants. Mr. Speaker, the commission has called upon all levels of government "to provide education to public servants on the history of Indigenous peoples, including the history and legacy of residential schools, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Treaties and Aboriginal rights, Indigenous Law, and Aboriginal-Crown Relations." According to the commission, "this will require skills-based training in intercultural competency, conflict resolution, human rights, and anti-racism."
Living Well Together is built on the northern studies curriculum provided to our students within the Northwest Territories and includes diverse and authentic perspectives of Indigenous people from across the Northwest Territories. Many courageous Northerners shared their personal stories on a wide variety of topics, including the impacts of residential schools. Mr. Speaker, these are important stories that all Northerners, especially our public servants, should listen to and learn from. On behalf of Cabinet, I want to thank each and every Northerner who told their story so that we could develop this training. This includes many elders, Indigenous governments, community members, Indigenous artists, and GNWT employees who contributed to this training in so many valuable ways.
Living Well Together was created in the spirit of reconciliation and provides opportunities for our employees to reflect on ways to support reconciliation and decolonization as public servants and private citizens in the workplace and within the community. Through careful reflection and deliberate acts of reconciliation, we can make positive changes throughout the Northwest Territories and serve as an example for the rest of Canada. With this in mind, this training will be mandatory for all employees, and the Department of Finance will endeavor to support all current GNWT employees to complete this training within 12 months. My special advisor and I had the benefit of a sneak peek, and we have decided to act as one another's learning partners. We plan to schedule occasions over the coming months to work through the modules together.
Mr. Speaker, we expect this training will have an immeasurable impact on not only our public service but also on the communities we serve. We believe this training has the potential to benefit all residents of the Northwest Territories and will set an example, as I said, for the rest of Canada. As such, this training will be made available to the public. Living Well Together was developed in the spirit of reconciliation. I encourage all employees to begin this training with an open mind and to support one another during this process. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Ministers' statements. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.
Mr. Speaker, one of the many exciting developments to expect as we get closer to the launching of the polytechnic university is increased capacity for northern research. We know that the work underway to increase the number of researchers and build effective research supports for college partners and stakeholders across the Northwest Territories will serve as catalysts for northern social and economic development.
In the areas of research, Aurora College is starting from a place of strength and great promise for the future. In December, it was again recognized as one of Canada's Top 50 Research Colleges for 2020. Aurora College improved its overall ranking among the nation's top research colleges from 48th in 2019 to 29th in 2020, where it ranked in the top 10 in two categories: research growth and in research intensity. Mr. Speaker, Aurora College recognizes the importance of ongoing collaborations and partnerships with other institutions, Indigenous and community governments, and non-governmental organizations. Leading efforts to ensure the success of research partners is an important part of the work already underway at Aurora College. During a year of significant public health restrictions that threatened long-term research initiatives, Aurora College found innovative ways to leverage its strong presence across the Northwest Territories and helped support the territorial, national, and international research community during these challenging times.
Aurora College continues to take steps to increase research capacity in advance of becoming a polytechnic university. In addition to adding seven new Aurora College research associates who will bring new perspectives and ideas, Aurora College also formalized research partnerships with Hotii Ts'eeda and the Institute of Circumpolar Health Research. These partnerships strengthen northern research capacity and increase the ability to access federal funding.
Mr. Speaker, over the coming year, Aurora College will continue building research capacity with the hiring of three new research chair positions. Aurora campus in Inuvik will see the establishment of a climate change adaptation research chair; Thebacha campus in Fort Smith will house the research chair for Indigenous approaches to environmental management; and the Yellowknife North Slave campus will see the addition of a health and community research chair. These positions are supported through the college's partnership with ArcticNet, a network of centres of excellence of Canada, and will help to strengthen the initial areas of teaching and research specialization for the polytechnic university.
Mr. Speaker, we see the future polytechnic university sitting at the centre of our knowledge economy and building a stronger future for our businesses and residents, including by empowering our youth to be research leaders of the future. The college accessed external funding this year to create youth and student positions in research, administrative, and logistic roles. This project encourages youth to pursue their interest in education and employment in science, technology, engineering, and math, or STEM. The journey to build research capacity will not end with the establishment of a polytechnic university in 2025; it will continue to empower students to understand and respond to the challenges they face for generations to come. All of this work will support the college's successful transformation to a polytechnic university, an institution where research will be a part of every aspect. Building on current research experience on topics such as climate change, permafrost, heavy metals in soil, renewable energy feasibility studies, intimate partner violence, and many others, the polytechnic university will work to forge stronger ties with Indigenous governments, communities, industry, and the business community to ensure we always look ahead to a stronger, more prosperous, and resilient future.
I want to commend Aurora College for the success it has achieved as they work to create the northern research leaders of tomorrow at an institution that will be built in the North, for the North, and by the North. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Ministers' statements. Minister of Health and Social Services.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In March of each year, we celebrate social workers across Canada and in the NWT. This year's theme for Social Work Month is Social Workers are Essential.
Mr. Speaker, social workers play a vital role in supporting and maintaining individual, family and community wellbeing across the Northwest Territories. Social workers are trained to help people address personal and systemic barriers that negatively impact them from realizing their full potential. Social workers perform a variety of functions and roles in our communities. Some work in schools, helping children get the services they need to get the best possible education. Others provide mental health services, helping people overcome mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety as well as substance use disorders. When families are in crisis, social workers are there to help them rebuild healthy relationships. Social workers can be found in hospitals, helping patients get optimal care not only while in treatment but when they return to their families and communities. Social workers also help us to cope with the loss of loved ones.
Social workers also play an integral part in community organizations and in government, helping to create programs and policies to make our society a better and more equitable place for all. This type of work requires a passion for helping others and a commitment to making a difference in people's lives. These professionals have an ethical obligation to advocate for broad social change to address social inequalities that will benefit the marginalized members of our communities and, ultimately, all of us.
Mr. Speaker, Members of this House know the 19th Legislative Assembly made it a mandate priority to improve early childhood development for all children. There are a number of activities being implemented across government to support this priority, including efforts to improve the delivery of children and family services and health and wellness in the NWT. The Government of the Northwest Territories has invested a significant amount of funding to improve services for children, youth, and families in their communities. Social workers advance and provide these services across the NWT. In the last two years, we have funded 15 new social work positions and a number of supporting positions.
On February 1, 2021, the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority restructured the Child, Family and Community Wellness Division to better focus the work and bring staff under the umbrella of one team. This change in organizational structure will streamline processes for staff and allow for better collaboration and more consistent delivery of programs across the territory. These investments and new structures will better support social workers in the delivery of these important services.
Mr. Speaker, on behalf of Cabinet, I want to express how much our government appreciates the hard work and dedication of social workers. I am pleased to have this opportunity to recognize the commitment and positive contributions these individuals make in the lives of children, youth, and families in our communities and thank them for their continued efforts. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize the K'atlodeeche First Nation and the volunteers of this year's K'amba Carnival event, which took place this past weekend on the reserve. We have to appreciate the fact that this event has taken place during a period of uncertainty when it comes to celebrations, requiring social distancing and the many rules set out by our Chief Public Health Officer. I am certain that, to pull this event off, it required ingenuity, dedication, and countless hours by the committee, community, and group of volunteers. It required adapting a long-standing and proven event program to a new format during this unprecedented time.
Mr. Speaker, the impact K'amba Carnival has on the K'atlodeeche First Nation spills over into the town of Hay River, where it generates much excitement. I know the people in Hay River look forward to this event as great entertainment and recognition that spring and warmer weather is just around the corner. Therefore, as the MLA for Hay River South and on behalf of the MLA for Hay River North, I would like to send a big thank you from the people of Hay River to the K'atlodeeche First Nation, the K'amba Carnival committee, and the many volunteers who made this event a reality. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Members' statements. Member for Kam Lake.
Mr. Speaker, in today's market, the art we hear about the most are often the one-off pieces that garner million-dollar price tags, but everyday art can also generate significant economic value. Art is cultural expression and a powerful conduit for healing, wellness, and economic development. Art is essential for individual and community success.
When we look at the global art scene, we marvel at infrastructure like New Zealand's Te Papa, artist-in-residence programs like Fogo Island, and events like Burning Man, but grassroots initiatives just like these exist in the NWT. Our Northern Arts Centre is lush with renowned and passionate artists from the salt plains to the pingos. We just need to be ready to support them.
In 2019, many northern artists, myself included, participated in the NWT Arts Strategy public engagements. Today, we eagerly await for the Arts Strategy that we hope will not only renew this government's commitment to arts and culture but also actively pursue a robust arts industry through education, funding, marketing, infrastructure, and policy work that supports the success of NWT arts.
Mr. Speaker, in addition to a plan, this government needs to reconcile where the arts belong. Today, the responsible for culture and heritage, along with the NWT Arts Council, sits within Education, Culture and Employment, but Industry, Tourism and Investment drives the NWT arts brand, economic diversification, festival funding, business grants and loans, and tourism. You cannot separate art from culture, and you cannot deny the economic potential of either. Supporting the arts is not just about culture or employment or history or community health or self-discovery; it is all of those things. This government needs to own the responsibility of properly housing and fostering its arts and culture to generate employment, expand economic opportunity, and foster community wellness.
Arts in the NWT is at a crossroads. It is time to reset its importance to value the role of all artisans and recommit to art as a foundation to community well-being and our economic future. In its fall 2020 economic statement, the federal government announced $181.5 million in additional funding for Canadian heritage and Canadian Council for the Arts. We need to ensure that we are well-positioned for this funding as a territory through clear, strategic support of NWT arts that elevate our world-class artists to its rightful place on a global stage. Money is ready to flow to propel the arts, Mr. Speaker, but are we ready to receive it? Thank you.
Thank you, Member for Kam Lake. Members' statements. Member for Frame Lake.
Merci, Monsieur le President. The former Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment issued 10 significant discovery licences for oil and gas during the last Assembly. This was a huge post-devolution resource giveaway. The area covered by these licences is almost 2,200 square kilometres, an area about 40 percent the size of Prince Edward Island. Our government will get no revenues, no taxes, no employment, and no benefits from these areas that are now tied up virtually forever.
Significant discovery licences arose in the federal legislation that we inherited for petroleum resources. They allow companies to have exclusive ownership of oil and gas rights without having to do any work or pay any fees forever. Companies used to be able to get these licences without doing anything except being near another significant discovery licence. A Minister could require drilling to take place, but that has never been done.
Our current Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment has an opportunity to get it right. We heard last week about the buried $45 million windfall in the main estimates that is a work deposit forfeiture from Husky Energy. We also heard that Husky Energy is asking to convert its Exploration Licence 494 to a significant discovery licence.
Changes to the Petroleum Resources Act made in the last Assembly finally came into force on July 29, 2020. Significant discovery licences are now limited to 15 years but can be renewed forever. Most importantly, the licences "may contain any other terms and conditions… as may be agreed on by the Minister and the interest owner of the significant discovery licence." It's not clear whether that means the Minister can impose work requirements or annual fees that could even rise over time, all to implement the principle of "use it or lose it" and generate some benefits for us. What about the future? Will the Minister consult with Sahtu communities or even regular MLAs before issuing this significant discovery licence to Husky Energy? Will the Minister impose exploration requirements that would create jobs and economic activity for the NWT or will Husky Energy have a veto? I will have questions for the Minister of ITI on what she is doing to protect the public interest in issuing the first significant discovery licence under our amended Petroleum Resources Act. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Members' statements. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On March 16, it will be one year that this Legislative Assembly sat in this House and ended our budget winter session early due to the unknown risks of COVID-19. Shortly after, the borders were closed and a public health emergency was declared in the Northwest Territories. We were told to flatten the curve by staying home, Mr. Speaker. No visitors were ordered. People began to panic out of fear of the unknown. Myself, as many other MLAs, began to become the COVID navigators for our constituents and, for some of us MLAs, even for some other constituents.
I shared as much information I received from the GNWT and answered as many questions I could and sent in concerns and constituent complaints as they were afraid that the people who were in our community were not following the orders in self-isolation. I did not know where to report them, so I sent them to the Minister of Health.
When the ProtectNWT email was set up and the 811, I referred the reports to them, but I also had to continue to send in the email to the ProtectNWT for those who did not have access. Sometimes, we heard back, and sometimes, we didn't. I never knew if they were followed up, and neither did my constituents. Mr. Speaker, I know, at that time, GNWT was establishing on-the-go ways to protect the residents, and as time went on, more and more processes and staff were able to answer and follow-up on concerns of residents, which is great.
Mr. Speaker, I will raise this issue again. My community of Inuvik and the surrounding communities in the Beaufort-Delta have been cut off to services that are not available to my region, and with no road to Yellowknife, our closest road is Whitehorse. We have a shortage of dentist's appointments, and only recently had the dentist's office open in Inuvik with a backlog of clients. No vehicle warranty as vehicles get shipped. It's been 50 below, Mr. Speaker, this winter. They get shipped to Whitehorse for many services that are not available. During normal times, people go to Whitehorse as it is cheaper than flying to Yellowknife for one person. Now, there is even more of a need with many services limited or not even open. Social, public venues are limited or are still not open, and people are suffering from isolation. Mental health issues are of high concern.
Mr. Speaker, I've received and continue to receive letters from my community to continue to raise the issue of having a way for the residents of the Beaufort-Delta to travel to and from the Yukon? We would appreciate if our Premier brings our voices and works with the Yukon government to open the border. Please, give us a window of hope. I will have questions for the Premier. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes. Members' statements. Member for Nunakput.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, I bring up housing units in the riding of Nunakput. Mr. Speaker, we have the longest and coldest winters in my riding. We're the furthest north. Again, I've brought up in this House, again and again, how the housing units are in need of repair. The Nunakput community, Sach's Harbour, Paulatuk, and Ulukhaktok, we have housing units that were built in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, and then we have one or two units that are fairly new.
Mr. Speaker, some units have been repaired, retrofitted, even been renovated, but in fact, the majority of them still require maintenance and upkeep on a yearly basis. I have constituents who put blankets on the floors just to keep their feet warm from freezing when they're walking around when it's minus 50. When the wind is blowing, right, the windows and the doors, you'll have piles of snow on the corners, and that's not right, Mr. Speaker. These issues have to be dealt with. The problem that we're having, it takes 18- to 24-months' planning prior to even getting materials in, and then having to build takes probably about a year. In some cases, like right now, there's a unit in the community that's taken over two years to build, and it's not right, Mr. Speaker. We have young families who need units and housing.
I think to myself, there's got to be a way for CMHC to help us and to help our Minister to get these units done quicker and increase our housing allotment per community or get rid of some of the old 1970s units, and build new units that are required for the communities and the young families who need housing. Mr. Speaker, there's been a lot of talk about funding available through CMHC. My communities want to be able to see this funding for improving housing in my riding. We need to do more. We need to have more housing units for the younger generation that's coming up instead of couch surfing and sharing five or 10 people in the unit. It's not right in this day and age. Mr. Speaker, my riding, the units, we need to start planning now to provide housing units for this upcoming year, and I'll have questions for the Minister at the appropriate time. Thank you.
Thank you, Member for Nunakput. Members' statements. Member for Deh Cho.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. The cost of living in the Northwest Territories keeps rising year in and year out. Every time the cost of diesel goes up, so does the power bill, skyrocketing costs of groceries, cost to repair appliances, cars, trucks, and all-terrain vehicles.
Mr. Speaker, our message for staycations will come at a cost. There's a document from the 17th Legislative Assembly entitled "A Vision For Energy In The Northwest Territories which states, "There's a great deal of consensus across the Northwest Territories on the need to reduce our high costs of energy and the impacts of our energy use on the environment." This was in 2012.
The document further states, "It is time to build on earlier work and establish a vision of a future energy supply and use in the NWT that reflects the goals and aspirations of residents, communities, and Aboriginal governments. The Government of the Northwest Territories believes that this vision needs to be founded upon the goal of reducing imported oil and greater utilization of local and renewable forms of energy."
Mr. Speaker, I realize the GNWT has made some gains towards this goal but somehow loses interest in pursuing the ultimate goal of reducing our high cost of living. The new and updated energy plan by the GNWT developed in the 18th Legislative Assembly, the 2030 Energy Strategy, states its goal to guide the long-term development of secure, affordable, and sustainable energy for transportation, heat, and electricity.
It goes on to state, "The GNWT, including the NWT Housing Corporation, will focus on leading by example by reducing energy use and emissions in its operations." It's also interesting to note the GNWT will also partner with communities and other stakeholders to ensure that the objectives of this strategy are met. Mr. Speaker, the GNWT has long said it wants to lower our cost of living, but are we realizing that goal through actions? Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Premier at the appropriate time. Mahsi.
Thank you, Member for Deh Cho. Members' statements. Member for Great Slave.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday marked International Women's Day, and this year's campaign was Choose to Challenge, something I've personally been trying to do in my life more recently. International Women's Day was established over a century ago, with the first gathering in 1911 supported by over one million people. International Women's Day is not specific to a country, group, or organization. For over 100 years, the fight for gender equality has been formally recognized on this day. However, it remains a battle fought daily.
As I have spoken to in this House before, women have done remarkable things in the scientific realm. They took us to the moon, photographed DNA, and discovered new elements. As I said, Marie Curie is the only person who has won two Nobel Prizes in two separate sciences, and she did so over 100 years ago, at a time when most women didn't even have access to basic education. Currently, only 13 percent of engineers in Canada identify as women, and locally, the Minister of ECE has said that this number is only 5 to 7 percent when it comes to tradespeople.
While my passion has always been to further the inclusion of women in STEM, there is a lot of work to be done in establishing gender balance in all areas of society, especially now, as the economic downturn of COVID-19, has hit women particularly hard and stalled progress on many gender-equity projects. While International Women's Day 2021 has passed, I wanted to speak today to honour all of the women in my life who have fought for equality and who serve as inspiration.
It is no secret that advancing the situation of women and girls was a huge motivator for me to enter politics. In my career and throughout my life, I have often found myself challenging stereotypes. During these difficult times, I have often relied on the circle of women around me. These amazing women have provided me with the wisdom and knowledge I need to help guide me in my endeavours and are there to comfort me when I stumble.
It's time to recognize women's achievements and challenge gender bias and inequality by seeking out and celebrating women's achievements. Everyone needs to be an ally so we can create an inclusive world. From challenge comes change, so let's choose to challenge gender bias every day and not just on this one day a year. In doing so, we can create a better future for everyone. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Great Slave. Members' statements. Member for Thebacha.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to clear the air about a few things in relation to my personal experience of racism at the NWT SPCA. To begin, Mr. Speaker, I would like to state wholeheartedly that I support the NWT SPCA and all animal shelters for their work in protecting animals. I thank the SPCA for their work in this area. For that reason, I am not in favour of taking away funds from them. I am an animal lover. I have had multiple dogs over the years and was raised living with large dog teams because of my father, who was a dog musher. Dogs were always around me growing up. It was very traditional for trappers to have dog teams. Dogs provide the transportation for our livelihood.
This brings me to my second point. I know there is a process to adopting a dog, and I have been following that process. I sent the SPCA an adoption application in mid-December and called them several times and left multiple voicemail messages about my interest in adopting a dog. Also, not once throughout this process did I identify myself as an MLA. I would never do that. I am an ordinary person who does not expect special treatment. I always treat everybody with respect and dignity regardless of who they are.
Ultimately, Mr. Speaker, this whole situation is not about me versus the SPCA. People are losing focus about what I am saying and why I am saying it. This situation is about racism and how it exists in all facets of our society. There is no organization, whether government, non-profit, or otherwise, that is immune to systemic racism. We are talking about the uneven power dynamics of race that's inherent in our society. We are talking about the unconscious racial bias that many people have against people who look like me. We are talking about the ingrained barriers that people of colour face when assessing basic services in the community.
People like me face discrimination every day when accessing services like housing, employment, and even shopping in stores. People like me are followed around in stores because of stereotypes. People like me are denied, undermined, and suppressed all the time. That is a simple fact of our reality. Mr. Speaker, I would like to seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted
Mr. Speaker, overcoming racism is difficult, exhausting, and uncomfortable work. If our society truly aspires for reconciliation, then we must challenge racism head-on. However, in order to get there, it will take work, and that work will require the effort of all sectors of our society to pitch in and do their part.
In closing, Mr. Speaker, I want to reiterate that I fully stand by my previous statement on this matter. The way I was treated was not okay. I don't believe I was treated with basic customer practices that people expect from organizations like the SPCA or other NGOs or entities that serve the public. Lastly, once again, Mr. Speaker: Black lives matter; Indigenous lives matter. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Thebacha. Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Fundamental to any community's success is local ownership of land and buildings. Local landlords reinvest their rents into the community. They take more risk on local businesses, and they are key to a community's identity. However, Mr. Speaker, our capital city has a serious problem with local ownership. Thousands of our housing units and millions of dollars' worth of commercial office space are owned by southern REITs or various southern multi-billion-dollar investment funds. These landlords have long treated real estate as an investment as opposed to the offices and homes that we all live and work in.
Put more bluntly, Mr. Speaker, I want the GNWT to stop leasing from Northview high yield investment trust. I want us to stop being the anchor tenant in all of their buildings when they have repeatedly shown little interest in our community. The GNWT has funded this monopoly for years at a cost to Northerners. Furthermore, Mr. Speaker, when many of these long-term leases were signed, Northview was Northern Properties and actually was locally owned. They were signed, and we justified negotiating many of those leasers at a higher lease rate as opposed to ownership to build up a northern business. This, in fact, is allowed in the GNWT Leasing of Improved Property Policy. However, we are not allowed to pay a premium to southern landlords, Mr. Speaker. Over the years, these properties have been sold and resold, and we have renewed the leases without any consideration of our own policy.
Our current policy requires that the GNWT only lease at a rate no greater than the cost of ownership. If we are going to sign a lease at a cost greater than owning a building, it must be to a northern business. A lease-versus-ownership analysis is required for every building in every GNWT lease signed over five years. Those premiums can only be paid to northern companies, Mr. Speaker. The Department of Infrastructure manages a $28-million lease portfolio. That is 109 leases for a total of 626,000 square feet of office space, many of them in downtown Yellowknife. That is millions of dollars that should be going to local landlords, to Indigenous development corporations, and to anyone willing to make sure that our government's rent money stays in this territory. I will have questions for the Minister of Infrastructure about: despite all the talk of supporting northern businesses, we are not paying our rent to northern businesses. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Yellowknife North. Members' statements. Member for Nahendeh.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is with great pleasure and honour that I acknowledge Lucy Simon as a 2020 Wise Woman for the Deh Cho region. I had the opportunity to be at her celebration at Fort Simpson this past weekend with her family, friends, and the regional leadership. I have known her for over 28-plus years. She is someone I call advisor, mentor, knowledge-keeper, supporter, and, more importantly, "Mom." She has opened her home to my family and me. She treats my children as her grandchildren, and for this, I am truly grateful. As well, I have had the privilege to have gloves and slippers made by her. Everyone has asked where they come from, and they comment on the amazing bead and fur work. One set of her slippers were made for my daughter's wedding, and I wear them in the House.
Lucy Simon was raised in Jean Marie River and is one of eight daughters in a family of 15. Her parents, Mary Louise and Jim Sanguez, saw many changes from living on the land to living in the settlement. Through it all, they were always emphasizing, maintaining, and preserving the history and culture of Jean Marie River through on-the-land practices and art. The time and patience that her mother took teaching her the art of sewing is a true testament of seeing Lucy's art. She is a very talented artist, known throughout the NWT and nationally, with some of her work displayed at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa.
Her passion for creation started at a young age, when she was inspired by her elders and the land around her. Lucy created an extraordinary moose hair tufting called "The Voices of Our Elders," a project that was coordinated by the Open Sky Creative Society. She is very passionate about her creating traditional footwork, gloves, and takes pride in every detail of a finished product. Just as she learned from her mentors, she wants to pass on this creativity and knowledge to those who want to learn. Both her and her husband, Isildur (ph), raised a family of five and now enjoy the grandchildren. They teach them to speak and understand Dene Zhatie when they can and also the importance of education, just as her parents did at every opportunity and shared moment about these teachings of language and culture that her parents shared.
Lucy was employed with the Government of the Northwest Territories at the Deh Cho Health and Social Services division as community health worker for 25 years and continues to mentor those who work there. She is also the successful business manager of her own B and B for the past 18 years. Perhaps the best way to describe Lucy's thoughts are in her own words:
"When I walk through the bush, I see the beautiful northern roses and all the things around me that create pictures in my mind that I need to draw. The pictures I draw and create are interpretations of experience through colour and suit the beauty around me. When I dye moose hair, it is a few drops here and then that results in multicolours. This is where it is not just one colour but many shapes and patterns such as life."
Mr. Speaker, I wore a suit at her ceremony there, and today, I told her I would wear my suit again in the House today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Nahendeh. Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife South.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As we have already heard today, yesterday was International Women's Day with a theme of Choose to Challenge. I want to use this opportunity to thank my colleagues, my friends, and my neighbours for their support that gives me my opportunity to choose to challenge in a position not often held by a female. By this, I mean very literal support. My partner works at a remote mine site and had to adapt his work rotation in order to accommodate the risk-mitigation precautions for COVID-19. His extended rotation was not what we planned on when I ran for elected office. The recent outbreak and resulting further two weeks of quarantine was also something I had planned on as we were beginning budget session, sitting until 6:00 p.m. and often later. Over 10 different households helped me with school pickups, and sport or activity driving, and various other childcare supports, plus another handful more checked in to offer their support.
Particularly in that first week of unexpected single parenting, colleagues here no doubt ran into my children when I had to bring them at 8:00 a.m. start on a PD day. Mr. Speaker, they were louder in the hall than what they should have been, but I want to express my gratitude and my pride that the Legislative Assembly is becoming a workplace that is accommodating and welcoming to the realities of working parents. The hours required of elected officials may be a barrier, but we are taking steps to show that it is a barrier that can be overcome. I believe this will help more individuals who are the primary caregivers to children to bring their perspectives into politics.
Mr. Speaker, other families have endured far more challenging work changes as a result of COVID-19. There are of course families with workers who are health workers, other front-line workers, or other rotational workers who are, in fact, now doing three- and four-week shifts, and they are all persevering. I thank them for that. I want to say, Mr. Speaker, if you know a family who you know is having work challenges, please consider checking in and offering your help. They might not be asking, but they might not be asking because they simply don't have the time or the energy to do the asking. Again, I thank this wonderful community here in Yellowknife. I simply could not be doing my job without all of you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Yellowknife South. Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife Centre.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to congratulate the board of directors of Inclusion NWT, the 2020 Outstanding Volunteer Award recipients in the group category. Inclusion NWT is located in my riding, but we all know and recognize their clients, workers, and staff from their presence in the community for many years, including in this building. At any given time, Inclusion NWT is serving 150 clients and families throughout Yellowknife, with services including supported and independent living; employment services; literacy classes; family, children, and teen activities; advocacy; respite services; skills development; and an FASD support service. You will see the Odd Job Squad everywhere, hired by upwards of 200 clients a month, and that is just one high-visibility program.
This impressive list of services is overseen by the nine-member board. In this year of COVID challenges, continued delivery of programming and services has required extra flexibility and adaptation. President Ben Russo and his board hunkered down to make sure all of the clients have been taken care of. While thankful for the award, Mr. Russo has said he would like to give it to the staff, as well, led by Executive Director Lynn Elkin. This group award goes to the board, whose members each deserve special recognition, and I will name them all. Serving with President Ben Russo are Vice President Pooja Chugh; Secretary Catherine Fairbairn; Treasurer Chris Cahoon; and Directors Tony Florio, Esther Rowe, Karen Lajoie, Bri Krekoski, and Pamela Weeks-Beaton. Please join me in congratulating the board of Inclusion NWT for their service, guidance, and commitment to serve clients through the ethic of people helping people. I salute the organization for its incredible contribution to our community. It truly is Inclusion NWT. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
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Thank you, Minister. Members' statements. Member for Monfwi.
Masi, Mr. Speaker. It has been almost a year since all of the craziness of COVID began with us here in the Northwest Territories. While we have been largely unaffected by COVID in terms of actual numbers of COVID cases, there have been many hidden consequences resulting from this pandemic. The restrictions that were put in place to keep us safe from this disease also keep us apart in many other ways. We have seen the impact of this: rise in addictions, mental health, and social services.
In the past four months, my family and I have lost five significant people in our lives. In November 2020, I lost my youngest brother, Troy. It was the most difficult time; it still continues to this day. This past week, we lost my auntie, Therese from Whati. Therese was a second mother to me since my mother passed on in 2014. She took over the role. She was the matriarch for our family, our strength, our rock. Therese was the epitome of a Dene woman, a woman of such great strength, resilience, a traditional woman, a spiritual woman, a woman who loved all unconditionally. If she was here with us today, my auntie would be the one supporting all of us, holding us together in our grief through the most difficult times. She would be standing behind me, holding my hand right now.
Mr. Speaker, this is a very difficult time to stand here before you to talk about the most influential person of all times. Our hearts are broken yet again, and we are asking the public, the Members, for their continuous prayers and support through these difficult times. Masi, Mr. Speaker.
