Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, to quote my friend from Yellowknife Centre, in the 84 days I have been in office, Mr. Speaker, it's clear to me that there's much work to be done.
We are dealing with addictions in every region of our territory. Mr. Speaker, our health system is strained. A shortage of nurses, doctors, and a medical travel department that has become increasingly overburdened, a housing crisis that continues to plague each region with long waitlists for public housing and lack of available market rental units. We have an economy that is stagnant and an industry across all sectors that needs our support.
Mr. Speaker, I'm fortunate to work with an amazing group of passionate MLAs who are willing to take on all the issues that we are facing. We have a Cabinet that has a mix of experience and new creative energy that see collaborative approach to solve all the issues that we face. Mr. Speaker, we must look to our Indigenous governments to partner and to find a way to collaborate and work together.
Mr. Speaker, in my region alone, the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation are building homes, they're purchasing land, they're building homes on the land they own, they're hiring their own dental hygienists and coordinators for dental care, Mr. Speaker. They're developing a major gas project for the region as we speak, Mr. Speaker. Just recently, they have piloted a program where they will provide medical escorts for beneficiaries who have been denied by medical travel for that service to ensure that patients have the important cultural support when making these trips.
The Gwich'in Tribal Council in Inuvik are developing renewable energy projects in the region. They recently hired a director of infrastructure and are also in the process of building homes on GTC owned land as well as looking to purchase other lots to develop homes, Mr. Speaker. The Indigenous governments are leading the way.
During my campaign, I spoke of a wholeofcommunity approach to deal with the important issues we face. We need to look at a wholeofgovernment approach, Mr. Speaker, to work together with NGOs, Indigenous governments, municipal governments, to find a way to effectively face these challenges as a whole, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.
Thank you, Member from Boot Lake. Members' statements. Member from Tu NedheWiilideh.
