Debates of May 23, 2024 (day 14)

May
23
2024
Session
20th Assembly, 1st Session
Day
14
Speaker
Shane Thompson
Word PDF
Members Present
Hon. Caitlin Cleveland, Mr. Edjericon, Mr. Hawkins, Hon. Lucy Kuptana, Hon. Jay Macdonald, Hon. Vince McKay, Mr. McNeely, Ms. Morgan, Mr. Morse, Mr. Nerysoo, Ms. Reid, Mr. Rodgers, Hon. Lesa Semmler, Hon. R.J. Simpson, Mr. Testart, Mr. Thompson, Mrs. Weyallon Armstrong, Hon. Caroline Wawzonek, Mrs. Yakeleya
Assembly Members
Topics
Member’s Statement 155-20(1): Supporting Families with Disabilities
Member’s Statement 156-20(1): Liquor Tax
Member’s Statement 157-20(1): Mackenzie River Water Levels
Member’s Statement 158-20(1): Residents Affected by Enterprise Wildfire
Member’s Statement 159-20(1): Inadequate Housing in Mackenzie Delta
Member’s Statement 160-20(1): Health Care Workers
Member’s Statement 161-20(1): Aurora College
Member’s Statement 162-20(1): Hamlet of Fort Resolution Fire Plan
Member’s Statement 163-20(1): Carbon Tax
Member’s Statement 164-20(1): Education
Member’s Statement 165-20(1): Supports for Senior Citizens
Member’s Statement 166-20(1): Eulogy for Roy Joseph Mouse
Minister’s Statement 32-20(1): Mandate of the 20th Legislative Assembly
Minister’s Statement 33-20(1): Notice of Budget Address
Motion 26-20(1): Appointment of Ombud
Motion 26-20(1): Appointment of Ombud, Carried
Motion 27-20(1): Referral of Tabled Document 67-20(1): Mandate of the Government of the Northwest Territories 2023 to 2027, to Committee of the Whole
Oral Question 154-20(1): Status of Aurora College Transformation to Polytechnic University
Oral Question 155-20(1): Liquor Tax Regime
Oral Question 156-20(1): Carbon Tax
Oral Question 157-20(1): Affordability of Seniors Housing
Oral Question 158-20(1): Collaboration with Indigenous Governments on Mackenzie Delta Home Renovations
Oral Question 159-20(1): Adult Literacy in the Northwest Territories
Oral Question 160-20(1): Notices of Assessment Collection for Income Assistance Clients
Oral Question 161-20(1): Fuel Resupply for Northern Communities
Oral Question 162-20(1): Nurse to Patient Ratios
Oral Question 163-20(1): Supports Available for Residents of Enterprise
Oral Question 164-20(1): Supports Available for Hamlet of Fort Resolution
Return to Oral Question 62-20(1): Consultation with Members of the Legislative Assembly on Policies and Strategies
Return to Written Question 2-20(1): Government of the Northwest Territories Public Sector Positions
Return to Written Question 3-20(1): Extended Health Benefits Policy
Return to Written Question 4-20(1): Private Agency Nurses
Return to Written Question 5-20(1): Municpal Funding Gap
Tabled Document 71-20(1): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 152-20(1): Public Safety
Tabled Document 77-20(1): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 133-20(1): Policy on Indigenous Hiring
Tabled Document 85-20(1): Additional Information for Return to Written Question 4-20(1)
Tabled Document 86-20(1): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 12-20(1): Children’s First Society Funding
Tabled Document 88-20(1): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 105-20(1) and Oral Question 112-20(1): Municipal Funding Gap
Tabled Document 91-20(1): Speaking Up for Fairness – 2023/24 Annual Report of the Northwest Territories Ombud
Statements

Member’s Statement 158-20(1): Residents Affected by Enterprise Wildfire

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to my colleagues.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to -- Mr. Speaker, on August 13th, 2023, residents of Enterprise were evacuated from their communities from the threat of a wildfire. As we have spoken about this in the House before, the evacuation of Enterprise was chaotic and traumatic. And for some very unfortunate people, Mr. Speaker, the chaos of the evacuation has not ended.

Mr. Speaker, it is May 24th, 2024. It has been 284 days later, and some NWT residents still have not been able to return home. Some have already left. For many Enterprise residents, there is no home to return to and for people that did not have enough insurance coverage, there is no options.

The Prime Minister and the GNWT visited the community of Enterprise in the aftermath of the wildfire, and they made promises to support the residents. Yet, Mr. Speaker, residents feel these were false promises. The residents who do not have the insurance funds to rebuild new homes feel they have no option but to leave the NWT to find better options down south.

Mr. Speaker, the NWT prides itself in taking care of each other. We talk in this House about the need to help one another, to be there for our fellow Northerners in their time of need. I recognize the government can't be everything to everybody, but the reality is many people have left the North and there are many more on the brink of leaving because they don't have the resources to rebuild on their own.

We also have spoken in this House many times about the fact that we are in a housing crisis. How has the GNWT responded to the housing crisis created from natural disasters? We recognize that natural disasters are on the rise in the NWT. How will the GNWT work with federal and Indigenous partners to respond to this crisis with housing solutions that house Northerners?

I will have questions for the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs later today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Member from the Deh Cho. Members' statements. Member from Mackenzie Delta.