Colleagues, I want to thank Rajan Zed, president of the Universal Society of Hinduism, for delivering our opening guiding words today.
This is the first time in history of our Assembly that we have an opening Hindu prayer. Mr. Zed has encouraged interfaith dialogue worldwide. He's read invocation in US Senate, the US House of Representatives in Washington, DC, and has been bestowed with the World Interfaith Leader Award. He was invited by the President of European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium, for a oneonone meeting to promote interfaith dialogue. He has been a panelist for on faith at inactive conversation on religious produced by the Washington Post and has been producing a weekly multifaith discussion column faith focused since February 2011.
Colleagues, I had the honour of meeting with him this morning, and I quite enjoyed our conversation. So if you wouldn't mind, give him a big round of applause for being here today. Thank you.
Applause
Mr. Speaker, today I would like to highlight a successful initiative that the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs is supporting to remove hazardous waste from solid waste sites in communities across the Northwest Territories.
Over the years, I have witnessed firsthand how quickly solid waste sites can fill up with piles of debris and hazardous materials, including liquid waste that is expensive and complicated to remove. Community governments across the Northwest Territories have quickly run out of room to store this hazardous waste.
To address these historic stockpiles of waste, diversion and improvement projects have been implemented in regions throughout the territory. This work will not only free up valuable space in community solid waste sites, it will also decrease the overall risk of contamination to residents and our environment.
The Department of Municipal and Community Affairs has partnered with 26 communities across all five regions to successfully access funding from the Government of Canada to advance this cleanup work. The work of implementing a cleanup cleanstart program will also help us deliver on one of the key actions listed in the NWT Waste Resources Management Strategy.
Mr. Speaker, this important work began in 2023 in nine communities:
Behchoko
Fort Providence
Hay River
Fort McPherson
Sachs Harbour
Tsiigehtchic
Ulukhaktok
Norman Wells, and
Tulita.
In total, over 600,000 kilograms of hazardous waste, including nearly 250,000 litres of liquid hazardous waste from eight of these nine communities has been removed, with waste from Sachs Harbour awaiting removal on a barge this summer. To put this work into perspective, this is enough hazardous waste to fill up more than six NHLsized hockey rinks. It is clear, Mr. Speaker, that this partnership has made a significant difference at solid waste sites throughout the Northwest Territories.
The plan for this summer is to complete clean up in 12 to 14 additional communities throughout all regions of the territory with work remaining communities scheduled for 2025. As this cleanup work is completed, the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs will follow up with community governments to make operational improvements designed to prevent future stockpiles and reduce waste. These improvements include more frequent compaction to save space, reduce fire risk, and help manage bear attractants, and also decreases the windblown debris. Other management practices, like improved waste segregation or regular removal schedules, will also prevent stockpiles from recurring.t.
In closing, Mr. Speaker, this coordinated project allows community governments to pool their resources and address a problem that is difficult for any one community to manage on their own. By building these partnerships with community governments and the Government of Canada, we can collaboratively address many of the challenges associated with waste management while enhancing public safety and environmental protection. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. Ministers' statements. Mr. Premier.
Mr. Speaker, it is my honour to stand before you to commemorate a significant milestone for Inuvialuit and all residents of the Northwest Territories. This year marks the 40th Anniversary of the Inuvialuit Final Agreement, a landmark event that we celebrate each year on June 5th as Inuvialuit Day.
Forty years ago, the Committee for Original People's Entitlement, signed the Inuvialuit Final Agreement with the Government of Canada. This historic agreement was the first comprehensive land claim north of the 60th Parallel and set a precedent for future negotiations of land, resources, and selfgovernment agreements, not only in the NWT, but across Canada.
The Inuvialuit Final Agreement confirmed the Inuvialuit ownership of over 90,000 square kilometers of land, including nearly 13,000 square kilometers of subsurface rights. This agreement has been instrumental in preserving the cultural identity and values of the Inuvialuit people, enabling them to participate equally and meaningfully in the northern and national economy.
Under the agreement, the Inuvialuit received financial compensation and secured wildlife harvesting rights. The agreement also established the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, the Inuvialuit Game Council, and ensured Inuvialuit participation on various comanagement boards, safeguarding their right to be involved in decisions affecting their land and resources.
Mr. Speaker, the celebration of Inuvialuit Day is a reminder of the strength and resilience of the Inuvialuit. It is a time to honour the hard work and dedication of elders who have preserved and passed down their culture, language, and identity. It is also a time to recognize the importance of our ongoing partnerships with Indigenous governments.
As we commemorate this 40th Inuvialuit Day, we reaffirm our commitment to working collaboratively with the Inuvialuit and all Indigenous governments to build a future that respects and honours their contributions and rights. We look forward to continuing our journey towards reconciliation and shared prosperity. Please join me in congratulating all Inuvialuit on this remarkable 40th Anniversary of the Inuvialuit Final Agreement. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, during a time of fiscal restraint it's easy to few arts as an extra, a nice to have when times are good but a budget line that should be cut when we're tightening our belts. Mr. Speaker, I think it's time we stopped viewing arts as simply a budget line. It doesn't need to be something that's separate from our real priorities, like education, economy, health care, housing. It can be a way of doing things and a way of approaching problems with more creativity, more humanity, more connection.
Art is more than something that professionals do on stage when they perform for the rest of us. Art is how we express ourselves. As groups, it's how we express our cultures. And as individuals, it's how we express our own unique identities. A healthy person and a healthy community incorporate art forms every single day through written and spoken stories, through songs and drum dances, through the clothing we make with materials from the land, through the murals that brighten up our public spaces. It's how we keep renewing our connection to the land and the world around us.
Now, our priority in this Assembly is to build up a healthy workforce. So I think we need to make sure arts are integrated into every stage of education and training. We all know that to teach young kids the alphabet you have to sing songs and tell stories, but even as we get older, we continue to learn better through the arts. It's more engaging, it sharpens our brains, makes us more creative in our problem solving, and it makes kids want to attend school.
If we want to develop a dynamic and robust economy, we need innovation and entrepreneurship, and that can only come from training our people to be creative. And if we're looking for competitive advantage in the global economy, our niche could be in high value cultural products, cultural tourism, film, art, telling our stories to the world.
In promoting mental health and combatting addictions, the most effective ways to reach people to inspire hope and selfconfidence could be through arts and culture programs. In terms of our housing priority, there's a public housing complex in my riding which is full of boarded up units right next to a school. A local resident is spearheading a mural project to involve local children in painting those ugly boards. Mr. Speaker, I ask for unanimous consent just to conclude my statement. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So as I said, a local resident is spearheading a mural project to involve local children in painting up those ugly boards so the children who live in those units can feel pride in where they live and feel part of a community initiative. Mr. Speaker, we should not underestimate the power of arts in achieving this Assembly's priorities. Thank you.
Thank you, Member from Yellowknife North. Members' statements. Member from Range Lake.
Mr. Speaker, there's no comparing the recent surge of violent crime and drug activity in the North to any other moment in our modern history. Over the last year, my constituents and I have learned to brace ourselves when we check the local headlines because we've grown to expect a procession of drug busts, assaults, and murders each week. I know my colleagues in this Assembly and their constituents share this anxiety. The addictions crisis is reaching into all of our communities, and as the drugs flow in, the violence is never far behind. Violent crime and the drug trade go hand in hand. Total drug violations have increased steadily over the last ten years, and homicides have risen alongside them. These drug dealers are now bringing in guns, and they are certainly using them. In previous years, the RCMP would confiscate one or two handguns but last year they've seized more than 30.
There have been multiple homicides in Yellowknife this year alone where handguns were confirmed to be the murder weapon. I am pleased to see this Assembly is taking action. The new crime reduction unit has been described by the RCMP as a game changer because once it’s up and running, the NWT will no longer have to rely on the federal drug crime unit for help. Instead, this NWT unit will be kept on the road, providing effective surveillance of suspected drug activity and prompt dissemination of information so they may quickly obtain the warrants needed to shut those illegal activities down.
However, there is still much work needed to be done here in this Assembly to support this new unit and the RCMP officers who put their lives to get this difficult job done. We need SCAN legislation so civil courts can pursue owners and occupants of homes who are facilitating criminal activity. We can't let anyone turn a blind eye. And there needs to be consequences, and the RCMP need to be able to quickly seize assets related to criminal activity. Housing NWT needs more tools as well. They can't just be waiting for a noise complaint when the neighbourhood knows there's something going on. We made some progress, Mr. Speaker, but we can't lose our focus. Let's keep working to give law enforcement the tools they need to keep our communities safe. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Range Lake. Members' statements. Member from Great Slave.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I am joining many of my colleagues and will speak to the theme of housing.
Mr. Speaker, I believe that public housing can be a net good and benefit for our communities, but it must be supported within a framework that allows for collective pride and a cooperative approach. I also believe in providing smart investments into the maintenance of public housing such as retrofits and new builds as needed and where appropriate. But part of the problem here is that the fact that the federal government has continuously cut funding into public housing significantly since the 1980s. So it feels like Housing NWT has limited choices in front of them.
I also want to take the chance to share some insights that Dr. Julia Christensen outlined in a new book Housing, Homelessness and Social Policy in the Urban North. In short, the book's research finds that effective housing policies in the North must be contextually and culturally rooted. Moreover, Mr. Speaker, Dr. Christensen has spoken further in the media clarifying that Indigenous Northerners are disproportionately represented in those experiencing a lack of housing on their own homelands. This mean that is it is imperative to connect the contemporary issue of homelessness with the ongoing effects of colonialism because this issue is a social justice, human rights, and treaty rights issue all in one.
Mr. Speaker, our model and definitions on homelessness come from southern Canada so it isn't reflecting the realities of homelessness manifestations in the North. Dr. Christensen also states that homelessness does not exist on an island solely in urban centres but is, rather, interconnected to the dynamics of chronic housing needs in smaller communities. That interconnectedness also plays into the fact that NGOs in urban centres, like Yellowknife, do so much with so little to provide emergency housing. Mr. Speaker, we must provide these NGOs with consistent funding.
In closing, Mr. Speaker, not only do we need smarter investments into our public housing system, but we also need to provide consistent and annual public funding to the nonprofit sector to assist in filling the gaps that our government is unable to fill on its own. I will have questions for the Minister of housing. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Great Slave. Members' statements. Member from Inuvik Boot Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, before I give my statement today, I would like to join the Premier in congratulating the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation on their celebration of the 40th Anniversary of signing the Inuvialuit Final Agreement. And to my colleagues and friends in Inuvik, have a great day and I wish I was there participating today and flipping hamburgers with them. So have a great day up there.
Mr. Speaker, I too will speak to housing today. Mr. Speaker, long waitlists for NWT residents when assessing public housing is an ongoing issue that has been raised numerous times in this House. Housing affordability and adequacy are the biggest housing challenges facing the residents of Inuvik. When people can't afford homes or the homes are not adequate, they turn to public housing.
Mr. Speaker, we know there are many people who are on public housing waitlists and, in some cases, these people are waiting years to get into public housing, but this is not publicly reported in Housing NWT's annual reports.
The Minister of housing stated in this House in 2021 that Inuvik had 73 people on the waitlist. On March 31st, 2021, the Minister of housing tabled a unit status report. In this document, it notes that there are 239 public housing units in Inuvik and 226 were occupied. At that time, Mr. Speaker, there were 13 units sitting empty 11 were noted as needing repairs and 73 people were patiently waiting for housing units to come available.
Mr. Speaker, on April 23rd, 2024, Housing NWT signed a collaborative agreement on housing with the Gwich'in Tribal Council. In this agreement, repairs and renovations are identified under possible areas of joint coordination. Mr. Speaker, this is encouraging news. I trust that through this initiative, Housing NWT will be addressing the empty units needing repairs in Inuvik and that there are policies in place that ensure the priority for elders and people living with disabilities to access these units, Mr. Speaker.
On a positive note, it is the trend that more Inuvik clients are accessing homeownership programs and, Mr. Speaker, if we can find a way to provide some economic activity in these regions and our territory, I am sure that that number will climb. But we must, Mr. Speaker, ensure that if we're serious about solving our housing crisis, if it is, indeed, one of our government's top priorities, we must ensure that the units we own are maintained to an adequate living level. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Inuvik Boot Lake. Members' statements. Member from Mackenzie Delta.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the mid 1960s, the Executive Council was in place to somewhat govern the people of the Northwest Territories. The majority of residents were of Indigenous descent and lived a traditional lifestyle.
This socalled government decided to intervene on our independence and our strength as a nation. It stated that they wanted to make our lives for comfortable and convenient, so they started building public housing units. The Gwich'in people, who did not want their lifestyles changed, but the government officials were persistent in bettering our lives. Now fast forward to the new millennium, we, along with the rest of Canada, are experiencing a housing crisis with no immediate solution in sight.
Mr. Speaker, that was over 50 years ago and most of these units are still being occupied today, including the unit where I moved in as a 4yearold boy. When we first moved into the housing units, it had no running water or proper washroom facilities that we take for granted today. So we still had our daily chores. The biggest obstacle that we had to adapt to was our heat source. Prior to public housing, everyone heated their homes with firewood, and today we are reliant on fossil fuels and having to deal with global warming.
Mr. Speaker, with the intervention of this socalled governing board, they changed our lives forever. The government owns the land within the municipal boundaries. We pay for the water that once flowed freely for our use, and we even pay for the disposal of our garbage.
Mr. Speaker, the Indigenous people of the past were deceived. They were verbally promised that if they stayed in these public housing units for at least ten years, they would own the units. Today, the descendants of these peoples are homeless, in arrears with Housing NWT, and are lost souls in a land that once was called home to the strongest and most independent people.
Mr. Speaker, now that we are in a housing crisis with the rest of Canada, the government of today has to involve the Indigenous peoples because we are the ones who are impacted the most. The community membership knows what their communities needs and who are the most vulnerable residents who requires the help. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Mackenzie Delta. Members' statements. Member for Tu NedheWiilideh
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, CMHC funding financial support for Housing NWT is not going to last forever. But when it comes to delivering on housing needs, this government is still stuck on status quo. CMHC funds for base operational maintenance for public housing is declining over year after year, going down to zero by 2038, but as usual this budget proposal just funnels more money into the Housing NWT and makes no attempts to plan for the future. This is the future where Indigenous governments have authority over their own housing needs, and this future is coming whether the territory government likes it or not.
2038 may sound far away but at the pace we are going in, we will reach that date without a plan. Without a plan to shift control of housing over to Indigenous governments means attempting to set up for failure and, in that event this transition only fails. The territory as a whole will suffer. Many are suffering already. However, public housing waitlists are too long, and the policies are not working.
The Indigenous governments in my riding of Tu NedheWiilideh know what works and what needs to be done and are waiting to get to work for their people, but instead they are forced to compete with Housing NWT for funds needed to repair homes and build new homes while CIRNAC funds for Indigenous governments goes straight into the GNWT pockets with little to no accountability. Federal, territorial, Indigenous governments need to start working together in housing for my communities and communities across the North, and the leadership needs to make that cooperation happen rests with the GNWT. In the long term, the government needs to outline how this transition will take shape and short term, and they need to deliver resources efficiently to housing in my communities and see an improvement as soon as possible.
If the government acts soon, I will know my community of Lutselk'e will lose out on ten housing units by the federal government this year because we're not able to secure funds for the territorial government to develop the lots they will be built on. With housing a top priority for this Assembly and this government, what a shame it will be to see those efforts go to waste. I look forward to questioning the Minister of the Housing NWT today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Tu NedheWiilideh. Members' statements. Member from the Deh Cho.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the last sitting I moved a motion for the Government of the Northwest Territories to recognize housing as a human right. Mr. Speaker, I believe that housing is a human right because without housing, there's no foundation. Without a place to call home, there's no structure, no stability. How can we expect people to go to school, participate in the workforce, or raise their families, to live freely, if they are inadequately housed?
Mr. Speaker, acknowledging housing as a human right implies that the government has to implement policies and programs to ensure the right to housing for all residents within the shortest possible timeframe. It also recognizes that programs and policies need to address those in greatest need the homeless.
The mandate of the 20th Assembly has prioritized housing. This government has committed to increase housing availability, to collaborate with partners and Indigenous governments, to reduce homelessness and increase sustainable housing.
I want to acknowledge the Minister of housing is working in collaboration with Indigenous governments to address the housing crisis, and this is very positive. Mr. Speaker, I believe the Minister of housing is moving in the right direction. However, Mr. Speaker, the federal government has recognized in legislation that housing is essential to the inherent dignity and wellbeing of a person, and I see no reason why the Government of the Northwest Territories cannot do the same.
Mr. Speaker, we should be able to acknowledge that without housing, our people have nothing. Our housing policies and programs should be measured how well we are achieving the right to housing for all residents of the NWT. I will have questions for the Minister of housing later today.
Thank you, Member from the Deh Cho. Members' statements. Member from Monfwi.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I spoke in this House about my concerns for elders, that we have elders in communities who are held into mortgages from the GNWT which they cannot afford. For these elders who are on fixed income, it's not just only mortgages but it's also public housing units that I am talking about too. For these elders who are on fixed income, once their file is transferred into collections, they are trapped with so little money so little money they won't ever get out of housing debt.
The Financial Administration Act, the manual, provides guidance for consideration when forgiving or writing off debts. The main consideration is that the circumstances justify seeking forgiveness. The information bulletin 64.01, forgiveness and remission, provides further guidance on this. Under the information bulletin, it details that if a debtor is considered indigent, that is acceptable criteria for the government to forgive debt. Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, this describes the situation of many of our elders. How is the GNWT assessing and determining when a client may not be in the position to financially pay the debt owed to the government?
Under 62 of the Act, a debt can be forgiven if the board considers that collection of the debt unreasonable or unjust or that it is otherwise in the public interest to forgive the debt or obligations. The GNWT can take steps to forgive debt to GNWT and the housing corp for elders and seniors specifically who are no longer in the workforce to alleviate debt when it has become unjust and unreasonable. I will have questions for the Minister of Finance later today. Thank you.
Thank you, Member from Monfwi. Members' statements. Member from Frame Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm going to join my colleagues in speaking to the theme of the day which is housing. I intend to put a bit of a different spin on it.
Mr. Speaker, housing is a priority of this Assembly and also one of the most pressing concerns of our residents, which many of us have been speaking to over the past few weeks. Some may not realize it, but the GNWT is actually one of the largest landlords in the territory. The government owns the land on which many of our residents' homes sit, especially in our smaller communities, Mr. Speaker. About one in three privatelyowned households outside of the five largest communities in the NWT sits on a GNWT land lease. This is in comparison to just .4 percent of homeowner households within the five largest communities.
Mr. Speaker, Chris van Dyke is a resident of Yellowknife, and last month he handed in his thesis for his master of planning that he completed at the University of Guelph. His research explores this uniquely northern situation. The researcher found that more than $450,000 annually is charged for residential land lease fees throughout the NWT. Communities with a higher percentage of homes sitting on land leases also have a higher number of homes in need of major repairs. The researcher suggests that there is a need for more interdepartmental collaboration to address housing barriers and that land policies have to be a part of this consideration. The researcher advises that policy amendments are needed to facilitate Indigenous organizations' access to land and that the elimination of residential land lease fees in our smaller communities must be considered.
Mr. Speaker, the takeaway here is that since the GNWT owns the land on which resident homes sit, GNWT land policies have a direct impact on our residents' access to and quality of housing. Mr. Speaker, let's keep housing in mind when we consider land management and the policies around it. Thank you.
Thank you, Member from Frame Lake. Members' statements. Member from Yellowknife Centre.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Aurora College transition still is a concern in Yellowknife. It's a live issue. Mr. Speaker, we've heard from the chair, the president, and the incoming president about the unfunded transition, Mr. Speaker. This is serious stuff. Mr. Speaker, they're using their surplus just to keep the doors open on this particular issue and the lights on. Mr. Speaker, we need to ask ourselves the tough questions, why is this issue not being discussed? The Minister will say she talks to the chair all the time. Makes you wonder what do they talk about, then, if this never comes up.
Mr. Speaker, the president talks about incomplete work. She identified 200 projects that need to be done for the transition but that said, she said it's not done yet and they still have work to do but they're not properly funded to do this initiative. The president acknowledges the $8 million from CIRNAC. Thank you, Minister Vandal. Please send more. At the same time, the GNWT only gave $1 million, which was earmarked, as the Minister had said and the president had confirmed, for education BED, sorry, and social work. But that said, they have to use that for the transition. So they're finding ways to do this but, you know, they're scraping by.
Mr. Speaker, money needs to be dedicated for the transformation process. Why do I say this is so important? We don't have to go so far as looking to the Aurora College corporate plan. I'm not going to table it, but I'm sure it is tabled, Mr. Speaker. But the 20232024 plan on page 2 refers to the transformation into a polytech. It further goes on to the implementation plan. Oh, but there's more, Mr. Speaker.
On the 20 to 2023 strengthening and foundation planning for change talks about the, again, transformation. We don't have to look any further than just over a year ago on March 6th, 2023, then Honourable Minister Simpson, who was the education Minister and I quote committed to transforming Aurora College into a polytech. I could go on.
Mr. Speaker, oh wait a minute, there's more, believe it or not. Aurora College has an Aurora College Act, and section 6.1 refers to the mandate. Yesterday, the Minister talked about the mandate potentially discussed in July. Mr. Speaker, now's the opportunity to sharpen our pencil and write it clear and loud to the college that we are supportive of a transition from the college into a polytech to support Northerners, Mr. Speaker.
But lastly, it needs to be funded. They're just words until we see some actions. I look forward to some clear decisions today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Yellowknife Centre. Members' statements. Member from Hay River North.
Mr. Speaker, can you feel it, Mr. Speaker? Can you feel the excitement in the air? The NWT Track and Field Championships are back after five long years. And, Mr. Speaker, I am excited. I'm excited for the youth who have missed out on this event five years in a row. I was lucky enough to participate in many track and field events in Hay River, and they're some of the best memories that I have.
I'm also excited for the community. The track and field championships brings over 900 athletes into Hay River as well as hundreds of volunteers, parents, and chaperones. Mr. Speaker, the community swells in size by a third when track and field happens. It is the biggest event of the year in Hay River, and it's back. And I couldn't be happier. And so I want to say thank you to all of the volunteers who make this happen. I don't think people understand how labour intensive it is, and it's a labour of love, because we have some of the same volunteers who have been doing this year after year, decade after decade. And, of course, Mr. Speaker, I want to say good luck to all of the athletes and, of course, have a great time in Hay Riveria. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I'd love to see you on the track there, Premier. Members' statements. Member from Inuvik Twin Lakes.
Mr. Speaker, today I want to congratulate the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation on 40 years since signing this monumental land claim agreement. I want to thank the current chair of the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, Duane Smith, and the board of directors on the work that they do to lead this organization.
I want to take this time to honour the many people who have worked together to make this agreement a reality 40 years ago today. Many of the signatories to the Inuvialuit Final Agreement have now passed on, but their families live on and thrive. The Inuvialuit people continue to be stewards of these lands passing on their culture and traditions to generations to come.
Mr. Speaker, the Committee of Original People's Entitlement Board, there was the late Peter Green, who was the president and from Paulatuk; the late Charles Hodak, he was the vicepresident and from Sachs Harbour; the late Sam Raddi, director from Inuvik; the late Billy Day, a director from Inuvik; the late Eddy Gruben, director from Tuktoyaktuk; the late Bertha Reuben, director from Paulatuk. We still have with us Annie C. Gordon, a director from Aklavik; and Elsie Klengenberg, a director from Ulukhaktok.
But we cannot forget those negotiators that negotiated this agreement and who we still have with us today. Nellie Cournoyea from Tuktoyaktuk; the late Andy Carpenter, Sachs Harbour; the late Robert Kuptana, Ulukhaktok; the late Nelson Green from Paulatuk; the late Mark Noksana from Tuktoyaktuk; Rene Arey of Aklavik, who is still with us today; the late Agnes Semmler of Inuvik; and their chief negotiator, Bob Delorey, who I remember always in that room with his pipe.
Mr. Speaker, I can say that my political career may have been instilled in me at a very young age, but I didn't know it back then. What I now realize is the meetings that I witnessed in this small room two doors down from my house when I was about six years old, with no table in that room, just chairs, where they sat around with federal negotiators like a Sharing Circle. This room included these past leaders where they were ensuring and securing the future of the Inuvialuit people. So once again, I congratulate them on their 40 years. Quyananni, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Inuvik Twin Lakes. Members' statements. Member from Nunakput.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today we are celebrating 40 years of the signing of the Inuvialuit Final Agreement. This agreement is a culmination of many, many years of negotiations by Inuvialuit who sacrificed their lives, time away from their families, time away from the land, from harvesting, from work, to see this agreement through.
This agreement's negotiation was born at a time when industry was knocking on the door in the Arctic, and government was opening it up. To protect our rights, our land, and the ocean, the Inuvialuit developed a negotiating mandate based on evidence which included mapping out our traditional land use and occupancy, Indigenous rights to the land, and comanagement of the area.
Mr. Speaker, two elders we lost in May 2024 were very significant to the negotiations and the implementation of the claim. Mr. Robert Kuptana, a generous, kindhearted Inuvialuk, who was part of the negotiating team on behalf of the Inuvialuit, a signatory to the Inuvialuit Final Agreement, former IRC chair and CEO, a harvester, a hunter, a husband to Agnes, a father and grandfather, a Inuvialuk language expert who could speak three dialects of Inuvialuktun with ease. I wish to honour Robert today.
Also, I want to recognize Mr. Frank Pokiak, former chair of the Inuvialuit Game Council. Frank was instrumental in implementing the Inuvialuit Final Agreement. As chair of the game council, he was the lead in all comanagement efforts and representing us globally. Frank was a harvester, a hunter, a tradesman, a husband, a father and grandfather. I wish to honour Frank today.
Over the last little while, we've lost so many, including Mrs. Margaret Klengenberg, Mr. Barry Jacobson, Ms. Nita Felix, Mr. Angus Himolok, Mrs. Maureen Pokiak, Mrs. Mabel Niyok, and Mr. Adam Wolki. God bless their families and prayers for comfort and strength today and all the days ahead. Their greatest legacy are their children and grandchildren.
I offer congratulations to Duane Ningaqsiq Smith, IRC chair and CEO, and the entire Inuvialuit team in celebrating 40 years of successful implementation of the Inuvialuit Final Agreement and governance of the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, a corporation that's diverse, successful, and an example for many other land claim organizations. Quyananni, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Nunakput. Members' statements.
Good afternoon, colleagues. Today is going to be a very difficult time for myself as I say goodbye to a friend, who has been a big part of my family's life. Whether it was a boss to my son, bus driver for my kids, sponsor of numerous events and trips for the youth of the community, key driver of sport programs, businessman, you name it. Pat was that person.
Pat was born September 20, 1959, in Fairview, Alberta to John and Anne Rowe. Early on in his life, the family moved north to Hay River and this is when I first met the family. Finally in 1971, the family moved to Fort Simpson. Pat joined the navy in 1977 and travelled the world. During this time, he met Sandra, and they had two wonderful children, Becky and Michael. In 1983, Pat returned to Fort Simpson, where he started and grew P.R. Contracting into a successful business. As well, Pat was instrumental in helping improve the village of Fort Simpson's fire department. If this was not enough, he would be seen volunteering for the curling club, golf course, and supporting the community events wherever he could. Colleagues, I would like to share a couple of stories here today.
As people said, he had a big heart. I could tell you he hired a tenyearold boy to work for him. My son was looking for a job but didn't know where to go and how to get one. I gave him a couple ideas and options of who he could ask, and he said that he would have to be there to go there by 8:20 in the morning. My son thought about it and decided to ask P.R. Contracting for a job. He got up early, asked me to drop him off at the shop and he would go from there. About 8:40, my son showed up to my office. I asked him how it went. He looked at me and said Pat doesn't show up until 9 o'clock, why did you get me up so early? After chatting with me, he took off to see Pat and that July morning, he started working for him. I have to say he spent the last at least 10 to 12 years working for that company and we much appreciate this mentorship.
Pat had a habit of telling stories, and you would think there was no way this happened or it had; it was that bad. A mutual friend told me that he was a storyteller but not the way you would think. As she explained, he would stretch the truth a bit. As I explained to her, that's how a storyteller operates. She said no, he downplays the situation as people wouldn't believe the truth. I laughed about her comment but didn't think about it anymore until I was a trip with him.
I can tell you it was a very interesting trip. However about a month later, he was telling someone about it. After the story was finished, I looked at him and I said man, I wish it was that good. Like most people in your life, we all have some amazing stories and I don't have enough time to tell you more. Therefore, I would like to have the rest of my speech deemed as read. I can tell you his passing left a huge hole in the community and the life of his family and friends. He will be sadly missed.
(Deemed Read)
It's difficult to explain in words the life of Pat Rowe. He can be described as a presence or role model; someone you want to be around and be like. He was liked, loved, respected, and is sorely missed by all that knew him. Whether you loved or disagreed with him you most likely respected him. He was often a source of wisdom and guidance and sometimes pure stubbornness.
Pat can be described in three categories: Family, Friend, and Community. All these areas he was extremely passionate about and defined most of what he was.
Family:
Family was always #1 for Pat, he never missed an opportunity to brag about the accomplishments his children, grandchildren, or nieces. No matter what was happening in his life he always took the time to call and congratulate when good news reached his ears, and let you know he was proud of you or happy for you. He could also be counted on to share any good news that came his way, sometimes if only to a cab driver in Edmonton because he wasn't allowed to share yet.
Pat never missed a celebration, milestone, or event. Whether it was stopping in for a quick coffee, planning a tow to be in a certain place at a certain time, or flying to another country Pat always showed up when it was within his power to do so. NO matter the personal cost, broken ribs, and all.
Story from his brother Perry:
Not a lot of people know this, but Anne and Connie were the ones who sent Pat out on his first ever roadside assistance back in the 80s.
It was Christmas, and Rick had not made it into Fort Simpson from Hay River at the expected time. So, the girls sent Pat, along with his swamper Perry, out on the Highway to find him. In true Rowe fashion, no road trip is complete without a stop at the store to get some road “pops”. Needless to say, Pat and Perry had a most enjoyable trip to Hay River without seeing Rick at all.
When they arrived in Hay, they called back to let the girls know they did not see Rick. To their surprise, Rick answered the phone. He was less than impressed, especially since he had hit the ditch, and had watched them drive straight by him talking and laughing without even checking the ditch line. Rick let them know firmly that he wished he had a 30-30 at the time so he could take out their tires!!
Well, with Rick safe, there was nothing left to do in Hay, except hit the store for more road pops and head back to Simpson. Pat and Perry clocked about 10 hours on their adventure, we’re still not sure who paid that bill!
Friends:
Where do you start? Pat had a way of drawing people in. You couldn't help but be pulled to him. A natural storyteller. He held captive anyone who was near to hear, and this enticed them to get to know him better. Once you sat and had a chat with Pat you were hooked. He was always kind to strangers, often joking with whomever he ran into, front desk clerks, waiters or store clerks all fell for his charm and for that he was always remembered and treated as a valued friend when he returned.
He was as loyal to his friend as he was to his family, and in many ways his friends were his family. This is evident by the crowd gathered here today and the sorrow in which we all share. But Pat wouldn't want us to be sad but to be kind to one another and to support each other. Words that he lived by were "be kind to your people, you are nothing without people." These words were passed to him by his father and have been his motto for most of his life. Many of his friendships were built though a mutual love for hunting. Pats hunting stories were always adventure movie quality. He shared stories from his cabin in the mountains, up high on a plateau, or from in a boat on the river, each one as captivating as the one before. Pat was known as a good shot but the truth was, he was an excellent shot, and if the stories are to be believed he didn't miss.
Community:
Not 2nd or 3rd to family and friends, but equal was his love for his community. Pat never failed to step up and help the community in any way he could. He donated countless hours to the fire department, participated in emergency measures planning and during the recent flood, while battling cancer, on chemotherapy he showed up every day and donated his shop as a base for the fire department. After the flood Pat and his company provided garbage bins and removal to help with the cleanup.
Not only a firefighter also a volunteer and supporter of youth activities throughout the years. You may remember his starring roles in the annual skate carnivals, or seen him on the sidelines cheering his children and nieces on, or as the goofy bus driver taking the kids all over the country so that they could have the opportunities to experience new adventures and grow in their skills.
Pat was very much about youth. The first grade six trip involved him using a school bus. However, after that trip he was able to track down a coach, for the next year trip. Then he got another one, so youth from the community could travel down south for sporting events. As Shane tells, he did not do it for the money, because the first question he would ask was how much you have and then you went from there. This coach service expanded to other communities and lasted over 15 years.
He was often referred to as Uncle Pat and is part of many fond memories, I'm sure.
Pat also helped to grow curling in Fort Simpson, often recruiting new curlers and keeping the sport alive, he was part of the NWT Fire Fighter
Team for years and was part of the 2004 team when they achieved a perfect 8 ender! He was also one of the first sponsors of the 7 Spruce
golf course donating time and equipment to help lay the foundation of the course we see today. He would often golf and curl in out of town events, in 2006 in Fort Smith he also shot a hole in one! Regardless where he was, he could be counted on to bring the good time with him, and of course, making more lifelong friends in the process.
No matter how you met Pat you most likely share in our sorrow at the loss of a great man, a strong fighter, and a loving friend. We can all learn from the life of Pat Rowe. We can learn to be kind, to enjoy and celebrate all of life's moments, to hold our friends and family close and to show up whenever you can. I will leave you with some words by Carrie Hamilton:
“Our legacy is really the lives we touch, the inspiration we give, altering someone's plan - if even for a moment - and getting them to think, cry, laugh, argue. More than anything, we are remembered for our smiles.
The ones we share with our closest and dearest, and the ones we bestow on a total stranger, who needed it right then, and God put you there to deliver.”
Rest easy P.R you will be missed
Pat Rowe has had a huge impact during his 40 years on the Ft Simpson FD.
Bit of history:
The Dept was established in 1963 and Pat joined in April 1983 when he returned to Ft Simpson after 6 years in the navy.
In his first week he stated the dept had 5 working fires. Pat could exaggerate a little at times but even if it was 3 or 4 that is a lot ):
In those days, equipment was limited. 1 fire truck and old backup truck. There were just 2 bays in the fire hall.
In 1989 when I joined there were still just 2 trucks with 2 bays and for breathing apparatus there were just 2 of them as well. There were still a few long coats and hip boots still around as well. But Pat had his own bunker gear that he “borrowed” from his firefighting days in the navy. You will see in some of the pictures he has very light-coloured gear compared to others as it was from the navy.
In the early 90’s the FD had a keen group of firefighters that wanted to do more:
More training
Better equipment – more breathing apparatus
Vehicle Ex
Pat was a big part of that drive
1994 Gerry McCowan retired after about 20 years as chief, and Pat became chief. Under Pat, the department advanced their skills further and moved into more offensive operations. – going inside.
1998 The FD took over ambulance operations. Initially about 120-140 calls per year. Ambulance call load slowly increased until 2021 when 337 ambulance dispatches were recorded. Fortunately, the Last few years calls have declined, but are still significantly higher than the early years.
2004 Pat received the Queens Exemplary Service Medal for outstanding service.
2006 was the year of the FD “misunderstanding”. As the result of a $75 bill for snow removal Pat had resigned and things snowballed rapidly until the village council was removed and an administrator took over. After that the Village seemed willing to give us anything we asked for.
2010 we received a new Pierce Pumper at the FD. This pumper was Pats pride and joy. To this day that truck is still a great piece of equipment that any dept in the world would be proud to own.
2012 Pat steps down as chief and I was “lucky enough” to take over that role. Pat stayed on as Deputy Chief until his retirement in 2023 after 40 years. The FD is only 62 years old now.
2013 Pat started his battle with brain cancer. Unfortunately, cancer rates among FF is significantly higher than that of the general public. WSCC has put in place presumptive legislation for compensating firefighters who develop cancer.
Pat often talked about how he’d be coughing and spitting up “black stuff” for days after a fire. In those days with limited airway protection is is not surprising. Also it was a badge of honour to have the dirtiest darkest bunker gear in the hall. Little die we realize that this badge was a heavy concentration of carcinogenic materials. Fortunately, the fire service has evolved a lot to reduce (not remove) this threat.
Pat was a great leader. He always led by example.
As an ambulance attendant he was an amazing caregiver. He was calm and cool and was fantastic at keeping his patients comfortable and relaxed as well. He had that special gift that not many people have at their disposal.
Pat was part of the GNWT core team that completed 11 or 12 weeks of training over about a year to get their 10.01 professional level fire training. As Pat was a private contractor, he took leave from his business to complete this training. It was a huge financial cost to himself and his company. Pat felt this was important to help move training ahead for himself, the FSVFD and the region as Pat travelled to other communities to help them as well.
When doing research for his WSCC claim we found that from 1999 -2013 Pat did 617 ambulance calls, 300 fire meeting and 114 fire calls. He would have done a few hundred more fire calls and rescues prior to this in his early career.
Pat went to National Firefighter curling 8 times. As a team we scored an 8 ender (like a hole in one in golf) against Quebec in Quebec
In the past we had an air raid siren to signify a fire. The siren would go, we’d respond to the hall and then hopefully figure where we were going. A few weeks before I was married the siren went off, we all jumped in the backup truck where we would dress enroute… scarry really and headed out of town. We ended up at Gerry McCowans ranch and had a little party to celebrate my getting married.
When Tyler was doing records for the FD 60th year last year he discovered that there had been over 250 members had passed through the FSVFD during Pats 40 years.
Over my lifetime — and especially the last two decades — I was blessed to have a wingman of sorts. A constant source of encouragement and support. A logical and authentic sounding board and my mentor from firefighting to truck-driving — and oh, do we have stories!
Of course, there has also been a significant amount of cutting sarcasm and pokes at my expense — that duty bestowed upon him by his late father in 1988. In the mix of cruising around Simpson, craft Saturdays, ice road crossings, bus excursions, winter road phone calls, emergency calls, hospital stays, and as many visits as we could coordinate, we did have some serious conversations about life; what ifs and what shoulds, reflections and regrets.
He called me in March, to chat one last time. At the end of our conversation, he said “Well Liss, I’m going to have to ask you to look after the girls again”. I’m not sure what my initial reaction was other than tears. I know I said I didn’t want to do it without him… we said our goodbyes, and within 15 minutes he texted me saying he just bid a job for $6,666.66.
Then I thought, two decades ago the stakes were higher. The girls and I were much younger (and not near as wise as we are today, I’m sure) we were preparing to leave our little Simpson bubble once high school was done. So many changes and adventures were in store for us. And now, I look at them in their mid-thirties, and I remember John, Connie, Anne, and Pat and I think… I wonder who does more of the looking after — me of them, or them of me?
As today unfolds exactly as it should, with a coming together of so many friends and family of Pat’s, I’m a little sad to not be there with everyone to celebrate this great man, but I’m blessed to have been woven into the family in all the ways that I have. We will carry on with our memories and make many more together.
Here’s to PR.
I still feel this statement does not do him justice. However, how can you try to cover 65 years of a person life.
Pat passed away peacefully in his home (as he wanted to) on April 26, 2024, after an eleven-year battle with cancer.
Pat is survived by his partner Lee Scobie, children Rebecca (Kevin) and Michael (Melanie) grandchildren Jason and Jaina, brothers Perry (Jacky) and Rick, nieces Keri-Ann and Jessie, brother in law Ernie and countless cousins and close friends. He is pre-deceased by his parents (John and Anne) and sister (Connie).
