Please be seated. Colleagues, I'd like to thank Evelyn Parry for the opening guiding words.
Colleagues, before we get going, I'd just like to reiterate that during question and answer period, if we could be succinct with our questions and succinct with our answers that would be greatly appreciated moving forward. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, today marks the 80th Anniversary of DDay. The landing at Normandy was a turning point of the Second World War. As Premier, and as a Canadian, I honour the sacrifice of all those who served in this war, the ultimate sacrifice of all those who lost their lives in the conflict, and the memory of the veterans who have passed on in the years since. While I was not able to join the Canadian delegation for the commemoration ceremony taking place at Juno Beach today, I am grateful for the efforts of all participating nations to ensure the lessons learned through the last Great War, and through the individual sacrifice of so many, are never forgotten.
NWT residents have long served in similar capacities, through times of peace and conflict, and today I wish to honour our own veterans, as well as our friends and neighbours who are currently serving, including those stationed at Joint Task Force North and with the Canadian Rangers. While many veterans are no longer with us, the memory of their service and sacrifice Achoes through generations. May that remembrance continue to guide us. Lest we forget. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Premier. Ministers' statements. Minister of ITI.
Mr. Speaker, art is powerful, and art is beautiful, but it is far more than a thing of beauty. Art is a personal, local, and global connector. It connects people to themselves, to one another, and to people living across the world. Further, it connects us to culture, land, and elders and it is critical to our wellbeing and to our shared and individual histories. Art is a conduit of healing. Art is foundational to how we educate our children, preserve traditions, feed community wellness, and build a strong and independent territory.
The arts sector plays a valuable role in the NWT, not only for its own sake but also by upholding a diverse economy that provides artists with employment choices and income opportunities. With such a vast territory, artists are supported across all disciplines, from fine craft to jewelry, from spoken and written word to film productions, all of which are enjoyed by residents and visitors alike.
As part of our mandate, this government committed to making GNWT programs and services more accessible to NWT residents through personcentered approaches that prioritize ease of access for residents over ease of administration. The decision to realign the various programs that serve the arts sector so that they are housed in one place, within the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment, is one way to deliver on this promise.
This action brings supports for NWT artists of all types under one department for a single point of contact rather than spread between staff at different departments. I expect this work to build more capacity to deliver arts programs and result in a better service experience for all artists. Artists will no longer need to navigate multiple government departments to access funding, resources, and assistance.
To ensure a smooth transition for artists and staff, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment along with Industry, Tourism and Investment, are developing a structured change management process that ensures the full transfer of knowledge and processes. The departments are committed to advancing this change with input from all staff while maintaining open communication.
Mr. Speaker, this shift excites me, not only as it creates an easytoaccess singleservice window for resident artists but also because it allows the government to more effectively leverage the economic opportunities presented to the arts sector. The arts sector represents a significant component of the Northwest Territories economy. Cultural industries added up to over $100 million in gross domestic product in 2022. This number is likely an underestimate to the extent that some people involved in arts and culture do not formally identify as artists.
Promoting the arts within a unified voice is expected to create more opportunities for artists to showcase their creativity to the world. Indigenous artists are gaining recognition and demand worldwide as they reach new audiences and sell their work to new consumers online. The film sector, in particular, has great potential to bring the North to the world and the world to the North and shows the linkages between arts and tourism.
Partnerships between artists and the tourism sector can lead to innovative cultural experiences for visitors, while collaborations with the film industry can promote the NWT as a filming destination. Such strategic collaborations will maximize the economic and cultural impact of the arts sector in our territory, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, by placing supports for artists in one spot, our government is empowering our public service to provide flexibility to deliver programs and services that work for residents. I look forward to sharing more details on these changes later this year. As we move forward, let us reaffirm our commitment to championing our arts sector to reach its full creative, cultural, and economic potential. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister of ITI.
Colleagues, before we get into the next Minister's statement, I'd like to recognize Major Karen Hoeft and her husband Allan Hoeft and welcome to our Assembly here. Thank you very much for being here.
Ministers' statements. Minister for Infrastructure.
Mr. Speaker, I recently had the opportunity to address the Northwest Territories Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists at their annual professional development symposium. The theme for this year's symposium was Building a Resilient North, which underscores a collective commitment to overcoming challenges and fostering innovative solutions for a sustainable future for residents. Today, I want to highlight the pivotal role that strategic infrastructure plays in securing the future prosperity of the Northwest Territories.
The strength of our economy and our future prosperity depend on reliable supply chains supported by critical infrastructure. This includes roads, rail lines, ports, ferries, pipelines, airports, and electricity transmission infrastructure, all essential for transporting goods, services, and materials to both domestic and international markets. As we build for tomorrow, it is crucial that we leverage the best standards, tools, and technologies to create infrastructure that meets both present and future needs.
With this in mind, the Government of the Northwest Territories is committed to maximizing federal funding to help close the infrastructure gap with investments in green power generation and transmission, transportation and communications networks. Transformative infrastructure projects such as the allseason Mackenzie Valley Highway, the expansion of the Taltson hydroelectric facility and airport updates and expansions are significant contributors to the stability of the NWT's economy.
Enhancing our allseason highway system remains a top priority. The Department of Infrastructure currently maintains 3,856 kilometers of highways, with nearly 2,500 of those kilometers being allseason roads half gravel and half chip seal or asphalt. Our road network includes 115 bridges, 247 bridge culverts, and more than 3,000 smaller culverts, as well as four ferry crossings. This summer, Infrastructure staff will be busy with over 20 roadway projects in various stages of completion, including access road construction, multiple highway development projects and bridge and culvert expansion and construction.
We are nearing the completion of phase one of the Prohibition Creek Access Road near Norman Wells, which will further strengthen our transportation system in additional to providing employment and training opportunities for Sahtu residents. During peak construction, the contractor hired 95 workers - 61 from the Sahtu and 12 from other Northwest Territories regions.
Mr. Speaker, we continue to advance strategic infrastructure projects such as the Mackenzie Valley Highway and the Slave Geological Province Corridor. Strong relationships with Indigenous governments and organizations are central to the success of these transformative projects, and we continue to work together on their advancement. The analytical phase of the Mackenzie Valley Highway environmental assessment is currently underway with technical and community information sessions anticipated this summer and fall. We remain on pace for a final report of an environmental assessment in 2025, and we also have extensive fieldwork and engagement planned for this summer, which will inform future regulatory applications for the Lockhart AllSeason Road, the first phase of the Slave Geological Province Corridor project.
In addition to new roads, we are undertaking necessary repairs to cables on the Dehcho Bridge and progressing the planning and design of highways, bridges and culverts including Dehk'e Frank Channel bridge replacement.
Mr. Speaker, waterways, like the Mackenzie River and Great Slave Lake, have long been vital for transporting people and goods. Despite challenges such as low water levels, Marine Transportation Services and the fuel services division are adapting and planning to ensure essential resupply to northern communities. The ongoing Hay River harbour restoration project is a testament to our commitment to maintain these crucial transportation routes. I am pleased to share that dredging operations began as scheduled on June 3rd, and approximately 80,000 cubic metres of sediment are expected to be removed from the harbour by midSeptember.
Extreme weather events linked to climate change, including wildfires, floods, low water levels, volatile wind, wave action, and changing Arctic Ocean ice pack have interrupted the supply of fuel to communities in the Northwest Territories. In an effort to minimize the impacts of these supply interruptions, the GNWT continues to explore funding opportunities with Canada to increase bulk fuel storage capacity of diesel, aviation and gasoline fuels in Sachs Harbour, Ulukhaktok, and Paulatuk. These projects will be critical to modernize, improve, and expand fuel storage facilities and to mitigate risks to the environment and achieve code compliance and when completed, would allow for the storage of two years of normal fuel consumption in each community.
The future prosperity of the Northwest Territories hinges on our commitment to building and maintaining strategic infrastructure. Last year's evacuations and reentries across the territory highlight the paramount importance of access and transport by air, road, and water. The GNWT's ongoing investment in transportation infrastructure aims to improve residents' peace of mind and quality of life, lower living costs, and support economic expansion and diversification. Thank you, Mr. Speaker you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, when a person learns they have cancer, their world turns upside down. In just one moment, they find themselves in the fight of their lives. Thankfully in Canada, we have a universal public health care system that is always there to connect cancer patients with the medical professionals they need. Unfortunately, in the North, that connection of doctor to patient is a bit more complicated. We can't offer every specialized treatment that southern Canadians take for granted and when that's not ideal, the added travel for medical care is a fact of life for Northerners.
However, there's a growing trend of health and social services becoming too reliant on southernbased medical services instead of working to keep as many of those services available here as possible. This burdens more patients with medical travel, increases service delivery costs, and adds pressure on the cooperation between northern and southern medical systems. This is a recipe for disaster, Mr. Speaker, diminishing the quality of care and increasing stress on patients.
It should be no surprise, then, we have ended up in a dire situation that we are faced with regarding hematology oncology services. With apparently little notice, the services were suddenly relocated to Alberta effective May 1st forcing blood cancer patients to travel constantly in and out of the Northwest Territories for blood work and chemotherapy. I have been in contact with Range Lake constituents, including one suffering from multiple myeloma, who expressed the anxiety and strain that this has caused on her and her family. Apparently, this is because medical service providers in Alberta have grown concerned and frustrated with challenges to obtaining timely and accurate blood work from Yellowknife, coupled with an inability to access these results through the patient network. There are at least seven other Northerners suffering from multiple myeloma, and they have received no timeline as to when these services will be repatriated.
What are these patients left to do, Mr. Speaker, besides move out of their homes to be closer to the lifesaving treatment they need? Situations like these are urgent and require not only an immediate fix but also a serious review of the circumstances that have brought us to this place. I hope the Minister has a plan to support the wellbeing of cancer patients across the North. I'll be asking her that later today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Range Lake. Members' statements. Member from Inuvik Boot Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to congratulate the 2024 High School Graduating Class of the Inuvik East Three Secondary School. Mr. Speaker, this year's ceremony is extra special for me as my son will be among the graduating class.
I would like to thank the incredible staff at East Three Secondary School, and I would like to congratulate the families and mentors who have helped the grade 12 students accomplish this milestone in their lives. Mr. Speaker, there are 27 students graduating this year, and they are:
Andy Albert
Livia Amos
Kira Bretana
Kaycee Campbell
Jared Day
Mila Eldridge
Isabel Firth-Gruben
Sienna Gordon
Hope Gordon-Thrasher
William Inglangasuk
Tamara Kaglik
Kaylyn Kayotuk
Derek Lennie-Ipana
Zaiden Maring
Symantha McCarthy Adams
Rowan McInnes
Tatum Mistaken-Chief
Dreydan Natsie
Chase Nogasak
Sami Rahman
Will Rodgers
Bianca Rogers
Alexandria Ruben
Charlie Snowshoe
Connor VanLoon
Race Vittrekwa-Blake
Rylan Wainman
Mr. Speaker, I, again would like to congratulate all these students. I'd like to let the Speaker know and the House that I will be absent from the House tomorrow to travel home to Inuvik to attend the ceremony and give an address to the students on Saturday, June 8th. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Members' statements. Member from Mackenzie Delta.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am concerned about the cost of food in my riding. Access to healthy nutritious food is essential for everyone. Nutrition North is a program of the Government of Canada in 2011 and replaced the food mail program. The Nutrition North program provides subsidy to retailers and wholesalers for the overall cost of food which is transferred to the customer when they purchase eligible items. It does not subsidize the transportation of food yet, Mr. Speaker. We know the transportation of food is a significant cost to stocking grocery store shelves in the NWT.
In my riding, Aklavik is eligible year-round for subsidization under Nutrition North; however, Fort McPherson and Tsiigehtchic are eligible only during periods of seasonal isolation. Yet, Mr. Speaker, in order to supply food to the grocery stores in my communities, it first has to travel 3,200 kilometers from Edmonton to Inuvik. This is the longest food supply road network anywhere in Canada. And from Inuvik, it still has to get to the Mackenzie Delta communities.
Food is expensive, and yet many residents in my region are on income support. The average family in my riding earns $50,000 less than the average NWT family. Paying for nutritious, healthy food is essential to our wellbeing, and this is something that many families can't afford in my region.
In the mandate of the 19th Assembly, the government said that it will work with the Indigenous and community governments to make recommendations for improvement to the Nutrition North program. The Legislative Assembly also approved a motion for the GNWT to create a food security strategy. I will have questions for the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment later. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Mackenzie Delta. Members' statements. Member from Monfwi.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'll do this in Tlicho for the intro.
[Translation] 62@9:30
[Translation Ends]
Mr. Speaker, June is the month of high school graduations. On behalf of the Tlicho region, I want to congratulate all students graduating high school, especially those graduating from Chief Jimmy Bruneau school in Edzo, Mezi Community School in Whati, and Jean Wetrade School in Gameti.
Mr. Speaker, I believe that in general, all youth who graduate high school likely had good attendance throughout their schooling. It is sad that our territorial budget for some schools is decreasing due to low attendance rate. We had this attendance issue before COVID. We know that many families are still dealing with the trauma from residential school. Some hesitate to send their children to school. To overcome this fear, our government and school system must break free in colonialism and move forward. We were forced; now it is our choice.
Mr. Speaker, the only job for young people is to be in school, learn new things every day, and work hard to pass and move to the next level. With good attendance, there are many opportunities for people. With good attendance, a child can learn to read by grade 2 or earlier. But in the NWT, especially small communities, the literacy statistics are not good. This is at least partially due to poor attendance.
Mr. Speaker, we have good schools and staff in the NWT who work hard for students to achieve. Teachers are invaluable with special skills to teach youth every day. Elementary school gets young people ready for junior high. Junior high gets them ready for high school. And after high school, it's about growing and experiencing
Member from Monfwi, your time is up.
Can I have unanimous consent to conclude my statement? Thank you.
Life after high school is a choice young people must make, whether to pursue higher education, training, work, living life off the grid, or to travel, but travelling requires money to pay for the trips.
Mr. Speaker, according to the statistics, between 2017 to 2021, small community attendance rates for grade 9 dropped by 10 point from 79 to 69, an even bigger decline is between 2012 to 2021 where small community attendance rate for grade 6 dropped by 21 points from 89 to 68 percent. That is an alarming rate. These are extremely trouble
Member from Monfwi, your time is up.
I will have questions for the Minister of ECE.
Thank you. Thank you, Member from Monfwi. Member from the Sahtu.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. In my absence in the last couple of days there, I had the privilege and wonderful opportunity of attending the youth workshop in Tulita sponsored by the Sahtu Secretariat. Life promotion and harm reduction was the theme of the conference, and to listen to the youth, or the future of our territory. Developing our selfindependence is fundamentally critical as defining the cultural values and beliefs.
Mr. Speaker, in the Northwest Territories living this reality is visiting and spending time in reference to the small communities. The reality of cost of living far outweigh the recreational and economic opportunities in remote areas of our Northwest Territories.
Mr. Speaker, the last two days I attended the youth workshop and experienced many discussions of those small communities and the challenge facing them in particular in today's society where there's so many addictions and temptations. Mr. Speaker, the Sahtu Secretariat took the lead in addressing the drug addictions by sponsoring this regional leadership addictions gathering in Fort Good Hope in early May last month. In recognition that there's a missing gap, leaders sponsored the youth workshop in Tulita so the audience and the gathering and the population is all attributing to the developments of the regional strategy.
Mr. Speaker, integral to addressing the drug addictions crisis we're experiencing, support and resources to implement the development strategy is one that's going to really make a difference.
Mr. Speaker, as quoted by Winston Churchill, we make a living by what we get but we make a life by what we give. This institution, with the design of this room as a healing circle, stands for a model to support today's society, in particular investment in our youth, Mr. Speaker. Mahsi cho for sharing the time for me to address. Mahsi.
Thank you, Member from the Sahtu. Members' statements. Member from Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I want to speak about renewable diesel, which is a very promising clean energy technology that could be a game changer in reducing our greenhouse gas emissions and in helping us keep up with the global shift away from fossil fuel technologies.
Roughly 80 percent of NWT emissions come from the use of diesel. Transportation, particularly transport trucks and mining equipment, account for almost half of our emissions. And it's just not realistic to think that we could ever electrify all transportation routes across our remote communities and remote mines in the North.
The GNWT commissioned a modelling study last year which found that if the NWT wants to set a goal of net zero, biofuels will be absolutely necessary to get us there. So what is renewable diesel?
To be clear, it's not the same as bio diesel. Renewable diesel is diesel made from vegetable oils and fats. It can be used in any existing diesel engine, furnace, or boiler; you simply drop it in. No retrofits, no need to buy new equipment or vehicles. You can also blend it in any proportion with conventional diesel fuel. So you can start gradually mix in small amounts and every little bit helps to reduce emissions.
It was first developed in the 1990s in Finland, and an Arctic grade has already been for sale in Finland since 2016 that can be stored down to minus 40. Global mining companies are also looking to this technology. De Beers is committed to be carbon neutral across all of its operations by 2030, and it has specifically committed to explore renewable diesel.
Renewable diesel does cost more than conventional diesel but if we compare it to other renewable energy projects we've already undertaken, the cost per ton of reduced emissions is two to eight times lower than solar, LNG, wind, or hydro grid expansion. The cost has been high because there's been very little production and little demand but in early of this year, in early 2024, Canada's first renewable diesel refinery opened in Prince George, BC, and another is planned for Strathcona, Alberta. Mr. Speaker, I ask for unanimous consent to conclude my statement; I'm almost finished.
Unanimous consent granted
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So the Yukon government is already planning pilot projects to evaluate renewable diesel for transport, heating, and power generation by 2025. If we joined with them and other partners, such as large mines, we could create enough demand to start the renewable diesel energy revolution in the North. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Yellowknife North. Members' statements. Member from Yellowknife Centre.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We all agree housing is a challenge and sometimes we have to face the facts that we need to start doing things different by being innovative. Mr. Speaker, we cannot wait for others. That's the hallmark for failure. I say to the GNWT, to the Premier, it's time to be bold and innovative because if politicians are acting like bureaucrats, you know, who's leading the public service?
Mr. Speaker, let's be fearless and be bold. Let's shake the system up and break free of this mediocrity. Mr. Speaker, stop pumping the brakes on innovation. I'm going to give two examples of how we can change the narrative or the story of housing here in the Northwest Territories.
For example Rockhill, back in October 2018, burned to the ground. It's an unfortunate experience that affected 13 families. Mr. Speaker, that property has essentially sat vacant for years. I say let's think outside the box. With some conditions based on public good, Mr. Speaker, I say give the property away. Let's be innovative. Let's create proposals and tell industry to come forward. Create an opportunity for people who do design of buildings, create homes, gives opportunities for families to live safely and grow. How could we do this? We could say things like, for example, in our proposal, you must show public good, you must demonstrate a certain amount to, say, public rent that's targeted at people with low incomes. Again, social responsibility. Let's not miss opportunities. That property has been emptied or flat and ready to go for at least the last five years. People want that property, Mr. Speaker, to build homes. There's our chance.
Mr. Speaker, the second idea and I want to stress not in isolation without consultation the GNWT could swiftly change its rules by eliminating permitting fees for buildings. And I say that because other areas in Canada have waived permit fees to stimulate the economy.
The other aspect is automatic approvals. Mr. Speaker, I've got a lot more to say on this one, but time runs quickly on the Member's statement. But the important part is we need to set up conditions that work to get people building. If a building or property is designed that meets engineering and architectural and, of course, municipal zoning bylaw rules, it should be automatically approved.
Mr. Speaker, these are just fresh ideas, but they're not new ideas. Let's be exciting and reach out and solve some of our housing problems by being part of the solution, not part of the problem. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Yellowknife Centre. Members' statements. Member from Kam Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I was 22 years old when I learned I would soon welcome my first child. I was excited, anxious, eager for the journey to come, but was also terrified because I couldn't keep a plant alive and would soon be trusted to raise a human. And so on the 6th day of the 6th month of the 6th year at 6 minutes to 9:00, I met Action Jackson. I was in awe of him. He was fiercely independent, terrifyingly fearless, relentlessly curious, and oh so sweet. This past weekend, that baby graduated high school.
As we stood for a family photo, him in his cap and gown, he stretched his arms around his dad and I and said, we made it, guys. For almost two decades, we have worked hard to raise one another. Our kids teach us so much, like it's okay to have big feelings, how to be fearless, the importance of staying curious, that being stubborn and assertive can sometimes serve us well, and patience, dear God, Mr. Speaker, they teach us so much patience. Them simply being them shapes us. As parents, we want our children to be safe, to be kind, and to experience moments of profound deeply rooted joy. We want them to know it is okay to not know what you want to be when you grow up as long as you know who you want to be, that how you treat people matters more than what's on your business card, that it's okay to fall of our path, step off your path, or even start building a whole new path, and to always remember that this world needs you in it.
I stand here today, 18 years later still excited, still anxious, admittedly still a little terrified, but oh so eager for the journey that is yet to come. Stay stubborn, stay curious, and stay you. Happy birthday, My Boy.
Happy Birthday to Jackson. Members' statements.
Colleague, you know every once and a while, you find a person that loves a job and stays there for their whole career. I had a constituent from Fort Liard that did that. Mrs. Corinne Sassie had spent more than 35 years of dedicated service to the youth of Fort Liard at the Acho Dene School. I can imagine that she is looking forward to her welldeserved retirement. As the principal said, she leaves behind a legacy of unwavering commitment to education, her culture and tradition.
When you look at someone's employment story, you get a good picture of who that person is. Corinne began as a student support assistant at the Acho Dene School where her deep dedication to the academic and personal growth of every student she worked with is evident. Over the years, she passionately pursued opportunities within the school, eventually rising to the role of Indigenous language educator. In this role, she was instrumental in preserving and revitalizing the Dene Zhati language, ensuring the cultural heritage remained an integral part of our educational experience.
Throughout her career, she touched the lives of countless students, colleagues, and community members with her warmth, knowledge, and tireless advocacy for the Indigenous language and culture. I can tell you her contributions have left an indelible mark on Acho Dene School and the community, which has helped shape the educational landscape for future generations to come.
Colleagues, her impact extends far beyond the walls of the Acho Dene School. In the community, she has fostered cultural pride and identity among the students, providing vital mentorship and support services. Regionally, her efforts have led to a greater recognition and respect for the Dene language and culture, creating a more inclusive learning environment for students across the region. Territorially, she has championed Indigenous education policies and practices, addressed systemic barriers and injustices faced by Indigenous students.
As she embarks on her new journey, the whole community of Fort Liard, the Dehcho region, and myself, we salute her remarkable contribution to education and the Dene culture. We wish her all the best and an enjoyable retirement and new adventures, knowing that her legacy of passion, dedication, and advocacy will continue to inspire us all. Again, I would like to thank her for her service to the youth, the community, and region. I hope to see you in Liard the next time I am there. Thank you, Colleagues.
Members' statements. Member from Dehcho.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I see constituents in my riding struggling to put food on the table. In the 19th Assembly, the Government of the Northwest Territories committed to working with Indigenous governments and communities to make recommendations to improve the Nutrition North program. In 2021, the list of NWT communities eligible for the Nutrition North program increased by five, bringing the total number of communities in the NWT to 20.
Mr. Speaker, because the communities I represent are along the road system, we are not eligible for the subsidy or grant programs under the Nutrition North program. In 2018, the bureau of statistics showed that 26 percent of households in Fort Providence and 14 of homes in Enterprise are worried there's not enough money to pay for food.
Mr. Speaker, we also know income is the biggest determinant of food security. If residents in the NWT do not have enough money to pay for food, what subsidies or other financial relief can be provided to help them feed their families?
My concern, Mr. Speaker, is that the communities in my riding cannot access federal support programs to reduce the cost of living. There is support available through the federal government, but it's out of reach for my constituents. Is the GNWT advocating to the federal government to consider more NWT communities for eligibility under the Nutrition North program? How is the GNWT working with Indigenous leadership to address food security in the NWT? I will have questions for the Minister of ITI later today. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to recognize one of my constituents, Nancy Bies, who not only a Range Lake constituent but a multiple myeloma survivor, and I'll be asking questions on her behalf today and the others who are suffering from that disease in the Northwest Territories. Thank you.
Recognition of visitors in the gallery.
For those other visitors here, we thank you very much for coming to your House and allowing us to represent you here today.
Recognition of visitors in the gallery. I just got a little note. Colleagues, including myself, please slow down; sorry about that.
Sorry, go on to the next. My computer just died.
Okay. Member from Range Lake.
