Please be seated. Thank you. I'd like to thank Elder Lafferty for the opening prayer and reflections.
Colleagues, before we get into our business today, we have some special guests up in our audience, the 2025 Ontario Legislature Internship Program participants. And some of you had the opportunity to meet with them, and these are pretty amazing young people that have given us this opportunity to come here and see our great government work, how consensus government works. So I'd like to recognize them, and if I butcher their names -- I told them on Monday and I said it on Tuesday, I apologize now, but we'll just go from there --
Madeline Ritter, or Maddie
Annie Dowd
James Liao
Megan Ryan-lloyd
Nika Lennox
Alex Salton
Sayyidah Jaffer
Ayesha Ali
Catilin Arizala
I apologize for that one; that one's even worse than the other one.
So I'd like to welcome you to our Assembly and hope you are enjoying yourself, and you've taken a different path instead of the one you normally did and see the whole beautiful city of Yellowknife. So welcome here.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I stand today to highlight one of the most significant achievements of 2024: The finalization of the Our Land for the Future Agreement, formerly called the NWT Project Finance for Permanence Agreement.
This landmark initiative is a monumental achievement for Indigenous peoples in the Northwest Territories, fostering Indigenous-led conservation, stewardship, and economic development. The GNWT had the honour of supporting this transformative initiative in partnership with 23 Indigenous governments, the Government of Canada, and private donors. Through the process of finalizing the agreement, the GNWT worked closely with Indigenous governments, NGOs, industry leaders, and local communities. Extensive consultations ensured that this initiative aligns with Indigenous priorities and balances conservation efforts with the community economic opportunities. Not only is Our Land for the Future a testament to the strength of true collaboration but also a clear example of what can be accomplished when Members of the Legislative Assembly unite behind a common goal.
Mr. Speaker, as we all can remember, advancing this agreement required substantial effort to develop new legislation enabling the creation of a trust. I am proud that the Members came together to move this critical legislation forward at an accelerated pace, ensuring that the benefits of the agreement could be realized as quickly as possible. This achievement highlights our shared commitment to working with Indigenous governments to do what is best for NWT residents and communities.
The funding, $300 million from the Government of Canada and $75 million from private donors, will facilitate the establishment of Indigenous protected and conserved areas, Indigenous guardian’s programs, and climate resilience and tourism projects.
Mr. Speaker, the benefits will be transformative. Our Land for the Future will create jobs in small communities across the NWT while promoting sustainable stewardship of NWT lands and resources. Investments in Indigenous-led conservation efforts will enhance community health and well-being for future generations, contributing to cultural continuity in the territory.
Implementation is already underway, with funding anticipated to flow in mid-2025. The GNWT will continue to collaborate with Indigenous governments, industry, and stakeholders to ensure that the benefits of this agreement reach all NWT residents.
This achievement brings the Government of the Northwest Territories closer to fulfilling its mandate commitment to enhance reconciliation while supporting sustainable economic development and environmental stewardship in the territory. It is a monumental accomplishment for Indigenous peoples, and the GNWT is honored to be part of it. Together, we will work to create opportunities for Northerners that ensure a prosperous and sustainable future for all NWT residents. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I was speaking about the polytechnic transition and wasn't able to fully finish out my thoughts, and I wanted to share those today.
Mr. Speaker, I want to be clear that when I'm advocating for the polytechnic transition, I am not advocating for something that would be a zero sum game where some communities lose, one community gains. That is a restrictive vision, and I'm tired of it going around because what I want to advocate for is something expansive. This is not about concentrating resources in one community, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, when I think of an expansive vision of the college, I think of something like establishing an ENRTP program which they've talked about doing and which I'm a graduate of, one that would bring students into various communities in the territory. Imagine that program bringing students up to Inuvik for a year and having them work on High Arctic research with whales, with the ocean, with things like that, and then moving around to different communities, working with elders, working in different ways.
Mr. Speaker, imagine a governance program that did something similar, a governance program which taught students about the various different governance models being established in the Northwest Territories and embedded them in those systems, a program which brought students into the communities and have them working with people who are doing the work of implementing governance right now. That would be a very exciting and attractive program. I think of students graduating from a program like that, the employability that they would have. This is the kind of programming that I think people would come from around the world to experience.
And when we think about our community governments, they are constantly coming to us and talking about capacity building. Imagine a program that embedded graduates and embedded students in these governments and helped them work with that capacity building and helped them work with that government. I think that's something that students from this territory could get very excited about. It would prepare them for careers in these governments. That's the kind of thing that we need to be doing. I think it would be very exciting, Mr. Speaker, and I hope we get on with it.
Mr. Speaker, I do want to highlight the fact that Yellowknife's campus is inadequate, and I want us to seek funding to improve it. That was clearly laid out in the facility's master plan, and I think we need to go through with that. But it's not about taking from someone else and giving to another.
Look at the situation we're in with the CLCs. We need programming that works for the communities too. We have to be thinking about everybody when we're thinking about a vision for the college. I think it's clear, and it was clear in the foundational review, that the college as it is is not working for the best interests of the whole territory. The vision that I want to work for and what I want to change is that narrative itself. So let's get together, let's do expansive visioning for this program, for this college, and let's get a polytechnic university that we can all be proud of. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Frame Lake. Members' statements. Member from Range Lake.
Mr. Speaker, perception is everything. How we view the world around us determines how we live our lives. Our perception of the challenges and opportunities we face every day informs our actions and thus plays a major role in each situation's outcome. Many Northerners face challenges in which often the last resort they approach the GNWT for solutions. In tough times, there's already a feeling of desperation so the perception that these services are difficult to access can be a serious detriment to whether or not a service actually reaches the person it's intended for.
Unfortunately, the often Byzantine nature of our departments can make these services appear out of reach - high, aloft, separate, confusing towers of bureaucracy that must be scaled through confusing applications, intimidating policies, and frantic searches for the relevant staff. This is precisely how government silos make delivery of vital services difficult especially when the trickiest situations call for access to multiple programs which exist across different departments.
Honourable Members have all worked with constituents facing these tough times who feel frustrated because they perceive the solutions are obscured behind unnecessarily complicated barriers. They may need access to public housing, social services, income assistance, or to be connected to an NGO in their community, but the policies, programs, and paperwork seem too overwhelming and, sadly, our constituents may not get the help they need on time.
Thankfully, our government has created the Office of Integrated Service Delivery. This was created to specialize in breaking down departmental barriers and provide resources and knowledge in services offered by both government and non-government organizations. This is a tool I referred Range Lakers to when complicated constituency files require more support. Very rarely do constituents come back from the integrated services unit without the support they needed broken down for them in easy to follow strategies. Even when a constituent does not meet the threshold for ISD, staff are more than happy to provide some quick, crucial advice or a package of programs and applications that would have otherwise taken much effort to gather.
Let's all celebrate the innovative nature of this office and all the hard work staff there do to ensure the services each department works hard maintaining are wildly accessible to those who need them. The success of this unit here in Yellowknife is a model for the entire territory, and I hope we will see more of it in the years to come. Thank you.
Thank you, Member from Range Lake. Members' statements. Member from Monfwi.
Mr. Speaker, I'll do this in my language for the opening comment -- I mean for the opening of the statement.
Mr. Speaker, [No translation provided].
Mr. Speaker -- I'll do it in English now -- a few days ago, last week, in response to questions about the closure of the community learning centre, the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment mentioned that a GNWT in What We Heard report and the 2024 facility report. Mr. Speaker, we can see from these reports that learning centres are at the heart of college programming in small communities. Of the 19 centres being closed, the facility report notes that 12 standalone CLC facilities were constructed between 1967 and 2011 and are in various states of repair. Seven CLC centres share space in GNWT owned or community facilities. This is the case for the Whati centre which is located within Mezi Community School. Mr. Speaker, can I have unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted
Okay, Mr. Speaker. According to the What We Heard report published in April 2024, awareness of CLC program is currently perceived as low but the report states partnering with local governments will strengthen the presence of Aurora College in communities. The CLC are currently run by full-time community adult educator as well visiting instructors who deliver short courses and workshop.
Mr. Speaker, instructors in small communities can direct our youth towards trades and professionals. We need more specialized programming like training for the office workers and apprenticeship. I will have question for the Minister of ECE at the appropriate time. Thank you.
Thank you, Member from Monfwi. Members' statements. Member from Sahtu.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Norman Wells oil field resource revenues. Mr. Speaker, the Norman Wells oil field celebrated its century anniversary in 2021. Mr. Speaker, this legacy oil field is unique in many ways within the industry. The resource is of high quality, sweet, light crude, with low viscosity and low refining costs.
Mr. Speaker, another unique view or perspective is the ownership structure. The federal government retains or owns subsurface rights and, with a joint operating agreement with Imperial Oil, retains two-thirds.
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to the NWT Land and Resource Devolution Agreement, the Norman Wells proven area remains under federal jurisdiction. Mr. Speaker, the resource revenues are significant, over $2 billion over 40 years. This structure, Mr. Speaker, opens the doors for closure and reclamation opportunities. Mr. Speaker, my office authorized NORTRAN a training readiness plan for remediation and reclamation. Mr. Speaker, the Sahtu region is filled with remediation sites. And, Mr. Speaker, combining our efforts to address the trades workforce shortages through a design-build approach for a new trades training tech school in Norman Wells is not only innovative but realistic on approaching our federal counterparts to redirect resource revenues to the O and M of NORTRAN. Later, Mr. Speaker, I will have questions to the appropriate Minister. Mahsi.
Thank you, Member from the Sahtu. Members' statements. Member from the Deh Cho.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. [No translation provided].
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to talk about housing support for residents in the Deh Cho. Mr. Speaker, I'm worried about the communities in my riding. Enterprise residents should not feel abandoned by this government as they look for solutions after losing their homes during the 2023 wildfire. Many of them are currently living in Hay River wondering when they can move back home. I have heard from other constituents in housing in Deh Cho communities who have received eviction notices during the winter.
Mr. Speaker, according to the rental office annual report for 2023-2024, the number of eviction orders issued decreased by 39.6 percent. Even though eviction rates went down, people are still being evicted. I want to know why these evictions are happening now during the winter months. Many of these people have arrears but they're willing to pay to stay in their home. I want to know how we can help these people. The NWT rental office must hold hearings with landlords and tenants before determining an eviction order should be made. I want to ensure residents in small communities have a voice.
Mr. Speaker, I've heard from constituents in NWT Housing who have lost their jobs or who have taken on a caregiver role for family members, and their rents have not been reduced. The cost of living is getting higher, is becoming harder and harder to find solutions, and we need to work together to help these constituent residents of the NWT. I will have questions for the Minister of housing at the appropriate time, Mr. Speaker. Mahsi.
Thank you, Member from the Deh Cho. Members' statements. Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. In 2023, the 19th Assembly passed Bill 85, United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Implementation Act. I was here when this happened, Mr. Speaker. It was a momentous occasion that promised to be very beneficial to First Nations, Metis, and Inuit governments across the North.
The UNDRIP declaration provides a framework for a reconciliation, healing, and peace. It reaffirms the right of Indigenous people recognizing the section 35 of the Canadian Constitution. After that vote in the previous Assembly, work must be done to factor this declaration into all decisions. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission highlighted this in their Calls to Action as well.
Mr. Speaker, all MLAs in this House made an oath to honour and respect the treaty signed with Indigenous people when they took office. The treaties were always the law of the land. They backed up by international legal standards which were reaffirmed through in this chamber.
Furthermore, Indigenous governments and organizations across the territory had also signed NWT Council of Leadership Memorandum of Understanding so we could have a meaningful way to measure true reconciliation.
It was reported on Thursday that the Government of the Northwest Territories is expected to spend $2.5 billion in 2025-2026. The majority of that money will come from the federal Government of Canada transfer. For every dollar in the federal transfer, it works out to 76 cents from the Crown of Indigenous and Northern Affairs.
Mr. Speaker, more than 50 percent of our population is Indigenous, Metis, and Inuit, and yet the GNWT does not consult with Indigenous governments about how to use that money they receive from the federal government even though much of the transfer to the GNWT is supposed to fund their services. Therefore, the GNWT budget still fails treaty rights by refusing to recognize the intent of these transfers and ignores duties to consult Indigenous governments on how these funds should be spent in contravention of UNDRIP. According to the action plan committee 2024 annual report, an action plan still has not been published and implementation of UNDRIP remains unfinished. This continued lack of consultation -- Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my Member's statement.
---Unanimous consent granted
Thank you, Members. According to the action plan committee of 2024 annual report, an action plan has still not been published and remains unfinished. This lack -- continued lack of consultation persists in many other ways such as through the scrapping of the affirmative action policy without asking Indigenous governments and Aurora College closing 19 community learning centres in Indigenous communities which will come at total surprise. I will have questions for the Minister at the appropriate time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. Members' statements. Member from Inuvik Boot Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I know the Members have heard me speak of this topic several times in this House. I know the previous MLA for Inuvik has brought it up as well, and that's the state of the Inuvik Bypass Road, Mr. Speaker.
In Inuvik, this is the final extension of the Dempster Highway used by trucks, but not only used by heavy equipment and vehicles coming into the community, Mr. Speaker, it's also used -- people use it for walks, they use it for recreation, the schools use it for their running clubs, it's used by -- for a lot of different things in the community, Mr. Speaker.
Safety is also an issue there, Mr. Speaker, with vehicles coming through there on a regular basis, both for the vehicles and for the pedestrians that walk on it. And, Mr. Speaker, not to mention the dust that it causes in the community all summer long. So, Mr. Speaker, I'm hoping with the completion of the Inuvik runway expansion -- and I know the next phase, Mr. Speaker, is to have that runway paved. That project, by the way, which was done on time and on budget and provided economic benefit to both Indigenous governments in Inuvik. So I'm hoping, Mr. Speaker, when we do that paving of that runway then the department will also consider finally paving the Inuvik Bypass Road, Mr. Speaker. And the Inuvik Bypass Road is an arterial pass highway under the highway designation and classification regulations. So, Mr. Speaker, I will hopefully only have one question for the Minister of Infrastructure this afternoon. Thank you.
Member from Inuvik Boot Lake. Members' statements. Member from Yellowknife North.
Mr. Speaker, I want to speak today about the Stanton P3 project, the biggest infrastructure project the GNWT has ever undertaken, now estimated to cost at least $1.2 billion.
I'm not here to just wag my finger. I want to focus on the value of government publicly admitted its mistakes, which we are often so afraid to do. If this government wants us to take seriously its ambitions to build three new multi- billion-dollar megaprojects, including highways and the Taltson expansion, it needs to address head on what went wrong with the Stanton P3. It's so obviously absurd that we are now subleasing from a private company a building that we still own at a cost of $78 million over 30 years. By refusing to consider the Liwego'ati Building as part of the P3 project, the government is refusing to report publicly on the sublease which, frankly, only adds to the scandal instead of shielding the government from it.
When the lease was signed with Ventura in 2016, the government didn't analyze the value of just keeping the building. It was well known as early as 2014 that the government needed more space for health care services. So, of course, if raises eyebrows when only a year after signing the lease we lease the building right back. We still don't even know how that decision was made, who made it, whether the person who signed the sublease even had the authority to sign it.
Who or what are we protecting by refusing to acknowledge mistakes?
The legacy of this trail of irresponsible decision-making is found all over this budget that's before us. It's a huge part of our interest payments and debt that us bumping up against our debt ceiling. It would be one thing if the new Stanton Building and the Liwego'ati Building were running smoothly, but both buildings have been plagued with serious plumbing, heating, wastewater, and mold issues. We have entire wings of the cavernous new hospital, as well as wings of Liwego'ati, sitting empty because we don't have the staff or resources to use them.
Now, ideally, we would unshackle ourselves from this 30-year payout to Ventura; however, there was indication from the infrastructure deputy minister during the public briefing that there might be no exit mechanism in the lease. That, too, needs to become part of the public reckoning on this issue. I ask this government, Mr. Speaker, to earn our confidence by fully admitting its mistakes. Thank you.
Thank you, Member from Yellowknife North. Members' statements. Member from Yellowknife Centre.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to speak to some of the challenges of consensus government today, somewhat of the fundamental lacks or concerns I'm seeing.
In my 14th year, I've personally never seen -- or I want to stress or felt -- it being so ineffective or paternalistic in many ways. And, again, I'm saying I've seen and I've felt. Mr. Speaker, when I watch two-thirds of Members want to support something and it seems to paralyze Members or the Assembly to the point it has to be watered down so far it becomes meaningless, it questions what value do Members at large present here.
Mr. Speaker, we can all get behind motherhood issues or big cause issues; I mean it's like saying who would be in favour of cancer. Of course no one. It's easy to get behind those things. But when we talk about tough issues, government issues, legislative issues, we seem to be paralyzed, and it's always us against them.
Mr. Speaker, when the government brings forward its budget that's 99 percent done and then they ask us what do you think -- by the way it's printed and ready to be handed out -- it's not here for consultation; it's more of a drive by, just to answer a clarification, a few questions here or there. So when the government says we're cutting $150 million out of the budget over three years, it's more of a this is what we're doing, this is what we're doing, as opposed to what do you think. I mean, Mr. Speaker, when they expand the debt wall, they don't come to Members and say this is how much we're asking for and this is why. It's we've expanded the debt wall and we're asking for it, that's all you get.
Mr. Speaker, there are many examples of this when you are in a Member's side of the House that you just get told how things are going to be.
Mr. Speaker, 12 ridings are not represented in Cabinet. That's 63 percent of northern voices go silent, and we constantly have to be relentless trying to get the attention of the government.
When the Premier-wannabies asked me a question about what would I like to see in this coming Assembly, I was elated by the opportunity to express what my experience has seen. And one of the fundamental things I asked for was not about I want a road, I want a plane, I want any of those stuff, I said -- and I meant this -- Members want to be heard. Members want to feel relevant. When Members have issues in their ridings, they want to feel that they are being recognized, appreciated. And we hear from the government things like, we'll see what we can do, we'll see what we can work. But when I asked a question last week about maybe we should talk about an issue, we get a dismissal from the Premier saying, no, not interested. And that's not how consensus government was supposed to work. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member, from Yellowknife Centre. Members' statements.
Good afternoon, Colleagues. Today, I am going to recognize another long serving member of the public service, Mr. Gary Schauerte. Some of you have known him as the younger brother of Doug Schauerte, a former clerk of this House. I realize that I am not going to get everything said in the next two and half minutes about him so I'm just going to start.
Gary started his career with the GNWT way back in 1987 where he worked for the department of personnel for the summer.
In true Gary fashion, he had a goal to work for Municipal and Community Affairs sport and recreation division, and his pursuit of a kinesiology degree was deliberate. His hard work paid off in 1997 when, following graduation, Gary began his time with the sport and rec division. This is where I got to know him. Unfortunately, he was the new kid on the block and before you knew it, his nickname was The Rookie even though he had ten years of government experience under his belt.
After five years in the sport and recreation division as an advisor, Gary assumed the manager's role. It was in the manager role where Gary supported several projects and programs which continue to have positive impacts on the residents of the NWT. Some of these include:
Dene and Inuit Games cultural and coaching resources;
2019 Western Canada Lottery Act;
2010 Olympic and Paralympic projects; and,
Youth Ambassador Program
Although there are many notable memories of his time in the sport and rec youth division, attending the 2010 Winter Olympics and Paralympics in Vancouver as part of the Canadian Northern House was a highlight.
Through his career, the NWT proudly offered daily demonstrations of Arctic sports and Dene games which drew large crowds and long line-ups of people who wanted to enter the Canadian Northern House to watch. Shortly after returning from the Olympics, Gary started to show an interest in pursuing new opportunities and the director of corporate affairs at the time, convincing Gary to take on the manager of policy position.
Being respectful of the time, I will ask the next part of my statement be demeaned as read and print in the Hansards.
I would like to thank Laura Gareau for sharing this next part of Gary's career.
In 2012, Gary accepted the Director of Corporate Affairs position given his strong knowledge of the department's programs and services, and corporate affairs processes.
Some of MACA's successful initiatives that were supported by Gary during his time in Corporate Affairs, include:
Amendments to legislation: The Dog Act, the Emergency Management Act, and the city, Towns and Villages Act;
Devolution and the transfer of functions and employees to the Department of Lands; and,
Supporting the early onset of the GNWT's response to COVID-19.
After several years working in Corporate Affairs, Gary moved to the Director Sport recreation and Youth position he was just barely in that position when Laura first started at deputy minister in May 2021 and, what did she do, but ask him to come back to the Corporate position to help with the response to the 2021 flood.
Gary has always gone the extra mile in our lengthy time working together, but I really want to thank him for the support, both professional and personal, he provided to me when I was a new DM and working on such a challenging file.
In her speech, she spoken only about some of the highlights of Gary's career. There are many, many others, including being the recipient of two Premier's Awards: One for the 2009 Youth Ambassador Program, and the second for his role on the 2011 Royal Visit Team.
She spoken a lot about Gary's work, but she spoke about Gary the person and understand the two are hard to separate. What makes Gary such a great person also made him the employee he is or was.
Gary took his job as a public servant very seriously and undertook his work with professionalism.
No matter how big or small the issue, Gary had a real passion for his work, and the work of the GNWT, and was strongly committed both to the department achieving its goals, and to the work the department does to support its clients.
There is no one who was more committed to supporting the department. He was a strong defender of it, and a strong contributor to making MACA what a great department it is.
On a personal note, she spoke about the outstanding support Gary provided to her in various roles in MACA. She always knew that Gary had her back and there is no more loyal co-worker or friend to be had.
She went on to thank him for always being the first to make the team laugh to help lighten a heavy load or help make a tough situation better.
She thanked him for the example he set for her, and so many others, about how to approach the work with professionalism and commitment.
As well, she thanked him for his passion, loyalty, and support for the work they did and for his many years of public service.
Like most good stories, there was always others that would say nice things about you. I would like to add Dave Earle's comments:
One thing that I think really deserves mentioning is Gary's dedication to the GNWT and MACA, his drive and desire to serve the residents of the NWT far exceeds anyone I've ever met in government. As he climbed the corporate ladder, I watched him devote countless hours in the office, weekends, evenings and to the detriment of his own personal and family time, he put his tasks with MACA first. Tina, Katie, and Matthew deserve recognition for standing by his side and supporting him through his desire to achieve excellence in the work he was so passionate about.
As a colleague, he could be difficult to work with at times, he pushed to get his decisions through and always stuck to his priorities. While he was firm in his stance on everything, the results in the end were always positive and Gary was a major part of that. He was able to see the bigger picture in ways that others couldn't.
As a supervisor Gary was incredibly supportive of all his staff, provided praise and recognition for efforts and worked through tasks as part of a team, he truly is great leader. He took great pride in organizing staff events to recognize the hard work of staff, notably the SMC Christmas breakfast where he would be up making bacon at 3am to be sure he had enough for all employees. At the end of every session, Gary would provide a lunch for all Corporate Affairs staff which he covered personally to recognise the extra effort everyone put in during the months leading up.
Gary worked for, earned and deserved every role he held as he advanced his career, and his accomplishments were nothing but exemplary. The positions Gary held have been his identity for the last 35 years, and I know there's a big hole left in his life now that he is no longer working for MACA.
Colleagues in closing, there is not enough time to recognize his 35 years, so I am going to say: "MACA has been so lucky to have had you these past many years, so thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Colleagues, I'd like to thank Gary for his time. For the residents, he's done a great job. Thank you very much.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Is there a policy to avoid issuing eviction orders for housing clients during the winter months? This is for the Minister of housing. Thank you.
Thank you, Member from Deh Cho. Minister responsible for Housing NWT.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there is no policy to not have evictions in the winter months. The Minister or Housing NWT could consider compassionate grounds, but it depends on the circumstance. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister advise how many evictions are served during the winter months? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That would depend year to year. Over this last year, I believe we've had ten eviction orders issued over the winter months. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister responsible for Housing NWT. Final supplementary. Member from the Deh Cho.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister say how many hearings rental officers held with Deh Cho tenants in 2024-2025 before these eviction orders were issued? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mahsi.
Mr. Speaker, I don't have that number for the Member today. I can provide that information and also look it up on the rental officer site as well. So thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister responsible for Housing NWT. Oral questions. Member from Inuvik Boot Lake, one question.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, it's been a day, so I'm going to lob one over the plate for my honourable colleague across the way, the Minister of Infrastructure, so she can knock it out of the park, Mr. Speaker. Will she commit to paving the Inuvik Bypass Road during the completion of the Inuvik runway expansion? Thank you.
Member from Inuvik Boot Lake. Real easy one. Minister of Infrastructure.
Mr. Speaker, again, I am happy to be able to report as soon as we are paving that runway, we will be chip sealing this portion of the Inuvik Bypass Road. Thank you.
