George Nerysoo

Thank you, Madam Chair. I try to listen but it's just being repetitive and, you know, going in circles. But the starts to education she stated that there has been some work done in regards to education the last three years, but I haven't seen any changes in the last ten years. And one of my concerns is socially promoting our children. I know there's some students -- I mean some parents who have concerns, and they -- they're more -- they're willingly -- they keep their children behind or worst comes to worst, they send them to another jurisdiction like the Yukon where they can get a better...

Thank you, Madam Chair. I'd just like to get some further clarification. We're putting our young students, young adults in a very bad situation. First of all, the education system is failing them. They have no place to go then to finish high school. It looks like they wouldn't be able to go to any upgrading for -- that's in their communities, so they'll have to move, and I think these young adults don't have -- haven't been out of their communities, and if they do find work, then they'll be clawed back by housing, so it's just a no-win situation. Is there any update on how the GNWT is ensuring...

Thank you, Madam Chair. Looking at your actuals from 2023 up to the main estimates of 2025-2026, every year there's been an increase. Can you give me some information on that as to where it's going to, income support rather than, you know, what they call disabled or people that really need it; where's this money going? Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Madam Chair. When you witness a recent graduate in the adult education system as I witnessed, I was getting refreshing in my math and a recent graduate was in the same classroom, but this individual was having problems with simple, simple math, like multiplications and dividing, and you expect that person to go into a trades with those kind of credentials? I don't think so. He wouldn't even make it out the door. And that's where he's going, to income support. So there has to be some kind of mechanism where the government, the community, the teachers, have to find some kind of...

So it's referring to the income assistance portion of this document here. From 2023-2024, it was $36 million, and 2025-2026, it's $44 million; that's a substantial increase. And, you know, it's disturbing. I've been talking about this since day one when I've gotten this -- started sessions, and the increase is quite big. And, you know, are there, in the future, is there a look at maybe cutting some of these costs or, you know, maybe consulting with the communities on where we can make measures work for the communities. Especially the recipients, I don't think this is helping them. It's helping...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today would like to respond to the Budget Address for this fiscal year by this Government of the 20th Assembly. I am not just looking out for the best interests of my community, my riding, but I am concerned about the Northwest Territories as a whole.

Mr. Speaker, when I took the oath of office of this 20th Assembly, I took this oath very serious because I personally know the state of what our residents of the NWT are facing and what challenges they will have to endure in the near future. We as MLA's set priorities for this government to implement, to ensure the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, it is quite hard to look at removing some of these units because of the contaminants that are in there but, you know, they work with the Indigenous governments, with these local contractors, maybe something -- we can find something out.

Can the Minister commit to a timeframe as to when these projects can commence within the Mackenzie Delta region; hopefully this calendar year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Further to my Member's statement, there's a number of houses that are beyond repair within the Northwest Territories specifically referring to the Mackenzie Delta ridings. Does the department know how much of these houses that are not liveable anymore that belong to Housing NWT that are situated in the three communities of the Mackenzie Delta riding? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I rise to talk about the beauty of our smaller communities within the Northwest Territories. The smaller communities have a lot to offer in terms of knowledge, culture, respect, and the kindness of its residents. That is until one comes upon the abandoned buildings, an eyesore to the community that belongs to Housing NWT. These buildings are no longer inhabitable because they have no windows, no doors, the interior is beyond repair, while others are the remains of a fire.

Mr. Speaker, every community within the Northwest Territories tries to play its role in...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to thank the Minister for the detailed answer. You know, we have companies within the region of Mackenzie Delta that can conduct these demolitions. Will the Minister look at acting on the concern and have these hazards removed before an accident happens? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.