Kate Reid

Member Great Slave

Kate Reid was elected to the 20th Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly to represent the constituency of Great Slave.

Ms. Reid was born in the city of Oshawa, Ontario in 1981. She has lived in Yellowknife since 1989. Ms. Reid’s journey is a testament to her diverse interests and unwavering dedication to making a positive impact in her community.

Ms. Reid’s career began in journalism, after graduating with a bachelor of journalism from Toronto Metropolitan University in 2003. Her interest in research led her to work at the Yellowknife Public Library, which in turn took her to the University of Toronto for a master’s degree in information studies, graduating in 2009. Returning to the north, she was grateful for the opportunity to join the staff at the NWT Archives, where she cultivated a deep appreciation for preserving and sharing the stories that define the territory and its government. Transitioning to the Government of Northwest Territories, Department of Environment and Climate Change, Ms. Reid brought her expertise to the forefront of environmental issues, contributing to sustainable development through legislative and policy work for five years prior to being elected.

Away from the demands of her professional life, Ms. Reid is married and finds solace and inspiration in an array of hobbies. Her love for music, art, burlesque, drag, film, and travel speaks to her eclectic tastes and a thirst for cultural exploration.

Ms. Reid’s dedication to community service is exemplary, marked by her role as the President of YWCA NWT from 2021 to 2023. Her leadership extends to the cultural realm as a past director for Folk on the Rocks, an annual music festival that enriches Yellowknife's cultural landscape. Additionally, Ms. Reid has actively contributed to community events such as NWT and Yellowknife Pride, Burn on the Bay and served as the UNW Local 40 President in 2019 and from 2021 to 2023, demonstrating her commitment to advocacy and the well-being of her fellow citizens.

Great Slave Electoral District:

Committees

Accountability and Oversight
Economic Development & Environment
Government Operations
Procedure and Privileges
Member Kate Reid
Great Slave
Member's Office

Yellowknife NT X1A 2L9
Canada

P.O. Box
1320
Email
Email
Phone
(867) 767-9143

Statements in Debates

Member’s Statement 334-20(1): Homeless Encampment
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 29)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the 51st Street encampment could have happened anywhere in Yellowknife. It just happens to be in my riding. The encampment started out as a group of folks not being welcomed at various locations prior to staying in this empty lot. To its credit, the GNWT quickly worked to find a location that they own near the downtown core. The solution is far from ideal least of all because the site will soon be an active construction site. I want to take this time to thank the residents of the neighbourhood for being extremely patient and compassionate and providing...

Question 312-20(1): Transitional Housing Options and Supports
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 29)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So I caught the words people-centered approach in that response, and that's really good to hear. I'll probably have more to speak about that in the days to come. But as the deputy Premier knows, the folks who are in the encampment do need wraparound services. And that is something that we are limited in our actions right now.

What preliminary actions, then, does EIA see as crucial to address the core need for effective transitional housing in Yellowknife, our regional centres, and small communities? Thanks, Mr. Speaker.

Question 312-20(1): Transitional Housing Options and Supports
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 29)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, can the Deputy Premier elaborate on the plan for the temporary on-the-land healing camp that EIA staff spoke of with the CBC earlier this week? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 312-20(1): Transitional Housing Options and Supports
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 29)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I think the Minister has anticipated what I wanted to say next. So in the Homelessness Strategy, the goal of establishing functional zero of homelessness says that in less than two years that there will be goals set for each community to reduce homelessness. That was a year ago. That gives us one more year on the timetable. So what is the GNWT seeing right now that they want to take steps in the next three years left of this Assembly to help us reach functional zero? Thanks, Mr. Speaker.

Oral Question 302-20(1): Northwest Territories Nominee Program
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 28)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Does the Minister have a handle on how many applications she's expecting for 2025 considering the backlog now and what she might expect in the new year? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Oral Question 302-20(1): Northwest Territories Nominee Program
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 28)

Thanks, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the Minister for that. That's good news.

I'm also wondering in the solution that she is proposing with her federal counterparts whether there might be part of it that would look like the deal that the Yukon recently secured earlier this month to secure temporary measures to extend work permits. Mr. Speaker, if she could elaborate on that. Thank you.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 28)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I too would like to recognize my previous colleagues from the UNW, Gayla Thunstrom and Melvin Larocque, as well as three members from the Fort Simpson Housing Authority who are here today watching the proceedings. Welcome. And, also, I would like to say a very warm welcome to my page from Great Slave, Jack Lau. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 28)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will add my voice to support the Member for Sahtu and the community of Norman Wells. Much has been said already, and I'm going to keep my comments brief.

About a year ago I was talking to people in my riding during the election campaign and we spoke endlessly of chronic and persistent cost of living issues then. I think my key message was the cost of living is skyrocketing, and people are struggling to make ends meet. The Sahtu's crisis puts this into stark perspective, Mr. Speaker. This is an exceptional problem in our territory that deserves immediate action and...

Oral Question 302-20(1): Northwest Territories Nominee Program
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 28)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So we're nearing the restart of this program in January for a new batch of, I guess, up to 500 now, hopefully, but 300 definitely, which brings fears for my constituents about a bottleneck. Can the minister explain how ECE is preparing for applications in 2025 and whether the applicants who are affected by the pause will be prioritized? Thank you.

Oral Question 302-20(1): Northwest Territories Nominee Program
Debates of , 20th Assembly, 1st Session (day 28)

Thanks, Mr. Speaker. After that exchange, I have a lot of questions for the Minister of Finance myself, but I'll keep it to the Minister of ECE for now.

So like many issues in the North, the federal one-size-fits-all approach isn't working for the territory, and recent federal limits on temporary foreign workers are concerning to my constituents. Has the Minister formally asked the federal government to increase the quota of nominees? Thank you.