Kieron Testart

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the outgoing Prime Minister has released a white paper on RCMP reform, its significant consequences for the Northwest Territories if these changes go through, which would see the force transition to a national intelligence and security force. I know the RCMP has concerns around this. We've heard some jurisdictions have concerns around this. Yesterday we talked about sunsetting funding for community safety officer programs, the need potentially for a new Police Act. Now it sounds like we need to have our own police force. So what is the Premier's approach to...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in our sister territory Yukon, Yukoners are only officially known as Sourdoughs until they have survived a full winter. Here in the Northwest Territories it's a bit more complicated. You have to live half your life and then you become a P2. This has been -- for 30 years, this has been a cultural touchstone of the Northwest Territories, somewhat absurdly as well because there's plenty of people who don't work for government and, of course, plenty of people who do work for government who don't occupy that status but enjoy their careers anyway. But no matter...

Mr. Speaker, the RCMP is a key partner in keeping our North safe and secure because the role they play in our territory is incredibly different than how they operate in southern jurisdictions. We rely on the RCMP for many services they would not offer in any province because for most communities, they're the only police around thus they play a greater role here as first responders, search and rescue personnel, and are essential to fighting drug crime. So embedded are RCMP officers in our communities that they serve, they're always warmly welcomed and adopted as one of our own.

The pivotal role...

Thank you. What does the Minister -- is the Minister aware of the current core need for homeowners in the Northwest Territories; what that statistic is. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to ask the Minister of NWT Housing how many new homes will the NWT build over the remainder of this term of government? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you for that clarity. I did note that the territories are being treated differently. But this new model of policing, this -- one of the perhaps benefits is to start the discussion on how we can change community policing in the Northwest Territories, indigenize it, and certainly make it -- make the service even more representative of the communities it serves and, of course, perhaps deal with some of the historic inequities of communities that haven't had RCMP officers or things like that.

So in the discussions the Premier's had in the past about a new policing...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I too stand in support of this motion. There's just -- there are a lot of nurses who live in my riding of Range Lake, and since even before we were elected, they were sharing their concerns with me at the doorsteps on the campaign trail. It's clear that what is going on in the health authority is just not working. It's not working for nurses. It's not working for physicians. It's not working for allied healthcare professionals. I think that we've heard a lot of these concerns. We've heard about agency nurses that are continuing to be a costly short-term...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I too would like to recognize former chief Ted Tsetta and David Sharpe and Ian Bailey. It's nice to see you here today. They're all friends of mine from my time working with YKDFN. I'd also like to recognize a very special person. Fortunately for all of you, the reason I'm here today, so you can blame him, my father Terry Testart. Thanks for being here, Dad.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I've said a couple times today that Northerners sent us here to solve problems. I know that we've heard in this House that progress is slow by design and that we often lack the resources to get things done. However, I reject this notion, this notion of learned helplessness, that only prevents us from taking decisive action to the needs that must be met. We are the architect of our own systems, policies, and political priorities. We can change them if needed to get the results Northerners are looking for. And my fundamental question, I think to everyone here...

Thank you. No, and I appreciate that, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think by my -- I guess we can't ballpark things here.

When we're talking about new homes, can the Minister just define what NWT Housing means by "new home" so the public is aware of when we're talking about housing and creating doors and things like that for people to live in, it doesn't always have to be brand new; sometimes it can be a reno. So what does "new home" mean in the context of this conversation? Thank you.