Member Range Lake

Kieron Testart was elected to the 20th Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly to represent the constituency of Range Lake.

Mr. Testart was born on March 22, 1985, in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. He was raised in the Northwest Territories, first residing in Tuktoyaktuk and later in Yellowknife, where Mr. Testart now lives with his family, his diverse background and wealth of experiences have shaped his commitment to community development and effective governance.

Mr. Testart was elected as Member of the Legislative Assembly for Kam Lake in the 18th Legislative Assembly, where he demonstrated a keen understanding of the issues facing his constituents. Beyond his legislative roles, Kieron has contributed significantly to the economic development of the region. Serving as the Director of Economic Development for the Yellowknives Dene First Nation from 2021 to 2023. Mr. Testart’s commitment to education and language advocacy is evident in his role as Program Coordinator for Canadian Parents for French from 2020 to 2021. His efforts have extended to policy analysis within the Government of the Northwest Territories and serving as Deputy Sheriff from 2009 to 2014.

Academically, Kieron holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science from the University of Lethbridge (2004-2009) and a Certificate in Parliamentary Governance from McGill University (2017).

Married to Colleen, he is the proud father of Corbin, Eve, and Leander. In addition to his professional pursuits, Kieron finds joy in various hobbies and interests, including a deep passion for Formula 1 and motorsport, a love for film and theatre, grassroots activism, and an avid curiosity about international affairs.

Kieron's commitment to community extends beyond the political realm. As a dedicated volunteer, he has been actively involved in various capacities, including serving on the NWT Federal Liberal Association Board of Directors since 2011, contributing to the Liberal Party of Canada. His volunteer experience also includes a position on the NWT Branch Board of Directors for Canadian Parents for French from 2014 to 2020 and mentoring youth with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada in 2014-2015.

Range Lake Electoral District

Committees

Kieron Testart
Range Lake
Member's Office

Yellowknife NT X1A 2L9
Canada

P.O. Box
1320

Statements in Debates

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 37)

I appreciate that there are areas that can improve and, if the Minister is certain that these opportunities cannot be made, then I will ask this. Everything hinges on the ADM, this new ADM position that is out for hire. When is the Minister going to have that position in place so we can start making progress on Aurora College?

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 37)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My honourable friend the Member for Yellowknife Centre was asking the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment about the social work program. This program has long been a subject of interest of this Assembly. Without any student intake, it's currently withering on the vine, and now we hear we have even more delays, which is conveniently linked to my statement earlier today. So I will ask the Minister from the Member for Kam Lake: is this program going to be allowed to wither on the vine, or are we going to set new direction to allow intake until the full...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 37)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to speak on a topic which I know is on the minds of many Northerners. Aurora College.

When most of us were elected in 2015, we made post-secondary education and the future of the college a key campaign issue, so it was not a surprise that made its way into our mandate. Yet, after three years, we are no further ahead on post-secondary education and a renewed mandate for Aurora College than when we started. I, like many others, am concerned by the tone and shape this conversation has taken. We have seen a report published advising the GNWT of how...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 37)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that the chair rise and report progress. Thank you.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 37)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If the department cannot succeed in hiring this position, what is the Minister's backup plan? Are we still going to move ahead with changes, or does everything stall until we can fill that position? Thank you.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 37)

So the social work program as it is, could the Minister make the improvements or some of the improvements that are indicated in that review, which is now public information? Could the Minister implement some of those recommendations now, improve the program and get it working the way it should to fill the much-needed gap in social workers, that are indicated in the government's own Skills 4 Success strategy?

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 37)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize two of my constituents from the fine riding of Kam Lake, Ms. Heather Nakehk'o and Deneze Nakehk'o. Thank you for being here today.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 36)

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, colleagues. The Snare Forks Hydroelectric Facility has been reported as having a bearing failure, and now the public reports on this say the unit will be offline for several months, which represents a loss of 4.3 megawatts of power, approximately 15 per cent of the hydro system's total generating capacity. My question to the Minister responsible for the Power Corporation is: what will be the impact of this technical failure on the cost of living of Northerners and the power rates that rate payers are paying? Thank you.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 36)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I want to speak on a topic today which is important to all Northerners: reconciliation within Indigenous peoples.

For over a century, Indigenous children were removed from their communities and sent to residential schools. These governmentfunded, churchrun schools attempted to whitewash and reeducate the spiritual, cultural, and intellectual development of generations of Indigenous youth. This was a terrible mistake that has stained our shared history, and we, as a society, must accept the trauma we intentionally inflicted upon Indigenous peoples from coast...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 36)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to thank the Minister for providing us with information. I know it's a live event, and I see there is still a lot of work that needs to be done, but if he could just reassure taxpayers that, if there are costs not covered by the insurance, the government will carry the burden of that so that we are not putting the cost back onto our citizens. Thank you.