Richard Edjericon

Yeah, thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my Member's statement, I forgot to include the Chipewyan translator, Dennis Drygeese. I'd just like to recognize him. And I'd like to recognize all the visitors here today. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I too would like to recognize the Tlego'hli Got'ine government that are here, and also former MP Ethel Blondin. It's good to see her here. Welcome. And also I would like to recognize Bertha Kavik, one of the translators here as well. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, as this long legislative session comes to close, I want to thank everyone who supports us in this chamber: my colleagues, our dedicated staff, my constituents, and especially my family who supports me, makes everything I do possible.

I want to start by thanking my wife, my family, our puppies Leo, Rocky, and Sophie, as well as my extended family and relatives.

I want to thank all my colleagues, our Speaker, and the clerk's office. I want to thank all my constituents, local leaders, for bringing forward their issues and concerns from Dettah, N'dilo, Lutselk'e, and Fort Resolution.

I...

Yeah, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise to give support to this motion as well. Earlier, I had mentioned that Housing NWT has an agreement with CMHC that ends in 2038, and -- and they got to look at new ways to -- how they're going to liquidate assets they have, and that includes market rental units. My only concern is that when they sell these units back to the people that want to buy it, it needs to be assessed fairly, not based on the market rates here in Yellowknife because in small communities, the market rates are totally different. So it needs to be assessed fairly. And so...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Before I speak directly to my motion, I want to start by reminding this House and our government that our treaty rights are symbolic. They are recognized and affirmed in the Canadian Constitution of Canada. And section 35, again, the Constitution Act states that the aboriginal and treaty rights of the aboriginal people of Canada are hereby recognized and affirmed.

And further affirms the aboriginal people include First Nation, Inuit, and Metis peoples of Canada. And that treaty rights include those that exist through historic treaties and modern agreements. These rights...

Yeah, thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise as well to give support to this motion. I just want to just reflect back to the 19th Assembly when we had a social development committee that travelled to Behchoko and to talk about housing in that community. And I recall we had an elder that came to that meeting, and it was very touching because that elder lived in public housing but his senior income from his pension was about 80 percent garnished and he got $20 a month, and that's very disturbing, all because the NWT Financial Act talks about that. So that Act needs to be updated in line with UNDRIP.

But...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, at the heart of this motion is the health of our people. My communities face alarming high rates of cancer, chronic illness, illnesses that are forced our people to face serious challenges at an even younger age and take our elders from us too soon.

In the past year alone, as the MLA for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh I have contributed to over 20 funerals. And that is only a fraction of the loss our communities have endured. Countless others are battling cancer and serious illnesses, and my office works tirelessly to advocate for them and ensure their treaty rights to...

Mr. Speaker, as a former chief of the Yellowives Dene First Nation going back to the 1990s, I had the privilege of working with chief and council, a working committee that was made up of negotiators, lawyers, community members, and former leaders.

Alongside my colleagues, we worked to establish a resource development agreement with BHP Bilton Diavik Diamond Mines, De Beers, Gahcho Kue, and out of those agreements we got skilled miners, skilled tradesmen, and heavy equipment operators. Through these efforts, I have learned how challenging cultivating Indigenous-led mining economy can be, but...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the 19th Assembly, when I was elected I brought forward my issues in regards to priorities for my riding.

And what I was told is that put it in the suitcase and try to throw it on the train. I came in through midterm by-election. But, Mr. Speaker, in the 20th Assembly, after we got sworn in I wrote a letter to the Premier on February 13, 2024, outlining the priorities for my riding. And two weeks later, I had received a reply back from the Premier saying that he's going to encourage the Minister to work with me to look at how we could work together on my...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is a very sensitive issue. So I know that my colleagues, I hear what you're saying and I really appreciate your feedback on this as well. All we can do is build on it and move forward and look for solutions collectively. So I just want to thank all my colleagues on this very important motion. And we hear it; everybody hears it from our small communities on medical travel issues in our communities, especially here today and especially what I heard on the radio this morning. And it hits home. So, Mr. Speaker, I just want to thank everybody in the House here today for...