Richard Edjericon

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, I will ask in the House again because the economy in the Northwest Territories should be front and center. But overall, again, it's building relationship. Thank you.

Yeah, thank you again. I guess overall, we've been talking about the high cost of living here in the Northwest Territories for some time and anything and everything we can do to try and help save a dollar for our constituents and our people in the Northwest Territories is will go a long ways. I mean, the other day I filled up my truck. It was like $250 now. I mean, seven years ago, it was like $85. So everything's going up in terms of the cost of living here in the Northwest Territories. So I guess overall and last week I did talk about, you know, the reduce of the gasoline surcharge and...

Mr. Chairman, and thank you for your comments from the Premier.

You know, the Housing Corporation's been it's 50 years now. They're looking at a celebration coming up here soon. And, you know, I've been in this field for some time and you know, working in the communities going back to 1986 in Fort Resolution when we were building HAP houses up to 1992 when Canada through CMHC decided not to build anymore public housing and cancelled the HAP program. But, you know, small communities are really dependant, you know, on new construction. And the thing is that what's been happening now is that in...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you for the finance minister's comments on that, and the Premier.

I guess what I think about this document here now, and even know it's two years old already, and and going forward, I know we are working through COVID right now as we speak and concluding and hopefully we can start focusing on the economy here in the Northwest Territories and going forward.

We already know the mining industry is you know, on the process of being winding down, reclamation, etcetera.

But I'm just wondering if the Premier is thinking outside the box as well for the Northwest...

Yeah, and I only got a few minutes left so I'll just couple quick comments I guess and maybe a question.

Yeah, you know, I appreciate your comments and thank you for your response on that from the Premier and also the from the Minister of Education. And I understand the apprenticeship program and the programs that you're talking about because I used to be the chairman for the apprenticeship board once upon a time. But at the same time, you know, these trailers that are that have been purchased most likely come from down south and, you know, we have a northern manufacturer policy in place...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to recognize a visitor from Australia is Mr. Geoff Atkins, chief founder and the managing director of Vital Metals Limited, the parent company Vital Metals Canada and Cheetah Resources. Mr. Atkins brings to Canada an extensive career of experience in the rare earth mining and marketing industry. If you could maybe put your hand up.

Also, Mr. Speaker, wellknown businessman David Connelly and vicepresident of strategy and corporate affairs of Cheetah Resources Corp. Cheetah is headquartered here in Yellowknife, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Connelly is one of the team...

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Thank you, Premier, for your comments. Going forward, though, again, I'm only adding to the discussion because, I mean, I wasn't here at the beginning of this whole thing, but I think in order to continue to build new trust and new relationship with Indigenous governments, I think this government's going to have to really take a look as to how we're going to deal with the issue of housing, how we're going to work with Indigenous governments, but most importantly we're going to have to work around the policies that are already in place. And if there's a way where we can look at maybe working...

That's it. Thank you.