Shane Thompson

Good afternoon, Colleagues. This is a statement I prepared for last fall session, but I didn't get a chance to do it.

Last summer, some of you had the opportunity to see various hand game tournaments across the NWT and are happening now. As some of you know, it is amazing to watch. You can feel the energy and excitement in the venue. The hand games were played years ago as a form of gambling among friends and different groups. Often the games were played to gamble for bullets, furs, dogs, toboggans, or match sticks. Today, hand games are played in cultural centres, gyms, community halls or...

Please be seated. Thank you. I'd like to thank Elder Lafferty for the opening prayer and reflections.

Colleagues, before we get into our business today, we have some special guests up in our audience, the 2025 Ontario Legislature Internship Program participants. And some of you had the opportunity to meet with them, and these are pretty amazing young people that have given us this opportunity to come here and see our great government work, how consensus government works. So I'd like to recognize them, and if I butcher their names -- I told them on Monday and I said it on Tuesday, I apologize...

Good afternoon, Colleagues. Today, I am going to recognize another long serving member of the public service, Mr. Gary Schauerte. Some of you have known him as the younger brother of Doug Schauerte, a former clerk of this House. I realize that I am not going to get everything said in the next two and half minutes about him so I'm just going to start.

Gary started his career with the GNWT way back in 1987 where he worked for the department of personnel for the summer.

In true Gary fashion, he had a goal to work for Municipal and Community Affairs sport and recreation division, and his pursuit of...

Please be seated. I'd like to thank Elder Mitchell for the reflection today.

Good afternoon, Colleagues. Today, I am going to recognize a long service member of the public service, Mr. Mike Drake.

I had the pleasure of knowing him for over 20 plus years. I first got to know him when he moved to Fort Liard to become a social worker for the community. In true Mike's fashion, after a couple of years of getting a good handle on his job he wanted to be more involved in the community, if that was possible. He became the fire chief and the mayor. The community greatly appreciated his commitment and willingness to help where he was needed.

After there, the Department of...

Please be seated. I'd like to thank Mary Jane Cazon for the opening prayer and reflections.

Colleagues, before I go into our day session, I have to do something that happens every February 10th. I get to embarrass two of my daughters, Debra and Nancy, who were born at actually 9:24 and 9:25 at night, but. We're a little bit early so I'd like to wish them a very happy birthday as well Edna and Deb Stipdonk, friends of mine.

Colleagues, on September 17th, 2024, Wallace Larry Watson, also known as Wally, passed away here in Yellowknife. Wally was born on April 7th, 1954, in Calgary.

Wally had a life-long love of music and was involved in many music related activities everywhere he lived beginning with participation in his high school choir. He loved playing his guitar and was particularly fond of 70's music. He was frequently in the chorus for the Victoria Operatic Society's productions.

Wally was raised in Victoria, where he met Teresa, his love of his life. Shortly after their marriage in June 1980, they moved to...

Good morning, colleagues. On October 3rd, 2024, God called home one of his angels Marie Lou Pineda Leguerrier. She passed away at her home in Fort Smith surrounded by her husband, family, and friends. Marie was born on April 17th, 1957, in the Philippines.

I first met her at the Northern Lights Special Care Home in Fort Smith when I went to visit some of the residents and some of her colleagues. I observed this lady walking fast but once she got to where she needed to be, especially with the elders, she became so patient and worked only at their speed and ability. She treated them with the...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. On my left is Glen Rutland, clerk of the Legislative Assembly. On my right -- and I apologize if I say his last name wrong -- Alex Mulooki, acting deputy clerk, Member and precinct services.

Yes, I do. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am pleased to present the 2025-2026 Main Estimates for the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly.

The proposed budget for the 2025-2026 is an expenditure of $25.446 million, revenue of $15,000 and infrastructure investments of $500,000. The budget of $25.446 million reflects a decrease of $1.5 million. The operations expenditure of $25.446 million, reflects a decrease of $1.5 million (6 percent) compared to the 2024-2025 Budget.

This reduction is primarily attributed to the total decrease of $1.98 million in pension contributions which includes a shift to...