Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Premier. The GNWT has already set out a clear road map heeding the TRC’s calls to action, tabling "Meeting the Challenge of Reconciliation” last October. My question I’d like to ask the Premier is: what is the government doing to follow up on these commitments as a one-year anniversary of the TRC? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. The Honourable Premier.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We are working with all of the governments across Canada, and of course the Government of Canada, to make sure that all of the recommendations are followed up on. I guess the biggest area for us to follow up on is for residential school survivors that have indicated there is additional need for healing and reconciliation, and so we will be looking into what further action we should be taking in those areas. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you to the Premier for his reply. Mr. Speaker, when the Assembly of First Nations graded the federal government on its delivery of the recommendation of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, the government earned an A grade on only one thing, and that was establishing a national Aboriginal Day. I would like to ask the Premier, will he commit to formally request that the federal government follow the NWT’s lead in making Aboriginal Day a fullyfledged statutory holiday?
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe previous governments have done so, and we’re quite prepared to do the same.
That’s appreciated, and I think that there might be some further consideration at the federal level given to that if we were to raise it again, so thank you to the Premier for that commitment. Then lastly, for the interests of the public, can the Premier describe how the GNWT will be recognizing Aboriginal Day in 2016?
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The government first and foremost, and the only jurisdiction in Canada has recognized this as a statutory holiday.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh.
