[English translation not provided.]
Thank you to Elder Sarah Cleary for offering today's prayer.
Colleagues, it is my pleasure to welcome you all back to the Chamber to resume the third session of the 18th Legislative Assembly.
I would like to begin by recognizing the Pages this session, who will come from Fort Smith, Norman Wells, and Yellowknife. Welcome and thank you to the Pages. It is our privilege to share this Chamber with these young people and our future leaders. Please join me in thanking them and welcoming them to the Assembly.
Our Assembly was recently home to another group of future leaders, the participants in the annual Youth Parliament. Thank you to all the youth who participated and to all those who worked hard behind the scenes to make this event a success.
Colleagues, I wish to highlight the participation of young women in Youth Parliament. As an Assembly, we have set a goal of increasing the representation of women in the Legislative Assembly. In our Youth Parliament, more than 80 percent of the Members were women, and all Members of Cabinet were women. I hope this is a sign that our call for more women to sit in the Assembly has been heard and that, one day, these young women will return to this Chamber as Members.
I would like to advise Members of this House and the public that, throughout this sitting, we will be providing interpretation in the following languages:
Tlicho;
Chipewyan;
French; and
North Slavey.
I want to thank our interpreters for their work in making our proceedings available in our official languages. Mahsi.
For Members who wish to listen in English, please remember to leave your dials on channel two.
Finally, colleagues, I would like to welcome to the floor of the House Mr. Glen Rutland. Mr. Rutland is no stranger to this Assembly. He has spent many hours in this Chamber as a law clerk, but today is his first day on the floor in his new role, Deputy Clerk, Procedure and Committees. Welcome, Mr. Rutland.
Mr. Speaker, I have two Minister's statements, one short and one longer.
Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise Members that the Honourable Glen Abernethy will be absent from the House today to attend the Seniors' FPT meetings in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to welcome all Members back to the continuation of the third session of the 18th Legislative Assembly. As we near the end of our term, our government continues to focus on advancing the priorities of the Assembly and fulfilling remaining mandate items. These are intended to help create a better future for all residents of the Northwest Territories, including the advancement of outstanding claims and self-government negotiations.
For almost four years, Mr. Speaker, our government has put a great deal of effort into raising the profile of the Northwest Territories at the national level. Our territory does not exist in isolation, and the choices and decisions of other governments in neighbouring provinces and territories, and at the federal level, can have a significant impact on what happens here at home.
Last week I was in Ottawa with Tlicho Grand Chief George Mackenzie to appear before the Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs in support of Bill C-88. This bill seeks to advance numerous amendments to the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act. These were first passed as part of the federal legislation that established devolution and include the continuation of regional land and water boards as established in the land claims.
Passage of this bill will help ensure our residents have the tools and legislative authority needed to effectively make decisions about responsible resource development and increase certainty. Coming together to speak up on behalf of the Northwest Territories when important decisions like this are pending is one way we are having a real impact on national affairs.
We have been successful at putting the Northwest Territories on the national agenda and leveraging that attention for investments in territorial priorities throughout the term of this Assembly. Most recently, that has included commitments in the last federal budget to invest $18 million over three years in the Taltson Hydro Expansion project and $5.1 million for planning and surveys to support the development of the Slave Geological Province Corridor.
Effective cooperation and partnerships with our provincial and territorial counterparts has been another important part of how we have placed, and kept, the North on the national agenda. My colleagues on the Council of Federation were particularly effective, for instance, in helping secure special recognition for the unique challenges that the three northern territories face as part of the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change.
While we have achieved a lot, we cannot take our achievements for granted. Recent months have seen significant turnover among Premiers across the country, and we are all aware that there is a federal election this fall.
In this climate of change, it will be more important than ever to educate and engage governments at all levels so we can ensure the North continues to be a priority on the national agenda.
Our efforts should not end there. We also need to start thinking globally, not just nationally.
The Arctic has always been an important symbol for Canada, a geographic statement of our place and status in the world as a northern power. Unfortunately, Canada's interest in and attention to the Arctic has often been symbolic at best. Generations of southern Canadians and their governments have grown used to thinking of the North as a vast and inaccessible place valued most for its emptiness. This, however, is not a view of the Arctic shared by other nations.
In recent years, I have spent a great deal of time making connections with other leaders and promoting the Northwest Territories. I can tell you from the conversations that I have been having that interest in the North, in the Arctic, is immense.
Canada is alone when it comes to inaction in the Arctic. China and Russia, for instance, see enormous opportunity in the Arctic. They are moving fast to ramp up their presence and level of activity within their borders and across the circumpolar world. This is an effort to both secure opportunities for themselves and to influence the international rules and policies that will set the terms for what happens in the Arctic.
Russia sees the Northern Sea Route as an essential maritime opening for its country. Russia has a fleet of 20 icebreakers capable of traversing the Northern Sea Route; more than a dozen ports, including two deep water ports in their Arctic; and have committed to increasing investments to attract more shipping traffic through the Northern Sea Route.
China released a whitepaper on its Arctic strategy last year, is investing heavily in infrastructure around the world, and certainly has its eye on Arctic shipping and research. They were recently in discussions with Greenland about investing in three airport projects and have their own nuclear icebreaker under construction. They have one polar research vessel in service and a second one expected to enter service this year.
Despite the 1998 agreement between the Government of Canada and the Government of the United States of America on Arctic Cooperation, the United States has started to renew assertions that the Northwest Passage is an international waterway, rather than internal Canadian waters. New legislation proposed by Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski, the Arctic Policy Act and the Shipping and Environmental Leadership Act, may be seen as a renewed will in the United States to set the terms for the Arctic.
Mr. Speaker, in the face of this international activity, I think it only makes sense to ask: where is Canada? Does Canada want to remain a leader in the Arctic? What is Canada's vision for the Arctic? What is Canada prepared to do to make sure it has a real say in setting the terms of engagement for all nations?
I also think it makes sense that residents of Canada's three northern territories have a leading say in determining Canada's plan for the Arctic. We are the ones who live here. We are the ones who are repeatedly affected when decisions are made for us, rather than with us. We are an obvious partner for Canada when they begin to discuss what should happen next.
As international interest and activity in the Arctic accelerates, it is important that Canada is not left behind. There are some clear areas where Canada can concentrate its focus and attention. Positioning Canada's northern territories as a hub for trade and transportation is one of these.
The circumpolar route can cut as much as 20 days off the time it takes to reach Asia from Europe via ship. Other countries know this, and they have already been making moves to secure control over these routes, both through their active use and by advancing claims over their status as national or international channels.
Canada's North is closer to key markets in all the major global trading blocs, including Europe, Asia, and Russia, than most other regions of North America. It would be a shorter trip from Yellowknife to Moscow than it would be from Toronto. We are also closer to European centres like Stockholm, Oslo, Copenhagen, and Helsinki.
Heading east, a 10,000-kilometer-plus trip from Toronto to Tokyo or Beijing would be less than 8,000 kilometers from Yellowknife.
Mr. Speaker, Canada should be leveraging this comparative proximity to these international markets and investing significantly in transportation infrastructure in all three northern territories. Growing and expanding territorial airports can make them a major trans-shipment point for goods moving between Asia, North America, and Europe, especially if there is supporting investment in connecting infrastructure like roads and railways linking us to southern Canada.
Similarly, investments in deepwater ports and marine facilities along Canada's Arctic coast can help to capture trade already travelling the polar route, which is sure to increase in coming years, as well as tourist and scientific traffic that is also sure to grow.
Another area Canada will need to look at as it considers what it wants to achieve in the Arctic in coming years is its physical presence. Simply put, Canada needs to be in the Arctic if it wants to have a say in what happens in the Arctic.
Economies are driven and sustained by people, and Canada is very much lagging in this regard. It is hard to achieve the economies of scale that can truly drive growth and prosperity when our population is a sliver of the population in the rest of the circumpolar world.
Our small population also limits our ability to effectively monitor activity in the Arctic. How effectively can Canada monitor the Arctic coastline and shipping passages with only a single Coast Guard station in Iqaluit, and search and rescue resources located at southern military bases?
How long will it take Canada to even learn of a maritime or environmental incident, and then effectively respond to and manage it? What effect would such a delay have on the Arctic, its people, and its environment?
Finally, Canada needs to know the Arctic, Mr. Speaker, not just know about it, if it wants to have a meaningful say in decisions about the Arctic in coming decades.
As a northern nation, Canada should make it a priority to ensure that more of its citizens have an opportunity to experience the Arctic and learn what it really means to be "northern." Policy and decision makers need to have experience in and understand the territories, where they can gain the direct, first-hand knowledge and experience to make good evidence-based decisions.
Knowing the Arctic also means significantly ramping up Canada's scientific research capacity and Arctic academic infrastructure. If Canada wants to understand how climate change affects the North and how to adapt to it, we need significant investment in scientific research programs and facilities to support that. If we want thriving territorial economies, it also makes sense to educate the next generation of business and civic leaders here, including professionals like doctors and lawyers who will support communities.
Mr. Speaker, we must lead the conversation to determine what Canada wants for the Arctic. We must also lead the conversations about establishing and implementing Canada's Arctic priorities. As the world's attention continues to shift towards the actions and politics of the circumpolar north, Canada's need for a meaningful Arctic plan is only going to become more important. With the Arctic figuring ever more prominently in the plans of other global powers, we need to know that Canada has a plan. Territorial residents will need to be confident that their priorities are found in this plan and that it will benefit them.
Northerners setting the terms for the North has been a significant priority for the Government of the Northwest Territories for years. Devolution was all about Northerners being able to make their own decisions about how the land, environment, and resources of the Northwest Territories are managed.
Mr. Speaker, our government continues to pursue this priority in the 18th Legislative Assembly, with a number of proposed bills that improve on the legislative authorities for managing land and resources that were transferred from Canada at the time of devolution. These include the Mineral Resources Act, Environmental Rights Act, Protected Areas Act, Public Lands Act, Petroleum Resources Act, Oil and Gas Operations Act, and Environmental Rights Act.
Defining the future of the Arctic and Canada's three northern territories will require a bold vision and an ambitious plan. Mr. Speaker, Northerners need to have a role in shaping that plan. The upcoming federal and territorial elections provide us with an opportunity to continue a broad conversation about the long-term future of the North. This work to advocate for the people of the territory will build on what we have achieved during the life of this Assembly.
Mr. Speaker, I look forward to continuing that advocacy and to working with all Members in our remaining months here to help make the North a priority for Canada. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the statement from the Premier. Mine is very similar.
Mr. Speaker, Europeans started looking at the Northwest Passage in the 19th century. Explorers and their governments thought it would be a shorter route for ports of trade in Asia. No thought was given to the Indigenous people who had been living on the Arctic coast long before time was recorded.
This state of mind still exists today. At the Arctic Council ministerial meeting in Finland earlier this month, American Secretary of State Mike Pompeo gave a speech where he said that the United States has a longstanding feud with Canada over our illegitimate sovereign claims to the Northwest Passage. This statement may have opened up the Arctic more so than ever before for activity that we are not prepared for environmentally, socially, or infrastructure-wise. More vessels and cruise ships are travelling through the passage in the summer months, and this is increasing, making this a major issue for many reasons.
The Polar Code came into force in 2017, which is mandatory for all ships operating in the Arctic, with the intent to protect the unique environment and ecosystems of the Arctic.
The development of marine passageways, trade, and other activity will have a major impact on the Inuit way of life. Climate change is already having a drastic effect on the Arctic environment, including the Inuvialuit and the wildlife. If the Northwest Passage is made in international waters, there are no controls over who may traverse this sensitive ecological area. The damage to the environment that sustains us will be certain and immediate. There is much, much risk to the lands, waters, and animals that are central to our way of life. Unregulated marine traffic through the passage will irrevocably change both environment and Inuit who rely upon it.
Other countries are rapidly expanding their expense in the Arctic. Russia is building more than 15 deepwater ports along their Arctic coast and icebreakers to navigate their waterways. China refers to itself as a near-Arctic country and, a few months ago, announced that it would be building a nuclear-powered icebreaker that is bigger than Russia's largest icebreaker.
Mr. Speaker, our infrastructure is eroding almost as fast as we build it. Canadian ships can't make it through the heavy sea ice. Our sovereignty is being ignored, which will have profound implications for Inuit and all Canadians in the years to come. We must encourage our Indigenous, our territorial, and our national governments to work together, especially where our priorities align. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Members' statements. Member for Mackenzie Delta.
Good afternoon, Mr. Speaker. I would like to welcome everyone back to the Assembly for our spring session.
Mr. Speaker, one of the communities in my riding of the Mackenzie Delta, Fort McPherson, is situated right along the Peel River. The Peel River ice reports state that the ice first started moving on Monday of last week and was clear last Thursday. The ice conditions in Tsiigehtchic reports say that the Red River is clear, the Mackenzie ice is thinning, and the water levels are quite low.
At the end of April, both ice crossings on the Peel and Mackenzie Rivers closed for the season. I have been on record stating that the extreme cost of food, gas, heating, and fuel increases with isolation.
Mr. Speaker, our people suffer with the high cost of food. Hunters who want to gather ducks and geese have to burden the high cost of gasoline. Although the warm weather is upon us, there are days when we still need to adjust our furnace thermostats to keep our homes heated. Also, one of our businesses in Fort McPherson is out of gasoline due to the ice conditions this spring.
Mr. Speaker, with the Peel River clear of ice and debris, community members are excited that the Abraham Francis ferry will be launched in the Peel sooner than later.
The Mackenzie River also connects to the Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk Highway, and it is important to note that, last summer, we had record numbers of tourists to the region. The faster we get both ferries operational, food prices will decrease and tourists will take advantage of the early season and come north.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I will have questions later today.
Thank you. Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. You spoke eloquently about youth in your opening comments. The question is: what should we be doing for northern youth so that they are supported in ways that allow them to flourish? A recent Conference Board of Canada report identified youth as one of the three key areas of northern policy.
As a society that will depend on our youth in the future, we need to help and support our young people. We know that they face disproportionate challenges growing up, educational and cultural, economic and social, but we also know that our youth are strong, intelligent, capable, and resilient. Support for young people will help them, their families, and Northern society overall.
Mr. Speaker, we must lead the way with public policy initiatives that will create positive outcomes for young people.
A strong sense of cultural identity and belonging builds strength and independence amongst young people as they navigate a changing world. Land-based cultural programs in all grades, like the one founded at Deh Gah School in Fort Providence, lead to young adults who are better adjusted to confront life's challenges.
Community-based healing is consistent with the calls to action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. A whole-community approach to wellness will build resilience and nurture youth. Traditional healing practices and healthy coping mechanisms encourage and support resilience, leadership, and personal achievement.
We must encourage youth participation in public dialogue and decision-making. Civic engagement in youth leadership at all levels will support youth to become role models for their younger peers and help build community relationships, positivity, and trust.
Mr. Speaker, our youth will come through, if provided the chance, but it is on us to create the framework where that can happen. For them to succeed, we need a growing economy that provides opportunity. We need affordable housing and reasonable costs of living. We need educational opportunities that encourage them to be doctors, electricians, or traditional harvesters, as they choose; and, of course, they need a clean and protected environment that enables them to thrive.
Mr. Speaker, saying "the youth are our future" is true, but it isn't enough. We owe our young people concrete action that will make their world a place of opportunity. Let's support our youth in every way possible. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you. Members' statements. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.
Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. In 1974, the NWT Housing Corporation was formed, and one of the principles in forming the Housing Corporation was to develop markets in the NWT.
Mr. Speaker, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, CMHC, funded the capital construction costs of new public housing, either 90 percent or 75 percent, depending on the section under which the units were built. In addition, CMHC paid for 75 or 50 percent of the operating costs and the mortgage costs, until the CMHC mortgage of 25 to 35 years was paid off. At that time, the NWT Housing Corporation would make the houses available for home ownership. The houses would be priced based on what the market could bear in each community.
An example would be that, if the NWT Housing Corporation divested a house in a strong market like Yellowknife, the house could be sold at the appraised market value. However, in communities where no market or very little market exists, the house could be discounted to what the market could bear. In communities where no market exists, the house could be transferred to the new homeowner for a nominal amount, even one dollar. When the units are transferred to home ownership, the operational and maintenance costs of those units would no longer be the responsibility of the taxpayers or the government.
Mr. Speaker, the current system allows the NWT Housing Corporation to retaken all of its public housing units and continue to keep public housing tenants within the GNWT social net. However, if the NWT Housing Corporation was to divest themselves of the houses, the cost of our entire social housing system would be reduced substantially, and markets would be developed in other communities. People who own their own homes are more apt to maintain their properties, which would benefit all residents of their community.
Mr. Speaker, the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation must move on this initiative as quickly as possible. If we keep doing the same thing over and over, there will be no community housing development and the cost to the GNWT will continue to grow. The core need will also continue to increase across the entire NWT. Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you. Members' statements. Member for Sahtu.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Welcome back, colleagues. Mr. Speaker, this past April 10, 2019, the Sahtu Secretariat incorporated and the Government of the Northwest Territories Department of Infrastructure signed a milestone MoU in Norman Wells to engage collaboratively for the Mackenzie Valley Highway environmental assessment, a commemorative day for the quest to an all-weather road connection.
This partnership presents yet another unique opportunity, an opportunity for the Tulita youth community to appoint a representative to actively witness and experience the NWT regulatory system on a megaproject such as the application to connect Fort Wrigley to Norman Wells, a corridor of 330 kilometres.
Mr. Speaker, it is not often an opportunity of this experience presents itself on public engagement process to experience the early stages of superior projects such as the Mackenzie Valley Highway and the public involvement.
Should our government support this initiative, engagement sessions in the impacted right-of-way communities during the process would certainly allow our public to better understand the true meaning of engagement supported by this government by the attendance of the youth representative.
The experiences captured by the youth during this process would be outstanding. Imagine carrying on the Mackenzie Valley Highway from the initial days of John Diefenbaker in today's regulatory and land-claim systems.
Mr. Speaker, later, I will have questions to the appropriate Minister. Mahsi.
Thank you. Members' statements. Member for Kam Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Several weeks ago, I was informed by members of the public that alcohol prices for bars and restaurants had significantly increased. The changes the government made has caused a nearly 20 percent increase in the cost of some products to our hospitality sector in a single day. This increase in costs would have made it nearly impossible for our hospitality sector to survive without passing along increased price to consumers.
Now, Mr. Speaker, a discount program has been authorized, and the cost to northern businesses has been reduced somewhat, but this did not occur until the public and Regular Members created substantial pushback. I, like many members of the public, are extremely disappointed with what has happened, and I have asked for the Minister to review the price formula to ensure that fair market principles apply to our liquor wholesaling system.
Let me be clear, Mr. Speaker. This issue is not about cheap alcohol. It's about mitigating toxic pricing for our hospitality industry, protecting jobs and northern businesses. I do not believe that these price increases were brought on wholly by the federal excise tax and transportation costs, as has been claimed. These were factors, certainly, but, if that were true, the prices would have increased equally in all parts of the country, and that has not happened. The price structure that currently exists in the Northwest Territories needs to be rebalanced to ensure fair market access. This should have been done ahead of any changes, to avoid the exact situation licensees found themselves in on April 1st.
The most concerning part about this whole debacle is that there was very little communication from the liquor commission to licence holders. I would wonder how, moving forward, we might avoid another confusing and stumbling roll-out of program changes.
In a time where Alberta and British Columbia have also loosened central control over retail liquor sales, Ontario, the largest government-owned liquor system in Canada, is well on its way to hand off its system to the private sector. I believe now is the time for the GNWT to re-evaluate its role and its hold on alcohol sales. The Minister has committed to a pricing review, but we must now take this opportunity to go beyond and make positive changes to our antiquated liquor-control system while empowering Northerners to make healthy choices and embrace our inherent personal freedom to consume alcohol safely and responsibly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife Centre.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good afternoon, colleagues. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer my reflections on the housing summit hosted by the NWT Housing Corporation in Inuvik last month. I appreciate the invitation to attend.
The summit confirmed several key points, most of which were long known.
First, there is a shortage of social housing in most communities. The waiting lists are long, especially for single people, and they may spend years waiting for a place to live. The Housing Corporation is unable to keep up with the demand.
Second, there are some significant barriers to attracting tenants to home ownership. Most tenants have lower-than-average income that does not stretch far enough for high power and fuel prices and exorbitant insurance costs in small communities.
Third, housing is often designed, situated, and regulated without input from community members.
Mr. Speaker, there is a ray of hope, and that is the Community Housing Support Initiative. This program helps communities help themselves by funding projects that are jointly developed by local governments and the Housing Corporation. The program is flexible enough that the local government can combine it with other GNWT programs to pay the cost of labour, for example. This program has the potential to deliver benefits to more communities, but it needs increased investment by the Housing Corporation to make it more widely available. Trickling in three or four new houses a year is obviously just not enough. It will never catch up.
While there was some agreement on issues, there is still some uncertainty about solutions. The Housing Corporation continues to promote home ownership despite pushback on costs. Historically, few people have taken up this opportunity. People who get into social housing tend to stay there as renters. There is very little movement because people fear that, if they move, they will lose their housing and start over with the waiting list.
Mr. Speaker, housing is the basis of social health. Without adequate housing, all other efforts at improving social conditions are hampered. In the mandate for this Assembly, we agreed to increase the availability of safe, affordable housing. Given what we heard in Inuvik, we are not there yet. We are not even close. The Housing Corporation committed to developing a plan to go with the new federal housing strategy dollars that will lead the way, and I look forward to seeing it. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Members' statements. Member for Frame Lake.
Merci, Monsieur le President. On May 1st, CBC ran a story about how renovations to the main baggage screening area at the Yellowknife airport would cause delays in passenger boarding. The Department of Infrastructure was quoted as saying passengers needed to arrive at check-in 90 minutes before flight time instead of the usual 60. There was no GNWT media release, and no other media outlets carried the story that day.
Two days later, in the May 3rd Yellowknifer, there was a two-inch story, and the Yellowknife Airport Authority ran an ad telling people to arrive at the airport 30 minutes earlier to avoid missing flights. That is a good start to alert newspaper readers, but that ad only appeared once.
On May 9th, the Infrastructure Minister's office put out an email to all MLAs confirming the baggage area work had begun on May 1st and the need to arrive 90 minutes before flight time.
Finally, on May 10th, 10 days after the 90-minute check-in warning went into effect, the infrastructure department issued a news release confirming the additional time needed to get on flights with checked baggage. Even though today, if you go on the Yellowknife airport website, there is no notice of a 90-minute early arrival requirement, in attempting a scan of commercial airline departure information sites I can find no notice of a 90-minute warning. There is no mention of this on the Yellowknife Airport Facebook page, either. What is going on?
The Yellowknife airport is the primary transportation portal for all personal, business, tourism, and other travellers to and from Yellowknife, so this is pretty important news: get there 30 minutes early, or you could miss your flight. When you have a change in conditions of a core transportation system, a change that could lead to paying passengers missing their flights, you probably want to make sure that the news gets out early, widely, and repeatedly. Later today, I will ask the Minister to explain what went wrong and how we can do better in the future. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you. Members' statements. Member for Deh Cho.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] Yes, there are lots of things happening within this area. A lot of things like ships and that are happening. Maybe sometimes we think we've got to look at this thing. [Translation ends]
Boating season is upon us on the lakes and rivers of the NWT, and practising safety is critical. Earlier this month, there was a boating accident in K'aagee Tu/Kakisa Lake. Thanks to the quick actions taken by Chris Chicot, Melaine Simba, and Ryan Moore, and the Fort Providence RCMP detachment, there were no fatalities and the three boaters were rescued after clinging to their overturned boat for three hours.
Chief Lloyd Chicot of the K'aagee Tu First Nation says that boating accidents happen too often around his community. The public needs to practise safety and awareness of the environment and pay attention to weather conditions. Local residents can be employed as guides, if at all possible, as the lake bed can be shallow in places and choppy water is not uncommon.
Mr. Speaker, I grew up on the river and my earliest memory is travelling with my parents in a canvas boat. Paying the water with tobacco was a common practice to pay homage to the laws of nature. In addition to respecting our land and water, remember to practise safety and on-the-land smarts: always wear a life jacket; inform relatives or friends of your travel plans; equip yourself with an emergency communication device, such as a SPOT, or as simple as a whistle; keep an eye out for weather conditions; and above all, respect the land.
This government offers small vessel training, and I encourage residents to take it when it is offered. According to recent statistics, fewer people are drowning in the NWT than 10 years ago. We must keep this trend going down. Teach water safety to children, so they know how to play safely in and near lakes and rivers. Enrol them in swimming lessons if they are offered in your community.
Mr. Speaker, I'd like to personally thank Chris Chicot, Melaine Simba, Ryan Moore, and the Fort Providence RCMP detachment for their quick response. Good job and mahsi cho.
Mr. Speaker, we had a close call this month, but, thankfully, it ended up with everyone safe. Let's make sure everyone stays safe on the water this summer. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you. Members' statements. Member for Nahendeh.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Percy Samuel Hardisty left behind an incredible legacy of family, humour, love, and friendship.
Percy Hardisty was born in Wrigley, NWT on July 9, 1951, to Arthur and Christine Hardisty. He was the youngest of three boys, and a big brother to his younger sister. He is survived by his sister Doreen and his brother Charlie.
Percy attended school in Fort Simpson and Yellowknife. Upon completing school, Percy served in the Canadian Armed Forces for five years of admirable service. After serving our country, he went on to work in the oil industry in Alberta. In 1977, Percy returned to Fort Simpson and Wrigley.
Percy fondly speaks about moving back to Fort Simpson. First, he was saved by the Lord around that time, attending a gospel tent meeting in the Thomas Simpson schoolyard. He remained deeply religious for the remainder of his life. Second was meeting the love of his life, Elizabeth Menicoche. On February 16, 1985, they were married and raised three wonderful daughters.
During his life, he held a number of jobs working with Parks Canada, the recreation centre, the Fort Providence Residential School Society, and served on the executive committee of the Dehcho First Nation. As well, he owned his own businesses, doing seismic slashing and security services. He was always busy.
Percy worked hard to serve his people in the Dehcho in many different capacities. He served two terms as Chief of Wrigley, first in 1985 and 2000. He was one of the founding directors of the Dehcho Friendship Centre in Fort Simpson, and served 12 years as the chairperson. He was awarded for all his hard work with the Queen Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002 for outstanding and exemplary contributions to their communities or to Canada as a whole.
Percy Hardisty served on the Mackenzie Valley Environment Review Board from November 2003 until August 2004, where he took a leave of absence to serve as a joint review panel member for the Mackenzie Gas Project for seven years. After the project completed, he returned to the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Board on December 2009. He concluded his service to the board in March 2014.
Mr. Speaker, as Percy was nearing the end of his journey, lying on his bed, his pain and discomfort disappearing all at once, he stopped breathing. Embraced by his family and friends by his bedside, softly and silently, he left them as he went to meet the Lord on April 17th.
The Hardisty family would like to thank everybody for their loving support and prayers during their time of sorrow. As well, they would like to thank Kevin Menicoche for doing the eulogy.
Mr. Speaker, Percy Samuel Hardisty will be sadly missed and never forgotten.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm very pleased to recognize my wife Judy in the gallery. Her presence always brightens up the Chamber.
Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Thebacha.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to recognize my wife Anne who is in the gallery with family friend Jim Umpherson.
Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Inuvik Boot Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The sun is shining very brightly today, and I would like to recognize one of my constituents, Judy McLeod. It's always a pleasure to see you here at the Legislative Assembly supporting our Deputy Premier. I also would like to take the opportunity recognize Jimmy Kalinek, who has been a very strong supporter of cultural and traditional programs in Inuvik, but also has started up a very strong tourism operation with the Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk highway opening up. Welcome, Judy. Welcome, Jimmy.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier I made a statement about sovereignty in the Arctic, and the Premier's sessional statement reflected a lot of what we're trying to focus on, especially in our Arctic region, where there is a lack of infrastructure. Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Premier. Can the Premier update the House on any discussions he's had with the federal government on Arctic sovereignty? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you. Premier.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the Member has raised and I spoke to in my statement, Canada needs to take action in the Arctic, and our governments and people lead this dialogue. The best way for Canada to show its commitment to its Arctic is through significant investment in its people, economies, science, and infrastructure. I have been clear to the federal government about the need for this investment. I have been clear that northern voices need to be heard. I have also specifically spoken to the need for investment in support of the safety and security of our borders and people.
I am pleased to say that we've had some positive signals from Canada in this area, in particular related to investments and infrastructure and cleaner and more affordable energy for the territory, and in the development and moving forward with Bill C-88 and negotiations related to the offshore.
There's also been the creation of an Arctic region for the Coast Guard. However, as I made clear in my statement today, there is need to do much more.
It's good to hear that from the Premier, and that the Government of the Northwest Territories is working with the federal counterparts. We talk about climate change a lot, and I know I have during this Assembly in the last three-and-a-half years, but one of the things is infrastructure and action by our federal counterparts. My second question is: has the government of the Northwest Territories partnered with any of our Indigenous governments on efforts to promote sovereignty in the Arctic regions?
