Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise Members that the honourable Glen Abernethy will be absent from the House today due to illness. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Ministers' statements. Minister of Environment and Natural Resources.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Government of the Northwest Territories made a mandate commitment to develop a strategy for improving the way that waste is managed in the Northwest Territories.
Waste management is a shared responsibility, and improving waste management in the Northwest Territories requires a collaborative approach that considers the diverse interests of all groups producing and managing waste.
After extensive engagement, I am pleased to share that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, together with the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, has completed and released the NWT Waste Resource Management Strategy and Implementation Plan, a 10-year roadmap to reducing and managing waste in the NWT.
Mr. Speaker, the NWT Waste Resource Management Strategy and Implementation Plan reaffirms the GNWT's commitment to working with our community and private-sector partners to manage the resources and potential economic and environmental benefits from household, commercial, and industrial waste, both from the private sector and our municipalities
The Strategy and Implementation Plan has four overarching goals:
Preventing and reducing waste at the source;
Diverting waste from disposal;
Improving waste management facilities and practices; and
Leading by example, through initiatives that help us to "green our government."
These goals are intended to foster a shift away from the current disposal model approach to waste management to one that will reduce the amount of waste from residential and non-residential sources that is sent to landfills. This shift aims to disrupt the current model of making, using, and disposing of resources in order to better protect our environment and reduce the amount of waste that is sent to NWT landfills.
Mr. Speaker, by focusing on improving waste management practices and policies, the strategy will ultimately help communities in the NWT reduce the long-term liabilities and costs associated with hazardous waste and shortened landfill life, and contribute to the green economy by creating opportunities for new businesses and jobs to emerge in the waste management sector.
The Waste Resource Management Strategy and Implementation Plan was developed based on extensive public engagement. I want to thank our residents and the many Indigenous and community governments, regulatory boards, federal agencies, professional associations, non-government organizations, businesses, industry, and commercial operators for helping to shape this 10-year roadmap toward improved waste management in the NWT.
This strategy will help us to reduce waste and support a healthy environment for generations to come. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Ministers' statements. Minister of Infrastructure.
Mr. Speaker, early in the life of the 18th Legislative Assembly our government made a commitment to secure funding for the advancement of new strategic infrastructure corridors. It is a commitment that we made in Connecting Us, the Northwest Territories 25-year Transportation Strategy, as well as in our government's mandate.
The three priority transportation corridor projects our government is pursuing are the Tlicho All-Season Road, the Mackenzie Valley Highway, and the Slave Geological Access Corridor. Each of these projects will help connect communities, support employment and training opportunities, increase our resiliency to climate change, and create new social and economic opportunities.
Mr. Speaker, today I am pleased to provide an update on these projects.
Less than two years ago, our government opened the Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk Highway. Now, we are getting ready for the construction of another new highway: the Tlicho All-Season Road. When it opens, this highway will cover a distance of 97 kilometres and provide year-round access from Highway No. 3 to Whati. The Environmental Review and Regulatory Processes are nearing completion, with construction on track to begin this fall.
Construction and maintenance of the road will result in significant employment and training opportunities for Tlicho residents, which supports the development of a strong northern workforce. In fact, specific requirements have been established for hiring and training local residents. In the long term, the road is expected to reduce the cost of living for the region and support new social opportunities, while helping to attract additional interest from industry in the exploration and development of natural resources.
Mr. Speaker, we are working closely with the Tlicho Government on this project and thank them for their support. The Tlicho Government is an equity partner in North Star Infrastructure, with whom the GNWT has a Public-Private Partnership, or a P3, Project Agreement to design, build, finance, operate, and maintain the road. As we have seen with the Stanton Renewal and Mackenzie Valley Highway Fibre Link, P3s are an effective way of delivering large, strategic infrastructure projects that are essential for the Northwest Territories. They allow our government to bring in private-sector expertise and accountability to the process, while preserving government ownership of core public assets.
Mr. Speaker, work has also continued on the advancement of the Mackenzie Valley Highway, focusing on the section of highway from Wrigley to Norman Wells. Last year the federal government announced $102.5 million to advance the highway under the National Trade Corridors Fund. The Government of the Northwest Territories has committed $37.5 million to the project, bringing the total investment to $140 million.
Mr. Speaker, continuing to extend the Mackenzie Valley Highway will connect more communities to the all-weather road system, while increasing resiliency of the winter road system to the impacts of climate change. The project is currently the subject of an ongoing environmental assessment, and work has started on the preparation and submission of the developer's assessment report. The Department of Infrastructure has started holding community engagement sessions in Norman Wells, Tulita, Wrigley, and Fort Simpson regarding the overall project. Additionally, community and stakeholder meetings will take place in the coming months in the Sahtu and Dehcho regions.
Most recently, the Government of the Northwest Territories and the Sahtu Secretariat Incorporated signed a memorandum of understanding to the advancement of the Mackenzie Valley Highway. The MOU outlines how we will cooperate through the environmental review and regulatory processes. Our government is also working with the Pehdzeh Ki First Nation on the advancement of the Mackenzie Valley Highway through the Environmental Review and Regulatory Process.
Mr. Speaker, we also continue to make progress on the Slave Geological Province. Yesterday the Government of Canada announced that it will provide $30 million to support the advancement of the Slave Geological Province under the National Trades Corridor Fund. The Government of the Northwest Territories has committed $10 million to the project, bringing the total investment to $40 million. Funding will support planning and environmental studies that will lead to obtaining permits for road construction.
The Slave Geological Province Corridor will serve as an important transportation, hydro, and communications corridor, improving access to significant untapped mineral potential, helping us green the mining industry, and facilitating future resource exploration and development opportunities. This project is not possible without support from Indigenous stakeholders. I have discussed the project with the Yellowknives Dene, Akaitcho Territory Government, Tlicho Government, and North Slave Metis Alliance. Further discussions with Indigenous governments will continue over the coming months to explore future opportunities for their involvement in the project.
Mr. Speaker, our government also continues to work with the Kitikmeot Inuit Association on its proposed Grays Bay Road and Port project to further our long-term vision of an infrastructure corridor through the Slave Geological Province that will connect to an all-season road in western Nunavut that links to a deep water port on the Arctic Ocean. As we work through the environmental assessments and regulatory processes and pursuing the funding for these projects, we will continue to engage Indigenous groups and work with them to take advantage of the benefits that these projects will bring. We will also work closely with our counterparts in the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to ensure ongoing protection of wildlife and natural environment.
Mr. Speaker, strong, effective partnerships with the federal government and Indigenous governments are essential to the success of these projects. Together, we can improve transportation connectivity across the territory, which will help us achieve our social and economic goals and improve the quality of life in the North. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today as an ally to add my voice to the grave and tragic issue of forced sterilization. This is not some past, dark chapter in Canadian history on which we have turned the page. It appears, based on several class-action lawsuits in front of the courts right now, that this barbaric practice is still in use. We hear now more and more voices rising up, sharing their stories, the traumas, and their terror of having been coerced into sterilization. I want to commend all of those who have spoken up to ensure that we hear their stories.
Mr. Speaker, contrary to popular belief, tubal ligation is virtually irreversible. It is undetectable to the untrained eye. Medical records are kept private for good reason, but a systemic review of these records may be the only way to begin to verify data and add weight to what is admittedly anecdotal at this time.
For us to address this issue, we must not only promise to do better, but we must take concrete steps to ensure that full and complete knowledge on the topic is gathered, preserved, and published. We must collect the stories of those who are affected and willing to come forward. We must commission a systematic review of medical records to uncover the full scope of this tragedy. We must continue to bring this to the forefront, and we must remain diligent and unrelenting as we move to take concrete action to criminalize coercion of this type. It is not simply enough to condemn this practice. We must also never forget that providing real support to those affected by this continuing tragedy is among our top priorities.
In closing, Mr. Speaker, I will repeat the words of the Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh: "If you suspect that you or someone you know has been pressured for sterilization, make it be known. No person should have the procedure performed on them without free, prior, informed consent. Anything else would be a violation of the victim's human rights."
Sadly, it appears that the echoes of eugenics still haunt us today. Thank you Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Mackenzie Delta.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When I feel sick, I want comfort food. The same is true for our elders and family members who are in the hospital. Unfortunately, most traditional foods that we want when we are sick are not available in our hospitals and long-term care facilities.
In the Yukon, there is a traditional food program that serves wild game to patients that is donated by local hunters. They fill out a checklist ensuring the food has been handled safely before sending it to the local butcher, who also has to complete a checklist before sending the food to the hospital. At the hospital, liaison staff visit all Indigenous patients to help them access the traditional food, run by the First Nations Cultural Programs Coordinator.
In our last sitting the Minister said that the new Stanton Hospital would have the ability to prepare country food, but that it was not quite ready. I hope to hear from the Minister later today, or the Premier, that they are up and running. I also hope that they are looking at how to get country foods into our other health facilities in the territory and also our long-term care facilities. Thank you Mr. Speaker. I will have questions later today.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Sahtu.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I rise to make my statement. The Mackenzie River itself, Mr. Speaker, is 1,650 kilometres in length. In most areas, its 1.6 to 3.2 kilometres in width can present many logistical challenges, particularly during the later part of the low-water season.
I have seen it myself during my boat ride of last month between the communities of Norman Wells and Fort Good Hope. In particular, you have to cross two sets of rapids and, in particular, one just above Fort Good Hope, eight kilometres. There is a landmark rock on the outside of the boat route, the only route on that section that is passable. Now, the rock in my last trip was showing, measuring the low-water season.
Mr. Speaker, this is the main supply chain for many routes and coastal communities, the resupply that is the utmost importance to community residents and businesses that the Marine Transportation Services provides.
Last month, during my visit to the community of Hay River, I was accompanied by the Minister of Infrastructure to tour the Marine Training Centre, which gave me the privilege of meeting two young ladies taking marine courses, one from Deline and one from Tulita. It was quite remarkable to see them, Mr. Speaker, these young ladies pursuing their career choices. Given the logistical challenges that our service company has to resupply and the importance of sustaining those communities and the businesses and supporting the residents in particular the store shops, later, Mr. Speaker, I will have progress questions to the appropriate Minister on the progress of this sailing season on resupply. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to talk about support for the film and TV production industry in the NWT.
Film and TV is one of our success stories. Our production industry has grown substantially in recent years, with feature films, international festival screenings, and TV series gaining attention across Canada and around the world.
The government has played an important role in that success. As the Minister stated in the House this week, 11 film projects have received our support in the last four years, leveraging about $1.5 million in investment.
I spoke about this program in the last sitting. After that, I was pleased to take part in a meeting bringing in representatives of the production community together with the Minister so that he could hear first-hand from the industry how beneficial this program would be for the North.
Mr. Speaker, there is an appetite across Canada and around the world for our northern stories. More and more producers are becoming aware of the North and want to make their productions here, but the funding model that has been applied to media, ITI's SEED program, was designed to support business start-ups. It's not designed to recognize the unique qualities of the production industry and the production process.
Film industry representatives have proposed a better model, based on our very successful Mining Incentive Program. That program offers two streams of funding, one for planning and developing new projects and one for production, to actually bring a project into being. Similar to the Mining Incentive Program, this program could be funded up to $1 million. Our production industry has grown significantly in recent years, but it has the potential to grow much more.
Northern producers have an incentive to develop projects in the North. They want the industry to grow so that they can pursue their craft here at home. They know the northern people and places, and they have northern stories to tell. All they need is access to sufficient resources and supports.
I will be working towards enhancing our funding system to provide stronger, more consistent support for this important, growing industry so we can continue to diversify our economy. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Deh Cho.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I sense a growing frustration amongst residents and community governments in the NWT for the GNWT's approach to land administration. Residents on leased land want ownership in the form of fee simple title to enable them to get mortgages and invest in their properties. Business owners want land that is developed and zoned for commercial and industrial use. They also want certainty that the value of their investment will not be undermined by their business being on or next to leased property, where property values are lower. Community governments need access to land for municipal development, such as the construction of a municipal building or recreation facility or the development of a park or trail system. They also want to be consulted on things like land withdrawals, both inside and adjacent to their boundaries, which might impact future growth.
Mr. Speaker, at a recent public meeting on Bill 46, Public Land Act, Mayor Winnie Cadieux of Enterprise asked the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment to amend the bill to make sure that there is a requirement for consultation with municipalities. She said, "When the GNWT comes into our community boundaries and wants to scoop up land for their own uses, that is just not right." I agree with her. The GNWT should be doing everything it can to ensure that, within community boundaries, municipal needs take precedence over the needs of the territorial government.
In fact, many municipalities feel that, now that devolution is complete, the GNWT should be converting all leased lands within community boundaries to fee simple title and transferring that title to communities. This would allow municipal governments to provide for their own future growth and development without having to apply to the GNWT for land approval on a parcel-by-parcel basis. This would help to eliminate the paternalistic attitude that communities experience when seeking land approvals from the GNWT. It would also help to overcome the piecemeal approach to land development that is inhibiting economic growth and development in communities.
I have spoken with Mayor Cadieux about Enterprise's experiences and their frustration in dealing with the GNWT. There are continuing concerns about the administration of lands within the community, and the leadership feels that it is being ignored. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement. Thank you.
---Unanimous consent granted
While the term of this Assembly is drawing to a close, issues related to municipal lands are likely to continue. I hope that Ministers of lands and municipal and community affairs in the 19th Legislative Assembly will have the vision and leadership necessary to ensure that communities in the NWT have the land they need to grow and prosper. I will have questions for the Minister of Lands at the appropriate time. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Frame Lake.
Merci, Monsieur le President. The public and stakeholders consultations for the creation of an action plan for the NWT Arts Strategy have just wrapped up. ITI and ECE, who are leading this effort, say this work will now be added to research completed in March 2019 and result in action and new investments. I checked in with leaders in the arts sector who had input into the consultation, and I have not heard much positive as we work towards a fact-based, targeted action plan.
The problem is the lack of hard information specific to the producers and the NWT's operating environment. While government says it completed its research, sector players point out that, despite their pleas, comprehensive data has never been collected by survey of either individual artists and producers or the organizations offering cultural and performing arts products to the public.
We have national data about the NWT, which is impressive in itself. In 2017, the direct economic impact of cultural products was up 15 percent from 2010, estimated at $77 million or $1,723 per capita, in a sector directly employing 610 people. Impacts not revealed in that data are the contribution of cultural opportunities as part of the growing tourism sector or an evaluation of the impact of arts throughout the economy.
The GNWT's own rough data from 2012 shows that, while a million dollars spent in oil and gas extraction results in only half a job, the same million dollars creates seven jobs in the film or recording industries, a 14-times-higher rate of return.
The lack of comprehensive data specific to the cultural and arts sector makes it that much more difficult to access bigger pots of funds with no cost to the NWT. Artist and organizations need hard numbers to write applications for funding under Heritage Canada and Canada Council for the Arts programs.
The problem in terms of creating a successful action plan for the Arts Strategy is that this data should have focused and driven the consultations, providing a fact-based evaluation of what's working and what's not. I will have questions later today for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment on how we can collect the data needed to help support the expansion of our arts and cultural sector while accessing other funding sources. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Hay River North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This past June 26th, the last day of school, students were sent home with a letter from the Hay River District Education Authority stating that, starting September 9, 2019, students who want to ride the bus to school will need to purchase a bus pass. The estimated cost: $300 to $375 per student. As far as I know, there has never been any bus fees charged in Hay River up until this point.
This has upset a number of people in the community, and understandably so. No one wants to pay yet another fee. Some people didn't appreciate the timing of the letter, and some people were confused and angry because the letter raised more questions than it answered.
However, Mr. Speaker, beyond all of that, people were upset because they feared that this could negatively impact on children's attendance at school, and for good reason. If you live on Vale Island, you have between 5 and 11 kilometres to get to school. If you live in Delancey Estates, it's 10 or 11 kilometres. If you live in Paradise Gardens, it's 25 kilometres. Given those distances and the fact that it is winter for most of the school year, it is essential that students have the option to take a bus to and from school. Unfortunately, the DEA sees its fee as the only way to continue providing busing. The alternative, and I know it was considered, was to discontinue busing altogether, but luckily, that didn't happen.
The reason for the shortfall is that the DEA only receives enough funding to cover half the cost of providing buses. This means that, year after year, they've had to dip into funding meant to provide other educational services. It also means they haven't been able to put anything aside to save up to buy new buses to replace their aging fleet, which likely only have another year of serviceable life.
Now, someone stated that it's okay to charge for busing. After all, they charge right here in Yellowknife. I mean, in many cities across Canada, in fact. However, Mr. Speaker, we can't continually adjust our expectations based on the lowest standard. We need to decide what our priorities are. My priorities and the priorities of many of my constituents whom I have heard from are to lower barriers to education and increase the chances of success for our children.
Mr. Speaker, the funding shortfall isn't an enormous amount of money, but when divided up among a small number of families, it can become a roadblock for accessing education. I will have some questions for the Minister of Education about how we can solve this issue. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Nunakput.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to talk about the hunters and trappers in the Northwest Territories, along with some highlights of two specific programs that are offered within the Genuine Mackenzie Valley Fur Program under the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment. The program names are the Prime Fur Bonus and the Trappers' Grubstake.
Mr. Speaker, hunting and trapping has been a cornerstone of the NWT's traditional economy for centuries. Even today, it continues to be a vital source of commercial enterprise and income for many individuals and businesses across the Northwest Territories. In addition to the various economic benefits that come alongside this industry, hunting and trapping has also become a method for helping today's generation remain connected to their ancestral ways of life. Furthermore, Mr. Speaker, it is important that our local hunters and trappers are informed about GNWT's various programs that are available to them, among which include the Trappers' Grubstake and Prime Fur Bonus programs.
This brings me to the crux of the statement, because, in recent weeks and months, I have had numerous constituents enquire with me about the status and functionality of these two programs. For those who are unaware of these two programs, I would like to provide a brief summary of how they operate.
Firstly, Mr. Speaker, the Trapper's Grubstake Program is an initiative designed to help offset some of the start-up costs that hunters and trappers will often incur at the beginning of each season. The sums of money given out to people are determined by the number of pelts harvested by each hunter from the previous year, and can vary from $100 to $2,000 depending on the hunter's haul, quality of fur, and fur type. Moreover, the Prime Fur Bonus Program is a monetary top-up incentive that's designed to spur the highest quality of pelts.
Mr. Speaker, it is programs like these that help keep the sector of our economy alive and well. As many hunters and trappers across the Northwest Territories consider these programs essential for their livelihoods, so because of that, I find it concerning that I hear stories from constituents about outstanding money being owed to hunters and trappers for furs they sold in the spring. As far as I am aware, there aren't any other programs like this in other jurisdictions in Canada. To maintain a sustainable system for our departments, our departments must work seamlessly with hunters and trappers who rely on these programs to hunt and trap across the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Members' statement. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.
Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Today I rise to speak about the passing of yet another long-time Yellowknives Dene elder, Isadore Tsetta. Isadore was predeceased by his parents Antoine and Monique Tsetta; his wife Elise; his siblings Benny and Rosanna; and his goddaughter Adeline. Isadore is survived by his children, Fred, Ted, Charles, Peter, and Isadore and Elise also raised Peter Charlo. His grandchildren are Valerie, Aleisha, Trisha, Tyler, Corbin, Laken, Kylie, Tamra, Billie and Karsen. His great grandchildren are Courtney, Noah, Nolan, Chaylee, Tyshanyah, Tadeh and Alexis. His godchildren are Alice, Priscilla, Shirley, Kathleen and Eileen, along with his extended family, the Blackducks, Liskes, and Sonfreres.
Mr. Speaker, Isadore Tsetta was born on October 24, 1925, and passed away on March 17, 2019, at age 93. Isadore was a well-respected leader and an influential elder within the Yellowknives Dene First Nation. His notoriety in the community began in the 1970s when he operated a Dene store at Detah. During that time, he was also a full-time trapper, and after that, he became chief of Detah from 1979 to 1987. Another project that Isadore was a part of was the Dene Mapping Project through the 70s and 80s. Where the Dene Nation collected data on land occupation to help create land management plans. In his later years, he was also a member of the Elders' Senate for the Yellowknives Dene.
Mr. Speaker, his son and the former chief of N'dilo, Ted Tsetta, described Isadore as a principled man who never backed down and who stood his ground for things that he believed in, especially when it came to anything related to the treaty, which was something he was a steadfast defender of throughout his entire life.
Mr. Tsetta was also somebody who I knew on a personal basis. He was a very well-respected man right across the territory. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Our condolences to the family, as well, and to the community. Members' statements. Member for Nahendeh.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to personally thank the four MLAs who are leaving the public service at the end of this 18th Assembly.
The job as a political leader is a daunting one, which they all carried out with hard work, integrity, and were a good and faithful servant for their constituents and all the people in the Northwest Territories. Each person made an effort to make me feel welcomed and respected, providing good advice. Even if we disagreed, we walked away understanding each other's point of view. Three of the Members, I had the pleasure of knowing before coming into this House, and the other Member, I got to know really well during the 18th Assembly.
Mr. Speaker, the Member for Twin Lakes was my Minister when I worked for the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs. He has been a straight shooter, has a good sense of humour, and is a family man with strong beliefs. I have witnessed him at sporting events where the athletes and parents were excited to see him. He really cared. It is my understanding that he got into politics because of his family, and wanted to make a difference. He is now leaving because of his family, and wanting to make a difference in his grandchildren's lives.
The Member from Great Slave has always strived to be available, responsive, accountable, and compassionate. When his workload was high, he took the time to meet in person or by phone to hear my concerns and issues, including some early-morning phone calls. He was always eager to join me in Nahendeh to participate in constituency tours and community meetings. His preference was to allow the Health and Social Services system to respond and resolve issues raised by me, but he also understood and respected my needs to be involved.
The Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh is the person I have known the longest. I grew up with some of his family members in Hay River. I was lucky to have him as a mentor and a friend during my first four years as an MLA. His passion for small communities has been made very clear during his 12 years as an MLA. I greatly appreciate his knowledge of the NWT family history.
Finally, I would like to recognize the Member from Boot Lake. I have had the honour of working with this individual in a number of capacities. I worked with him for years when he worked for Health, Municipal and Community Affairs, and most recently in the 18th Assembly. I would like to thank him for his frankness, recommendations, and honesty when working with me. He came into the Legislative Assembly with the goal of building relationships and creating partnerships in order to work on behalf of the residents of the Northwest Territories, and he leaves at the end of this Assembly knowing that he has accomplished this goal.
From the bottom of my heart, I would like to thank them for all that they have done, and I wish them all the best in the future. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
---Applause
[Translation] We have a guest here, Dr. John B. Zoe in the gallery. We thank him. [End translation]
Colleagues, I would like to draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of Ms. Skye Mandigo-Stoba. Skye is from California and was granted a wish with the Make-a-Wish Foundation. Her wish was to travel to Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, to visit the vintage plane fleet at Buffalo Airways. Please join me in welcoming Skye and her family to our Legislative Assembly. Welcome. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Range Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to recognize a dynamic group of individuals who are here with the Jane Glassco Fellows. We have staff, and we have fellows as well. I'm just going to name them all, and excuse me if I do mispronunciation of names. I'm going to try my hardest.
We have Sherry Campbell, Melaina Sheldon, Ashley Carvill, Chloe Dragon Smith, Don Couturier, Heather Bourassa, Hilda Snowball, Julianna Scramstad, Kaviq Kaluraq, Kelly Panchynshyn, Kristen Tanche, Killulark Arngna'naaq, Luke Campbell, Tina Decouto, Tony Penikett, John B. Zoe, and Vivien Carli. I appreciate you all being here. I am so sorry if I massacred some of your names. Welcome to the "Ledge."
Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Nunakput.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize a couple of ladies from Tuktoyaktuk, Ms. Wanda Steen and her sister Annie. Mr. Speaker, Annie and Wanda have both worked for the Inuvialuit for a long time and likely still have a lot of connections. Annie also participated in some programs in Tuktoyaktuk, and she has actually helped the Community Corporation and the Hamlet of Tuktoyaktuk progress a lot with the tourism industry.
Mr. Speaker, when the Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk Highway was completed, there was a little bit of a lack of infrastructure, and Annie picked up the a slack on that. I would like to congratulate Annie. I hear Annie is possibly running this year, and I encourage her to do it, as well, as many other women, especially in Nunakput. Once again, a strong Inuvialuit, so I would like to welcome them both. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Sahtu.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, would like to recognize Heather Bourassa from my home community in Ford Good Hope, a businesswoman and bush pilot. Mahsi.
Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Nahendeh.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize a number of the ladies from the Jane Glassco Northern Fellowship: Chloe Dragon Smith, whom I have the opportunity to know since she was a young lady in sports; as well as Tina Decouto, who used to live in Fort Simpson, and now she is in Iqaluit; and of course, one of my constituents, Kristen Tanche. Thank you, and welcome to the House, and to the other fellows here as well. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
