Thank you, Ms. Snowshoe, for the prayer today. Ms. Snowshoe is one of my elders from Fort McPherson. Mahsi cho.
Members, interpreters, visitors in the gallery, and Pages, as Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, it is my honour to welcome you here today during this holiday season.
It is the darkest time of the year, but I had the honour of lighting up the Assembly last week as part of Christmas Lights Across Canada. Thank you to all of the Yellowknife, Detah, and Ndilo kindergarten students who came to the Legislative Assembly to decorate the Christmas trees.
Also, thank you to the schools across the North that sent in decorations for the large Christmas tree in the Great Hall.
Today marks the first regular sitting day of this 19th Legislative Assembly. I know all Members are excited to begin the work of this Assembly. I hope the positive and respectful tone you take today will last the next four years.
I want to thank the Pages for joining us here in the Assembly. For this sitting, we have Pages from Yellowknife and Detah. Having you in the Chamber reminds Members that the decisions we make today will affect your future.
Members, our proceedings this week will be interpreted in French and eight of our nine Indigenous languages. Please join me in thanking the interpreters.
---Applause
As an early Christmas present to the interpreters, I remind you to speak slowly and take a pause to allow them to catch up.
Finally, Commissioner Margaret Thom has recommended the passage of Supplementary Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures) 2019-2020 during this first session of the 19th Assembly. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to welcome all my colleagues to this sitting of the Legislative Assembly. I also want to thank them on behalf of Cabinet and myself for selecting us for the Executive Council. You have chosen a hard-working, strong Cabinet that is committed to working collaboratively with Regular Members in the interest of all residents of the Northwest Territories.
I am proud to take my seat here in Canada's first and only gender-balanced Legislature. Women make up half the population and, now, half of our representatives in this Assembly. We have a responsibility to serve as a positive example to the rest of the country.
Our ground-breaking Cabinet includes four other strong, capable women in addition to myself. In the history of the Assembly, since 1999, only three women have ever served on Cabinet before, and they have each served in different Cabinets. In addition to being only the second woman to be Premier since Nellie Cournoyea, I am the first Metis woman to be Premier in all of Canada. Once again, we are making history here in the 19th Legislative Assembly.
We are also joined by two experienced and capable men at the Cabinet table, who I know are committed to serving the people of this territory. The Executive Council benefits tremendously from the diversity of voices and perspectives we have around the table.
Mr. Speaker, the results of the last election sent a clear message. People voted for change. They did not think that we were being heard, and they were not satisfied with the results their government was delivering. We can do better.
We are the servants of the people. Residents of the Northwest Territories have placed their trust in us to represent their interests and make their lives better, now and into the future. We need to listen to what they say, understand what they need, and take action to deliver results. It is critical that our focus be outside of this Legislative Assembly. What happens here is important, but, whenever possible, the decisions we make should come from our people.
Cabinet must focus on what matters to people when we make decisions. That is why our Cabinet has developed a set of principles to guide us in our decisions to ensure that our choices are in the best interest of the residents of the NWT.
Our principles include a commitment to support and enhance relationships with Indigenous governments and Indigenous people. We recognize that we are partners in governing this territory and that, if we want to deliver results for our residents, we need to work respectfully with our Indigenous government partners within the true spirit of government-to-government relationships.
We also recognize that it is more important to produce successful outcomes for people than to apply the same rigid procedures to everyone in every community. That is why our principles ensure that we will choose options that use an integrated, client-focused, and solution-oriented approach when we are making decisions.
We will work to ensure that our decisions promote personal and community self-sufficiency. We will do this by making sure that government policies, programs, and services help people and communities define their own needs whenever possible and that our work complements their developing their capacity and skills to choose their own futures.
We know that, to serve NWT residents, we need to understand and respect their cultures and languages, with a special focus on Indigenous language and culture. To enhance the experiences of people when they are dealing with us and to create a stronger territory, our decisions will respect diversity and embrace all of the territorial languages and cultures.
We also want to ensure that our decisions create economic and financial benefits for northern residents and businesses. We know that government spending, contracting, and procurement creates business and employment opportunities at the community, regional, and territorial levels. We are going to keep this in mind when we are making decisions, Mr. Speaker, and we will make sure that our decisions maximize benefits for our territory.
Finally, Mr. Speaker, we are going to make it a priority to explain our decisions and the reasons for them clearly and proactively. We believe that people have a right to know and to understand what their government is doing, and we are committed to being more open and transparent. Cabinet will have to make some hard choices sometimes, and we know that people won't always like our decisions, but we will explain our decisions and the challenges that we face out of respect for the people who elected us to serve them.
In this spirit of respect and transparency, we will be tabling Cabinet's statement of principles today. It is important that the whole of the Government of the Northwest Territories understands the principles that we will live by.
Mr. Speaker, this is a new government, and we plan on doing business a new way. Our principles are one of those ways. Working more collaboratively with Members is another. There is a wealth of talent and experience in this room, and I believe that we are all committed to making a difference for our people.
Fostering relationships outside this room will also be a priority for us. The Government of the Northwest Territories does not govern alone, and we need the support and participation of many partners to achieve success. I have already reached out personally to Indigenous leaders in the territory, and we will start face-to-face meetings in the new year.
I have also recently returned from Ontario, where I took part in meetings of Canada's Premiers, met with the Prime Minister and federal Ministers, and attended the opening of Parliament. I am pleased to say that the North has a lot of support in the South and that the three territorial Premiers were successful in getting the support of our provincial colleagues to make northern priorities one of the four agenda items for the next First Ministers Meeting.
Following our meetings in Ottawa, I am confident that the Prime Minister and federal Ministers share our goal of creating a strong, prosperous Northwest Territories. I look forward to working closely with them as we finalize plans for both of our governments.
In conclusion, Cabinet looks forward to working closely with all Members of the Legislative Assembly, as well as all levels of government, as we move toward the priorities defined by the 19th Legislative Assembly. Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Honourable Premier. Ministers' statements. Minister responsible for Youth.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the Minister responsible for Youth, I am proud to speak today about one of our most successful youth initiatives, the NWT Youth Ambassador Program.
From November 14th to the 18th of this year, the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs hosted the NWT Youth Ambassador Program orientation and training event in Yellowknife. I was pleased to attend this orientation along with the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, the Honourable Ms. Chinna.
Participants from all over the Northwest Territories were involved. Their selection was based on community involvement, commitment to a healthy lifestyle, and reflection on how the NWT Youth Ambassador Program will help them in the future. The youth are between the ages of 16 and 22. These fine young people are the role models and leaders of tomorrow.
The NWT Youth Ambassador Program has been in operation for 12 years. I am pleased to be able to say that I was part of this program from the very beginning in 2007, when I attended the Canada Winter Games in Whitehorse.
The program offers a guided and structured volunteer experience for Northwest Territories youth at major territorial, national, and international events. Participants have the opportunity to develop life and job skills as well as to build the confidence necessary to deal with complex life challenges.
Youth who participate in the program emerge with an increased sense of pride in their culture and community. Participants have reported back that they have, with the influence of this program, experienced personal development resulting in improved self-confidence and better mental health. They have also reported that they feel that they are making healthier lifestyle choices, including healthier eating, increased physical activity, living tobacco-free, healthier sexuality, and greater awareness of injury-prevention strategies.
In anticipation of the 2020 Arctic Winter Games hosted in Whitehorse, officials joined the ambassadors to highlight the key areas where the youth will be volunteering, the history of the games, and some of the changes that the 2020 host society is making to include more Indigenous culture.
A representative of the North American Indigenous Games also attended to build excitement around the games in Halifax. This included a session on the Mi'kmaq culture in Halifax. The youth were able to get their first task as volunteers and registered themselves in the online volunteer portal.
Mr. Speaker, the program has successfully identified 35 youth from across the Northwest Territories to travel and volunteer at either the 2020 Arctic Winter Games in Whitehorse, Yukon, or the 2020 North American Indigenous Games in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Twenty youth will attend the Arctic Winter Games, and 15 will volunteer at the North American Indigenous Games.
We know that for any program to be successful, especially when we are taking our youth in new and different locations, it requires the support of dedicated staff. I would like to thank all of the employees involved with this program from the Sport, Recreation and Youth Division, both past and present, for their hard work to coordinate the Youth Ambassador Program.
In closing, I would like to congratulate all the youth for a successful weekend. The NWT Youth Ambassador Program gives young people opportunities to travel, volunteer, meet new friends, and develop leadership skills. It has been life-changing for many participants. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister responsible for Youth. Ministers' statements. Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Partnerships between housing stakeholders and community partners is critical in supporting the housing needs of our residents. One such partnership has been between the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation, the De Beers Group, and the Yellowknife Women's Society. Over the last year, all three partners came together to provide 16 single-room, semi-independent suites for homeless women.
De Beers has a long history in the Northwest Territories, including the development of its two mines. These investments have provided many employment opportunities for the residents of the Northwest Territories. In addition to the economic benefits, De Beers Group has indicated that they want to support lasting social improvements to communities.
The De Beers Group reached out to the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation to discuss potential legacy housing projects, consistent with the De Beers Group's commitment to supporting Northwest Territories communities involved in diamond mining. The De Beers Group was especially interested in projects that address the long-term needs of vulnerable people in their operating region.
Mr. Speaker, the De Beers Group has made a generous contribution of $250,000 to the project, along with project management expertise. The Northwest Territories Housing Corporation provided a $750,000 contribution under the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation's Community Housing Support Initiative. The Yellowknife Women's Society will continue to administer a smaller emergency shelter section of the building, but their operations will become more housing-focused. They will continue to provide supportive services to residents in the new suites.
These new spaces will provide better privacy, safety, and security for women. The shared living arrangement offers the safety of living with others, as opposed to being isolated in a market rental unit. Residents will have a safe, stable home where they can start to address some of the other challenges in their lives, without having to worry about housing.
I am also pleased to say that this project benefited the residents of the shelter beyond just meeting their housing needs. Incorporating a women-in-trades component, this project has employed women who were using the shelter. These women helped to construct the living spaces where they will be residing. Building skills and work experience is a great forward-thinking approach that will benefit these women as they go forward and possibly decide that they wish to pursue a career in trades construction, maybe one day setting up their own businesses.
Mr. Speaker, the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation's partnership with the De Beers Group and the Yellowknife Women's Society is an excellent illustration of how all levels of our society can come together to meet the housing needs of our people. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi, Mr. Speaker. [English translation not available.]
Today, I would like to acknowledge the accomplishment of one of our very own constituents of mine who I'm very proud of.
In November of this year, Doreen Ann Arrowmaker from Gameti graduated from Royal Roads University with a master's degree in Global Management. She was awarded the Founder's Award from the university for exemplifying the qualities of leadership, sustainability, and personal development for her graduating class.
Mr. Speaker, I am very proud of Ms. Arrowmaker for not only this accomplishment, but also how she achieved it. Doreen is from a small outlying community. She was raised in the traditional lifestyle and speaks Tlicho fluently. She has three children, and has worked very hard, too, with her school process; she is a life-long learner.
Ms. Arrowmaker is a role model for her community because she puts value in her language and culture, but also continuously working through her community. She is a true leader, in my view.
Mr. Speaker, Ms. Arrowmaker is a role model for all NWT students. She is a testament to all the young people who walk in two worlds. She has proven that students in even the smallest communities have the ability and the chance to succeed in their education endeavours.
I stand here today very humbled and proud of Ms. Arrowmaker's achievement. I want to personally congratulate her and her family for their dedication to fulfil her dream. Masi.
Thank you, Member for Monfwi. Next, we have Member for Frame Lake.
Merci, Monsieur le President. On November 29, 2019, I attended the climate strike organized by Yellowknife's youth. This enthusiastic group has now organized three events in Yellowknife, and a similar group has organized strikes in Inuvik, too. What people young and old want is actual action on climate change, something this jurisdiction has generally failed to address.
Clearly, climate change is a real and urgent crisis, driven by human activity that impacts the environment, biodiversity, the economy, and human health. NWT residents are feeling the impacts of climate change today, from coastal erosion to wildfires, melting permafrost, heat waves, and other extreme weather events which are projected to intensify in the future. The impacts of climate change are being felt most profoundly in the polar regions of our planet.
The 19th Legislative Assembly has committed to strengthen this government's leadership and authority on climate change and to ensure climate change impacts are specifically considered when making government decisions. At least 473 Canadian jurisdictions, including national, provincial, territorial, municipal, and Indigenous governments, have declared a climate emergency, and over 25 countries around the world have done the same.
It's time that our government declares a climate emergency in the NWT. We are obligated to meet international mission targets under the Paris Agreement, but we will need to make deeper reductions to hold global warming below 2 degrees Celsius, which would result in irreversible damage.
So what would a climate emergency declaration actually do? In many other jurisdictions, a response plan is being developed, just as any other emergency would require, accompanied by concrete actions and expenditure of funds. Later today I will table a draft motion that would result in the declaration of a climate emergency in the Northwest Territories with a requirement for the development of a response plan by January 1, 2021, to be tabled in this House. I welcome any feedback and input from the public and my colleagues on both sides of this House, as I intend to bring back the motion in our next session in 2020. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Members' statements. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.
Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Since coming to the office in this 19th Assembly, I have noticed a number of common issues that people seem to be encountering when dealing with the NWT Housing Corporation. In the multiple housing-related constituency issues I have already begun dealing with, it's become quite apparent that there exist some very noticeable cracks in the infrastructure of the NWT Housing Corporation, which many people, mostly vulnerable populations, are falling through.
I believe part of the reason for this, Mr. Speaker, is that too many of our government policies have become overly prescriptive and are not properly serving the people we're meant to protect and represent.
I have talked to many people how are in need, some in dire need, in cases, of certain housing programs for things like home repairs and renovations, basic home maintenance services, and better outreach when it comes to assisting the elders in applying for housing programs.
Mr. Speaker, our housing programs cannot exist only to serve our bureaucratic needs, but, in my view, that is what they have slowly become, whether we know it and whether we want to acknowledge it or not. Why do these programs exist if our most vulnerable citizens, like elders, low-income people, and young people cannot properly access and make use of them? We need to rethink how we are delivering programs and services through the Housing Corporation. We need to reduce barriers and be more flexible to people's circumstances, and be open to new ideas for ways to improve service delivery.
We also need to look after our elders. They deserve and should live in comfortable and affordable homes.
Mr. Speaker, among the 19th Assembly's mandate items is to increase the number of affordable homes and reduce core housing needs, so, if we want to make good on a commitment like that, we must work to improve aspects of the Housing Corporation wherever it is needed, including the areas I identified today. Our housing policies are outdated and are not working for everyone as they should. This is not sustainable, and we have a duty to change course if something is not working. Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. Members' statements. Member for Thebacha.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to begin by thanking the constituents of Fort Smith for electing me as their MLA. It is an honour to represent my amazing community in this government body, and I will do my best to advocate for the interests and constituents of Fort Smith. Now, without further ado, I am going to jump right into talking about the issues. My statement is directed to the Minister of Education.
Mr. Speaker, historically, Fort Smith has been known as the educational capital of the NWT. Aurora College in the NWT has flourished and grown from the humble beginnings in Fort Smith into now having a presence in almost every community in the Northwest Territories. The question we should be asking is: how do we chart a course which protects jobs in the community and continues to build towards a polytechnic university which benefits all students in the NWT?
Mr. Speaker, along with maintaining the Aurora College Headquarters in Fort Smith, we must develop a plan that continues to grow Aurora College and the academia of a polytechnic university. To date, the plan does not address the real issues. Aurora College is suffering from a lack of enrolment during the transformation to a polytechnic university. Where is the transparent plan for how Aurora College will survive while the transition of a polytechnic university materializes?
Mr. Speaker, Aurora College in Fort Smith has grown from the ground up into its present form and has developed a proven, unique relationship with the culture and traditions of the people of the NWT. Mr. Speaker, I say with conviction that the Headquarters of Aurora College, as well as the future polytechnic university, must remain in Fort Smith, a community which has a proven track record of growing education in the NWT. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Thebacha. Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife Centre.
Masi, Mr. Speaker. Mandate letters for Ministers are a recent innovation in the Northwest Territories. They have been used in the last two Assemblies to detail the actions required to implement the priorities agreed by all 19 Members. It is my hope that the new Premier will continue this practice for her Cabinet and that we will see mandate letters for them soon.
In the meantime, I have written a mandate letter for myself. First, I am grateful to the people who live in Yellowknife Centre for re-electing me to continue my advocacy work. I am here for all of you, determined to make a difference for each of you in the issues you talked about, such as the need for economic diversification, reconciliation with Indigenous people, more affordable housing and electricity, a stronger continuum of education from early childhood development to post-secondary education, and a downtown where everyone feels safe. Your priorities are my priorities.
Cabinet is now working on how these goals will be accomplished. First, I want the finished mandate itself to be as "S.M.A.R.T." as possible, meaning that it includes actions that are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and timely. I want to see an evidence-based approach to measure outcomes. I don't want to see weasel words like "advancing," "capturing," and "expanding." I want to see bold words and ideas that will result in tangible improvements in the most fundamental issues that are holding us back.
Second, I am going to work on these priorities in collaboration with Cabinet. That means I am going to cooperate, yet I must be persuaded that the proposed actions are in the best interests of my constituents. In the last Assembly, the word "collaboration" was drained of meaning as Cabinet and Regular Members worked in segregation. We ended up with an arrangement that was called "consensus" but in fact was hyper-partisan, with government and its allies on one side and the remainder of Regular Members on the other, not all the time but often, especially when we were under pressure to wrap up the business of the 18th Assembly. These were some of our best moments and also our worst, where "compromise" became a dirty word.
Third, my mandate includes holding the government to account. Expect me to ask hard questions and lots of them. Expect me to continue talking about best practices in policy in other jurisdictions and how they could be applied here. Expect me to be as tough on the women in Cabinet as I am on the men. In short, expect me to continue to be an advocate for my constituents, residents of the Northwest Territories, and a champion for all. This is my mandate. Thank you Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Yellowknife Centre. Members' statements. Member for Kam Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On Friday, the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, my mother laid a rose for one of the 14 women engineers murdered on December 6, 1989 in an act of gender-based violence.
As a young woman, my mother wanted to become an architect. She was scolded for wanting to take a man's place in school. When she applied, she was told first she would need to prove she could keep up with the men by completing a Pure Math Degree, a prerequisite not required by her male colleagues. She graduated in Montreal with honours and then from UBC with an architecture degree, again with honours.
When my mother arrived North in the 80s, she was the only female registered architect and spent her career travelling to northern communities as a public servant. Her proudest career moments weren't sitting in front of a drafting table or coordinating a new build. It was sitting in small rooms speaking with people about what a future rec centre, health centre, or school meant to their community. My mother wanted to empower people to take ownership of their community, to take a lead role in having their voices heard. Her career goal was to quietly build people up and pass along the self-determination she had won through her education.
My mother's education was her freedom. It empowered her to make her own way, be creative, and build up community. December 6, 30 years ago changed the lives and awareness of so many women across Canada. For the first time, my mother's education was no longer her freedom. On that day, it made her a target, but it didn't deter her. It strengthened her grip on her education and made her work harder to give others a voice.
Before last week's anniversary, I was asked how we could make what happened 30 years ago relevant today. When women in this room have been told that they have too little or too much family to sit in these seats, we still have work to do. When four out of five female undergraduate students at Canadian universities report date violence, we still have work to do.
When the NWT has the second highest national rate of violence against women, we still have work to do. When our nation needs to pull together a coast-to-coast inquiry for the agonizing legacy of Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls and then still have to demand that its calls for justice be implemented, we still have a lot of work to do.
Ending gender-based violence will take every single one of us: every politician, every public servant, every parent of every child. Changing our story will take every single one of us, now. That is why December 6, 1989 is still relevant today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Kam Lake. Members' statements. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In honour of Human Rights Day, which is also the final day of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence, I would like to read the introduction from the Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, "Reclaiming Power and Place."
Understanding Violence Against Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA People: Indigenous women and girls and 2SLGBTQQIA people in Canada have been a target of violence for far too long.
This truth is undeniable.
The fact that this national inquiry is happening now doesn't mean that Indigenous peoples waited this long to speak up. It means it took this long for Canada to listen.
More than 2,300 Metis people participated in the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, some in more ways than one.
Four hundred and sixty-eight family members and survivors of violence shared their experience and recommendations at 15 community hearings, one here in Yellowknife.
Over 270 family members and survivors shared their stories with us in 147 private or in-camera sessions.
Almost 750 people shared through statement gathering, and 819 people created artistic expressions to become part of the national inquiry's legacy archive.
Another 84 expert witnesses, elders, knowledge keepers, front-line workers, and officials provided testimony in nine institutional, expert, and knowledge-keeper hearings.
The truth in these national inquiry hearings tell the story or, more accurately, the thousands of stories of acts of genocide against First Nations, Inuit, and Metis women and girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA people.
The violence the national inquiry heard amounts to race-based genocide of Indigenous people, including First Nations, Inuit, Metis, which especially targets women and girls and 2SLGBTQQIA people.
This genocide has been empowered by colonial structures, evidenced notably by the Indian Act, Sixties Scoop, residential schools, and breaches of human and Indigenous rights, leading directly to the current increased rates of violence, death, and suicide in Indigenous populations. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes. Members' statements. Member for Hay River South.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am very fortunate to be standing here today, and it is important that I thank the good people from Hay River South for making that happen. It is now up to me to represent each and every one of them fairly in this 19th Legislative Assembly.
Mr. Speaker, prior to and during the election, I would like to acknowledge the support received from my family. That support never wavered since I made the decision to run, and it has not wavered since. The only advice my wife had for me was, "Don't ruin RJ's chance of being elected." She was relieved when he was acclaimed.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my official agent, Jo-Ann Jensen, whose help and hard work is appreciated. With respect to a campaign manager, that position was shared between quite a few people, including Beatrice Lepine, Badgie Courtoreille, Terry Courtoreille, Eileen Gour, Dee-Dee Lepine, Eddie Lepine, John Brockway, Darren Robertson, Rod O'Brien, Danna O'Brien, Abbie Crook, and my family. I thank them for that support.
As well as having all of these people and others volunteer their time, I would be remiss not to mention the 6:30 a.m. coffee crowd at the Ptarmigan Inn, all of whom provided and continue to provide their wisdom to me, which I very much appreciate.
Mr. Speaker, while going door to door, I had Mr. John Brockway as a driver for the 350-plus doors I knocked on. He had me running from house to house, so I lost a few pounds there. It was the door-to-door interaction that I found very enjoyable. I had the opportunity to visit with many old-timers and people that I often wave at in Hay River but never seem to get a chance to talk to. In addition, I met many new residents who provided an inspiring outlook on what Hay River can be.
Mr. Speaker, I do not take the position of Member for Hay River South lightly. Prior to making or voting on any decision during the term of this 19th Legislative Assembly, I will always ask myself, "Is this decision in the best interest on the people I serve?" and will vote accordingly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Members' statements. Member for Deh Cho.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I would like to use my Member's statement today to thank the people of the Deh Cho electoral riding for instilling in me the confidence to represent them as a Member of the Legislative Assembly. The riding consists of the communities of Kakisa, Enterprise, K'atlodeeche, and Fort Providence.
Although I didn't receive a resounding number of votes from the communities in my riding, each and every one will be treated fairly and with the respect they so deserve. Many in these communities are my friends and will continue to be so, including the many new friends I have met on the campaign trail.
Elections always have a way of dividing people, even close relatives and friends. We need to put all that aside now and continue with our daily lives for the betterment of the communities and especially the people, young and old.
I have to give a big shout-out to my family for their unwavering support throughout this campaign, be it encouraging words, financial resources, or the organizing of gatherings. You just can't beat the love of family, especially my grandchildren, in whose eyes I see hope and optimism for the future, the future of which I will be a part of charting. As the Dene elders have always stated, "The children are our future."
I would also like to recognize the many years of service to the Deh Cho riding from the previous Members of the Legislative Assembly. They include Sam Gargan, who served four terms; Michael McLeod, who served three terms; and Michael Nadli, who served two terms. Your contributions have not been forgotten by the people of the Deh Cho riding, and I extend my sincerest gratitude to you all.
I do have big shoes to fill and am up to the challenge, albeit with ongoing support and advice from all the people of the Deh Cho riding. Mahsi.
Thank you, Member for Deh Cho. Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife North.
Along with my colleagues, I would like to recognize that today is World Human Rights Day, which marks the conclusion of The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. After publishing the priorities of this 19th Assembly, it was pointed out by a number of my constituents that any mention of working to address violence against women was missing from the list. This is an omission that I believe this Assembly must rectify. It must be made clear that taking action to end domestic violence and gender-based violence is a priority of this Assembly.
In the throne speech last week, the federal government committed to reconciliation and responding to the calls for justice of the Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. We are living in an Indigenous territory, and we work within a gender-balanced Assembly. We can and should be leading the way on ending gender-based violence. This is a difficult topic to speak about. It is a topic of actual tragedy, and, with some of the worst domestic violence rates in the country, this tragedy is taking place right now.
This is a difficult topic for me to speak about. I find the voice of men is all too often silent on fighting gender-based violence, despite men overwhelmingly being the perpetrators. This silence places an unfair burden on the victims to also be advocates for change. This silence is reinforced by a culture in which too many men and boys are discouraged from speaking with vulnerability, from admitting weakness or sadness or pain. This is a part of the narrative that needs to change. I believe we in this House must not shy away from speaking about the things that are hard to speak about, about the roots of tragedies that are still taking place and about the faults in our systems, in ourselves, and about the desperate need for change, change in a society that disproportionately harms our most vulnerable.
Much of the policy work to enact this change has already been done for us. The Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls calls for justice are addressed specifically to governments. In this report, one of the roadblocks identified was a lack of political will. I am here to say the political will exists in the Northwest Territories. This 19th Assembly is now writing its mandate. Now is the time to commit to implementing the calls for justice in collaboration with all levels of government. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Yellowknife North. Members' statements. Member for Nunakput.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, I want to pay tribute to an important member of our community who reached her 101 years of experience and accomplishments, Ms. Persis Gruben, on her passing.
Persis was born somewhere along the Peel River on October 20, 1918, to Sarah and Liman Koe. Her father Liman passed away when she was three years old, so Reverend Whitaker chose Lenny Iglangasak to be Sarah's husband, even though she was Gwich'in and he was Inuvialuit. He would be a good provider, loving husband, and father. Together they had nine children: five daughters and four boys.
Her father's halfbrother, John Keevik, gave Persis her Inuvialuktun name, Ayounnik. As a young girl, Persis learned Inuvialuktun from her dad because she had to translate conversations with her Inuvialuktun dad and her Gwich'in mother. She taught her mother how to speak Inuvialuktun.
Between 1925 and 1930, Persis and her family lived at Pierce Point, Tom Cod Bay, and at Sachs Harbour. In 1930, Persis went to Anglican residential school at Shingle Point for three years. Later she was tested for her academic level, and she was evaluated to be at grade five.
Her school had no running water, no electricity, no phones, no radios. They did have an outhouse. The older students had to gather and cut driftwood from the beach. Ice and snow were melted for drinking water, cooking, and cleaning. The only music they heard was played on an organ at the church.
Persis' family travelled in the spring, hunting caribou and seal along the coast. At Pierce Point, her dad set nets for char and hunted seal for the dogs. White fox and polar bears were in abundance at Banks Island when they first arrived there. Children were not permitted to play outside because so many polar bears were nearby. There weren't any caribou, only rabbits, seals, and snowy owls. Persis said the snowy owls were fat and tasted like chicken.
Persis married Charlie Gruben in March 1937, in Aklavik's All Saints Anglican Church. Together they had 11 children, six boys and five girls; so many grandchildren and many greatgrandchildren, and she loved each and every one of her babies, grandbabies, and greatgrandbabies.
Persis has shared so much with her family and friends: stories, laughter, artistic ability. I seriously think she had a gravitational force within, because her presence keeps her whole family together. The family loved her so much, and, as a community, we loved her so much, and she showed us her love in return.
We are fortunate and blessed to have shared all of those special moments with Persis, our Nan, mother, grandmother, greatgrandmother, greatgreatgrandmother, aunt, friend, cousin, and sister. She taught her children how to love without judgement and look past a person's outward appearance. She was full of courage, inspiration, wisdom, and gratitude. I wish that we could all live a life like she has, with pride and fortitude.
Persis has given us precious childhood memories that we will cherish for a lifetime. Mr. Speaker, a celebration of life will be held tomorrow at City Hall at 2:00 p.m., and I will be in attendance. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Nunakput. Members' statements. Member for Nahendeh.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, it is an honour for me to stand in the House and speak about the passing of a well-known man from the community of Fort Liard.
Harold Paul Bertrand was born on October 11, 1968, in Fort Liard, to his parents, Francois and Pauline Bertrand. Harold was the third youngest of the family. He passed away on September 24, 2019, with his loving family around him.
Harold was known as a DJ back in his young days. He would get the old community hall just rocking with his music selection. It was funny watching him play music, then get himself on the dance floor, and, before the song was over, he would be back up on the stage, getting ready to play the next song. From what I heard, people loved to watch him dance, as they knew he was in his element on the dance floor.
Harold met the love of his life, Jeannie Edda, and they had two children, Camilla and Cameron Bertrand. Harold loved his children and his granddaughter, Sadika McLeod.
Harold worked at ENR as a firefighter from June 1993 until August 2014. From there, he went to work for Beaver Enterprises, Wolf Trail Slashing Ventures, and Acho Camps and Catering.
He spent a lot of time with his mother and was always humorous. If something was really bothering him, he would address it in a humorous way. Harold liked to go boating with his good friend Brian Hope and his brotherinlaw William at Bouvie Lake. Simply put, he enjoyed being out on the land and being able to provide for his family.
Besides the birth of his children, Harold was honoured to be the best man at his sister Sylvia's wedding this past year.
Harold will be greatly missed by his children, mother, granddaughter, sisters, and brothers.
Mr. Speaker, the Bertrand family would like to thank everybody for all of their support and kindness during their time of sorrow. They appreciated everyone who has been able to attend his funeral. As well, we would like to thank all the medical staff in Fort Liard, Fort Simpson, and Yellowknife.
He will always be in our thoughts and prayers. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Nahendeh. Members' statements. Member for Great Slave.
