[English translation not available.]
Please be seated. [Translation] Thank you. I am very, very happy that it is a brand new winter that we're starting, and all the others who will be sitting here. That's the reason why I'm glad that the people are here, and I'm hoping that it will be okay with everybody.
It's a new year, and we have a lot of new things to be working on, especially for the Northwest Territories, and you guys are all working for them. I wish that your session will be a good outcome, with personal balance with work for each of you. [End of translation].
I am honoured to welcome you all back. I trust you all had a wonderful festive season with your loved ones.
As we enter a new decade, we begin our work for the people of the Northwest Territories. Your work can be challenging, but working together as a team will ensure you make the best decisions.
I wish you a productive session with good outcomes and personal balance with life and work for each of you.
I am very pleased to be opening this session of Canada’s first and only gender-balanced Legislative Assembly, led by Canada’s only sitting female Premier.
This may also be one of the youngest Legislative Assemblies to have been elected in the Northwest Territories in recent memory, and it is the second Assembly in a row to have more first-time Members than returning Members.
It is clear in looking around this room that the people of the Northwest Territories voted for change during the last election.
The Government of the Northwest Territories is committed to delivering the change that our people have called for, as well as ensuring their voices are heard throughout the life of this government.
During this session, the government will be tabling its 2019-2023 mandate. This document will present the government’s plan for advancing the priorities agreed to by all Members of the Legislative Assembly.
Our plan puts people first and recognizes that government succeeds when we support the success of every person in the territory. It is a holistic plan that takes into account the physical, social, wellness, and employment needs of residents.
We know that people need a strong and secure foundation on which to grow, beginning with the basics of food, shelter, and health.
To address the need for shelter, we will work with stakeholders to increase the number of quality, energy-efficient, and affordable housing units and put a stronger focus on community home-ownership opportunities.
We will support seniors to stay in their homes and communities by providing increased access to housing programs, increasing the Home Heating Subsidy, and establishing a community grant program for senior supports. We will also take action to protect seniors from abuse or neglect and create a separate income assistance program tailored to seniors and persons with disabilities.
We will increase food security by implementing regulatory and program changes to support locally produced and marketed foods. We will work with Indigenous and community governments to support community greenhouses, gardens, and country food harvesting. As well, we will work with applicable governments to define community solutions to the Nutrition North Program.
To improve the health of NWT residents, we will work with our employees and partners to strengthen our healthcare recruitment strategy and implement comprehensive labour force planning.
We will also work with communities to increase the availability of e-health, traditional, on-the-land, and other proven approaches to mental wellness and addictions recovery.
We will improve wellness supports, including increasing peer-support programming, providing transitional housing for those returning from addiction treatment, and establishing medical detox and managed alcohol programming.
We will also strengthen community counselling services by providing standardized screening and assessment tools, improving employee training opportunities, and reducing wait times for accessing counselling.
As well as taking care of basic needs, we need to support residents, businesses, Indigenous and community governments so they have the tools to succeed.
To increase early childhood development, we will ensure better coordination of services and streamline funding to support community-based parenting and early childhood development programming.
We will develop a 10-year universal childcare strategy and increase child care spaces by providing non-government organizations with retrofit funding, amend policies to allow licensed childcare in public housing, and better utilize our own government infrastructure for early childhood program space.
An increase in childcare space will require more workers, so we will increase support for NWT students who wish to pursue qualified childcare programming.
We will support educational success by modernizing the Education Act and education funding framework. We will ensure distance learning is available in all small communities and pilot a classroom assistant training program. We will implement programming to assist schools and parents make decisions together about student placements and social passing, and we will continue to transform Aurora College into an accredited and independent polytechnic university.
Our government also recognizes that people want and deserve to have employment opportunities. Good jobs and meaningful work provides people with both the means to support themselves and their families, as well as a sense of accomplishment and pride.
We will increase economic diversification and employment in small communities by developing regional economic development plans, increasing the number of journeypersons and apprentices in small communities, advancing the knowledge economy, and expanding tourism throughout the NWT. As well, we will change policies to allow licensed home businesses in public housing units, mentor entrepreneurs, and support community-led maker-spaces.
This government will support local businesses and encourage entrepreneurship by reducing red tape and regulatory burdens. We will also ensure that more benefits from government spending stay in the North by strengthening our procurement policies like the Business Incentive Policy, Northern Manufactured Products Policy, and our approach to public-private partnerships.
We will promote local competition by increasing awareness of GNWT contracting opportunities, actively encouraging NWT businesses to apply for BIP status, and developing a one-stop shop for vendors online.
As well, we will take action to improve the environment for resource development, which is still the biggest sector of the NWT economy, and make sure NWT residents are benefiting from it as much as they can.
We will do this by collaborating with Indigenous governments to develop and implement regional mineral strategies, increase resource exploration and development, increase funding for mining incentive programs, and look for new ways to support advanced projects. As well, we will assess the feasibility of local gas supply projects and the export of liquefied natural gas.
To ensure NWT residents enjoy a fair share of the benefits of development, we will a conduct an independent comparison review of our royalty and taxation regimes and socio-economic agreements. We will meet annually with senior officials of NWT mines to review the results and utilize the recommendations in future agreements.
We also understand people need a sense of belonging and the stability of strong, affordable communities, and a clean environment to thrive.
That is why our government will respect and strengthen the ability of communities and regions to make their own decisions, based on their own needs and priorities, including empowering our own regional staff.
We will settle treaty, land, resources, and self-government agreements by working with facilitators and engaging directly on a leader-to-leader basis. We will establish a special joint committee on Indigenous reconciliation between Cabinet and Regular Members of the Legislative Assembly and review the principles and interests that inform our negotiating mandates.
With Indigenous governments, we will also create an action plan that identifies changes required in GNWT legislation and policies to best reflect the principles set out in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People.
This government will also take steps to increase the resiliency of communities, support their capacity, and help make them affordable places to live.
We will do this by reducing the municipal funding gap, refining our funding models, exploring opportunities for community governments to raise additional revenue, and reducing or stabilizing the cost of delivering core programs and services.
Reducing the cost of power remains a priority, as does reducing our reliance on diesel for generating community power. We know that in many cases moving to greener energy costs the system more money, not less, when we have to keep diesel as a backup. We will look to long-term solutions, including connecting more communities to existing hydro systems.
We will also work with partners and stakeholders to target energy conservation and efficiency programs for small and remote communities where the costs of energy are highest and the need is greatest.
As well, we will create a stronger and more affordable territory through strategic infrastructure investments that connect communities, expand the economy and reduce the cost of living. This will include advancing projects like the Mackenzie Valley Highway, the Slave Geological Province Corridor, and Taltson Hydro Expansion. We will also invest in fast and reliable broadband internet services for communities and modernize our airport infrastructure.
Finally, because the land is the life and the source of wellbeing and security for NWT residents, our government will do more to ensure that our environment is conserved and protected and we will ensure climate change impacts are considered when making government decisions.
We will also establish a Northwest Territories Climate Change Council, bringing together our government with Indigenous and community governments, MLAs, and other partners to strengthen our leadership and authority on climate change.
This is an ambitious agenda aimed at responding to the needs of people and making sure all residents are able to succeed and thrive. We know it will take more than four years to reach some of our goals, but we are committed to beginning the work now and encouraging future governments to continue it.
During this session, the Government of the Northwest Territories will also be introducing the following bills for consideration by the House:
Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures), 2020-2021;
Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2019-2020;
Supplementary Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures), No. 4, 2019-2020; and
Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 1, 2020-2021.
The government considers these bills essential to the good conduct of government business and as such, I recommend their passage.
As your Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, I now declare open the 2nd session of the 19th Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories.
Thank you, merci beaucoup, mahsi cho, quanani, koana.
On behalf of all Members of this House, I would like to thank Commissioner Thom for opening the 2nd session of the 19th Legislative Assembly. It is always an honour to have you join us in this House. I would also like to thank Ms. Lillian Elias for leading us in the prayer, and Brie O'Keefe for singing our national anthem today.
Colleagues, I am pleased to welcome you to the opening of the 2nd session of the 19th Legislative Assembly. Since we last met in this House, I know we have all been busy in our constituencies, with our committees, and with the ongoing work of the government. I hope that you were also able to find time to connect with family and friends and to energize yourselves for the hard work ahead of us.
Although the days may be long and we will not always see eye-to-eye, I am looking forward to this session. The debates, discussions, and decisions that take place in this House have a direct impact on all people throughout this territory.
As Members of this Legislative Assembly, I know that you will all continue to work diligently to make informed decisions. These decisions, the choices that we make as legislators, allow us to improve the lives of our residents and create a prosperous future for our people.
Colleagues, while in this House, I ask that you conduct yourselves with the utmost respect for one another, this House, our rules, and our unique form of consensus government. As Speaker, I will do my best to demonstrate a positive example of the level of decorum and respect that I expect from each of you.
I also want to recognize a milestone for the Legislative Assembly. During this sitting we will be providing interpretation into all official languages. Our official languages are vital to the culture and history of this territory, and I am proud of the efforts we have undertaken to make better use of our languages. I want to take a moment to thank our interpreters and the staff who have worked to make this possible.
Before we begin, I want to extend the condolences of the House to all Members, constituents, and families throughout the territory who have experienced the loss of loved ones since this House last sat. Thank you.
We'll start with our orders of the day. Item 3, Ministers' statements. Minister of Health and Social Services.
Minister's Statement 1-19(2):
2019 Novel Coronavirus Update
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I rise to provide an update to Northerners on the 2019 novel coronavirus. I would like to assure residents that, at this time, the risk of contracting this virus is low in the Northwest Territories.
Since the coronavirus was first reported in the Hubei Province of China, our government and the federal government have moved quickly to ensure we are prepared. Our public health and emergency preparations are well underway and we hope to continue to monitor the situation as it develops.
I would like to fill Members in on the preparations we've been undertaking, as I know that the anxiety level about this outbreak has increased in our communities.
Our Chief Public Health Officer is providing leadership to our health emergency planners and senior management within the Health and Social Services system to ensure our communities and our frontline staff are ready should the coronavirus be suspected or confirmed in the Northwest Territories. The Office of the Chief Public Health Officer and health emergency officials are constantly in touch with their federal, provincial, and territorial counterparts to ensure the sharing of timely and accurate information.
I am sure Members and residents are curious as to what specific preparations we have completed to date, and if we are prepared to handle possible cases in the NWT.
It is important to remind everyone that we've been here before. We have learned a great deal from the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic; the 2003 outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, also known as SARS; and the ongoing surveillance of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, known as MERS. Similar to the current outbreak, these events have required international coordination and response, as well as preparations here within the Northwest Territories. As with these other events, there is no vaccine; instead, the approach is to prevent the spread of the coronavirus using the best practices in public health.
This is vital in order to rapidly identify people who might be sick and apply appropriate precautions in healthcare settings and communities. Our Chief Public Health Officer and her office is participating in daily briefings with her federal, provincial, and territorial counterparts to get the latest information to inform clinical information for frontline staff. Internal alerts are sent to frontline staff to ensure their personal protective equipment is ready, testing protocols are defined, necessary infection control measures are being practiced, and health facilities are ready to respond in the event that a person in the Northwest Territories develops symptoms concerning novel coronavirus infection.
We also have a responsibility to communicate to our residents, Indigenous and community governments, schools, tourist operators, daycare centres, and businesses. Mr. Speaker, these stakeholders were provided the most current information on hand, along with public education materials for them to share with their stakeholders. As this situation is rapidly evolving, we are committed to providing the most current information through the Department of Health and Social Services website.
We have also started a general communication campaign through social media and traditional media, including newspapers and radio ads to raise awareness about the virus. This includes preventive steps residents can take to protect themselves and their loved ones. The advice will sound very familiar, as it is similar to what we recommend for the flu, such as staying home if you're sick and contacting your local public health unit or health centre if you have any symptoms of concern. Also, the importance of regular hand-washing, the use of hand sanitizers, and healthy respiratory practices cannot be emphasized enough, especially since we have other infectious diseases circulating in our communities, including the flu and whooping cough, or pertussis. These practices will help reduce the spread of these illnesses.
Travellers from places of known activity of this coronavirus, particularly the Hubai Province of China, are being provided information at their international points of entry into Canada to self-monitor. We know that residents of the Northwest Territories travel internationally for both business and pleasure. It is important that residents pay special attention to travel advisories issued by the federal government. This information is routinely updated on the Government of Canada's website under Travel Advice and Advisories. This link is found on our department's website, including direct reference on our coronavirus section.
Mr. Speaker, as this situation evolves, our thoughts are with China as they continue to take extraordinary efforts to contain this epidemic. Our thoughts are also with Canadian individuals and families who have been impacted by these events directly or indirectly. The Northwest Territories will continue to monitor and assess this dynamic situation and be a part of the national action to ensure we are prepared as a healthcare system and as a government. Thank You, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Ministers' statements. Honourable Premier.
Minister's Statement 2-19(2):
Minister Absent from the House
Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise Members that the honourable Paulie Chinna will be absent from the House today and tomorrow to attend meetings in Ottawa, Ontario. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Honourable Premier. Ministers' statements. Item 4, Members' statements. Member for Monfwi.
Member's Statement on
Indigenous Language Teachers
Masi, Mr. Speaker.
[Translation] Mr. Speaker, February is Indigenous Languages month. The NWT is unique in that we have 11 official languages – nine of which are Indigenous. I am proud to be a fluent speaker of one of these languages.
Today I would like to acknowledge the Indigenous language teachers in our communities. In the Tlicho region there are currently 17 Tlicho language teachers in our schools with a wealth of knowledge and experience. According the TCSA,
In WhaTi: Marie Nitsiza, 23 years teaching; Diane Romie, 22 years as a Tlicho language specialist.
In Wekweeti: Ceci Judas, 6 years as a teacher.
In Behchoko: Terri Douglas, 13 years teaching; Philip Mackenzie, 19 years promoting language and culture; Rosa Mantla, 28 years teaching and serving in Tlicho language;Therese Mantla, 23 years teaching Tlicho language and culture; Tammy Steinwand Deschambeault, 27 years teaching and serving in Tlicho language; Josie Bishop, 22 years teaching Tlicho language; Alestine Mantla, 18 years teaching; Cecilia Zoe-Martin, 28 years teaching; Cecilia Migwi, 23 years teaching; Lafi Shuck, 9 years teaching; Donna Camsell, 1 year teaching; Melissa Mantla, 8 years teaching; Victoria Drybones, 5 years teaching; Lucy Lafferty, 34 years teaching and leading in Tlicho language; Ernestine Steinwand, 45 years teaching Tlicho language and culture. [Translation ends]
Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement.
---Unanimous consent granted
Masi, Mr. Speaker. In addition to these amazing warriors fighting to promote and preserve our language, there are also 25 classroom support assistants in Tlicho schools who speak the Tlicho language, as well as instructors who support community initiatives.
I would like to acknowledge all of the interpreters and translators here in this House and in all of the communities for their important work.
Mr. Speaker, most importantly, I would like to acknowledge all those who speak their language and are still learning their language. Our language is an integral part of our culture and who we are. Masi to all those who are keeping this language alive. Masi.
Mahsi, Member for Monfwi. Members' statements. Member for Kam Lake.
Member's Statement on
Interconnectedness of Priorities set by the Legislative Assembly
Mr. Speaker, every priority this Assembly has set is interconnected and interdependent. This means our challenges are connected and our stories are converging. We must ask: how does inadequate housing in Tlicho communities drive the affordability of housing in Yellowknife? How does the trend of centralized government services impact economies and empowerment in small communities and regional centres? How does the lack of skilled workers across the territory increase our cost of doing business?
Members repeatedly say we are only as strong as our weakest community. We are all reliant on the success of every Northerner. Everyone wins, and it is not a zero-sum game. We are in this together, and no one should be left behind. Our system relies on trust, empathy, generosity, and a common desire for all of us to succeed and thrive in healthy communities.
Mr. Speaker, over the next two months, I will speak to all parts of this system, starting with housing, then healthy families, healthy economy, sustainable lands, and community empowerment.
The government is a human system, driven by purpose. If our collective purpose is healthy communities, what are the indicators that paint the picture of what success looks like? Achieving healthy communities relies on many components of the system working together. People need affordable, accessible, safe housing to have healthy families. Our healthy families nurture knowledge, and knowledgeable people feed our healthy economy through meaningful contributions and retained labour and resource benefits. This all feeds into socially and environmentally sustainable care for our land and community empowerment through a recognized right to self-determination and control over land, culture, language, and community-based decision making.
Our role is to raise the North up, to create a learning system that sustains and inspires itself. Underpinning each part of our system, Mr. Speaker, is connectedness, relationships, and democratic participation. We can't change the North by standing here and telling people what they need. We need to listen. Every Northerner must have a voice on the direction of policies and processes, attracting economic development, promoting the North as an incredible place to visit and live, and in healing the deep wounds caused by residential schools, systemic racism, and colonialism, a destructive way of thinking from which we all must heal.
I look forward to discussing this with Members, each of whom brings a valuable perspective to the whole system. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Kam Lake. Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife Centre.
Member's Statement on
Aurora College Change in Leadership
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. It's difficult to make progress toward a goal when project leadership turns over frequently and suddenly. Such is the case with the transformation of Aurora College into a polytechnic university, a project that I support.
In 2017, the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment dismissed the board of directors of Aurora College and replaced them with an administrator. In 2018, the college's president resigned, following a foundational review of the college. The review set the scene for revamping the college by hiring a new president, who would also serve as assistant deputy minister of post-secondary education renewal. Now, the wheels have come off that bus and another new college president has been appointed. I thought that we had entered a period of stable leadership at the college, but I am mistaken. Each year brings its own new leadership.
It's worth remembering, Mr. Speaker, that the GNWT hired a southern head-hunting firm to collect resumes for the president's job. GNWT made the decision to hire Dr. Tom Weegar a year ago. He came with the relevant education and work experience to begin the transformation, the Minister said.
During our last sitting, the current ECE Minister indicated the work was on track, including establishment of an academic advisory council and broad consultation to develop a three-year strategic plan; and here we are, two months later, with another change, a change with no public explanation. This time, however, there was no cross-Canada search for a new president. Instead, there was a quick promotion of an assistant deputy minister of ECE. We haven't been told what his qualifications are for the job. We are left to wonder if he has the relevant qualifications and, if so, why wasn't he appointed to this role in the first place?
Mr. Speaker, I have two other concerns. The first is that the Aurora College Foundational Review made the case for the college's independence from the department. It's hard to see how this goal will be met when the president has been hired from within the department. At the very least, there is the perception that the college and the department continue to work hand in glove, to our detriment.
The second concern is that the president is expected to do two jobs, the other as ADM of post-secondary education. Given the concern I just raised, I wonder if it is feasible to have one person doing both. I will have questions for the Premier. Mahsi.
Thank you, Member for Yellowknife Centre. Members' statements. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.
Member's Statement on
Legal Aid in Beaufort-Delta
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to talk about legal aid. In 2016, it was decided by the government at the time that budget cuts needed to happen, according to a CBC article that I found, which stated: "The budget proposes closing the town's legal aid office, which specializes in family law, and moving the sole lawyer position from Inuvik to Yellowknife. The office's administrative worker position would be eliminated." Mr. Speaker, that did happen.
Since being elected, I have heard from my constituents that, once applying for legal aid, they wait months for a family law lawyer. That would be for cases that include custody and child maintenance. The response I received from the Minister when I asked why this was taking so long, and I quote: "There are many variables that can affect wait times in family law matters, including vacancies in staff lawyer positions, the reluctance of private lawyers to take on legal aid family law files, and the volume of applications."
Currently, two of the seven staffed family law positions at the Legal Aid Commission are vacant, which has unfortunately led to an increased wait time. It was also stated in the letter that urgent matters such as child apprehension files and files involving domestic violence or matters already before the court are assigned on a priority basis. The current wait time for the assignment of a family law lawyer to approve the applicant is approximately seven months for non-urgent family law matters. Mr. Speaker, these wait times are unacceptable to have a lawyer assigned to them, especially for custody and maintenance, which the wait times have been longer as they are considered nonurgent. If you're living in that situation, to those people, it's urgent. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes. Members' statements. Member for Hay River South.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to congratulate and recognize Max and Julia Trennert, who are celebrating their 59th wedding anniversary.
Max was in Inuvik 60 years ago, working as a surveyor while mapping the community of Inuvik. Julia was a student at the time. According to their daughter, Brendalynn, her dad the site surveyor was also managing the Mackenzie Hotel when he first met Julia. It was love at first sight. Mr. Speaker, Max and Julia were married on February 5, 1960, in Inuvik, where the first of their three children were born, Brett Fraser, Spence, and Maxime. From Inuvik, they moved to Fort Simpson where their fourth child, Brendalynn, who we all know, was born.
Mr. Speaker, Max and Julia then relocated close to Kakisa, where they owned and operated a gas station in K'agee. Max and Julia eventually moved to Hay River, where they retired and have lived for the past 15 years.
Mr. Speaker, it is also important to note that Max is one of the original men who became a wildlife officer in the NWT, where he covered off the area of the Nahendeh, the Deh Cho, and the South Slave. Julia was a full-time stay-at-home mom and raised a family she was proud of. She was well known for her artistry when it comes to tuftings. Max and Julia now have four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Brendalynn says they are still very much in love with each other and very much cherish the family they were blessed with. I wish them all the best in this special day and look forward to visiting them when I'm back in Hay River. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Members' statements. Member for Frame Lake.
Merci, Monsieur le President. In the last Assembly, I made over ten statements on the caribou crisis. It's now an emergency, and all our government has done is some planning, restrict harvest, fund some research and increase the wolf bounty.
On October 4, 2019, the Wek'eezhii Renewable Resources Board released its decisions on Tlicho Government and GNWT joint management proposal for the Bathurst caribou herd. Here are a couple of short quotes:
"The Board notes that there are no dates for implementation of Bathurst Caribou Range Plan Policies, nor is there any framework or timelines to judge how or when the plan is expected to contribute to Ekwo recovery."
"There should be an urgency to the implementation of the range plan as two of the five range assessment areas require enhanced management responses to address increased levels of disturbance."
The Wek'eezhii Renewable Resources Board also said: "The joint proposal indicates clearly to the WRRB that the need for habitat protection is now urgent. In addition, the abandoning of traditional calving grounds may be further evidence of the need for protection and limiting of disturbance."
There have been several traditional knowledge studies and other work that has identified key habitat for the Bathurst caribou herd, including their calving grounds. Key habitat lies on both sides of the NWT-Nunavut boundary. Progress on habitat protection has been glacial at best. The transboundary agreement with the Government of Nunavut has been discussed for years, with no end in sight. The latest joint management proposal for enhanced wolf removal, including aerial shooting, was submitted to the Wek'eezhii Renewable Resources Board on July 31, 2020, but still there's nothing on habitat protection.
I will have questions later today for the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources about when this government is going to get serious about a comprehensive and balanced approach to the Bathurst caribou emergency and finally do something about habitat protection. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Building on my colleague's statement regarding the recent firing of the president of Aurora College, I would like to speak today about the importance of academic freedom.
This past week, a number of MLAs met with Dechinta University, an example of what a thriving and inspiring university can look like in the North. Fundamental to their success and in establishing a successful grant and research programming with funding from the federal government has been academic freedom. In order for a university to thrive, it must be nimble, it must be able to move quickly, and it must be able to be critical of government. I am very skeptical that Aurora College is in a position to do that now and on the path that we are going forward will take it there.
It saddens me that Aurora College is one of the most costly colleges to run in the country and one of the least successful. However, I think this reality should be recognition on all our parts that we can do better. I want Aurora College to inspire. I want the residents of Fort Smith to be excited, yet, repeatedly, when I have conversations about this, there is a lack of enthusiasm. I think people are scared.
Now, we have a president leading this transformation who is a former bureaucrat. I do not believe that is the right path to head down if we truly want to create a northern university that is inspiring, that will meet the demands of our citizens, and will lead us into the future. I will have questions for the Minister of ECE. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Yellowknife North. Members' statements. Member for Deh cho.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the residents of the Northwest Territories are faced with many challenges in everyday life. People are faced with low to no employment, evictions from housing, soaring grocery prices, and the ever-increasing costs of living. People have to pay rent, power, and utility bills. The introduction of the carbon tax certainly did not quell the ever-increasing costs of living but is a major contributor to the problem.
Mr. Speaker, heating fuel may not be taxed, but this does not stop the fuel suppliers from raising their prices as they see fit. Mr. Speaker, when I look at my power bill, I note that a fuel charge is levied along with the power supply charge. When the price of fuel goes up, so does my power bill.
Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Minister responsible for the Public Utilities Board at the appropriate time. Mahsi.
Thank you, Member for Deh Cho. Members' statements. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.
Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to talk about the saddening treatment that a few of my constituents experience when it comes to mobility access. Recently, I had a constituent in particular who had been lobbying the government for quite some time in an effort to build a wheelchair ramp for their home. This constituent is an elder, and I find it very upsetting that she and others like her struggle to find assistance from our government departments. What was further disturbing was the lack of a department to take the reins and help. There's a lot of back and forth and denial, which really saddened me.
Mr. Speaker, I just find these situations very frustrating because help is within reach for cases like these, but bureaucratic barriers at almost every step of the way seem to prevent assistance from being delivered.
Mr. Speaker, our government departments across the board need to re-evaluate service delivery when it comes to elders, especially elders with mobility issues. It was said dozens of times in past Assemblies that allowing elders to age in place and keeping them in their own homes for as long as possible has been a priority for everybody. However, as it stands today, I am having trouble believing that statement. This is a new government, and we have a new Premier and a new Cabinet. I realize there is room for changes to be made in this area.
Mr. Speaker, mobility issues affect some of the most vulnerable populations we serve. Hopefully, we as a government can deliver top-notch services wherever they are needed, regardless of the department.
Being raised by a great-grandmother, I know if I ever got out of line, she would give me a good ear twisting, a good earful. I would like to speak on behalf of my great-grandmother, and let's get it together and do what we can to help our elders. Mahsi cho.
Thank you, Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. Members' statements. Member for Nahendeh.
Member's Statement on
Eulogy for Stella Krause
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Stella Tsetso was born in Fort Simpson, April 27, 1965. Stella was 54 years old when her Creator called her home. Her parents were George Cli and Annie Tsetso.
Stella was raised at two islands in the bush and came to the community of Fort Simpson when she was very young and spent the rest of her life in the service of others.
Stella was a powerful, silent presence of love, compassion, volunteerism, and community connection. Stella lived a simple life and focused primarily on her children and grandchildren. She was extremely close to each of them. Stella continuously gave of her time and volunteered for many events, always humbly giving and donating food of all kinds. Stella never wanted to be recognized or given credit, and she was content to give with a loving heart and always willing to share. Her generosity was felt throughout the Deh Cho. Stella was well-known and had many relatives in Tulita, Nahanni Butte, Jean Marie River, Fort Simpson, Sambaa K'e, and Wrigley.
Stella's legacy is found in her eight children, five girls and three boys, along with her sons-in-law and daughters-in-law. Stella was blessed with 14 beautiful, vibrant grandchildren, whom she loved very deeply.
Stella was not only the foundation of her family but was the cornerstone of each of her children's life. She taught her children the importance of loving, supporting one another through each celebration and the challenges they faced. Stella will be deeply and dearly missed by her long-term and devoted life partner, Randy Hetchenelle.
Stella would be proud to know that, throughout the heartache of losing the pillar of their lives, her children have remained close-knit and extremely supportive, loving one another through this incredible, life-changing event.
Stella was an amazing, talented, traditional sewer and was well-known for all her traditional crafts. Her bead work was impeccable. She took pride sewing for each of her children and grandchildren mukluks, mittens, slippers, hair barrettes, and moosehide gloves, each piece crafted with love and devotion.
With Stella's passing, she left a void that will not be filled. Her legacy of love, friendship, family commitment, and devotion to the family will live on in her children and grandchildren alike.
Lastly, Stella was known for her bannock, a secret family recipe that only her daughter Lisa knows how to make exactly like her mom's.
Thank you, Stella, for being the amazing woman that you were. Thank you for your children and grandchildren. Thank you for leaving your imprint on our lives and our communities. We will sadly miss you forever and always. Thank you.
Thank you, Member for Nahendeh. Members' statements. Member for Nunakput.
Member's Statement on
Eulogy for Aida Egotak
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, I would like to pay my respects to Aida Egotak. Thoughts and prayers for her husband, Mark, and her daughter, Helena, and the rest of the family. She passed away in Ulukhaktok. Thoughts and prayers for Elsie and Joseph and the rest of the family.
Also, I would like to pass on regards to Arnold Archie, to my Aunty Barbara, Dorthey, Marth, Elvira, Peter, Bessie, Charlie and Gorge and Wilbert. Thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Whoever lost loved ones in the past few months, Mr. Speaker, thoughts and prayers are with the families from Nunakput. Thank you.
Thank you, Member for Nunakput. We send our condolences, as well, from the House. Members' statements. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Nahendeh.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize two individuals here; first, my CA, Deborah Richards. She is back, and I am very thankful for having her back here. As well, Father Daley, who has now moved to Yellowknife, but he was our priest in Fort Simpson. Thank you and welcome here.
I'd like to recognize Father Daley. He is one of my constituents or Great Slave. Thank you.
Thank you, Member for Great Slave. Member for Inuvik Boot Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to acknowledge my CA, as well, Arlene Hanson. Thank you for being here with us.
Thank you, Member for Boot Lake. Member for Kam Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to welcome Sarah and Charles Kalnay-Watson. As a footnote, it is also Charles' 40th birthday, and he has chosen to spend it here with us. All the best on your 40th while you jump right in.
Thank you and happy birthday. Member for Hay River South.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize and welcome my constituent assistant, Leanne, I want to say "Jameson," but Campbell. Hopefully, she is enjoying her time here in Yellowknife. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Member for Great Slave.
I am not doing very well at this. I would also like to recognize my CA, Colleen O'Connor, and my constituent Cathy Olsen, who are also in the gallery. Thank you.
Thank you, Member for Great Slave. Honourable Premier.
The Member for Great Slave took my glory. I want to recognize my CA, Cathy Olsen, who is in the gallery. Thank you
