Colleagues, on April 19, 2024, Laura Gareau retired from the GNWT. Unfortunately, I was not able to congratulate her in person. I heard it was a very enjoyable event and a few laughs were had.
Colleagues, Laura's public service career started with the Government of Manitoba, right after she graduated from University of Manitoba with a Master's of Public Administration. After a period with the Government of Manitoba, she decided to take an adventure and moved to the Northwest Territories. It was not going to be a permanent move but like most folks that move up North, she fell in love with the city, her new friends, and working for the Government of Northwest Territories.
I am happy to say that she had a varied and successful 25year career with the GNWT. Laura started as an FMB analyst going on to work in seven different departments and eventually become deputy minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. In all those roles, Laura had modelled the characteristics of a true public servant through her commitment to improving the lives of NWT residents and activities of our communities while balancing those objectives that need to be accountable to the public. She has reminded us of the importance of speaking truth to power, as well as the role of public servants to implement the mandate and priorities of the government that we all serve.
During our time working together, we were able to get done a lot done in two and a half years. Just to name a few, the EMO, DFAA, completing the municipal funding pots in the 19th Assembly even though it was set for the 20th. Oh, and how I forgot the two years of floods and last year's wildfires season when we had to evacuate 11 communities which was over 70 percent of our residents.
As I said, we had a few laughs which I would like to share one with you here today. After the 2021 flood, the DM and Laura spent weeks trying to come up with a plan on how they were going to convince me to move five regional Sport North positions to EMO positions. They even spoke to my MSA to see how I would react to this idea. I still remember how they both looked after presenting the idea to me, and I agreed with them. It was like the Ikea commercial, remember when the wife comes running out of the store telling her husband to start the car before the Ikea could change their mind about the stuff they sold her.
Colleagues, before I close, I have part of the speech done by the ADM at her retirement party that I would like demeaned read and printed in the Hansard.
In closing, I would like to thank her for all her service and improvements for our residents' life. I wish her all the best on her next adventures. Thank you.
(Deemed Read)
Laura is also known for her commitment to excellence. Over her long career, Laura has been recognized as a high achiever who likes to "get things done". She sets high expectations for her team, but also for herself. Laura brings a strong policy lens and exemplary critical thinking and analytical skills, as well as a commitment to improving processes and striving for excellence to every project she has worked on.
She spearheaded several major policy and functional changes in the GNWT, including the "New Deal", the transformation of the health and social services system, including the establishment of the NWT Health and Social Services Authority and oversight of the evaluation report of the Education Renewal and Innovation Initiative. More recently, at MACA she also undertook the first comprehensive review of the Disaster Assistance Program in 26 years and updated both the Disaster Assistance Policy and the NWT Emergency Plan, which will be released publicly on Monday.
Laura's time at MACA has been marked by three consecutive years of the most challenging natural disaster events in the NWT's history. Through all of this, Laura really has kept a steady hand on the helm and never wavered from her commitment to achieving the best results possible. Few know how hard she has worked to support the GNWT, community governments, and all of the residents of the NWT to get through these emergency events.
Finally, I think we all know that Laura is committed to enjoying life and we have all benefitted from the good humour she brought to our everyday working life over the past few years. Laura has an infectious laugh and can see the funny side of most situations. Even at the bleakest of times, she has made us laugh. Her sense of humour has helped set the tone and got all of us collectively through some really tough times, especially over the past year.
On a personal note, I have to say how much I have enjoyed working so closely with you these past few years.
I have learned so much from you and really appreciated all of your insight, advice and support. We accomplished a lot but, most of all, we had a lot of fun. Thank you for everything and I wish you many happy years of adventures and personal fulfillment. Enjoy your retirement.
