Debates of March 4, 2025 (day 50)

March
4
2025
Session
20th Assembly, 1st Session
Day
50
Speaker
Shane Thompson
Word PDF
Members Present
Mr. Edjericon, Hon. Lucy Kuptana, Hon. Jay Macdonald, Hon. Vince McKay, Mr. McNeely, Ms. Morgan, Mr. Morse, Mr. Nerysoo, Ms. Reid, Mr. Rodgers, Hon. Lesa Semmler, Hon. R.J. Simpson, Mr. Testart, Hon. Shane Thompson, Hon. Caroline Wawzonek, Mrs. Weyallon Armstrong, Mrs. Yakeleya
Assembly Members
Topics
Member’s Statement 551-20(1): Accessibility to Primary Healthcare in the Northwest Territories
Member’s Statement 552-20(1): Same-Day Primary Care Services in the Northwest Services
Member’s Statement 553-20(1): Safety of Stanton Territorial Hospital Staff
Member’s Statement 554-20(1): Rent increases in Communities for Northwest Territories Workers
Member’s Statement 555-20(1): Land Leases in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region
Member’s Statement 556-20(1): Getting Ahead Pilot Program in Dehcho First Nations
Member’s Statement 557-20(1): Absenteeism in Northwest Territories Schools
Member’s Statement 558-20(1): Decentralization in the Northwest Territories
Member’s Statement 559-20(1): Condition of Dettah Elementary School Building
Member’s Statement 560-20(1): Indigenous Language Scholarship Winners
Member’s Statement 561-20(1): Paul Stipdonk Memorial Soccer Tournament
Minister’s Statement 107-20(1): Ready for Wildfire 2025
Minister’s Statement 108-20(1): Yellowknife Primary Care Centre Ottawa Model for Smoking Cessation Implementation
Motion 48-20(1): Reappointment of Chief Electoral Officer
Motion 48-20(1): Reappointment of Chief Electoral Officer, Carried
Motion 49-20(1): Compassionate Medical Evacuation Policy
Motion 50-20(1): Appointment of Person to Investigate the Critical Incident of Avery Burke, Wesley Marcellais and Hilary Norwegian
Question 584-20(1): Safety of Stanton Territorial Hospital Staff
Question 585-20(1): Land Leases in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region
Question 586-20(1): Rental Increases in Communities for Government of the Northwest Territories Workers
Question 587-20(1): Access to Primary Healthcare in the Northwest Territories
Question 588-20(1): Accessibility of Primary Care
Question 589-20(1): Condition of Dettah Elementary School
Question 590-20(1): Northwest Territories Response to United States Tariffs
Question 591-20(1): Rental Increases in Communities for Government of the Northwest Territories Workers
Question 592-20(1): Accessibility of Primary Care
Question 593-20(1): Stanton Territorial Hospital Gridlock
Statements

Member’s Statement 559-20(1): Condition of Dettah Elementary School Building

Mr. Speaker, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which passed through the previous Assembly, outlines the right for self-government participation and decision-making and free prior and informed consent for Indigenous people. Article 23 states that the Indigenous people have the right to determine and develop priorities and strategies for exercising the right to develop; in particular, the right to be actively involved in developing and determining health, housing, and other economic and social programs. However, the Department of Infrastructure and ECE continues to not consult with Yellowknives Dene First Nation leadership on the capital needs especially when it comes to upgrading and replacing their aging school and gymnasium.

For example, Dettah Kaw Tay Whee School was built out of four trailers in 1970 and rapidly aging. The gymnasium that supports that school is not attached and is far too small. Dettah students therefore must bus into Yellowknife if they want to get proper exercise and enjoy recreation activities students in Yellowknife have. J.H. Sissons School in Yellowknife, meanwhile, was built around the same time as Dettah school but it was completely demolished and rebuilt just a few years ago. The gymnasium in N'dilo also has been long outgrown and doubled as a community hall. The community has long been calling for a new larger gymnasium to be built so the old facility can be retrofitted into space for community programming. I, and my predecessor, have been working to get this project on to the capital plan to no success. Assessments and evaluations seem to have taken place in the last decade but have not yet amounted to any meaningful progress.

My communities know what's best in their -- what they need for the community but, so far, they have not been listened to. I am now calling on the Minister of Infrastructure to get these projects onto the capital plan to build as soon as possible. I hope to secure a clear commitment from the Ministebr later on today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. Members' statements. Member from Yellowknife South.