Debates of March 11, 2025 (day 53)

March
11
2025
Session
20th Assembly, 1st Session
Day
53
Speaker
Shane Thompson
Word PDF
Members Present
Hon. Caitlin Cleveland, Mr. Edjericon, Mr. Hawkins, 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
Assembly Members
Topics
Bill 22: Legislation Act
Member’s Statement 584-20(1): Environmental Assessment
Member’s Statement 585-20(1): Addressing the Effects of Trauma
Member’s Statement 586-20(1): Primary Healthcare Access
Member’s Statement 587-20(1): Economic Outlook for the Northwest Territories
Member’s Statement 588-20(1): Illegal Drug Activity in Public Housing
Member’s Statement 589-20(1): Arctic Security Council
Member’s Statement 590-20(1): Frostbite 55
Member’s Statement 591-20(1): Junction Lights on Highway 5
Member’s Statement 592-20(1): Aurora College Community Learning Centres
Member’s Statement 593-20(1): Federal Defence Spending in the Northwest Territories
Member’s Statement 594-20(1): Recognition of Gavin Wilkes
Minister’s Statement 114-20(1): Building Resilience Together – Advancing Climate Adaptation in the Northwest Territories
Minister’s Statement 115-20(1): Collaboration with Indigenous Governments
Motion 51-20(1): Affirmative Action Policy
Motion 52-20(1): Strengthening Support for Nurses and Healthcare Workers
Motion 53-20(1): Reappointment of Members to the Human Rights Adjudication Panel
MOTION 53-20(1): Reappointment of Members to The Human Rights Adjudication Panel, Carried
Motion 54-20(1): Extended Adjournment of the House to May 22, 2025
Question 621-20(1): Federal Defence Spending in the Northwest Territories
Question 622-20(1): Committee on Internal Trade
Question 623-20(1): Harm Reduction Supports
Question 624-20(1): Physical Assets of Aurora College Community Learning Centres
Question 625-20(1): Indigenous Employment Policy
Question 626-20(1): Arctic Security Council
Question 627-20(1): Role of Traditional Knowledge in Environmental Assessment Process
Question 628-20(1): Junction Lights on Highways 4 and 5
Question 629-20(1): Primary Care Reform
Question 630-20(1): Status of Caribou Herd Populations
Question 631-20(1): Northwest Territories Nominee Program
Question 632-20(1): Indigenous Employment Policy
Question 633-20(1): Access to Yellowknife Day and Sobering Shelter
Question 634-20(1): Recruitment and Retention of Physicians
Question 635-20(1): Status of Rockhill Housing
Tabled Document 305-20(1): Towards a Basic Income Guarantee in the Northwest Territories: A Proposal to Invest in People for the Common Good – Summary for Policy Makers
Tabled Document 306-20(1): Draft Proposal for Joint Working Group, Terms of Reference
Statements

Question 621-20(1): Federal Defence Spending in the Northwest Territories

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just following up on my Member's statement today. Given the fact that the Premier's noted in a recent story about this engagement of the federal government, I'm asking the Premier what is he doing about the national defence investment money in the Northwest Territories? Thank you.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Member from Yellowknife Centre. Mr. Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Since this was announced about a year ago, I've had numerous meetings with Minister Blair, the Minister of National Defence and with other federal Ministers, and we have -- along with the other northern Premiers, we have been lobbying the federal government to enlarge and advance more quickly their investments in the northern operational support hubs. I believe it was $218 million is the number that was in the original plan, and that was mostly to be spent in the final years of that plan. And so we've been advocating to get that money spent sooner than later. In the meantime, we actually have hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of investments from the Department of National Defence in infrastructure projects in the territory currently underway. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I should mention I forgot to say that MLA for Range Lake was also advocating on this issue too.

So, Mr. Speaker, back to the question at hand. Mr. Speaker, the Premier and I had some conversations in the last sit -- sorry, in the last month about a joint working group. Would he still be interested on creating a joint working group, and I'll table the terms of reference today. I'm curious on his opinion on that with respect to national defence spending.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So I'd have to see those terms of reference and figure out what exactly the Member is talking about in terms of a joint working group, what that would look like, who would be involved, what the subject matter would be, and so on. And so after I see that, I'll be able to speak to the Member about it. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Defence money's good money, Mr. Speaker. And we're spending almost half a million dollars on our super envoy who will be living or working in Ottawa from time to time. That said, I'm asking is the -- is this individual on this file to help get defence investment in the Northwest Territories?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We're using all the tools at our disposal. Thank you.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Mr. Premier. Oral questions. Member from the Sahtu.