Frieda Martselos

Mr. Chair, I move that this committee recommends that the Department of Education, Culture and Employment bring forward a plan to better support schools in small communities to ensure students across the territories have an equitable learning experience, and, further, that the department work with district education authorities to minimize the impacts of differing school calendars on northern distance learning. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Chair, I move this committee recommends that the Department of Education, Culture and Employment include Indigenous language proficiency when hiring positions in the Indigenous Language and Education Secretariat. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Speaker, I've spoken several times about the importance of what the Taltson Hydro Expansion represents for the future of the NWT. I speak passionately and frequently about this issue for a number of reasons. Primarily, it is a great opportunity for the NWT economy and all people of the NWT. This project is of great importance because it will bring the NWT into a prime state of development for the future growth of the diamond industry, mineral industry, nonrenewable and renewable industry, and is a green energy project at the highest level.

Mr. Speaker, in the eyes of some, this project is...

I don't have any other comments. I hope that people understand compassion, though.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I think once we start opening up and going back to somewhat normal, you know, I do not want to discourage travel. I think that face to face and some of these contacts that could have been made during these past two years with our new Cabinet and Premier must take place, and along with the MLAs on this side. It's extremely important that contact is of great value to any government, and I don't want to lose sight of that when you start deducting all travel, okay. Because, I mean, there has to be some travel. You know, there's things that we expect the ITI Minister to go...

Mr. Speaker, the Minister must mediate a truly strong agreement with the Indigenous groups with majority ownership if possible. We must start walking the talk and show concrete action that the major shareholders are the Indigenous groups that are affected. Does the Minister agree with that? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, the Taltson Hydro Expansion is setting the groundwork for future development of industry and ensuring that the power rates across the territory are more reasonable. Therefore, this is probably the number one mandate item for development in our list of priorities. Does the Minister agree with that? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

One comment. There's got to be some compassion here, okay. Compassion, it's our own people. These are people that are  don't live in big houses that are worth $2 million and stuff, okay. And I stress to the government that we on this side know what compassion is, and we got to make sure the other side also knows that too, okay. And I don't want any cold answers when you're communicating to poor people and whatever, compassion plays a big part. And I've said that even at the beginning, that we got to listen to the people, okay. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Mr. Speaker, to conclude, the Taltson Hydro Expansion will be and should be one of the major priorities in our recovery plan for the Government of the Northwest Territories after the pandemic. The Minister should be asking the federal government to fund this project 100 percent to stimulate the economy of the North and to ensure our Indigenous shareholders will benefit from this project. Does the Minister agree with that? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, the snowball effect that the Taltson Hydro Expansion will have for our economic recovery will be enormous since we know, that by 2030 all major auto companies will be going electric for their vehicle lineups. We cannot wait until the last minute to plan, assess, and complete this major consumer change without this project. Does the Minister agree with that? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.