Julie Green

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think, on every other International Women's Day I have ever spent in Yellowknife, I have attended the Bread and Roses lunch and there has been an announcement of the Wise Women Award winners. I note that is not happening today. I have some questions about the status of the Status of Women Council, the body that usually organizes the Bread and Roses lunch and the Wise Women Awards. Can the Minister update us about the status of the Status of Women Council and why they may not have been able to host these events this year? Mahsi.

Mr. Speaker, from economic crises and lack of healthcare to climate change, violence against women, and escalating conflicts, women are not only more affected by these problems, women possess ideas and leadership to solve them. The gender discrimination still holding too many women back holds our world back, too. For me, International Women's Day remains a bittersweet celebration, but a celebration nonetheless. Please join me and my sole female Legislative Assembly colleague in commemorating this day. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as you are well aware, some distinguished women have served in this Legislative Assembly, including Nellie Cournoyea, the first and only woman Premier of the NWT, the second woman Premier in Canada, and the first Indigenous leader at this level. Jeanie Marie-Jewell of Fort Smith, Sandy Lee from Yellowknife, and Jane Groenewegen of Hay River all served in Cabinet, as my colleague Caroline Cochrane does today.

All told, there have never been more than three women in any single Assembly, representing 15 per cent of the total Members. Not to put too fine a point on...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Thanks to the Minister for that answer. The Minister said a couple of times that the Status of Women Council needs to return to its purpose as set out in the legislation. Could she just refresh my memory of what that purpose is? Thank you.

I appreciate the Minister's answer. I have learned a whole load of things. I know that recently the Status of Women executive director resigned. Can the Minister tell us when new staff will be in place?

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to also knowledge my constituent Dawn Moses, who works with MACA as the Youth and Volunteer Program Manager. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on International Women's Day, we pause to celebrate the advances we have made as a society in advancing women's equality, and it is the day we take stock of the inequality that persists and rededicate our resolve for improvement.

A lot of improvement still needs to be made. A quick glance at employment occupation and income figures for the NWT shows that the rate of employment for women and men are about the same, but the rewards of pay, the inclusion in higher-paying occupation, and the proportion of sexes in senior positions are anything but equal.

Mr. Speaker...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. With respect to the current situation, which is making the cut, do I understand correctly that 2 per cent is going to be cut from every LHO, whether the LHO has a $10 surplus or $1 million surplus? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the Housing Corporation has received $3.6 million each year for 10 years. Where would I find that added to the budget? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, finally, I know that there is a very high rate of tax filing in the NWT, yet not everybody files a tax return. In the case where a tenant hasn't filed a tax return or needs help filing a tax return, how can the LHO respond to them? Thank you.