Jane Weyallon Armstrong

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Given that the $2 million federal territorial funding for transitional housing is limited, how does the Minister plan to prioritize or supplement this funding to meet the urgent need for temporary housing with wraparound support in regions like Tlicho?

Masi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, [Translation] Masi, Mr. Speaker.  Today we have -- we have Lucy Lafferty.  She's a wife, and then she was a principal.  She was also a director of education and also the -- and also she is the coordinator.  She is very active for our language, Lucy -- Lucy Lafferty.  The interpreter -- the interpreter here Jonas that isn't here, Jonas Lafferty, his wife is also here, as I'd like to say -- I would like to say thank you to Lucy Lafferty.  And also the young people from Chief Jimmy Bruneau School here are also here, Shiloh Simpson and Nicoli Grosco, they are the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, given the closure of community learning centres and the limited upgrading options available, how does the department plan to ensure that Indigenous students from small communities can meet post-secondary admission requirements without being forced to leave home or return to institutions they are not comfortable attending? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, will the Minister commit to reviewing the current student financial assistance policy to allow students to receive funding for academic upgrading at institutions outside of Aurora College, either online or outside of the territory, so that our students with -- our students with financial assistance needs have a greater choice and access to quality education?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I sympathize with my colleague, and I hear the concerns that have been raised. Mr. Speaker, as Members, we need to focus on cooperation and collaborations to make life better for residents across the Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker, this motion includes strong recommendations. True progress depends not just on passing motions but on continued dialogue, accountability, and collaborative approach to problem solving.

Mr. Speaker, we all want the same thing, a better healthcare system for our people, especially in small communities.

Mr. Speaker, I want to...

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister say what's step is the department taking to address the lack of financial support for part-time studies, especially for students on income support or those working full-time in small communities who want to pursue programs, like personal support worker training? Thank you.

Student financial assistance. Mr. Speaker, as another school year ends, I want to recognize the high school students graduating across the Northwest Territories. This is an exciting time for our young people, filled with hope and ambition, as they prepare to leave their communities to pursue post-secondary education. However, Mr. Speaker, the reality for Indigenous students in our smaller communities is more complicated. The education outcomes in small communities continue to fall behind those in our regional centres.

Mr. Speaker, too many of our graduates do not meet the entry requirement for...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, when people leak confidential information, there should be consequences, but our ability to express is another issue. From Indigenous perspective, as an Indigenous person, a woman, we finally got our voice. As a result of the colonization, it destroyed our language, culture, and way of life. For so long, the racist Indian Act had power and control over our life. Not only that, it discriminated more against the Indigenous women. With this in mind, Mr. Speaker, I do not support this motion. Thank you.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'll do it in my language. [Translation] Mr. Speaker, I am thankful for this bill that is in front of us, and I support it. In today's society, there's so many changes in our lives.  With this Act, I am amazed at what the nurses go through.  I didn't realize they didn't have their own Act, and everyone else has their own collective agreement except for them.  So the MLA from Yellowknife North has presented this bill.  I support her.  

Mr. Speaker, we been aware of this situation for a long time in the North.  Some of us don't have doctors living in our...

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It's my understanding that some small communities do not have regular in-person access to counsellors who provide mental health supports. What steps is the department taking to address these gaps and ensure equitable access to this free service to all small communities across the Northwest Territories? Thank you.