Jane Weyallon Armstrong

Madam Chair, I move that this committee recommends the Government of the Northwest Territories incorporate the consideration of information that suggests that a missing person may not want to be located in the development of the regulations for the Missing Persons Act. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'll do this in Tlicho for the intro.

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Mr. Speaker, June is the month of high school graduations. On behalf of the Tlicho region, I want to congratulate all students graduating high school, especially those graduating from Chief Jimmy Bruneau school in Edzo, Mezi Community School in Whati, and Jean Wetrade School in Gameti.

Mr. Speaker, I believe that in general, all youth who graduate high school likely had good attendance throughout their schooling. It is sad that our territorial budget for some schools is decreasing due to...

Madam Chair, I move that this committee recommends the Government of the Northwest Territories work with the federal government in establishing legislation specific to the Sixties Scoop and creating programming to assist those impacted by the Sixties Scoop in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Madam Chair, I move that this committee recommends that in the formulation of regulations for the Missing Persons Act, the Government of the Northwest Territories require the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to include a schedule in the annual report referenced in the Missing Persons Act that outlines statistical missing persons information in the Northwest Territories;

And further, that the regulations state where the annual report will be published. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Madam Chair, I move that this committee recommends the Government of the Northwest Territories work with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and justices to evaluate any cultural safety programming or training being offered to Royal Canadian Mounted Police Members and justices to ensure it is traumainformed and otherwise responsibly addresses those working with missing person cases in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Madam Chair, Bill 2, missing Persons Act received second reading in the Legislative Assembly on February 26, 2024, and was referred to the Standing Committee on Social Development for review.

Throughout the committee's review, the committee met with the Minister of Justice, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and over 55 members of the public in three public hearings held in Aklavik, Inuvik and Yellowknife. The committee also received five written submissions on the bill.

On May 28, 2024, the standing committee held its clausebyclause review of the bill with the Minister of Justice. The committee...

I'm sure if you approach Tlicho Investment, they will be happy to fill the positions, you know, because we know that trades, we really do need trades and we emphasize that with our young people that, you know  because many of the trades people that we have right now, they're passed retirement age but there's nobody to come after them. So it's, like, they're still working, you know, like  and a lot of them are saying that, you know, like, they want to retire but there's nobody to take their job. So, and I'm very grateful, thankful for the housing for having the  you know, the scholarship...

Okay, Mr. Speaker, I know that we have talked a lot in this House about the needs for elders and seniors to age with dignity, and my motion that I put forward, it's actions behind these words. There are many elders in my ridings and other regions as well. There are many elders out there who are struggling to make ends meet. We know that the NWT is faced with high cost of living, the fuel price, the groceries. It's very difficult for people in the small communities, especially the elders, especially with children too as well because many of the elders are caring for their grandchildren. So it's...

Thank you. This heating fuel subsidy, you know, if you go to small communities, especially in December and January, the coldest month of the year, a lot of these elders, they have wood stove, so they are eligible for either wood or heating fuel. And a lot of them are going for the fuel because it is expensive to maintain or, you know, it they are expensive to get especially in the small communities. There's also for woods, too, as well, but a lot of them they said they would rather go get the fuel. But, and I know some of them were asking why not why have you know, like, they like the...

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is the Housing Debt Among Elders and Seniors, and it's for housing Minister.

The accumulation of housing debt among elders and seniors in the Northwest Territories can cause serious financial hardship as they age. There are tools available for the Government of the Northwest Territories to provide relief to elders and seniors. Can the Minister of housing provide information to understand the extent of debt owed to the Government of the Northwest Territories from seniors' housing units and actions taken to collect on this debt:

Over the last five years, can...