Sheryl Yakeleya

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don't think many NWT residents are aware of this therefore would the Minister consider creating a new policy that would provide a one-time only offer to residents where, if an individual gets hospitalized while they're travelling, the GNWT will cover the cost in returning them home? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, and thank you to the Minister. Mr. Speaker, if an NWT resident is hospitalized while they're travelling elsewhere in Canada and that individual is unable to physically get themselves home, does that mean the GNWT is simply going to abandon them and leave them stranded in another province or territory? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on Friday the 2024-2025 Budget was tabled with a $2.2 billion operating budget. The Minister is proposing a practical and realistic budget to restore balance and increase our financial means to deal with unexpected events. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate that the government needs to plan and budget for emergencies and unexpected natural disasters. In my riding, my constituents know all too well the devastation that can occur. In just a matter of minutes entire communities can be nearly destroyed by wildfire or flooding and, for some residents, the journey of...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today's statement I wanted to honour and provide congratulations to Dehcho residents who will be graduated and obtaining either their grade 12 diploma or a degree from their postsecondary studies.

Mr. Speaker, the names of these individuals, their achievement, and the institutions they're graduating from include:

Kelly Leishman from Fort Providence is obtaining a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a degree in drawing from the University of Alberta;

Annadette Bouvier who is obtaining a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Vancouver;

Anonda Canadien is obtaining a...

Yeah, thank you. I too want to say reiterate what the last two Members talked about. This department needs to work together and protect people. Crime rates in my region, I could say for a couple of the communities in my region, is very high. People are afraid, and lives are being destroyed because of the drug trade. And, yeah, so what I have to say, I guess, is give the police the support that they need to combat these crimes that are happening in our communities. It's sad to say that people in my community of Fort Providence can't even leave their homes unless there's somebody there to watch...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Looking back at directorate or when we go back and we look at all the staff that's in the Premier's office and executive and Indigenous affairs office, the organizational chart and account structural chart. I have people asking me why is the department so heavy on like, top heavy, and can some of those positions like, do they really need all of those positions in that office? Or and can some of that money be used in well, they're just saying it's top heavy. And that's what I wanted to say, it's top heavy and we could use money from those positions in other programs...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The funding for the Women's Initiatives and Native Women's Association and Status of Women Council, these they're all funded like for three they get multiyear funding; right? Or is it just one-year funding at a time? Thank you.

Thank you. That's all I have to say for that. Thank you.

Thank you. That's all I wanted to know. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you to the Minister for that response. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister tell me if the youth counsellor position has been filled in Fort Providence today? Thank you.