George Nerysoo

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. According to NWT bureau of statistics, the employment rate in the NWT dropped from 66.3 percent in August to 65.2 percent in September. Based on a labour force activity report released on August 8th, 2025, the annual rate of employment in the NWT dropped 2.6 percent since July 2024.

Mr. Speaker, on the other hand Stats NWT states that the total cases of income support rose from 1,005 in May of 2025 to 1,097 in June, a difference of 92 more cases in one month. With this recent drop in employment, I can only assume that the rate of income support will rise.

Mr. Speaker...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There's a vacancy of a highway inspector in Fort McPherson. Has this position been filled, or is there any interest in this position? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Infrastructure in regards to my Member's statement.

Communication with the department and the regional department is important to ensure the safety all our users of NWT highways. How often is your office staff in contact with the regional department to look at improvements and/or maintenance reports from the highway inspectors? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I too will be supporting this motion. Like my colleague here saying that these motions are non-binding and can already see the outcome of it, but supporting and reimbursing our greatest resources, our elders, I've always stated that, you know, these elders, we're losing elders at a rapid pace and they're our greatest resources to have within our community. So we have to support them in every way possible. And the non-binding issue is still at the forefront because you can already see the outcome of it, but the intent is there and the support is there, so therefore I...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Highway inspection is very important, especially within the Beaufort Delta region, from the border right to Tuktoyaktuk. How many highway inspectors are there in the Beaufort Delta? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to follow up on my colleague's Member's statement from Boot Lake on the condition of the Dempster Highway. As my colleague stated, I too have been receiving daily texts about the highway conditions in terms of safety.

Mr. Speaker, I personally drive this highway on occasion, and I know what the residents of the Beaufort Delta are referring to and have them express their concerns about the horrible conditions of the highway at this time of the year. Just to put into context, when I went to Inuvik with the cab, the cab driver was driving 35...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize my niece, Maria Snowshoe. Maria is conducting her service-learning placement for her Capstone project here in the Legislative Assembly under my direction, and she'll be working with other staff members. Maria's in her final year of Indigenous governments degree with the Yukon University. Welcome Maria to the Assembly.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It has been 894 days since Frank Gruben has last been seen, 894 days of overwhelming grief that Frank's parents, Frank's brother, Frank's sister, Frank's extended family, and the community of Aklavik have had to endure on a daily basis.

Mr. Speaker, it is not only Frank's family or his community of Aklavik that is expressing great concern for the whereabouts of Frank. There is a national campaign for Let's Bring Frank Home. All of these concerned citizens want some answers, comfort, and closure for Frank's family. 894 days of not receiving any updates from the GNWT and...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you for the response. I want to refer to addictions recovery and specifically to addictions recovery, Mr. Speaker.

Will the Minister take the lead and help heal our residents within our communities and meet personally with the interested community agencies who want to heal their communities? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I MOVE, seconded by the Member of Hay River North to amend Motion 54-20(1), Extended Adjournment of the House to May 22nd, 2025, by changing all references of Thursday, May 22nd, 2025, to Wednesday, May 21st, 2025. Thank you.