Jane Weyallon Armstrong

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I want to acknowledge and recognize all the interpreters here, Jonas and Maro Rose Sundberg as well, for their hard work in keeping our language alive. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this weekend people around the world will gather to celebrate International Women's Day. Today, I recognize and honour the women across the Northwest Territories and special acknowledgment to the Tlicho women and girls in my region.

Women are at the heart of our communities as mothers, grandmothers, daughters, sisters, aunties, and cousins. They help shape the lives of those around them and carry forward the knowledge and traditions that connect our people.

Mr. Speaker, mothers in particular, carry a tremendous responsibility. They care for their families...

Thank you. Okay, thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I move that this committee recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories create regulations under the Summary Convictions Procedures Act to include ticketable offenses for trespassing prior to Bill 34, Trespass to Property Act, coming into force. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, the Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Bill 34, Trespass to Property Act, was read into the record on March 3rd, 2026.

The committee has made six recommendations to ensure that Trespass to Property Act can be applied clearly across the Northwest Territories with a multitude of stakeholders and to make sure the legislation can be enforced more efficiently.

The committee looks forward to the government's response to these recommendations. The committee would like to thank everyone who participated in the review and gave thoughtful feedback to...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I want to say thank you to everybody here, those who spoke and those who did not, you know, speak in favour of the motion but still I know deep down in their heart that they do feel the same way as we do. You know, at the moment, public housing units -- Housing NWT are transferring public housing units to tenants who have lived in those units for many years, where they raised their family and for over 20 years. But it's not the same for market rental unit, so that's why I am pushing for the market rental units to be treated the same as a public housing unit...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, transfer Housing Northwest Territories market rental units to tenants.

WHEREAS Housing Northwest Territories operates a portfolio of market rental units across the territory;

AND WHEREAS many of these units are currently occupied by tenants who have demonstrated stable residency, consistent payment history, and strong community ties;

AND WHEREAS enabling current tenants to assume ownership of the units they occupy can support housing stability, increase homeownership rates, and reduce long-term operational and maintenance costs for Housing Northwest...

Mr. Speaker, I ask for a recorded vote.

I want to say thank you to my colleague from Dehcho.

Mr. Speaker, across the Northwest Territories, many elders who reside in public housing are facing increasing financial hardship. With fixed incomes and continuously rising cost of living, even modest increases in expenses can push elders into difficult choices between essentials like food, heat, medication, and housing.

Mr. Speaker, these challenges are felt most acutely in our smaller and remote communities where affordable housing options are limited and the cost of living is even higher. For many elders, public housing is not just a place...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Speaker, I know that -- we know we are not going to get everything that we want or we negotiated, knowing we are in deficit, but -- but working together, we can still get stuff that we asked for. I know that I am not going to get the water truck, sewer truck, for essential services in Tlicho region, but especially for the small communities, the small fly-in communities. But, you know, at this time, it's not the end, just like my colleagues said. It's an ongoing thing that we have to keep working on. I would like to see that because they provide -- you know...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, this is important for NWT and the people. And like my colleague from Dehcho said, water is life, and we have heard many times from our elders, they said water is our father and it is important for our survival. So I will support this motion. Thank you.