Jane Weyallon Armstrong

Thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, Bill 28, An Act to Amend the Student Financial Assistance Act, No. 2, received second reading in the Legislative Assembly on May 29th, 2025, and was referred to the Standing Committee on Social Development for review on September 8th, 2025. The standing committee held a public hearing with the Minister of Justice and completed its clause-by-clause review of the bill.

I thank the committee in their efforts in reviewing this legislation. Individual Members may have additional comments. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So my questions are to MACA, to MACA Minister.

So readiness and preparedness -- I'm going to say it again, readiness and preparedness are critical to wildfire management; however, the evacuations that occurred this summer suggest that the government's wildfire operation are still too reactive in nature. What specific step is the department taking to improve early detection and response measures, so communities are not forced to evacuate at the last minute? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I still had one more question for the ECC. But I do have three questions, two for MACA and one for ECC. So I can get it back on the list again for MACA.

One is for ECC, given the increasing frequency of evacuations and climate-driven wildfire threats, what is the GNWT timeline for implementing a fully proactive wildfire management strategies that prioritize prevention over response? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, our people deserve to feel safe in their homes and not live in fear every summer. With that in mind, Mr. Speaker, in 2005 Tlicho Agreement was ratified and came into effect. Since that time, numerous wildfires have burned over Tlicho lands and threatened Tlicho communities. I would like to ask the Minister how many hectares of land -- he might not have the answer, but I'm going to ask him. How many hectares of land have burned within the Tlicho region since 2005? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I have said, they are to be commended, the workers.

Mr. Speaker, my frustration and comments were not directed at them. It was towards the GNWT government policy that needs to change before a community is destroyed as we have seen in fire 2023, and people's lives are put in jeopardy. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this past summer, our communities faced another period of unprecedented threat from wildfires resulting in multiple evacuation that disrupted lives, strained resources, and highlighted the vulnerabilities in the GNWT wildfires management.

In a span of three days this past summer, the communities of Whati and Fort Providence were forced to evacuate due to rapidly advancing wildfires. The fire was burning out of control in Gameti as well. It came close to their golf course. These evacuations are not isolated, Mr. Speaker. They are part of a growing...

Thank you. Okay, well, we know that the majority of the positions are going to be allocated in Yellowknife, you know, so we know that, you know. So I just wanted to ask another one too is that is this going to be one-time funding, or is the government going to permanently fund this? Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair. Well, first, I want ask the Minister why Jordan's Principal application were denied in Yellowknife if they had -- yes, I want to ask why, if they know, why was denied.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With climate change, wildfire is an issue, and for many of us in small communities and the water level low is a major concern. With that in mind, Mr. Speaker, when the decisions are made that lead to a community evacuation, it seems communities and their residents are caught off guard in most cases. Is the government contemplating changes to wildfire management that allows for more proactive communications to both communities and our residents so that they are more aware of threats of wildfire and the potential for community evacuation? Thank you.

For MACA, yeah.