Jane Weyallon Armstrong

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize and welcome, congratulate Mary Teya and her daughter Annie and who I've known for many years. So I want to welcome them. And I would like to welcome back the interpreters. And it's also good to see Ms. Nadli up there, so I would like to welcome her too as well. So thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the Member for Mackenzie Delta, that Committee Report 9-20(1): Standing Committee on Social Development report on Bill 8, An Act to Amend the Student Financial Assistance Act, be received by the Assembly and referred to the Committee of the Whole. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this press news release of October 16th from the Government of the Northwest Territories, it states: Climate change is a serious threat to our territory's economic, environmental, social, and culture held with the NWT. Experiencing rapid warming at up to four times the global rate and an increase in extreme weather event.

And I do sympathize, Mr. Speaker, with my colleague and the people from the Sahtu region where with the high cost of living. A lot of people that I know, they're working really hard. They're working to pay bills. And a lot of them do need...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We need more money for program and services in small communities.

Mr. Speaker, 2023-2024 EDI surveys -- is the 2023-2024 EDI survey available, and if it is, when will it be released by the Department of ECE? Is it getting better for small communities? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, to last year's early childhood development instrument, EDI, vulnerable children have challenges in one or more of the five areas of development listed in the survey. Can the Minister identify which of these areas of development are ECE's greatest priorities for small communities? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to talk about our schools and learning opportunities for children in small communities.

Mr. Speaker, on September 30th of this year, the Premier spoke to the media. He said, quote: Half our population is Indigenous and even then we have the highest proportion of residential school survivors in Canada. So when we talk about things like the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, it means something different here, end quote.

Talking about reconciliation is important, Mr. Speaker, but what about action? We are supposed to be closing...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, forest fire 2023 was a disaster for a lot of us, and it was a nightmare for many who lived through the ordeal. People from Behchoko and Edzo, even Hay River North and South, they experienced that as well. So, Mr. Speaker, I can tell you it could happen worse for Behchoko. By the grace of God, Behchoko was safe. You know, so we lost four housing and we lost 15 cabins on Highway 3. But Enterprise did not have the same experience. Forest fire almost wiped out the whole community. As a result, until this day, the residents are still suffering. They're affected...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, [Translation]

Yes, for recognition, I'd like to recognize my Grand Chief Jackson Lafferty.  He's here in the House.  I'm thankful for that.  And we also have other Tlicho members,  Louis Mackenzie, Julie Mackenzie are here in the audience.  And also Jonas Lafferty, Mary Rose Sundberg, interpreters, I'd like to thank them.  They've been interpreting for us throughout the session. 

I'd also like to recognize all these people who work for us in the House.  I am so thankful for them.  They've done a good job for us throughout the session.  It is the spring session. ...

Mahsi. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

[Translation] I'd like to -- I'd like to, but still what I'm going to be talking about of how the kids that are in school, the kids that are in school, what is it that we can -- how we can improve the education for the young people at this time. [Translation Ends].

Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories has jurisdiction over educating all students in the NWT. The GNWT must provide access to the same quality of education regardless of the location or size of their communities.

Mr. Speaker, we have an excellent student financial assistance program. It is...

Mr. Speaker, thank you. Mr. Speaker, I realize that the GNWT is more than $1 billion in debt, and we are at 96 percent of the debt limit. Yes, we are in fiscal restraint, and I commend the Cabinet for its effort to meet the needs of the people. The Cabinet has done its best to work with the people and especially our colleagues on this side too. I know not everyone is going to agree, but the Cabinet Ministers listen and work with us. That is a good thing. Not only that, but some of us Regular MLAs make budget requests and feel that our requests and proposals were listened to by the government...