Kate Reid

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I just want to continue my questions with the nominee program for the Minister of ECE.

So legal aid in the NWT does not cover immigration law issues. Other jurisdictions offer these services to residents. Will the Minister commit to investigating this issue with the Minister of Justice and provide information on services that might be developed or, barring that, supports and pathways for newcomers who need them? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good news indeed. Mr. Speaker, many newcomers experience great anxiety as goalposts shift and changes are made without prior notice to the program which creates excruciating uncertainty for applicants. Will the Minister commit to be providing more information on the amount of spaces, the timeline, and process for applicants to anticipate in the 2026 intake. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I want to continue to talk about the NWT nominee program. In September, the Minister announced that Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada has increased the Northwest Territories' 2025 allocation for our nominee program by 47 nominees which brings the total to 197. This does not restore the NWT allocations 2024 levels of 300 spots, but it's a step in the right direction.

I'm heartened to see that the Minister continues to advocate to her federal counterparts when she was in Ottawa with her Cabinet colleagues and Council of Leaders, and then this...

Mr. Speaker, like other folks before me, I really do appreciate the intention behind this motion. As you recall, my questions yesterday spoke to the needs of elders and folks with disabilities in evacuation, and I mean I think this is top of mind for a lot of us. I also appreciate the context that was provided by the finance Minister just now. The resources that we have are stretched, and our pockets are not endless. The surplus has dropped by $150 million. So I can see both sides of the equation, Mr. Speaker.

I'd also like to point out that I have something that one of my colleagues likes to...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have questions for the Minister of Housing NWT. I want to just carry on from my colleague from Frame Lake was asking about the transitional housing facility that will be on the Folk on the Rocks site. When does the Minister anticipate that facility will be opening? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I want to reiterate my colleague from Deh Cho's September press release that stated that safety alone is not a sufficient measure. A constituent's well-being in regards to this year's evacuation of Fort Providence. Since the GNWT has elected not to create a standalone emergency management agency, how does the GNWT expect to have dedicated capacity to work through ongoing policy development and identify operational needs on an ongoing basis so as to ensure the dignity of residents in exceedingly difficult situations like evacuations? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will join the MACA pile-on.

Mr. Speaker, I am concerned that while the GNWT says they're learning from missteps and disasters in evacuations, we continue to see elders and folks with disabilities and those who support them struggle when they're displaced. Equity of support means that for some folks we need to do more. So, Mr. Speaker, can the Minister tell me what is the GNWT doing to improve how we provide compassionate support to elders and folks with disabilities before, during, and after emergencies, especially evacuations. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this past year, we saw elders and folks with disabilities getting mutual aid support from community members and not the GNWT. However, I'm glad that the GNWT agrees that emergency social service plans are required at community and NGO level but not every elder or person with a disability is within those structures. So will standard operating procedures be developed and demoed with NWT communities, the regional and territorial EMOs, and the external jurisdictions to the south, to prioritize folks with more complex needs in evacuations, including those with...

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to remember Moses Larel Luwalira. Moses was born in Entebbe, Uganda, on December 31st, 1992, to the late John Kyebambe and Proscovia Nakayima. He was a beloved brother to Sam and Job. Moses leaves behind his mother, extended family, and many friends.

Moses' life was defined by faith, kindness, and service. He received his early education at Iganga Boys School, Busoga College Mwiri for high school, and then pursued his passion for construction at Niagara College, Welland Campus, in Ontario. Moses moved North to Yellowknife in 2023 to continue building his future. But...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you to the Premier for that. One more suggestion, if I may be so bold, Mr. Speaker. I wonder if the Premier could speak to the fact that we have quite literally dozens of Facebook pages. As everyone in this House is aware, Cabin Radio had acted as an aggregator during a public emergency. Will the Premier commit to, when they're updating the website, consider an aggregation of information of all departments? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.