Richard Edjericon

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the 20th Assembly, this government put forward four top priorities, and the fourth priority of this government is safe residents and communities. Mr. Speaker, my community of Fort Resolution, the leadership there approached me about putting in cameras and looking at security guards and that, those issues that they brought to my attention. But in previous governments, I also raised this issue. But anyway, my question to the Minister is that is the Minister prepared to look at making a commitment to come up with a clear action plan as to how we're going to...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in recent years, the Northwest Territories has seen a dramatic increase in drug-related crimes that is affecting our small communities like never before. The demand for these drugs keeps increasing and employment opportunities and access to vital services continues to decrease. We need a long-term solution to address concurrent housing and health crisis as well as the continued burden of intergenerational trauma has on Indigenous families, and solving these problems are no easy task. There are, however, short-term solutions that are becoming increasingly...

Thank you, colleagues. I will continue on now with the debate. Next on my list I have is from the Member from Range Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Okay, well, then having said that, I guess my question would be is that we're already in year one of the four-year mandate we already are in as a government, but for -- to meet the commitments that is laid out in this government for safe residents and communities, is the Minister willing to commit to work with communities, Indigenous governments, and try to find new ways to get money from either Ottawa, or wherever they can get it, to meet one of the top four priorities because the issues in our community are real, and we just don't have the money to deal with that...

Yeah, thank you, Mr. Speaker. The community's been asked to use their CPI dollars and operation and maintenance dollars to look at funding cameras to be put into their communities et cetera, but the money is just not there. And my question to the Minister, can we work together to come up with an action plan to help the communities put these much-needed cameras in place so that we could deter drug activities in our community? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to recognize Melvin Larocque who originally was from Fort Resolution, then Hay River, and now in Yellowknife. I just want to recognize them. Also, I want to recognize our translators, all of them that are here, in particular Mary Rose Sundberg and Jonas Lafferty, and thank you for your services. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I'll speak really quick. I rise to also give support to my colleague in the Sahtu region. We're talking about the fuel crisis at issue that was brought into the community for the Sahtu region on an annual basis, but to pay $6,000 for a fuel tank is just -- it's just not acceptable. Beyond our control through climate change, this year the water levels are really down. Because of that, MTS was cancelled and all the barges that were earmarked for the Sahtu region or to deliver fuel and groceries and all the goods and services have been cancelled. So, Mr. Speaker, the -...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you, Minister. The issues that I brought forward here in regards to the activity that's happening in our communities, not only just in my riding but throughout the Northwest Territories, my question would be to the Minister, in order to meet the top four priorities, is your government prepared to work with Indigenous governments as to how we can work together to fund some of these activities that's not without taking the monies out of CPI dollars and the gas taxes that was paid or operation and maintenance? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I second this motion because I support this motion. It's one that is really needed. And I always keep thinking about the late Cece McCauley who always said build a highway. And, you know, I think it's time now that we take a look at that. You know, as my colleague who brought forward this motion talks about the need of putting a highway there that helps with the high cost of living in that region, no different than I'm trying to push the same thing for my riding as well. But, Mr. Speaker, roads like this is good for communities. It's good for the North. Good for the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I just want to take this opportunity as my Member's statement to thank the Members, my colleagues around the table here. It's been a busy almost four weeks. I also wanted to thank, Mr. Speaker, your staff. Also the ledge staff as well that work behind the scenes for us. I know there's a lot of work that happens behind the scenes that people don't see. I want to say thank you to my CA, Taylor Pagotto, and also Warren Delorme of Fort Resolution. Also, I want to thank all the translators that are here. I want to say mahsi. If it wasn't for you that we wouldn't...