Richard Edjericon

Member Tu Nedhé-Wiilideh

Richard Edjericon was first elected to represent the district of Tu Nedhé-Wiilideh in by election during the 19th Assembly in 2022 and was re-elected to the 20th Assembly later the next year.

A descendant of Treaty 8 Chipewyan signator Chief Oliver Edjericon, Richard Edjericon was born and raised in Little Buffalo River near Fort Resolution. He attended Diamond Jenness Secondary High School in Hay River and Akaitcho Hall in Yellowknife.

Obtaining his journeyman carpenter’s certification from Thebacha College in Fort Smith, Mr. Edjericon has nearly four decades of experience as a journeyman certified carpenter working through out the Northwest Territories and Nunavut in residential and commercial construction.

Eventually his work in construction brought him to the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation as the North Slave Maintenance Coordinator. He would also become the General Manager for the Yellowknives Dene First Nation Housing Division.

Mr. Edjericon’s dedication to his community led him to seek the position of Elected Head Chief for Dettah and the Yellowknives Dene First Nation, holding that office from 1999 to 2003. He also became the Acting Grand Chief Spokeperson on behalf of the Akaitcho Chiefs for the Akaitcho Territory Government. He later joined the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board in 2007 and soon became chair, reappointed to this position in 2011.

Mr. Edjericon’s proudest moments include settling boundary disputes, signing political accords, creating fairer nation to nation relationships, and fostering economic development. As MLA he brings with him a passion for a fairer, more prosperous North, and a great depth of knowledge in housing, economics, and politics. He lives in Ndilo with his wife, Aleida.”

Tu Nedhé-Wiilideh Electoral District

Committees

Accountability and Oversight
Board of Management
Government Operations
Richard Edjericon
Tu Nedhé - Wiilideh
Member's Office

Yellowknife NT X1A 2L9
Canada

P.O. Box
1320
Email
Email
Phone
867-767-9143
Extension
12185
Cell
867-445-8298
Constituency Office
Email
Email
Phone
867-447-0439

Statements in Debates

Question 1286-19(2): GNWT Fiscal Deficit
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 131)

Thank you. Thank you, Madam Speaker. And thank you, Minister. If no such austerity measures are planned, how will the government manage its considerable fiscal challenges without clear resources/future revenues to offset spending deficits? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Member’s Statement 1276-19(2): GNWT Fiscal Deficit
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 131)

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Last week your Standing Committee on Government Operations reported on the 20202021 Public Accounts. One aspect of their report that has been subject to recent media coverage was the $194 million deficit of the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority. That's a shocking fiscal reality for this government, already cash strapped, to bear, and it's only expected to increase with the realizations on major operation deficiencies.

Looking at other major spending items in recent times, we now know that the cost to repair the catastrophic flood in Hay River...

Question 1286-19(2): GNWT Fiscal Deficit
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 131)

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Thank you, Minister. Madam Speaker, eventually cuts to services and programs will be required to manage spending without a miracle windfall well outside the government ability to plan. Based on current financial projects, can the Minister tell me when these cuts to programs and jobs will come? Will it be in 2023? 2024? Or 2025? When will cuts be required, Madam Speaker?

Question 1286-19(2): GNWT Fiscal Deficit
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 131)

Thank you, Madam Speaker. As I stated earlier today that this government's financial position is in dire straits. Without new revenues, austerity measures are a likely outcome for the future years. As mentioned earlier, simple math. I believe it's time to be honest with our residents about this reality here in the Northwest Territories today.

Madam Speaker, one of my question would be to the finance minister. Is this government planning to implement austerity measures, including cuts to services and jobs within the remainder of its term? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Committee Motion 312-19(2): Bill 48: Arbitration Act – Deletion of Clause 77, Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 125)

Thank you, Madam Chair. While we're having that same discussion, I guess I'm just wondering maybe we could also maybe plan to meet with the chief and council for YKDFN as well to take a look at maybe some of their needs and requirements as well maybe. If the Minister, if her and I could probably meet with chief and council just to in sometime, depending on her schedule, just to talk about some of these other capital projects. Mahsi.

Committee Motion 312-19(2): Bill 48: Arbitration Act – Deletion of Clause 77, Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 125)

Yeah, thank you, Madam Chair. And if I could so that sounds like a commitment. And if we could, I wouldn't mind asking the Minister if she's willing to come to Lutselk'e maybe sometime in November to have that discussion with the community and council. Mahsi.

Committee Motion 312-19(2): Bill 48: Arbitration Act – Deletion of Clause 77, Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 125)

Thank you, Madam Chair. I guess what I'm just thinking is that, you know, we had a we got a budget of almost $2.2 billion, and in my riding we have 1.7 percent of the overall budget but yet in the South Slave Region, on the map here that I'm looking at, it says it's you know, we got 15 percent of overall costing but yet when I look at this, it doesn't cover off Fort Resolution, Dettah, N'dilo, or Lutselk'e. So I guess I'm wondering, like how do I, like, in Fort Resolution, we need chip seal in the community. They've been asking for that. And the question is when can we have that discussion...

Question 1224-19(2): Court Decision Regarding Search of Lutsel K’e Cultural Camp
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 125)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, will the Minister work with Lutselk'e Dene First Nation to develop and implement a shared enforcement protocol to ensure this kind of thing will never happen again? At the same time, if he wants to work with the community in the spirit of reconciliation, then I'd like to have a commitment here today by the Minister to say that he is willing to go into Lutselk'e to work with chief and council and if need be, then that's where he should apologize because I'm not hearing it in the House here today, because the court Supreme Court decision is final; it's done...

Question 1224-19(2): Court Decision Regarding Search of Lutsel K’e Cultural Camp
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 125)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So basically the Minister's refusing to apologize to the people in Lutselk'e and Lutselk'e Dene First Nation for their unlawful raid into the community, so. I'm shocked, I mean, I I don't know what to say. This is something that's I expect from the Minister to apologize, and I'm kind of want to hear it here today. And if not, then I have other questions. Thank you

Committee Motion 313-19(2): Tabled Document 723-19(2): Capital Estimates 2023-2024 – Infrastructure – Deferral of Department (page 52), Carried
Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 125)

Thank you, Madam Chair. Overall I guess at the end of the day is that, you know, we're still in a housing crisis here in the Northwest Territories. It's significant. It's right across the board in all 33 communities. And I don't see a plan. But overall, I think maybe is, you know, the aboriginal governments are now looking at going directly to Ottawa to get the same pots of money but they're competing with the Housing Corporation somehow, and that needs to be looked at again because what the reason why they're doing this because they have to jump through these hurdles to qualify with their...