R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So I understand the question to be is it my opinion that the Yellowknife Airport, as a project, is of the same, I guess, importance as the Mackenzie Valley Highway or the Slave Geological Province or the Taltson Hydro Expansion? So I'd have to say that, you know, the airport's very important obviously. I'm in there -- Mr. Speaker, you're in there quite often. It gets used by people around the territory. No doubt that it is a very important asset. If you're looking at the Mackenzie Valley Highway, that's a multi-billion dollar asset that will be constructed over a number...

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document: Additional Information for Follow-up to Oral Question 692-20(1), Extended Health Benefits Program. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There's a number of Indigenous governments that are in support of this. Whether there's an official position from the Council of Leaders, I'd have to go back and check my notes. And I never want to speak on behalf of the Council of Leaders. We are just one member. And, you know, when there's a group, the members don't like it when just one member speaks on behalf of the entire group. So I will say that there are -- there is support from Indigenous governments. In terms of the actual Council of Leaders, I will have to get back to the Member. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is a major priority. I think it should be evident to everyone why that's a major priority. When we have settled land claims, we have certainty. You know, prospective investors would have certainty. The money would flow into the territory from the federal government to the First Nations to administer their lands and self-governments. So, yes, it's a priority to get this done. However, it is in the hands of the Akaitcho right now. That being said, we're continuing to try to do our best to strengthen our relationship with the Akaitcho, and so we have been working with...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So back in 2023, a consultation draft of the Akaitcho treaty agreement-in-principle was concluded, and the Akaitcho chiefs, or First Nations, wanted to do an internal review of that agreement-in-principle before external consultation continues. And so that was in, as I said, 2023. It was in 2024 when they requested that there's no -- there will be no external consultation until they were comfortable, their membership were comfortable with the agreement-in-principle. And that is, from what I understand, still the status. The last meeting with the Akaitcho was in May on...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So this government has been in office for about five months, and they haven't released a budget yet, so I'd say it's a little premature to issue a red alert. We have had a much different relationship with this government. The conversations at the official’s level, at the Ministers level, have been much more, I'd say, fruitful. There's been much more interest I have found. There's a real desire to advance the development of critical minerals and to make investments in the North that show the world that Canada is investing in the North in terms of sovereignty and security...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, it still is a priority. When I was down in Ottawa just a couple weeks ago, a few weeks ago, myself and the Deputy Premier met with Minister Champagne, and we raised this. We had a good discussion about the need for it, about the cost of doing business in the territory, about the level of investment, and all those types of things that surround this type of initiative. The Minister was there, the deputy Minister was there, and other high-level officials from the Department of Finance. So we have made the case a number of times through a number of avenues and will...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And so as I said, because this has been taken internally by the Akaitcho, there hasn't been any progress and so any changes in the federal government's position haven't really had an impact. However, I know that the federal government is looking to cut costs across government and so there is -- you know, we need some clarity on what this extended internal review means for the funding to conduct such a review and how long the federal government will continue to provide funds. So in terms of the economic focus, I can't say there's been an impact, but we're waiting to find...

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Minister of Justice, I have a return to oral questions asked by the Member for Monfwi on May 21st, 2025, regarding the Legal Aid Commission of the Northwest Territories.

The Member asked about the current capacities of the Legal Aid Commission, noting a vacancy for the North Slave region on the Justice website. This vacancy was filled by the appointment of Jennifer Frankie-Smith commencing July 25, 2024, but the department did not update the Justice website to reflect this. The website is now current and correct, and the department thanks the Member for bringing...

Mr. Speaker, as we come together for the fall sitting of the 20th Legislative Assembly, I want to welcome all Members back to the House and thank the people of the Northwest Territories for their strength, generosity, and optimism about the future of our territory, even in the face of challenges.

The work we do in this House reflects the people we serve. Northerners face adversity with determination and meet change with creativity. Whether it is returning home after evacuations, adapting to new realities in our communities and economy, or finding new ways to support one another, the spirit of...