Before we start with Ministers' statements, I'd like to recognize some people in the gallery, We Always Remember the Circle. So Doreen Cleary, Paul Andrew, Mr. Stephen Kakfwi, former Premier, Member from 1987 to 2003, Gerri Sharpe, Bernice Lavoie, Marie Speakman, Wilbert Cook, William Greenland, Darrell Ohokannoak, Snookie Catholique, Marie Wilson, Jochim Bonnetrouge. Welcome to the Assembly, and great thank you for all the great work you are doing on this project.
As well, we have the Aurora College personal support workers. Thank you for the work you're doing and the career path you're going to move on to. So welcome to our Assembly.
And I would like to thank Shirley Elias for the opening prayer.
Mr. Speaker, today I would like to share the meaningful progress we are making on the Truth and Reconciliation Call to Action number 82, which calls upon provincial and territorial governments, in collaboration with survivors, to commission and install a publicly accessible, highly visible, residential schools monument in each capital city to honour survivors and all the children who were lost to their families and communities.
In 2015, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission released Honouring the Truth, Reconciling for the Future, its summary final report. This landmark document and its recommendations confront the devastating legacy of residential schools in Canada and chart a path toward reconciliation. The TRC Calls to Action continue to shape public discourse about the actions required to achieve reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples.
Here in the NWT, where half our population is Indigenous, the painful legacy of residential schools run deep. The trauma lives on in communities, whether felt directly by survivors or carried by those who love them. As part of this government's mandate, we are addressing the ongoing effects of this trauma and supporting residents and communities on their healing journeys.
Mr. Speaker, to this end, the GNWT has committed to working alongside Dene, Metis, and Inuit communities to establish a permanent monument here in our capital city. The monument will honour the children who never returned home, as well as the survivors, their families, and their communities.
What makes this project special is that it is led by residential school survivors with the GNWT in a supporting role. Guiding the vision for this monument is the We Always Remember Circle for northern residential school survivors, also known as the WAR Circle. It brings together residential school survivors from across the NWT who contribute their own experiences and commitment to ensuring that as a territory and as a country, we never forget.
While the GNWT is funding the monument, the design will be chosen by the Members of the WAR Circle and the artist or artists they select. The GNWT will continue to provide project management support and to engage with Indigenous governments, survivors and residents. We aim to see the monument completed by June 2027.
Mr. Speaker, as a government we remember and honour survivors, their families and their communities, and are committed to continued healing and reconciliation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Premier. Ministers' statements. Minister responsible for Housing NWT.
Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Auditor General of Canada released its report on the performance audit of Northwest Territories Housing. The auditor general's findings outline several areas where Housing NWT must improve how we provide residents most in need with equitable access to housing and supports through the public housing and homeownership programs.
Housing NWT accepts all recommendations outlined in the report. This is not just another audit, Mr. Speaker, this is a call to action. I acknowledge that action is required to address deficiencies identified in the report and am committed to delivering real change for residents across the Northwest Territories. Everyone deserves a place to call home.
The audit made recommendations related to the monitoring of local housing organizations on the allocation of public housing units and maintenance activities. The other areas covered by the audit included guidance and documentation of homeownership program eligibility and the need to evaluate Housing NWT's homeownership programs.
Mr. Speaker, Housing NWT began making changes to its program delivery through a renewal strategy in 2021. Of the 42 actions outlined in the strategy, 31 have been completed to date. Completed actions include revamping program delivery to be more client focused, removing barriers to housing and housing supports and developing an asset management policy framework to strengthen our public housing maintenance processes.
We are working on making principled changes to how we provide services Mr. Speaker; however, Housing NWT and I recognize that there is a lot more work to be done. The auditor general found that Housing NWT needs to better monitor public housing unit allocation and provide clearer guidance for local housing organizations. We have committed to address this by reviewing and updating our policies and procedures, building better systems to track maintenance, and training staff to apply these tools consistently across the territory.
In response to the recommendations, Mr. Speaker, we have also committed to conduct an external review of the governance and structure of our local housing organizations, including a jurisdictional scan of best practices. We will then engage with local housing organizations' boards of directors and staff to explore options for change.
The auditor general also identified a gap in monitoring of homeownership programs. Work has begun to address this gap by building capacity through the creation of a program evaluation analyst position. In response to the auditor general's recommendations, we also committed to conduct a full program evaluation of the emergency repair program by October 2027 and an additional evaluation design for homeownership repair. This work will build on the evaluation designs currently being developed for Housing NWT's market housing and public housing maintenance programs.
Mr. Speaker, the auditor general called for a better understanding of housing needs in the Northwest Territories. We have engaged with residents through the territorial housing needs assessment to better identify what housing supports are needed and where. This work, combined with Housing NWT's capital planning, resulted in the plans to construct 152 public housing units over the life of this Legislative Assembly, representing a significant $120 million investment. Over this same period, a further $30 million is being invested to support the delivery of over 500 public housing unit repairs to preserve our critical housing infrastructure across the territory. These investments demonstrate the efforts of this Legislative Assembly and Housing NWT to address our most critical housing needs.
Mr. Speaker, the auditor general also identified that Housing NWT needs stronger monitoring of the condition and maintenance of public housing. In response, Housing NWT will strengthen oversight through a modernized community housing services agreement with local housing organizations that formally documents our current maintenance reporting activities and sets clear performance measures. We will complete unit condition verifications for all local housing organizations, pilot third party condition assessments, and introduce the use of digital devices to improve accountability and timely maintenance.
When I visit communities, I see families doing their best in the homes that need major repairs. This is what drives me to push harder for solutions. We are making progress through repairs and unit replacements, but I acknowledge there is still much more work to be done to address our housing needs. In collaboration with Indigenous leaders from across the Northwest Territories, I am continuing to advocate for funding from the federal government to address our capital, operating, and maintenance needs.
This is not just an issue in the Northwest Territories. Recent audits across the North have highlighted similar challenges in limited resources and aging infrastructure. The message is clear: Northern housing requires federal support. I urge the federal government to step up as a partner to ensure all Northerners have access to safe, healthy homes.
Mr. Speaker, housing is more than a roof over our head; it is foundational to health, education, and economic opportunity. That is what guides me, and that is what will guide our work moving forward. With that perspective, Housing NWT is transitioning from the term "public" to "social" housing to better reflect the people-first nature of our services. This change is part of a broader shift in how Housing NWT thinks about the services we provide, not just as buildings or units, but as a service that supports our residents' well-being.
Mr. Speaker, I want to close by thanking the staff at Housing NWT and our local housing organizations. The changes we are making will continue to take time and teamwork, and I know our staff will be able and ready. Quyananni, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I want to follow up on my statement yesterday about housing as a human right by speaking about how we can better hold landlords and tenants accountable. When your landlord is an investment trust based far away that sees your building as a tiny blip on a balance sheet rather than a home or a community, it's very difficult to hold them accountable.
It is positive that over the past few years Housing NWT has been moving towards owning its own buildings and away from leases with monopolistic real estate trusts, but there are also local landlords violating people's rights, including in my riding.
The chief rental officer in her last several reports noted that existing mechanisms in the Residential Tenancies Act do not seem to deter landlords that are repeat offenders. She recommended changing the Act to allow for summary offence tickets with minimum fines.
Mr. Speaker, when it comes to troublesome tenants, there are limitations on the extent that legal processes can really hold people accountable. We can punish them, issue fines, evict them, even throw them in jail for short periods, but if they don't have any money and not much to lose, what have we accomplished? Have we really held them accountable?
One way forward is more supported group living options. The Housing First program for single adults here in Yellowknife adopted a scattered site model where people in the highest need, who may have been coming off the street, are issued apartments scattered across town, and they're expected to live independently. But this hasn't worked very well. People often struggle on their own, there are home takeovers and buildings get damaged.
For many years, the Yellowknife Women's Society has been proposing that Housing First be consolidated into one dedicated building where the organization can ensure better security and provide steady wraparound support every day. Honestly, I don't think it's the presence of security guards that will make a difference. It's when you intentionally create a sense of community, when you're surrounded by people who both care about you and call you out on your nonsense, that's when you develop a sense of accountability.
Mr. Speaker, everyone needs to live somewhere, but our housing system only works if both landlords and tenants treat the buildings as homes where we're accountable --
-- thank you, Member from Yellowknife North. Your time is up. Thank you. Members' statements. Member from Great Slave.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, all mines eventually close. Although there have been decades of closure planning exercises conducted with multiple owners, with each owner having less financial capacity than the last, there are now publicly available examples of Burgundy not being able to cover its expenses as we head to the closure of Ekati mine. Burgundy has requested extensions for all required regulatory submissions and is failing to carry out its required environmental monitoring as it cannot currently pay its contractors to complete inspection reports.
Mr. Speaker, I am not trying to pick on any particular company. What I hope Cabinet and the public understands is that this situation is an example of what can happen to companies that operate mines as they scale down and scale back, especially companies without deep pockets, which should cause all of us pause if the future of mining in the NWT is small to medium operators.
Given the legacy of historically inadequate approaches to mine closure and remediation in the NWT, including the toxic legacy that sits mere minutes away from this House, today I will be seeking clarity from the Minister of Environment and Climate Change as to what plans his department has if and when a mining company passes the buck for reclamation onto our public government. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Great Slave. Members' statements. Member from Range Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When Prime Minister Trudeau introduced $10 a day daycare, early learning and childcare became far more affordable for Canadians and for Northerners. This was a game changer for my family and many others in the NWT. For working parents with young children like me and my wife, affordable daycare isn't a luxury; it's a necessity. Now ECE's role in daycare services has significantly expanded and with it, the Minister's responsibility to ensure her department effectively manages partnerships with both day homes and childcare centres, ensuring subsidies and regulations are efficient and effective.
To build a network of quality and consistent affordable childcare in the North, providers must be properly paid, resourced, and trained. Yet day home operators, who are central to childcare delivery, continue to face the same frustrations over and over again: poor communication, rigid micromanagement, and unresponsiveness to their feedback.
Day home operators know best what works for them and their families and where the system is falling short, and what they are telling us is in no uncertain terms is that they do not have the resources they need to provide the quality of child care that Northerners deserve. They were promised annual funding increases, but their support has remained stagnant. Yet they are still expected to provide extra programming, after-hours care, and meals, all without the ability to charge additional fees for these services, unlike operators in other jurisdictions. Staff, meanwhile, are unfairly compensated for their work as day home operators with little recognition for longevity or education. In contrast, the wage grid for centre workers provides step recognition for years of service in the North, education, and Indigenous knowledge. One of the best ways to ensure quality is to reward skill and dedication, but this lack of incentive and recognition instead discourages day home staff and day homes from operating in the North.
Our day home operators are also highlighting a critical gap in childcare. These programs currently only accept children starting at two and a half years old. We need to lower those ages so we can have more infants in care because right now the program is largely based around older kids.
This year, the government gave $3.5 million to childcare centres but day homes are being left behind. They are on the frontline delivering critical services and must be treated as partners in shaping policy --
-- Member from Range Lake, your time is up. Thank you, Member from Range Lake.
Members' statements. Member from Inuvik Boot Lake.
Mr. Speaker, once again I rise to voice concerns brought to me by Indigenous governments and residents in my region regarding GNWT approach to traditional use cabins. Mr. Speaker, I've raised this issue twice in this Assembly. So after today, Mr. Speaker, it will be thrice I've raised this issue, Mr. Speaker. Thrice, still with no resolution, Mr. Speaker.
We have settled land claim agreements in my region that clearly state an agreement that provides for certain rights to Indigenous claimant groups to access and establish camps as part of exercising their right to harvest agreements and to harvest, Mr. Speaker, and these are agreements that we as a government signed.
In June 2023, Mr. Speaker, the then Member from Inuvik Twin Lakes provided a Member's statement following up on a motion she brought to this House in relation to Indigenous people having cabins for the rights-based purpose and how they should be exempt from lease payments for those rights-based cabins and camps, Mr. Speaker. Following several Members' statements on this issue, government made several key commitments that are meant to respond directly to the concerns raised by Indigenous governments:
Commitment to develop a unique authorization and management approach for traditional use cabins, camps, and cabins;
Agreeing to set the annual rent for this new authorization at zero cost or a nominal value of $1, eliminating this financial barrier to traditional land use; and,
Mr. Speaker, the GNWT committed to working collaboratively with Indigenous governments to establish the terms and conditions for this new authorization so that it provides a level of flexibility and regional customization while still meeting the GNWT's basic interests in the management of public lands in the NWT.
Time and time again, Mr. Speaker, the Minister has said we are working with Indigenous governments but when I speak to some Indigenous governments, they say they've been waiting on GNWT. So, Mr. Speaker, I have no idea when we'll figure this out and what is being done for the NWT rights-based cabin owners, Mr. Speaker. This is taking far too long, people are frustrated, they have suffered financial hardship, and Indigenous governments are fed up. We need to resolve this issue now, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Inuvik Boot Lake. Members' statements. Member from the Sahtu.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in recognition of our colleague from Range Lake's red alert last week to the mining industry, I wish to share my concerns pragmatically regarding the precarious economic position as identified in the eyes wide open economic forecast. It is shocking, Mr. Speaker.
The GNWT will see Diavik royalty revenues cut off in the first quarter of 2026, just months away, while a nation building project such as the critical infrastructure developments are needed, indeed intended to replace the declining industry and diversifying our revenue streams. The timeline presents critical challenges that we cannot simply ignore.
Mr. Speaker, the federal minority governments historically never complete their term. Another election is a possibility within this term. I, for one, do not hope this becomes.
With the imposed Mackenzie Valley Highway environmental assessment extensions requested by this government, we are now looking at a possible three-year environmental assessment regulatory period before we can even break ground on projects essential to our economic survival.
Mr. Speaker, this fundamental misalignment between political reality and regulatory timelines put our territory's economic future at serious risk. We cannot afford to wait three years for approvals. What happens if the new government takes a different approach? Mr. Speaker, we need to act action now, not bureaucratic delays that stretch beyond election cycles. Mahsi.
Thank you, Member from the Sahtu. Members' statements. Member from Frame Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am following up on my statement earlier this sitting on the need for better literacy screening and supports in our schools.
In response to my questions on October 20th, the ECE Minister noted there is currently no intent to update the NWT literacy strategy which expired in 2018 and referenced the 2030 early learning and childcare strategy as well as the early learning framework, suggesting both documents emphasized literacy. So naturally I reviewed these documents. And, Mr. Speaker, literacy is not mentioned once in either of them, nor is reading. So while they might speak to early learning related to literacy, they are not at all a replacement for a literacy strategy which addresses literacy from childhood through adulthood that the previous literacy strategy did.
Furthermore, I understand that the community literacy development fund is still administered under the expired literacy strategy. So we're funding programming under a strategy which expired seven years ago. It doesn't make sense to me, and I'll be seeking clarification on this later today.
In her responses to my earlier questions, the Minister also noted that our schools have shifted to the BC curriculum which has an assessment framework and tools will be afforded to teachers to do these assessments. I do appreciate that, and I appreciate the Minister's commitment to look into the screening of assessment tools used in other jurisdictions to see if we need to be doing more. In BC, early literacy screening intervention and outreach support for schools, including school district professional development, was scheduled to begin rollout in the 2024-2025 school year. The BC government announced an investment of $30 million over three years to expand the services of several provincial outreach programs and teams and support literacy focused professional development and training for teachers and support staff. The new professional development and training will help K to 12 teachers and support staff build the knowledge, tools, and evidence-based strategies needed to support the diverse literacy needs of all students, including those beyond grade 3. This includes workshops and resources for supporting students with learning disabilities.
So BC is a good example of a jurisdiction which is taking responsibility for and addressing literacy in schools. I think the NWT government needs to follow suit and take responsibility for its role in ensuring literacy screening and support is provided. I'll have further questions for the Minister later today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Frame Lake. Members' statements. Member from Monfwi.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Indeed housing did fail our people, especially in small communities. Mr. Speaker, across the NWT, many residents live in market rental units owned by Housing NWT. These homes have provided shelter and stability for many families, but the dreams of homeownership is not possible. It is unreachable for many.
Mr. Speaker, in communities where there is little to no housing market, residents cannot buy a house. There is no house listing, no private developers, and no banks offering mortgages. Yet these same residents have been paying rent, maintaining the house, and contributing to the communities. They are not just tenants, Mr. Speaker; they are the caretakers, neighbours, and community builders.
Mr. Speaker, Housing NWT is accepting all recommendations made as per the housing audit; therefore, I am calling on housing to transfer market rental units to long-term tenants similar to what is offered under the homeownership initiative to public housing tenants. This program support tenants in transitioning to ownership, and it should include market rental units in small communities where there is no housing market.
Mr. Speaker, transferring the ownership of these houses will empower. We know it will, that will empower the families with stability, dignity, and the ability to build equity. It would also reduce the long-term costs of maintaining these units for government while strengthening local economies and encouraging community pride. Mr. Speaker, I ask for unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted
Mr. Speaker, this is a solution that aligns with our goals of reconciliation, self-sufficiency, and economic development. Mr. Speaker, this is not just about bricks and mortar. It is about fairness, opportunity, and hope. Thank you.
Thank you, Member from Monfwi. Members' statements. Member from Yellowknife Centre.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a few parents recently reach out to me, and they talked about the challenges within the education system. Now, it's not a question of the school boards not meeting their needs; it's their inability to actually rise to the necessity. And it's not just these parents, Mr. Speaker; it's dozens upon dozens of parents struggling with these problems, not to mention one could only imagine the depth the problems get into the community. So what am I talking about? Assessments for students, Mr. Speaker.
We have children who are going unassessed. Their learning disabilities are being ignored or overlooked only because we don't have the staff or the abilities to rise to these occasions. Mr. Speaker, collectively, some parents have more than one child struggling with learning disabilities, whether it's considered things like autism, dyslexia, or other types of matters, Mr. Speaker, before them. These are day-to-day struggles some of these parents cover with.
Now to put this unfairly maybe on the school system wouldn't be necessarily the right approach, but the reality is they are the ones with the tools and mechanisms to support these parents. That said, they have limited resources. We all know that. So when you're a lucky parent who has a child who can go through the SLP program, many parents tell me they've been on the list so long their kids age out before they actually get services. So parents then step up and pay for the assessments on their own. Some costs as high as $3,000, Mr. Speaker. And if you don't have a program, whether you're through a government insurance program or something to pay for it, you've got to work for that extra scratch to be able to afford that.
Mr. Speaker, I believe deeply that many parents care very much about their children as a general rule, but that said, I mean, some people just don't have the money no matter how much they care about their children; they just can't afford it. But some do. Some make sacrifices, and they pursue these assessments on their own.
The assessments are very expensive, but the question starts to wonder is if the education system isn't able to rise to the necessity of assessing these kids and coming up with the right learning plans and support mechanisms, who should ultimately be responsible?
There are certain sections under the Education Act, in particular section 7, that talks about supports for children. Maybe we need to start asking ourselves if they can't get the supports here through the system, how are we supporting parents who are finding different methods to do this? Are we saying only the rich deserve support? I don't think that's fair. We should make sure it's equitable supports are available and in meaningful ways, so our young people have the tools they need to move forward in life in a productive way. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Yellowknife Centre. Members' statements.
Colleagues, Mike Rowe was born on October 10, 1953, to Bill and Rita Rowe in Berwyn, Alberta. They moved north in 1955. From the very beginning, Mike was a natural-born protector. As his siblings came into the world, he wholeheartedly embraced the role of guardian and became a fierce source of strength, not only for his family but for friends and anyone in need.
Mike realized early on that school was not for him. He liked to work with his hands and being outside. Upon this realization, he made a deal with the administration - he would finish the school but by doing chores around the school yard. Once the school year was done, Mike was moving on to his next adventure - working for his dad.
Many people that knew Mike, he was a very competitive person. The family remembers Mike's great friend Alex Sunrise and how, on most days, they would have running races outside of St. Paul's School. It was not about the wins and loses; it was the competition and getting better. This same drive carried over to his business career.
As a young adult, Mike gained experience working for various companies, always with his dream of becoming a crane operator for NTCL. When he received a layoff notice in November, he took it as a sign to forge his own path.
In 1971, Mike married Linda Pynten and had 3 children, Will, Michael, and Lonnie. In 1975, Mike and Jack bought out their Dad and Keith Broadhead and started the journey of doing their business which we all know today is the Rowe's Group of Companies. In the late '80's Mike met his beloved wife Kim Squires-Rowe in Fort Simpson, and they had three children - Crystal, Ashley, and Julie.
I had the pleasure of knowing Mike both in Hay River and later in Fort Simpson. Unfortunately, years later Mike and Kim moved back to Hay River, but I got to run into him off and on throughout the years. Mike was always the same person throughout those years, always friendly and wanting to catch up on our families' adventures.
If you ask Mike what he was most proud of, he would always look at his family first. To many, Mike would always be remembered first as a tireless worker, a man of grit, reliability, and action. But it's those who knew him best, he was much more. His greatest pride and joy were his family. Every long day and every tough job he took was with them in mind. Mike was constantly thinking of ways to make life better for those he loved.
When it came to his business history, Mike, along with his brother Jack, created a company with strong ties in the North and family legacy. They had some tough times over the years but together, with their siblings and their desire to succeed, they forged to be a beacon with and today they are a huge part of the NWT.
Their company has provided to Fort Simpson, Hay River, and the North, employing a vast number of people doing large volumes of work.
I would like to thank Brad Mapes and the family for sharing his eulogy with me. As it is always difficult to share a celebration of life in a short amount of time, I highlighted a few moments here today. I will ask that this eulogy be deemed as read and printed in Hansard.
Colleagues, he will be sadly missed, and his memory will live on. God speed, Mike.
Mike Rowe began his journey on October 10, 1953, born to Bill and Rita Rowe in Berwyn Alberta. They moved North in 1955. From the very beginning, Mike was a natural-born protector. As his siblings—Jack, Becky, Owen, Greg, and Mark—came into the world, he wholeheartedly embraced the role of guardian and became a fierce source of strength, not only for his family but for friends and anyone in need.
Mike realized early on, during his middle school years, that he was far more at home working with his hands than sitting in a classroom. With a clear vision and a practical spirit, he made a deal with his school: he would attend, but instead of traditional lessons, he would perform chores around the grounds. It was understood on both sides that his formal schooling would not continue the following year. At just 12 years old, Mike began working for his father—pumping gas, changing tires, and doing whatever was needed around the shop.
When the flood of ‘63 occurred in Hay River, everybody pulled together to help. Mike’s Dad would be assisting people that got stuck in the water with his tow truck, and Mike at the age of 10 years old stepped up in hooking up vehicles. At a young age Mike was a natural born leader. As a young adult, Mike gained experience working for various companies, always with the dream of becoming a crane operator for NTCL. When he received a layoff notice in November, he took it as a sign to forge his own path. True to form, Mike decided to paddle his own canoe—and for the next 50 years, he built a legacy through hard work and determination.
In 1971 Mike married Linda Pynten and had 3 children, Will, Michael and Lonnie. In 1975, Mike and Jack bought out their Dad Bill Rowe and Keith Broadhead and started the journey of starting their business which we all know today is the Rowe’s Group of Companies. In the latter part of the ‘80’s Mike met his beloved wife Kim Squires-Rowe in Fort Simpson and had 3 daughters, Crystal, Ashley and Julie.
Mike spent many years in Fort Simpson, but Hay River was home for most of his life. His love for his hometown of Hay River was always shown by his dedication to create a better community for all. When it came to his business history Mike along with his brother Jack created a company with strong ties to the north and family legacy. They had some tough times over the years but the two of them together, with their sibling’s and their desire to succeed were a force to be recon with and today they are a huge part of the NWT. Their company has provided to our community and the north employing a vast number of people doing large volumes of work. Mike and Jack forged a good partnership feeding off each other’s skills set. Mike never held a political office, but he truly was a leader for the North.
Alana Harris said it best, “In the construction world, strength, vision, and grit are essential. Mike had all three in abundance. He didn’t just lead from the front; he rolled up his sleeves and worked with us, taught us, challenged us and inspired us. From late nights on job sites to early morning meetings with Dad’s cookies he poured heart and soul into building not just a company, but an empire—one crushed stone, one road, one poured foundation, one trusted relationship at a time, but beyond the equipment the gravel production, the roads and contracts, Mike built people! What made Mike Sr different wasn’t just his business savvy or work ethic, it was his character, Integrity, loyalty, generosity, and fierce dedication. He took care of the people who worked with him, not just as employees, but as family. And for many of us, that’s exactly what we became.”
Beyond work, Mike never missed the opportunity to get in a good ole two step...especially with his Love Kim, enjoying time at the cabin by the lake, the thrill of jet boat racing, cheering for the Oilers, and watching classic westerns. But his happiest moments were always those spent surrounded by loved ones. If you ask Mike what he was most proud of he always looked to his family first. To many, Mike will be remembered first as a tireless worker—a man of grit, reliability, and action. But to those who knew him best, he was so much more. His greatest pride and joy was his family. Every long day and every tough job he undertook was with them in mind. Mike was constantly thinking of ways to make life better for those he loved.
Mike is survived by his beloved wife, Kim Squires-Rowe; his children: Will Pynten, Mike Rowe Jr., Lonnie Boxer (Donny), Crystal Squires-Rowe, Ashley Phillips-Rowe (Stu), and Julie Squires-Rowe; his grandchildren: Shawn Rowe, Shyla Rowe, Alexis Pynten, Mason Boxer, Aspen Phillips-Rowe, and Emma Phillips-Rowe; and his great-granddaughter, Mila Maurice-Rowe.
He also leaves behind his siblings: Jack (Velma), Becky (Dan), Owen (Lisa), Greg (Karen), Mark (Cathy); his extended family through Kim: Keith Squires (Janet), Clarence Jr., Kathy, and Jessica (Conrad); as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Mike is predeceased by his Parents Bill and Rita Rowe, Father, and Mother-in-law Clarance and Kathleen Squires, Daughter in Law Shawna Pynten, and Nephew Brandon Squires.
Mike will be remembered as a man with a plan—a steady and guiding presence, full of strength, quick wit, warm hugs, and a helping hand. As his mother once said, “Mike came into the world fast, hard, and furious,” and that is exactly how he lived: full of purpose, love, and pride.
Members’ statements. Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.
Mr. Speaker, yesterday the auditor general report on housing in the NWT was released. While I was shocked by its findings, I was not surprised. As the MLA for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh representing the Akaitcho communities that have long been marginalized, I have seen firsthand the lack of services, including housing, that my constituents face. This report reflects what I've been hearing from residents since my election, but seeing it all documented in one report is still deeply shocking.
As an MLA, I am constantly bringing it to the Minister's attention public housing units that are in desperate need of repair. This report confirms the obvious, that the homes are not inspected frequently enough. Delayed inspection means delayed repairs. And when I visit communities like Lutselk'e and Fort Resolution, I see stairs falling off the houses, furnaces spewing ashes into the hallways, and windows and doors improperly sealed. My constituents repeatedly ask me to raise these concerns, yet they are often referred back to the local housing authority which lack resources to make the necessary repairs.
I am also not surprised to see that the average wait time to access a housing unit is two years. Elders and families are always asking me why they can't get homes or why homes are sitting vacant, instead they are living together in a crowded condition or in homes that are even far worse shape than public housing without running water, electricity, or plumbing.
Housing NWT will not last forever. Its funding from CMHC is set to end in a decade. This massive bureaucracy centralized in Yellowknife is failing to relay information from my communities to get resources to them in a timely manner. It feels as though every housing problem becomes a political issue. I work with the Minister to resolve many of these cases, but there simply isn't enough time to address them all.
What we need is a housing authority led by communities themselves with a capacity to get the work done. I appreciate the Minister's focus on decentralizing housing, but this work needs to be top priority for this government before it runs out. I would have questions for the Minister of Housing at the appropriate time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier today we were joined by members of the WAR Circle, the We Always Remember Circle. And we have a couple members still left in the gallery I would like to recognize. Gerri Sharpe and Doreen Cleary who was actually one of the co-chairs of the WAR Circle. It's an honour to have them here with us today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Hay River North. Member from Yellowknife North.
All of Yellowknife I represent today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just wanted to acknowledge and recognize Yellowknife North constituents Marie Wilson, Steven Kakfwi, and Paul Andrew. I am quite honoured to have such distinguished Northerners in the Yellowknife North riding. Former Truth and Reconciliation Commissioner Marie Wilson, also a member of the Order of the NWT and the Order of Canada. Of course, Steven Kakfwi, a former Premier and the longest serving Cabinet member in NWT history. And Paul Andrew, recipient of the Order of the NWT and a national Aboriginal Achievement Award winner. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I'm grateful that they could take the time to be here today.
Thank you, Member from Yellowknife North. I got it right this time. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member from Frame Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Premier beat me to it, but I also wanted to recognize Doreen Cleary and Gerri Sharpe who hail from the Frame Lake riding. Thank you for being here today. Thank you.
Thank you, Member from Frame Lake. Member from Sahtu.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I too would like to recognize Doreen Cleary, a longtime friend of the family. Mahsi.
Thank you, Member from the Sahtu. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I too would like to recognize Doreen Cleary, a family friend as well, and Gerri Sharpe as well, and everybody else in the audience. Thank you.
Thank you, Member from Tu Nedhe Wiilideh. Recognition of visitors in the gallery.
If we missed anyone in the gallery today, welcome to your chambers. Thank you very much for allowing us 19 people to represent the people of the Northwest Territories. I hope you are enjoying the proceedings. It's always nice to see people in the gallery.
