Debates of October 30, 2025 (day 71)

Colleagues, I wish to draw your attention to the 1967 Centennial carry belt, or baby belt from What We Heard from Commissioner Kisoun today.

It was my pleasure to receive this historical piece of artwork back on behalf of the Legislative Assembly. This carry belt has a very rich history and holds a lot of meaning. Believed to be made in Aklavik for Canada's Centennial celebrations, it was displayed with the territorial mace. Commissioner Stuart Hodgson gave the belt to Tony Belcourt, at the time a young Metis leader who had publicly challenged the Commissioner's view on the role of Indigenous people leading the Northwest Territories.

A nationally-respected Metis leader and elder, Mr. Belcourt returned the belt to the Premier earlier this month in Ottawa. The Premier gave it to Commissioner Kisoun, and he entrusted it to the Legislative Assembly just moments ago. The belt and its story will be displayed at the Legislative Assembly.

The belt returns to the Assembly in a very different world from when it left. Indigenous people lead the territories and, more importantly, lead their own governments and nations. Receiving the carry belt today will serve as a reminder that we come from one land with many voices. We will proudly display this belt here at the Legislative Assembly to honour those voices from the past but to also honour those voices that will be our future. As well, we will continue the research to make sure we have more of the history, and we'll make sure it's displayed on the display as well as our future website. So thank you very much to everybody that was part of this celebration and thank you for bringing it back to the people of the Northwest Territories.

Before we go any further, I would like to recognize the former Premier, Mr. Stephen Kakfwi, Member from 1987 to 2003. As well as Marc Whitford, president of North Slave Metis Alliance. Welcome to our Assembly.

Mr. Speaker, the Northwest Territories is at the heart of several transformative projects that are vital not only to our territory's future, but to Canada's strength, security, and prosperity.

The Government of the Northwest Territories' major infrastructure initiatives are nation-building in scale and critical to Canada's long-term presence and leadership in the Arctic. Together, they unlock access to critical minerals, deliver clean and reliable power, and create resilient north-south transportation links that strengthen sovereignty, emergency preparedness, and supply chains, while creating new opportunities for Northerners. Each project is being advanced in partnership with Indigenous governments, offering a model of collaborative northern development.

Mr. Speaker, in September, the Prime Minister announced the first round of projects of national interest and strategic areas of focus under Canada's new approach to advancing transformative infrastructure. The Prime Minister also established the major projects office and directed them to create business development teams to work with proponents to make these projects of national interest a success.

One of the named areas of strategic focus is the Arctic Economic and Security Corridor, a project described by the federal government as a "strategic lifeline" and "a backbone for both security and prosperity". This level of national attention and awareness on matching the progress of other circumpolar countries is long overdue. Now that the opportunity has come, we must maximize this chance to truly make the dream of Canada as "the true North" a reality.

I am pleased to report that staff from strategic infrastructure, energy and supply chains have already met with the major projects office and my office has a meeting scheduled in early November. With strong and consistent engagement, we will be well positioned to take advantage of this federal initiative and advance key strategic projects for the Northwest Territories.

The Arctic Economic and Security Corridor is a nation-building initiative that will strengthen sovereignty, open access to critical minerals, and create an all-season, dual-use, port-to-port-to-port infrastructure corridor connecting the Northwest Territories to Nunavut's Arctic Coast via the planned Grays Bay road and port. In partnership with Indigenous governments, and specifically noted in the 6th Tlicho Assembly Priorities 2026-2030, this project represents an opportunity to deliver long-term economic value to the North, and to show how impactful a focus on Canada's Arctic can be in shaping Canada's prosperity.

Supporting and enabling the Arctic Economic and Security Corridor is the Taltson hydro expansion, a clean energy and transmission project that will deliver reliable renewable power to 11 communities, serving over 70 percent of the Northwest Territories' population.

Taltson will reduce reliance on imported diesel, advance Indigenous economic participation through equity and ownership opportunities, and provide the clean energy needed to power industry and future industrial development both south of Great Slave Lake and along the Arctic Economic and Security Corridor. Federal partnership will be essential to co-developing funding and financing model and to address legacy impacts from the original project through a reconciliation lens.

Rounding out Northwest Territories' strategic projects is the Mackenzie Valley Highway. This is an essential all-season route that will connect communities along the Northwest Territories' central region, strengthen Canadian sovereignty, and reduce supply chains vulnerabilities. This highway will enhance year-round access for communities, improve emergency response, and open new opportunities for northern businesses and mineral resource development across the Mackenzie Valley.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce that just last week, the Pehdzeh Ki First Nation and the GNWT announced a work plan that allows us to collaboratively explore potential corridor and routing options through Pehdzeh Ki First Nations traditional territory. The agreement establishes a clear framework for collaboration, outlines activities and milestones, and sets out how both parties will work together to ensure traditional knowledge, local input, and community priorities inform any future planning and decision-making.

Under the amended and restated memorandum of understanding for collaboration on the advancement of the Mackenzie Valley Highway, the Government of the Northwest Territories and the Sahtu Secretariat Incorporated are also working together to move this nation-building infrastructure forward. Through quarterly meetings, the partners are actively advancing project planning, including completion of the Mackenzie Valley Highway business case, discussions on financing and federal engagement, and the strategic use of existing funding under the national trade corridors. This collaborative approach is laying the groundwork for unlocking economic potential, improving connectivity, and strengthening northern resilience.

Mr. Speaker, these projects represent a unified vision for the North. The onus to make them a reality cannot be on Northerners alone. Both Canada and the Northwest Territories must remain equal leaders in advancing this work to safeguard our nation's strategic interests in the North. This vision of connecting Canada's North will be built through collaboration, sustainability, and shared prosperity. This is the foundation for a stronger and more connected and more resilient Canada. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister responsible for Strategic Infrastructure, Energy and Supply Chains. Ministers' statements. Minister of Health and Social Services.

Mr. Speaker, today I would like to acknowledge the recent finalization of master service agreements with Alberta Health Services. This is an important milestone. These agreements modernize our partnership, strengthening accountability for the essential supports and services delivered to Northwest Territories residents and funded by the GNWT.

For many years, the GNWT's collaboration with Alberta Health Services has been based on informal arrangements that evolve over time. The new master service agreements formalize this relationship, help reduce legal risks, clarify funding responsibilities, and improve accountability for the services provided to the Northwest Territories residents. These agreements also document the complex ways we work together and help ensure that these important services remain stable and sustainable into the future.

These agreements are important milestones because they support our ability to deliver coordinated health care to residents. There are two agreements in place: One between the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority and Alberta Health Services and another between Alberta Health Services and the Department of Health and Social Services.

Each agreement is structured as an umbrella agreement, with detailed service commitments and arrangements added as separate schedules. One example is the section focused on clinical ethicist support services. These services help patients, families, and health care providers navigate difficult decisions during complex care situations. This part of the agreement also supports staff development by offering targeted training to strengthen ethical decision-making across our health system.

Under the master services agreement held by the department, the first schedule formalizes the longstanding arrangement with Alberta Health Services for their administration of the NWT cancer registry. Alberta Health Services also acts on our behalf to report this data to the Canadian Cancer Registry and the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries. This agreement reduces the administrative burden on local staff, allowing them to focus more on delivering essential services to residents.

Mr. Speaker, with the master services agreements now finalized, including the first two schedules, work is underway with Alberta Health Services to complete additional schedules that reflect the services already being delivered through our existing partnerships. These additions will help to ensure that all aspects of our collaboration are clearly defined and supported within a formal structure.

Additional schedules are currently being developed to formalize existing partnerships and processes. These include the exchange of health records to support patient care, access to specialized physician services, and position and medication information services. The agreements will also help coordinate travel arrangements for Northwest Territories residents who are referred to Alberta for medical care.

The agreements also provide a clear process for considering new partnerships. As new arrangements are developed, they will be documented and formalized under this modern framework.

Mr. Speaker, the finalization of these master service agreements is the result of extensive collaboration and dedicated work behind the scenes by staff across multiple departments and agencies. This includes contributions from the Department of Health and Social Services, all three health and social services authorities, the Department of Finance's procurement shared services division, and the Department of Justice. And I would like to sincerely thank all those involved for their commitment to advancing this important work. Their efforts have been instrumental in putting these agreements in place and laying the foundation for continued progress toward our goal of supporting healthy people and communities in the Northwest Territories. Quyananni, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister of Health and Social Services. Ministers' statements. Mr. Premier.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise Members that the honourable Member for Thebacha will be absent from the House for a portion of today's proceedings to attend to a personal matter. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, elders, residents of Behchoko, and even Tlicho workers, have raised concerns about the Rayrock mine site and how nearby lakes could affect people's health and safety. These lakes are not being cleaned up as part of the current remediation work.

Mr. Speaker, the lakes known locally as Alpha, Beta, and Gamma are all connected to the old uranium mining at Rayrock. They are not part of the remediation plan. Even though they are very close to areas that are being treated, active clean-up taking place, sometimes less than 100 metres away.

The question that must be asked, Mr. Speaker, is this: What is the current state of contamination in these nearby lakes and why has that information not been made accessible to the people of Behchoko? The reports that do exist are highly technical and can only be interpreted by specialists.

Mr. Speaker, residents deserve clear and understandable information about what these results mean, what risks may exist, and why these nearby lakes were left out of the remediation plan. Mr. Speaker, if we want the Rayrock clean-up to truly protect people and the environment in the long term, we need a more open and complete approach that means clearly sharing test results, explaining what they mean in plain language, and ensuring that all impacted lakes are properly studied, including those not covered in the current clean-up plan. The safety of our land and water must never be left in question. Not negotiable.

I urge the government to work with the responsible authorities to share information with the community of Behchoko and make sure residents are kept informed and protected throughout the Rayrock clean-up. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will have question for the Minister of ECC.

Thank you, Member from Monfwi. Members' statements. Member from the Sahtu.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, over a decade ago, the NWT devolution agreement fundamentally transformed our territory's future. We gained province-like control over the public lands, our resources, our economic destiny. This was not merely an administrative transfer; it was a recognition that Northerners are best positioned to make decisions about the North. Legislation still remains with the Government of Canada.

Yesterday, Mr. Speaker, I spoke of the declining resource sector, mineral industry departure. Mr. Speaker, with devolution came the authority to conditionally manage our own minerals, oil and gas development. We gained the power to collect royalties and keep up to 50 percent of resource revenues. We secured the right to make our own decisions on land use permits, regulatory timelines. These are not symbolic powers, Mr. Speaker. They are tools of economic resilience. Yet tools are only as valuable as our willingness to use them.

As we face the imminent loss of Diavik royalty revenues in the coming months and navigate uncertainty federal political landscape, we must ask ourselves are we fully seizing the opportunities that territorial control provides? Are we exercising our hard-won independence with the urgency of our economic situation demands?

Mr. Speaker, evolution for devolution, economic resilience is not built through hesitation; it is built through decisive action by using our devolved authorities to streamline approvals, attract investment, and demonstrate to the world that the Northwest Territories is truly open for responsible development.

Mr. Speaker, within the agreement, we have partial control and now want total independence. Now we have the aggression to use both secure and economic future. Later I will have questions to the Premier. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from the Sahtu. Members' statements. Member from Inuvik Boot Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to draw attention to the House of an event happening next week in Yellowknife, the Arctic security working group being held in Yellowknife at the Joint Task Force North on November 5th and 6th, Mr. Speaker. To build relationships, nurture partnerships, and identify opportunity for collaboration is their aim, Mr. Speaker, to continue discussion around Operation NANOOK and continue information sharing between member stakeholders and the Arctic security working group.

The theme for the two days is shared infrastructure with DND, especially in the northern operational hub, such as Inuvik, Yellowknife, and Iqaluit. There are 226 people registered in person and virtually. And I understand, Mr. Speaker, that every federal department will have representatives participating in this event, and I encourage, Mr. Speaker, our government to ensure that we have the same level of participation. I note that Minister Wawzonek is on a panel with Mayor Peter Clarkson of Inuvik and Yellowknife Mayor Ben Hendrickson on doing a panel on perspectives on dual use infrastructure. And I also note, Mr. Speaker, that the MOU I spoke of in a previous Member's statement between Yellowknife and Inuvik to share information has now officially been signed.

Mr. Speaker, Arctic security is a growing concern nationally, for the NWT, our communities like Inuvik, and that are designated as northern operation hubs. Identifying and building shared infrastructure that is beneficial for our communities and DND is critical to help address our infrastructure deficit. Arctic security is an opportunity for all levels of government in the Northwest Territories to work with DND and ensure the North and Arctic are fully involved and share in these benefits. As we continue to see less sea ice, Mr. Speaker, and more open water in the Canadian Arctic and specifically in the Northwest Passage, Arctic security is a growing concern.

The freightership that was grounded this summer in the central Arctic was successfully salvaged and refloated without serious environmental issues, but this further supports the need for better Arctic security and monitoring, Mr. Speaker. The eyes of Canada, North America, and indeed the world are upon us. We have to be ready to meet this moment, Mr. Speaker, as the true guardians of the Arctic. Thank you.

Thank you, Member from Inuvik Boot Lake. Members' statements. Member from Great Slave.

Mr. Speaker, the annual business plans of the GNWT are presented to Members and, in recent years, to the public as demonstrating how government is implementing its mandate. The mandate is built by departments and Cabinet to implement the 20th Assembly's priorities. This is the Russian nesting doll of the hierarchical system of how the GNWT chooses to action priorities of this House.

One of our collective priorities is access to health care and addressing the effects of trauma. And, Mr. Speaker, two years in, I wonder how effectively we are addressing trauma. This is concerning for many reasons.

It gives me pause especially because all of our priorities intersect. We can't have a healthy economy without addressing trauma. We can't address trauma without meaningfully addressing suitability, accessibility, and affordability of housing. We can't have safe residents and communities without addressing trauma and how it impacts public safety.

I spent part of my summer reviewing every business plan item related to addressing trauma. Many of these actions are things that the government was already doing prior to our election. Some of them are arguably under-resourced. Very few, if any of them, can be argued to have anything to do with addressing the root causes of trauma. I'd argue that only a few departments and agencies have meaningful actions in this regard, and I'd rather we target them more effectively, strategically, than trying to stretch a connection to trauma. For example, a committee meets a certain number of times a year as a target of our success.

Mr. Speaker, it's also notable that some departments have made very little progress so far under all priorities, not just the actions under trauma. This year's business plan update is going to be a crucial -- this coming year's business plan update, I should say, is going to be crucial for this House to dissect. I should ask all of us to consider, what is the point of a business plan if you're not effectively monitoring and evaluating your progress to know if your actions are meaningful or impactful?

Mr. Speaker, the Department of Finance oversees departmental business plan submissions. I will have questions for the Minister at the appropriate time.

Thank you, Member from Great Slave. Member statements. Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Mr. Speaker, the schools across the North could collectively face a $60 million cut in Jordan's Principle funding for support staff. Programs and services come to an end. Yet, even with this funding, our schools have long struggled to provide quality education because their communities face severe shortage of affordable housing for teachers. Despite these challenges, schools in my communities continue to seek the best educators for our Indigenous children, teachers with skills and expertise to offer diverse classes and meet unique needs. They work hard to recruit top talent from colleges and universities across Canada when competition with the rest of the country is tough. Many of these teachers have mortgages to pay back home, and when they see rent here climbing well over $2,000 a month before even factoring in utilities and overall costs of living, they don't see the North as an option. Instead, they see the south to communities they provide teachers with free housing or, in cases of Nunavut communities, where staff housing is subsidized. Here in the Northwest Territories, meanwhile staff housing whittled away over time leaving the problem to DEAs which lack the necessary resources. All teachers can rely on now are market rentals which were never truly affordable and have become more expensive this year.

Our children have treaty rights to education. Yet students in my communities of Fort Resolution and Lutselk'e cannot access the same quality of education as their peers here in Yellowknife. Their schools struggle to recruit teachers and when they do, many don't last for long. Just a few days ago, I was informed that one of my communities lost yet another teacher. Once again, a lack of housing was to blame.

Mr. Speaker, our government must stand up for our small communities and our treaty rights because leaving classrooms without teachers is unacceptable. Later today, I will be asking the Premier to listen to our voices and join us in creating a solution they deserve in collaboration and also to uphold the treaty rights to education. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. Members' statements. Member from Frame Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the past few days in response to my statements, I've had a few Ministers respond that the last thing we need is to burn up staff's time creating more strategies and reports that don't take us anywhere. We need to focus on actions. Mr. Speaker, I agree with that sentiment. So I want to clarify what I've been getting at in my statements about strategy, analysis, and planning.

The difficulty we have in taking effective action is the GNWT is a large organization with diverse and sometimes competing mandates. If we don't focus our work, we end up going in far too many directions and the work isn't effective. That's why I keep coming back to analysis and strategy. We need to focus our work. We need to assess its effectiveness at addressing the problems we're facing and course correct when we're off track. Without effective strategy and planning, it's difficult to articulate what we are doing on any given front. It's even more difficult for staff to understand what's expected of them.

I think Cabinet does understand the need for focus and have demonstrated it in their own work. Very early on, the Premier identified he wanted to change how federal engagement was done. Rather than show up to Ottawa with a laundry list of ideas and asks, we are focusing on just a few things. Determining whether they are the right things is where analysis can be helpful.

The reason I've repeatedly referenced the Greenland Economic Council is that entity provides expert economic analysis as to whether the government's actions are targeted at the right things and whether they're being effective. That kind of advice can help us break out of entrenched perspectives and introduce ideas we haven't considered or show us where we aren't doing enough. For those reasons, I think this kind of analysis is essential to effective economic planning.

I have attached my suggestions about analysis and planning to the proposal to create an economic vision because that initiative was included in the business plans as part of mandate implementation. It has been further referenced by the government in response to calls in the environmental audit for more effective economic planning.

Mr. Speaker, I don't like ineffective strategies any more than our Ministers, and I don't like wasting time. That's why I called for measures to make the vision effective and get it done quickly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Frame Lake. Members' statements. Member from Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, what should the government be doing about the economy? We sometimes hear that we should be running government like a business. If only we elected business people, then we'd get the territory booming in no time.

Historically, it has been easy to confuse business with government because of places like this that were founded as company towns. The gold mines built much of Yellowknife's early infrastructure. Imperial Oil built Norman Wells, you know, back in the good old days when we got things done. Now, the land corporations and dev corps connected to Indigenous governments are significantly expanding their business ventures and looking to take big stakes in mining and oil and gas. So are government and industry basically the same or should they be?

I think it's safe to say that a pure free-market economy doesn't exist anywhere in the world but especially not in the NWT given the level of government intervention and the extent that government procurement affects prices and government salaries affect wage pressures in the private sector. So is the solution for the GNWT to lean in and operate like a proper business?

It's important to remember that a business succeeds by maximizing profits, by squeezing the most money out of its customers, and by avoiding paying for damages it causes. The business model that built Yellowknife violated treaty obligations and left the public on the hook for billions of dollars in cleanup costs with irreparable damage to the land and water. Plus, the mining business model is famously a high-risk gamble. Most ventures fail, fold up and leave, and even when they succeed the idea is to take everything as quickly as you can and then still leave. Governments cannot afford to fail or to lose everything on a bad bet. The whole population cannot just pick up and leave.

So no, Mr. Speaker, I don't think it will serve the public interest to operate health care as a for-profit industry or public housing as if it was a real estate business. We should, indeed, expect excellence from government, but government's mission is not to shake down residents for maximum profits. It's also not to make every single northern business a winner. Government's mission is to provide physical and social infrastructure, the foundation for all residents to have a chance to succeed with clear and fair rules. Mr. Speaker, I ask for unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and to my colleagues. So in conclusion, instead of spending our time and resources trying in futility to steer industry by the tail, let's focus on excelling at running government as government, not as a business. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Yellowknife North. Member's statements. Member from Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I am going to talk about an opportunity that can support our workforce, diversify our economy, and just make sure life is just a little bit more enjoyable. It all starts by working through the Apprenticeship, Trade, and Occupational Certification Act and that particular program, Mr. Speaker. I am going to highlight two issues in this area of opportunity, but I am going to probably drill down a little further on one.

The first one we've all probably heard of, it's called landscaping and horticulture. Did you know it's a red seal trade program? Across the country, you can get certification in that. You can get support through Alberta, BC, Ontario, and many other jurisdictions.

Now, I am going to test the Assembly today. Does anyone really know what a lather and interior systems mechanic is? I hear silence, Mr. Speaker. You know why? Because no one knows what that is. It's drywaller for goodness sakes. And they're everywhere. They're key to our economy. They're key to building. So like horticultures, they provide essential services. Like drywallers, drywallers fix buildings and help maintain and bring them to life, horticulturists are landscaping people who help bring our community to life through sustainability options, health and beauty, trees, plants. They do many things to aid in the biodiversity of our community, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, two opportunities, and there are many more, speaking of which that the NWT trades program could expand and ask itself how are we supporting these trades.

I had asked someone in the trade the other day often do you see drywallers apprentice. They said they don't; they all come up from down south. I said but they're everywhere, like mushrooms after a fire; they just bloom. But yet sure enough, no one is training them. There is no trades program for drywallers in the Northwest Territories. I got asked by someone in the landscaping and horticulture business why isn't the trades program facilitating their staff so they could take on this training. It helps their skills, it helps our neighbours, it helps our community, and it empowers the workers to earn more money and to provide expertise in areas that people don't necessarily get.

Mr. Speaker, if we want to talk back to the point of saying an opportunity to strengthen or workforce, diversify our economy, and see a real opportunity that has been sort of going by, let's pause for a moment and ask ourselves is there a way to start facilitating these opportunities. And I certainly say there is ways we can strengthen our community, empower workers, and do more for Northerners as we move forward. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Yellowknife Centre. Members' statements.

Colleagues, I regret to inform you, with a heavy heart, that Bertha Ruby Norwegian passed away on September 22nd, 2025. The family held her Celebration of Life on October 15th at the Fort Simpson Rec. Centre. Unfortunately, we were in session that day, so I missed the celebration.

On July 5th, 1955, Berna and her twin sister Bertha came into this world. As Berna said they were always meant to be together. They both would go on their separate adventures but somehow, they ended up back together until Bertha passed away.

I had the pleasure of knowing Bertha and Berna for over ten years. If I wanted to hear a more informed perspective, all I had to do was go visit these two amazing ladies. The stories they would share with you was just like a movie. There was always a twist and turn that made you always wanting to come back for more.

During the flood, their home and personal properties were destroyed (over 90 percent) but as sad as it was, they never complained. It was always about how they would move forward. This was the time I got to know them better.

I can say that Grace and I would go visit and the last time we had the opportunity to visit Bertha was at the long-term care home about a week before her passing. She was still engaged and talkative as always.

Like most individuals, it is hard to share their life story. Here is a person that did things from washing dishes to training to be stunt double to rebuilding helicopters, a composer, special advisor to five premiers, and named one of the top 500 women in Canada, so I have attached Berna's eulogy that was read by Malo Antoine, which I will like deemed read and then printed in the Hansard.

Now, I would like to share a couple of stories. After finishing school, Bertha and Berna moved to Calgary to start working on their own. Even though they were no longer is school, they did not stop learning. They made sure each paycheque they would purchase books so they could continue to read and educate themselves. Berna recently told Grace and myself that they would take characters out of the book and live their lives according to these characters. All I can say is these characters most have been amazing.

Another story that jumps out to me was Bertha was always dressed for success. She always said you need to look the part if you want to get places in this world and, boy, did she get to those places. If you heard her story, you could not believe this Rabbitskin Dene was so accomplished. The funny thing was, Berna was the opposite of her sister, very laid back, but she was just as successful in her ways.

The family would like to thank the elders care staff, home care, Dr. Smylie, oncology staff, McKenna Funeral Home, Rowe's Construction, GP2U, Deh Cho Suites, and Trail Printing during their difficult time.

In closing, I would like to read a few words modified from a song (Spearmaidens) composed and written by Bertha and Berna:

You know our beliefs, you known it, our agonies. You know only you can lift our sprits high. Sister to my soul, takes us to the gathering, To the gathering of worshippers. For blessed are nights, we sing to him, and blessed are the nights, You'll sing with us and glory be the day, God smiled on you. Now go and be our light our dearest and most beloved Bertha.

Bertha will be sadly missed.

Berna Norwegian (written) and read by Malo Antoine.

Born in Fort Simpson, Bertha lived the early years of her life in Rabbitskin. Those years of her life she always remembered; her memories of Dad and Jane waiting for Hilda to be born were years of incredible beauty and contentment. She often spoke of those times as one of simplicity, comfort, songs and love.

She had a great love for the land and understood that everything we needed was provided by the land and animals. We were never hungry, cold, sick and always had a tent or cabin for shelter. She was a happy child.

Her constant wish was that our people would use the great spirit of the land and waters to solidify their hopes, their desire for quiet peace, and build up the dreams of the youth by preparing them for a life of work, good health, and receive rewards of joy in love and friendship. Bertha believed that in embracing the land; the land would become your teacher because a better life of pride and freedom will soar in your spirit.

Throughout her life, Berth had two great loves: Our people and the land. To her final breath the future of our people was always on her mind.

When Bertha turned 5, the residential schools started, and she was trapped in that terrible story for 13 years. We all now know the legacy of and the impact it had on our beloved people and the great damage it did to many generations. To her last day she never forgave the church, government and perpetrators.

However, Bertha refused and never lived her life as a victim. She believed that we are all born with a part of God in us. She believed that if everyone just chose to trust that great inner presence in all of us, we would all live happier, healthier lives.

After she left the residential school system, Bertha travelled and lived a few weeks or months in several Canadian cities. We were living in Toronto and one morning I got up and she was frantically packing some bags. I asked her what she was doing. She said I's going to Hollywood, California. What the heck are you going to do there? As it turned out, she has seen an advertisement in the newspaper for training stunt doubles for actresses and actors. So, she moved to Hollywood and settled right into a room for rent and her neighbours were Robert Redford and Paul Newman. She did finish the training and decided it was too dangerous doing that kind of work. So, we need up back in good old Fort Simpson and I think we were 20. so again, one morning I got up and Bertha is running around packaging bags again. I asked her where she was going this time and she said Borden, Ontario. Bordon? What are you going to do there? She said I am going to learn to be a fixed wing mechanic. So off she went.

After her course, she was hired by Trans Quebec Helicopters as an apprentice to work on their rotary winged aircrafts. Rebuilding crashed helicopters and maintaining others according to aviation protocols. She worked at the Lake La Grande Hydro Dam site for several years. From there she joined AeroArctic and maintained a helicopter in a geology camp 80 miles south of Cambridge Bay. Her last helicopter engineer stint was in Prince Rupert where she worked for Silver Grizzles Helicopter. She really enjoyed as most of her work was on Sikorsky and Bell 206 Helicopters.

During these years, Bertha always carried a guitar. She attributes most of the early years of learning to play to Peter Hope and the many years played by ear as opposed to reading notes on a page. In around 1985, Bertha was discovered as a natural talent and a Master Guitarist, where Boswell took her under his wing, enrolling her into UBC, where she studied classical guitar for three years. When Bertha was about 10 years old, we saw a movie called the "Sound of Music." From that day on she wished with all her heart to play a classical guitar for a princess in a castle. No audience. Just the princess and her. Well as it turned out, Bertha went to Austria for six weeks in 1986 and the village she was in, were amazed that there was a real Canadian Indian in town. Well, everyone had to meet her.

As it turned out, there was a Contessa, who lived in a castle in the area. The Contessa sent a private invitation to Bertha to come and play her guitar in the castle. The Contessa wasn't a princess, but it didn't matter ???. She took this a helping her achieve her childhood dream. So, hang on to your dreams; you never know what will come your way in life.

In 1992, Bertha recorded a "CD" called Spearmaidens. It has been played in 136 countries.

Bertha did many other significant things in her life. Everything from washing dishes to rebuilding helicopter gave her a sense of pride and the experience of learning what is really means to have self-respect and tried every day to hand down that knowledge. You cannot respect others if you have no respect for yourself.

Part of Bertha's dream was also to be a MLA for the Nahendeh. She had so many ideas and hopes for all people in the riding. She was very disappointed when she didn't win, but something very good came out of her running for MLA. Nellie Cournoyea, who became the Premier hired Bertha to be a Special Advisor to her on Women's equality matters which ended up being involved in social and justice issues, housing, promoting the advancement of youth through job creation initiatives and many such goals. As it turned out, she became special advisor to five Premiers over a 16-year period. As Advisor, Bertha was heavily involved with the Federal / Provincial / Territorial Premiers and government representatives. As a result of her contributions and work, Bertha was named as one of the top 500 most influential people in Canada. She always laughed about it, saying she was number 500.

Her plan was always to retire at the age of 50 which is what she did. So, for about 12 years after retirement, she travelled much or Europe and Isreal. Her stories and experiences will live on in the hearts of the many people she befriended and loved so much.

Bertha was diagnosed with cancer in 2018. She fought a long hard battle with great dignity. Only once in December of 2019, did she cry because she was so tired of being sick.

In the those years, when still working for the helicopter companies and then the government everyday she made it a point of buying a lunch for someone didn't matter who she did it because she cared. Bertha often would tell people that she loved them and the love she shared was unconditional. More than her own life, she loved the land and the people with every fiber of her being. Rest in Peace, Bertha. You have earned that heavenly reward.

Members' statements. Member from Range Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to pay my respects to Range Lake constituent Larry Galt.

Larry was born in Red Deer, Alberta, in 1952, and in the words of his son Isaiah, Larry was a real northern legend. A fisherman, a hunter, a mechanic, a master of duct tape and zip ties, a bush rat, a grandfather to a thousand kids and animals around the world, a friend, a sponsor, a mentor, a brother, an uncle, a son, and a father.

Larry came to Yellowknife in 1971 to work at Con Mine, and not long after he discovered life in the bush and all the exciting opportunities for adventure it offered. He took up firefighting and later spent months at a time prospecting where he found his calling in mining exploration, a career he happily pursued for over 30 years.

From his earliest memory, Larry knew the bush was where he belonged - fishing, hunting, trapping, and generally traipsing around. He loved the lifestyle of freedom but knew he also needed to focus on his friends, family, and most of all himself.

Larry joined Alcoholics Anonymous in 2002 and never strayed. In his words it was my time to quit. When it's your time, it's your time. Now I'm doing all these things I always talked about. You've just got to work at it and never give up.

At AA, Larry affected the lives of many, staying by their bedside, spending time, and listening as they moved on to their next journey.

In his final years, he traveled the country on his bike, visiting friends coast to coast, and in Australia and Central America, fishing wherever he could along the way. When he wasn't on the road, he was homesteading in a cabin along the Mackenzie Highway for many years.

Larry's real legacy is through remembering laughter and good times and through tears and sad times. His unwavering love for his friends was second only for the love of his two children, Isaiah and Leah. He was a very proud father who enjoyed celebrating the company of his kids. He is missed by many, and our community is better for having had Larry Galt as part of it. Gone too soon. Rest in peace, Larry, our Bushman with a heart.

Our condolences go out to the families and friends of this amazing individual.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker,

WHEREAS Housing Northwest Territories is building a new 50-unit affordable housing complex on 50th Street in Yellowknife, located between the Gold Range Bistro and the Raven Pub;

AND WHEREAS it is hoped that occupancy can take place in late 2026 or early 2027 to help families with affordable housing;

AND WHEREAS the new affordable housing complex is being supported by a contribution of $20.8 million through the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation Rapid Housing Initiative in partnership with the Government of the Northwest Territories;

AND WHEREAS the land for this initiative was donated by the city of Yellowknife as their contribution of help meet the needs of affordable housing opportunities in the city;

AND WHEREAS Housing Northwest Territories will be the owner this building and, once completed, it is intended to also house the future office of the Yellowknife Housing Authority;

AND WHEREAS this 50-unit affordable housing complex will be one part of the mosaic of solutions helping those who are experiencing affordability, homelessness, and other housing challenges in the North;

AND WHEREAS the Government of the Northwest Territories has guidelines for selecting names of Government of the Northwest Territories-owned office buildings;

AND WHEREAS the executive council of the Government of the Northwest Territories is well within its authority to waive their building naming policy and directly name this new building;

AND WHEREAS the guidelines for selecting names of Government of the Northwest Territories-owned office buildings do not apply to Government of the Northwest Territories-owned buildings designed primarily to deliver programs and services to the public;

AND WHEREAS the late Anthony Wilfred James Whitford (Tony), originally from the town of Fort Smith, Northwest Territories, as a young Metis man started his journey with humble beginnings, with a lifelong history of public service, dedication and advocacy for Northerners;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the Member for Range Lake, that the executive council of the Government of the Northwest Territories name the new 50-unit affordable housing complex on 50th Street in Yellowknife the Anthony (Tony) W.J. Whitford Building;

AND FURTHERMORE, that the Government of the Northwest Territories respond to this motion in 120 days.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Yellowknife Centre. To the motion. Member from Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I've been thinking about this for a year and holy smokers, I felt like something really ran over me there when I was trying to read the motion in, and I guess it's a surge of emotion and respect for the Whitford family, Tony in particular, and of course people like his brother Marc who we have here in the gallery today. And I want to thank the Whitford family for allowing me to bring forward this initiative. I'd spoken to his three sons in different forms who I knew. I think I pressed the issue in particular to two of them out of the three, and everyone I spoke to in different ways all liked the idea of the initiative.

I am going to talk a little bit about Tony and why he represented the North so well. I mean, if I would like to begin, I'd like to call him one, not the only, in all fairness, but, you know, one of the North's favourite sons.

He was Captain NWT in my mind. He never missed an opportunity to talk about the North. He loved visiting Northerners. There wasn't a hand he couldn't find time to shake or pause to say hello to somebody. If he didn't know you, he made sure, you know, he stopped and said hi to you anyway, and he had a heart. He wore his heart on his sleeve.

I've known Tony, as I said previously when I talked about him, that I've known him basically my whole adult life. And I even knew him when I was a teenager, but I really got to know him as I got older. For some it's Tony; for some it's Anthony; some it's a bunch of other ways to describe him, but to me he was a legend and a myth.

There are many things I know about him personally, and I'd like to start with that before I talk about his credits to this institution.

In many ways, he was a mentor to me, and many. And I don't want to say only to me; I want to stress to so many. You know, when we would be auctioneering together, whether it's at the Rotary bike auction or helping the NWT Disabilities Council, I knew nobody put more energy into those causes than him. You know, he has a wonderful story about, you know, being a JP. Why? Because he wanted to be there to help people in the kindest of ways. You know, there's so many steps about how he has honoured people by just being there.

One of the favourite stories I often hear is when even former Member Sandy Lee talked about how exciting it was to work for him, being one of Tony's team and how he empowered the team to get things done and how he'd always make time for people; he cared.

Now from his election experience, or I should say his formal public service through the Assembly, he was elected in the 12th Assembly and eventually became the Minister of health, then on the Minister of social services, the Minister responsible for Science Institute of the NWT. Then he went on to public utilities board, transportation, public safety and services.

Mr. Speaker, they may be titles, but the important factor is Tony was such a guy that would spend the time getting to know the people, the staff, and the issues. And he would take files home and he'd take every issue personally, like deeply, in the sense of he wanted to get to know the files, wanted to get to know the people, wanted to get to know the problems. He wasn't just let's keep the paper moving guy; he was the guy wanting to know the story. It was more than just a signature on a piece of paper to him. It was about what did this mean to help Northerners. And I can tell you that personally. I may not have sat in his office in any one of those portfolios, and that would be the truth, but the truth is I know what he's like when he wanted to deal and learn about an issue and learn about people.

He went on and became Speaker in the 14th Assembly, and he even served as Sergeant-at-Arms in this Assembly. Such big shoes to fill; I could only imagine.

When I was in my first term, the 15th Assembly, he was named deputy Commissioner and then eventually made it to Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, a role I couldn't imagine being filled in a more perfect way. I'm not suggesting any of our Commissioners had done a bad job; I'm just saying it was so perfectly tailored for Tony. He was the guy. He liked being at the crowd, saying hi to people. And you know what? I think he was a beacon of light for most of us.

Now his history in the territories, as I said he was born in Fort Smith. He got his bachelor's degree in social work later in life. And to me, that was a perfect fit for the guy who cared about everything and everyone. It was the perfect, perfect application for a guy to pursue because he genuinely did care, and it was a perfect fit. And of course he later married his wife Elaine and had his children, or I should say his studies came after he had the kids technically but that's here nor there.

Mr. Speaker, over the years, all I can tell you is that the Whitford family, you know, is a combined family. Yes, it may not just be Tony. I mean, it's Marc and the contributions of the other brothers as well. It's a significant family that has made such much a strong dedication. But Tony's highlights, I'll tell you make me proud as being his friend. And as I've said before, I was Tony's friend. I think he was friends with so many people, but he was also my friend in the sense as well, and it was very exciting.

Tony would tell me stories. I remember as we'd sit outside either having coffee at Tim Horton's or even talking here about his days working for Helen Nasogaluak, the former Commissioner, or even John Parker, our legendary Commissioner, about days that have changed that even helped move the Northwest Territories government to where it is today. You know, if you'd asked him about one role, what mattered more, I don't think he could pick it. You know, could you say was it best being Commissioner? He'd probably say well, some days. But then he'd regale a story about being a marriage commissioner or a justice of the peace, the way he had influenced and touched people's lives.

And I can certainly say I am one of the lives that he had touched and helped, I think, improve for the best. I mean, I'm so grateful for his time and his energy that he's dedicated to this House. He'd served many years in the best of ways, and I think his accomplishments by themselves I think we could spend hours talking about but, more importantly, we're here to just run through the highlights that I'm trying to cover.

I know his parliamentary experience, he believed in this institution. When he was made Speaker, I mean I would often see how proud he was about the process, the dedication, the history, the respect for everything, and how important it was to him here.

He had a sense of humour and from time to time, he'd lay the law down, too, and he was very good at both. But he was very kind when people stepped the line when he was Speaker. And to me, that's the essence of what he was. Yes, here are the rules; I'll let you colour out of the lines a little bit, but you know what, the institution matters; do not offend the structure of the institution and he would pull you back in. I mean, I believe, if I remember correctly, he presided over the Mickey Mouse tie debates, the great thundering roll about what proper attire is in the Assembly. And he'd seen many stories that have changed, that turned legends of what we've seen into myths. But to me, he's one of the greatest legends of the Northwest Territories we've had. And sometimes it's the old, if we want to drill down too far, I think we missed the point. Really, the generosity of his time and his kindness is the greatest gift he's given us all and hence that's why I want this opportunity to say this motion is -- you know, I was honestly having trouble reading it. I didn't think it would impact me as much as it did, even just thinking about it. Getting it organized was no big deal. It was like oh, just type away, type away. But until the words were being uttered today, I mean, I just felt this weight that I haven't felt in a while. Because I think it not just matters to me; it matters to a lot of people.

And as I am going to finish and pause and welcome any thoughts from folks, my colleagues that is, I couldn't do this without the support of the Whitford family, both Linda and Marc; I've appreciated that. His sons, Blair, Ian, and Warren. And I would say that city council of Yellowknife, I've reached out to them and they're excited by potentially this opportunity to have a conversation about this initiative. And that's not to put pressure on people how to vote; I want people to vote from the heart -- no, I do, genuinely I do. But there are many people excited by this. I mean, the people of Rotary hearing that, you know, this initiative was being brought up. I mean, he had received the Paul Harris Award.

Now, most people may not know what that is but that's an exemplary award through Rotary about community service. I mean, even his personal motto is about service. And if there's a person that really did walk the talk, it was Tony.

So, Mr. Speaker, I am going to pause here for now. And I should say at this point I will ask for a recorded vote just in case I forget later. And I would thank my colleagues for their consideration of this. And I think in the end of the day, this would be honouring a great man who has meant so much to the institution of this Assembly, the institution of government, but most importantly the families and the people his kindness had touched throughout the North. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Yellowknife Centre. To the motion. Member from Range Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And this is an easy motion to support, and I expect it will be an easy motion to pass. But it is fitting that someone who left such an indelible mark on the history of the Northwest Territories receives a lot of debate in this House about what he did.

Tony Whitford was not someone I knew as well as perhaps members of his family. I was, of course, much younger than Tony but, you know, I almost -- it's weird not to see him sitting at the table of this Assembly when in the 18th Assembly it was -- you wouldn't have a sitting of this House without Tony coming in for one day, you know, so you quickly learned who Tony is and you quickly learned the many titles that he was associated -- that he had received for his exemplary service to the Northwest Territories. And, I mean, if anyone doubts the impact he has made on people's lives, I think it's pretty hard to make the Member for Yellowknife Centre to cry and that is something that just happens. But, you know, Tony gave so much to the community, and it seems fitting that we honour his memory and his legacy with the way this motion suggests -- or not suggests, calls for, the new housing complex. Housing is going to make such a difference in Northerners' lives. We've heard that loud and clear. It is one of the commitments of this Assembly, and it seems even more fitting that as we've made significant progress advocating for better housing conditions for Northerners that we remember Tony's tremendous legacy by creating the new homes that people are going to enjoy, that are going to be an anchor for their security and support for years to come, bear his name. So I think this is such a fitting tribute to a man who was a giant in the North, and I wholeheartedly endorse it. And I think also Tony would like nothing more for the number one word of the day in Hansard to be Tony. So I am going to say, Tony, Tony, Tony, Tony, Tony, and I hope others will support this as well. Thank you.

Thank you, Member from Range Lake. To the motion. Member from Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First, I just want to say I have such great respect for the legacy of Tony Whitford. Before he passed away, he was a Yellowknife North constituent, and I had the great pleasure and honour of visiting him, meeting with him several times, and he certainly has made a lasting impact on me.

I also certainly wouldn't want this to become a debate about how great of a man Tony Whitford was. First of all, I think we would be here for days but, also, I don't think it's probably an appropriate debate for this House. And I also just want to recognize that I understand Cabinet does have a naming policy for its buildings, and I'm not actually aware whether they've been receiving other submissions to name this particular building, perhaps after another great northern figure, or whether they might be considering a name that has some particular significance to northern heritage or culture or geography. But I certainly -- from my point of view, Tony Whitford is more than a worthy candidate for someone to name this building after, and I am certainly happy to endorse this option but at the same time I recognize it's not my decision to make. And actually I'm glad it's not my decision to make because it must be a very difficult one, especially if there are a number of people or things that we want to honour their great legacies in the NWT. So I'll be supporting the motion but also recognize that this is a Cabinet decision, and it must be a difficult one. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.