Debates of October 31, 2025 (day 72)

October
31
2025
Session
20th Assembly, 1st Session
Day
72
Speaker
Shane Thompson
Word PDF
Members Present
Hon. Caitlin Cleveland, Mr. Edjericon, Mr. Hawkins, Hon. Lucy Kuptana, Hon. Jay MacDonald, Hon. Vince McKay, Mr. McNeely, Ms. Morgan, Mr. Morse, Ms. Reid, Mr. Rodgers, Hon. Lesa Semmler, Hon. R.J. Simpson, Mr. Testart, Hon. Shane Thompson, Hon. Caroline Wawzonek, Mrs. Weyallon Armstrong
Assembly Members
Topics
Bill 35: Miscellaneous Statutes Law Amendment Act, 2026, Carried
Bill 36: Trespass to Property Act, Carried
Committee Motion 132-20(1): Committee Report 33-20(1): Standing Committee on Procedure and Privileges Report on the Review of the Rules of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly, No. 2 – Rule 7.3 – Written Questions Submission, Carried
Committee Motion 133-20(1): Committee Report 33-20(1): Standing Committee on Procedure and Privileges Report on the Review of the Rules of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly, No. 2 – Guidelines for Written Questions, Carried
Committee Motion 134-20(1): Committee Report 33-20(1): Standing Committee on Procedure and Privileges Report on the Review of the Rules of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly, No. 2 – Daily Order of Business on Thursdays, Carried
Committee Motion 135-20(1): Committee Report 33-20(1): Standing Committee on Procedure and Privileges Report on the Review of the Rules of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly, No. 2 – Sitting after Thanksgiving, Carried
Committee Report 34-20(1): Standing Committee on Procedure and Privileges Report on the Review of Motion 56-20(1): Code of Conduct referral to the Standing Committee on Procedure and Privileges, Received and Adopted by the Assembly
Member’s Statement 797-20(1): Deh Cho Negotiations Process
Member’s Statement 798-20(1): French Language Education
Member’s Statement 799-20(1): Premier’s Awards Winners
Member’s Statement 800-20(1): Economic Impacts of Federal Budget
Member’s Statement 801-20(1): Reflections on the Sitting
Member’s Statement 802-20(1): Education in the Tlicho Region
Member’s Statement 803-20(1): Ending Daylight Savings Time
Member’s Statement 804-20(1): Halloween Message
Member’s Statement 805-20(1): Celebration of Life for Rolande Norwegian
Minister’s Statement 165-20(1): First Poppy Ceremony
Minister’s Statement 166-20(1): Government of the Northwest Territories-Literacy Council Agreement
Minister’s Statement 167-20(1): Update on Non-Government Organizations Sector Support Initiative
Motion 65-20(1): Extended Adjournment of the House to February 4, 2026, Carried
Question 905-20(1): Dehcho Negotiations Process
Question 906-20(1): NOrthwest Territories Nominee Program
Question 907-20(1): Midwifery Services
Question 908-20(1): French-first Language Education Rights
Question 909-20(1): Housing Northwest Territories Contracting Process
Question 910-20(1): Supports for Students in Small Communities
Question 911-20(1): Environmental Securities
Question 912-20(1): Building Standards Legislation
Question 913-20(1): Government of the Northwest Territories Procurement Processes
Question 914-20(1): Animal Welfare and Emergency Management
Question 915-20(1): Environmental Securities
Question 916-20(1): CT Scanner Procurement for Inuvik Hospital
Question 917-20(1): Rayrock Minesite Remediation
Question 918-20(1): Chipsealing of the Inuvik Bypass Road
Question 919-20(1): Government Service Delivery Training
Question 920-20(1): New Housing Allocation for Tlicho Communities
Question 921-20(1): Impacts of Jordan’s Principle Funding Changes
Question 922-20(1): Building Standards Framework
Tabled Document 432-20(1): Statement of Consistency for Bill 34: Trespass to Property Act
Tabled Document 435-20(1): Northwest Territories Hydro and Northwest Territories Power Corporation 2024-2025 Annual Report
Tabled Document 436-20(1): Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Motion 61-20(1): Remuneration of Essential Staff During an Evacuation
Tabled Document 437-20(1): 2024-2025 Annual Report: Action Plan in Response to the Calls for Justice on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People
Tabled Document 438-20(1): Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Motion 63-20(1): Creation of an Emergency Management Agency for the Northwest Territories
Written Question 23-20(1): Healthcare Professionals Returning as Locums
Statements

Question 905-20(1): Dehcho Negotiations Process

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this government has committed to continuing to strengthen our relationship with Indigenous governments and work in partnership towards shared future based on system of cooperative governance. My question is to the Premier. How does the Premier reconcile that with a reported lack of progress at the Deh Cho negotiation table? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. Mr. Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There has been enhanced cooperation around the territory with Indigenous governments. I can attest to that. Indigenous governments can attest to that. Maybe not every single person in the territory is on the same page and has the same opinion, but I hear it all the time that we are collaborating, cooperating in a different way, and it's much appreciated. That being said, there's collaborating in general, and then there's the negotiating table, and those are two different things. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Given the Deh Cho negotiation process has spanned over two decades, what specific steps will the GNWT take to accelerate progress and rebuild trust with the Deh Cho First Nation? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So recently the Deh Cho First Nation and the Minister of Crown and Indigenous Relations committed to working towards an agreement in principle early next year, and I've said that the GNWT is not going to be the party that slows that down, so I'm committing to working alongside all of the other groups in the negotiations to ensure that we are doing our part to move these negotiations along as quickly as possible. Thank you.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Final supplementary. Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the Premier commit to personally engaging in the Deh Cho process, negotiations to ensure that the GNWT responds meaningfully to the proposals that have been tabled? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will engage in the process as the Minister as is appropriate. I don't want to say that I am going to sit at the negotiating table. I'm not arrogant enough to think that I can just do, you know, Mr. Nadli's job without a lot of background information, a lot of training, and a lot of time spent digging deep into the file. We have people who do that work, and it's my role to ensure that at the high level I'm providing the direction needed to get things done. And I am going to do that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Mr. Premier. Oral questions. Member from Great Slave.