Debates of October 16, 2025 (day 63)

October
16
2025
Session
20th Assembly, 1st Session
Day
63
Speaker
Shane Thompson
Word PDF
Members Present
Mr. Edjericon, Mr. Hawkins, Hon. Lucy Kuptana, Hon. Vince McKay, Mr. McNeely, Ms. Morgan, Mr. Morse, Mr. Nerysoo, Ms. Reid, Mr. Rodgers, Hon. R.J. Simpson, Mr. Testart, Hon. Shane Thompson, Hon. Caroline Wawzonek, Mrs. Weyallon Armstrong, Mrs. Yakeleya
Assembly Members
Topics
Bill 21: An Act to Amend the Workers’ Compensation Act
Bill 22: Legislation Act
Bill 23: An Act to Amend the Children’s Law Act
Bill 24: An Act to Amend the Family law Act
Bill 27: An Act to Amend the Protection Against Family Violence Act
Bill 28: An Act to Amend the Student Financial Assistance Act, No. 2
Bill 29: First Responders Workers’ Compensation Amendment Act
Bill 32: An Act to Amend the Public Service Act, No. 2
Follow-up to Oral Question 439-20(1): Respite Care and Home Care in Dehcho Communities
Follow-up to Oral Question 502-20(1): Public-Private Partnership Project Leases
Follow-up to Oral Question 503-20(1): Public-Private Partnership Project Records Management
Follow-up to Oral Question 582-20(1): Reducing Primary Care Wait Times in Yellowknife
Follow-up to Oral Question 628-20(1): Junction Lights on Highways No. 4 and No. 5
Follow-up to Oral Question 656-20(1): Construction of New Housing Units
Follow-up to Oral Question 693-20(1): Elders in Schools Program
Follow-up to Oral Question 694-20(1): Targeted Amendments to Waters Act Regulations
Follow-up to Oral Question 706-20(1): Community Counselling Program
Follow-up to Oral Question 712-20(1): Nurse Practitioners
Follow-up to Oral Question 742-20(1): Shelter Encampments in Yellowknife
Follow-up to Oral Question 746-20(1): Mandate Implementation Update
Follow-up to Oral Question 747-20(1): 911 Service Disruption Update
Follow-up to Oral Question 749-20(1): Guidelines for Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence in the Government of the Northwest Territories
Follow-up to Oral Question 758-20(1): Implementation of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Call to Action
Follow-up to Oral Question 762-20(1): Functional Communications Review
Member’s Statement 698-20(1): Community Ambulances
Member’s Statement 699-20(1): 2023 Wildfire Emergency Response After-Action Review
Member’s Statement 700-20(1): 2023 Wildfire Emergency Response After-Action Review
Member’s Statement 701-20(1): Condition of the Dempster Highway
Member’s Statement 702-20(1): Housing Access for Elders
Member’s Statement 703-20(1): 2023 Wildfire Emergency Response After-Action Review
Member’s Statement 704-20(1): Standing Committees’ Recent Activities
Member’s Statement 705-20(1): Wildfire Evacuation of Fort Providence
Member’s Statement 706-20(1): Missing Person Frank Gruben
Member’s Statement 707-20(1): Nation-Building Projects
Member’s Statement 708-20(1): Celebration of Life of Hilary norwegian
Member’s Statement 709-20(1): Eulogy for Moses Larel Luwalira
Minister’s Statement 144-20(1): Sessional Statement
Minister’s Statement 145-20(1): Ministers Absent from the House
Question 763-20(1): 2023 Wildfire Emergency Response After-Action Review
Question 764-20(1): 2023 Wildfire Emergency Response After-Action Review
Question 765-20(1): Funding of the NWT Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Question 766-20(1): 2023 Wildfire Emergency Response After-Action Review
Question 767-20(1): Community Ambulance Services
Question 768-20(1): Financial Supports for Emergency Evacuees
Question 769-20(1): Language Barriers in Accessing Housing Supports
Question 770-20(1): Dempster Highway Conditions
Question 771-20(1): Funding of the NWT Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Question 772-20(1): 2023 Wildfire Emergency Response After-Action Review
Question 773-20(1): Additional Housing Units to Tlicho Communities
Question 774-20(1): Electronic Emergency Signage on Highways
Question 775-20(1): Highway Construction in the Sahtu
Question 776-20(1): 2023 Wildfire Emergency Response After-Action Review
Return to Oral Question 666-20(1): Northwest Territories Legal Aid Commission Capacities
Tabled Document 371-20(1): Additional Information for Return to Written Question 18-20(1), Surgical Wait Times and Backlogs
Tabled Document 375-20(1): Northwest Territories Power Corporation Amended Capital Budget
Tabled Document 376-20(1): Report of the Northwest Territories Integrity Commissioner on the Complaint by Mr. Benjamin Adams about Mr. Shane Thompson, MLA
Written Question 17-20(1): Staff Turnover and Vacancy Rates
Written Question 18-20(1): Surgical Wait Times and Backlogs
Statements

Follow-up to Oral Question 628-20(1): Junction Lights on Highways No. 4 and No. 5

Speaker: Mr. Glen Rutland

Further to the response provided to the Member for Tu Nedhe Wiilideh on March 11, 2025, the following additional information is provided:

Minister Wawzonek committed to providing the Member for Tu Nedhé Wiilideh any knowledge the Department of Infrastructure may have on studies done on the potential impacts of heavy traffic along Highway No. 4 and Highway No. 5. Minister Wawzonek also committed to providing the Member with an update on the possibility that additional signage could be installed at the junction on Highway No. 4 leading into Dettah and at the junction of Highway No. 5 and No. 6, to help identify these junctions more clearly for drivers. I was appointed Minister of the Department of Infrastructure and am following up on that commitment.

The Department is not aware of studies done on the impacts of heavy traffic on Highways No. 4 and No. 5. With regards to installation of additional signage at the junction on Highway No. 4 leading into Dettah, there is currently signage on Highway No. 4, known as the Ingraham Trail, in two locations heading east on Highway No. 4 and in two locations heading west on Highway No. 4. The signage indicates the location of the junction leading into Dettah. Signage is clearly visible on the highway and the Department is not currently planning to install additional signage for this purpose.

As for installing additional signage at the junction of Highway No. 5 and No. 6, the Department is planning to do so this summer. The Department is also investigating options for adding lighting at the junction of Highway No. 5 and No. 6, through the Department’s Enhanced Safety Program for 2025-2026.