Debates of October 17, 2025 (day 64)

October
17
2025
Session
20th Assembly, 1st Session
Day
64
Speaker
Shane Thompson
Word PDF
Members Present
Hon. Caitlin Cleveland, 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
Follow-up to Oral Question 682-20(1): Support for Healthcare Workers in the NWT
Follow-up to Oral Question 692-20(1): Extended Health Benefits Program
Follow-up to Oral Question 726-20(2): Indigenous Governance and Guidance in Healthcare
Member’s Statement 710-20(1): Northwest Territories Nominee Program
Member’s Statement 711-20(1): Government Support for Mining Industry
Member’s Statement 712-20(1): Small Business Week
Member’s Statement 713-20(1): Mackenzie Valley Highway
Member’s Statement 714-20(1): Support for Transitional Students
Member’s Statement 715-20(1): Condition of Dempster Highway
Member’s Statement 716-20(1): Family Violence
Member’s Statement 717-20(1): Negotiation of Akaitcho Final Agreement
Member’s Statement 718-20(1): Yellowknife Encampment
Member’s Statement 719-20(1): Support for Northwest Territories Economy
Member’s Statement 720-20(1): Celebration of Life of Betty Ann Villenueve
Member’s Statement 721-20(1): Eulogy for Samuel Gargan
Minister’s Statement 146-20(1): 2025-2026 Fall Economic and Fiscal Update
Minister’s Statement 147-20(1): Capital Delivery Status Update
Motion 61-20(1): Remuneration of Essential Staff During an Evacuation, Carried
Question 777-20(1): Status of Mineral Resources Act Regulations
Question 778-20(1): Mining and Economic Opportunities
Question 779-20(1): Northwest Territories Nominee Program
Question 780-20(1): Status of the Akaitcho Process Negotiations
Question 781-20(1): Family Violence Strategic Framework and Action Plan
Question 782-20(1): Opening of Yellowknife Transitional Housing Facility
Question 783-20(1): Maintenance of Dempster Highway
Question 784-20(1): Support for Transitional Students
Question 785-20(1): Northwest Territories Nominee Program
Question 786-20(1): Mineral Incentive Program
Question 787-20(1): Colville Lake School
Question 788-20(1): Progress Towards a Polytechnic University
Question 789-20(1): 2023 Wildfire Emergency Response After-Action Review Recommendations
Question 790-20(1): Forgiveness of Elders’ Arrears for Housing
Question 791-20(1): Opening of Yellowknife Transitional Housing Facility
Question 792-20(1): North of 60 Mining Tax Credit
Recorded Vote
Tabled Document 390-20(1): Northern Employees Benefits Services (NEBS) Pension Plan Annual Report for the Year Ended December 31, 2024
Tabled Document 391-20(1): Additional Information for Follow-Up to Oral Question 692-20(1)
Statements

Question 787-20(1): Colville Lake School

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today my questions are for the Minister of ECE in regards to the Colville Lake School mobilization. Can the Minister provide an update since our last correspondence that we've had during the summer months there? Thank you.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Member from the Sahtu. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. So, Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the questions from the Member. So the intention is to have -- and working very closely with the Department of Infrastructure to have the Colville Lake modulars move to the territory long before winter road season starts, and so we're looking at doing that this fall, and having them set up in the Northwest Territories and ready to get onto this coming winter road season. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thanks to the Minister for the update. Critical to the mobilization for these three pieces of modulars are -- my understanding and looking at the information the Minister provided is two of these modulars are extremely wide and extremely long. It would be 24 feet wide to be specific. And knowing the windy blind spots on the winter road, will the Minister commit to working with the counterpart for Minister of Infrastructure on minimizing preparatory measures for the transportation such as additional resources to flood the three river crossings to ensure that safety measures are taken prior to the shipment? Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment is working very closely with the Department of Infrastructure on this. This is certainly out of ECE's wheelhouse but safety is always, you know, a top of mind item for the Government of the Northwest Territories, and I can certainly follow up with the Minister of Infrastructure. Thank you.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Final supplementary. Member from the Sahtu.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thanks to the Minister for that response here. And will the Minister provide a draft journey management schedule so that leadership on the other end would know that this government is taking preparation measures for winter road shipment? Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I'd be happy to work with the departments and working groups in order to put something together as an all-of-government response for leadership from the Sahtu. Thank you.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Oral questions. Member from Yellowknife Centre.