Debates of October 21, 2025 (day 66)

October
21
2025
Session
20th Assembly, 1st Session
Day
66
Speaker
Shane Thompson
Word PDF
Members Present
Hon. Caitlin Cleveland, Mr. Hawkins, Hon. Lucy Kuptana, Hon. Jay MacDonald, Hon. Vince McKay, Mr. McNeely, Ms. Morgan, Mr. Morse, Mr. Nerysoo, Ms. Reid, Mr. Rodgers, Hon. Lesa Semmler, 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, Carried
Bill 22: Legislation Act, Carried
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, Carried
Bill 32: An Act to Amend the Public Service Act, No. 2, Carried
Committee Motion 81-20(1): Deferral Motion – Tabled Document 388-20(1): Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 2, 2025-2026 – Deferral of Estimates
Committee Motion 82-20(1): Concurrence Motion – Tabled Document 385-20(1): 2026-2027 Capital Estimates - Legislative Assembly - Conclusion of Legislative Assembly
Member’s Statement 732-20(1): Cost of Living for Northwest Territories Residents
Member’s Statement 733-20(1): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on Regulatory Framework Review
Member’s Statement 734-20(1): Wait Times for Primary Care
Member’s Statement 735-20(1): Government Support for Northwest Territories Industries
Member’s Statement 736-20(1): Post-treatment Mental Health Supports
Member’s Statement 737-20(1): Infrastructure for Arctic Security
Member’s Statement 738-20(1): Lack of Contingency Power Options in Dehcho
Member’s Statement 739-20(1): Inefficiencies and Systemic Racism in Provision of Healthcare in Northwest Territories
Member’s Statement 740-20(1): Housing Supports for Northwest Territories Elders
Member’s Statement 741-20(1): Effects from Homeless Encampments
Member’s Statement 742-20(1): Cyclonic Surge in Beaufort Delta Region
Member’s Statement 743-20(1): Asger “Red” Pedersen – Celebration of Life
Minister’s Statement 151-20(1): Federal-Provincial-Territorial Ministers Responsible for the Status of Women Annual Meeting Hosted in Yellowknife
Minister’s Statement 152-20(1): 2025 Canada Summer Games
Motion 62-20(1): Reappointment of Information and Privacy Commissioner
Motion 62-20(1): Reappointment of Information and Privacy Commissioner, Carried
Motion 63-20(1): Creation of an Emergency Management Agency
Question 808-20(1): Smoking Bans in Public Housing
Question 809-20(1): Support for Tuktoyaktuk Following Cyclonic Surge
Question 810-20(1): Northwest Territories Electricity Supply Reliability
Question 811-20(1): Backup Power Generators in Seniors’ Housing
Question 812-20(1): Northwest Territories Regulatory Webpage
Question 813-20(1): Same-Day Healthcare Appointments
Question 814-20(1): Healthcare Patient Experience Questionnaires
Question 815-20(1): Aftercare Support for Patients Returning from Addictions Treatment Programs
Question 816-20(1): Elimination of Rent for Seniors in Public Housing
Question 817-20(1): Policy on Unhoused Encampments
Question 818-20(1): Inuvik Airport Air Terminal Building Replacement
Question 819-20(1): Incident Command System Testing
Question 820-20(1): Building Capacity of Indigenous Governance Program
Question 821-20(1): Mental Health Supports After Hospital Discharge
Question 822-20(1): No-Show Appointment Rates in Healthcare Clinics
Recorded Vote
Tabled Document 399-20(1): NWT Heritage Fund Annual Report 2025
Tabled Document 402-20(1): Territorial Police Service Agreement Annual Report (2024-2025)
Statements

Question 818-20(1): Inuvik Airport Air Terminal Building Replacement

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, following up on my statement on infrastructure projects in Inuvik around Arctic sovereignty and security. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Infrastructure. Could the Minister ensure that the commitment, the funding commitment to build a new airport terminal building in Inuvik is still in fact on the books.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you. Thank you, Member from Inuvik Boot Lake. Minister of Infrastructure.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Inuvik Airport, as we know, is a key transportation area to the North, and a lot of work has been done to get the new terminal going. A lot of good hard work done by previous MLAs and Ministers. And it's well on its way. The process has been started a long time ago, and we hope to have more information soon about the air terminal. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and that's great news from the Minister. I appreciate that. Can I ask if the Minister is still committed, or the department is still committed to working with the regional contractors, regional Indigenous governments in the region when this project begins in full. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is part of the process, and like I said earlier, this process is well underway. I think it's no secret that we've tendered this, and it's come back out, but we're in the process of getting this out there, and we're committed to working with local contractors in the area. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Minister of Infrastructure. Final supplementary. Member from Inuvik Boot Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you again to the Minister for that. He mentioned it was tendered earlier this year. Can the Minister give an update on the current status of the tender process and when we anticipate this project started? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think it's no secret that the current process has been suspended due to a court proceeding, so I cannot speak about it and we'll hopefully hear something soon in the new year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Minister of Infrastructure. Oral questions. Member from Range Lake.