Please be seated. Before we get into it, I'd just like to wish my twin daughters a happy birthday. So they turn 29 for some time, the addition, but I will just leave it at that. So happy birthday, my girls, Deborah and Nancy. I'd like to thank Ms. Cleary for the opening prayer and reflection.
Mr. Speaker, today I want to talk about the importance of our winter road system and acknowledge the hard work being done by Government of the Northwest Territories staff in the construction, maintenance, and operation of these winter roads.
The Government of the Northwest Territories is responsible for building and maintaining several public ice roads, winter roads, and ice crossings, spanning across 1,300 kilometers, roughly the same distance it takes to drive from Hay River to Calgary. This vast winter road system connects nine northern communities that otherwise do not have access to the all-season highway system.
Mr. Speaker, the work to inspect, construct, and maintain these roads requires teamwork from different departments within our government. Despite assumptions about winter road construction, it goes beyond simply waiting for temperatures to drop and a path to be cleared. Our crews are constantly monitoring weather conditions and measuring ice thickness and snowpack levels. When conditions are not optimal, they adjust, often flooding the surfaces to build thicker layers of ice or fill gaps to ensure safe operations on all our ice and winter roads. Once safe road conditions have been constructed, these roads are opened to certain weight limits. Weight limits are increased over the season as conditions change and the ice grows thicker.
Maintenance crews are consistently planning and adapting to issues brought on by fluctuating weather temperatures and climate such as water overflow or extreme snowfalls that can present safety challenges for drivers. Proactively maintaining these challenges helps ensure the safety and life of our winter road system and is essential to the success in each season we have. Many residents rely on these roads for the delivery of critical goods and services.
Mr. Speaker, activity on our winter road system continues to increase each year. The movement of fuel, cargo, and dry goods across these roads is an essential part of our supply chain.
The provision of materials across the North is a priority for the Department of Infrastructure. For example, our fuel services division plans for the delivery of nearly 10 million liters of various fuels to 12 communities every winter utilizing ice roads and winter roads. The Government of the Northwest Territories staff collaborate with northern businesses throughout winter road season to report road conditions, strategize and compensate for road capacity to move fuel supplies and freight. This collaboration not only strengthens relationships between government and industry; it also creates a network of information sharing. Our staff maintain an open dialogue with fuel suppliers to make sure the added weights on the roads do not deteriorate the roads. Simultaneously, regional crews are compiling information on road conditions to make sure they are reflected in official reports on our highways map on DriveNWT.
Mr. Speaker, our winter road system serves many purposes: Supporting community accessibility, economic growth, and provision of goods and services. The Government of the Northwest Territories champions the importance of winter roads, and we encourage everyone to stay up to date on road conditions by visiting the DriveNWT.ca website before they embark on their trip to keep themselves and others safe while traveling these important road systems. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister of Infrastructure. Ministers' statements. Mr. Premier.
Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise the House that the honourable Member for Kam Lake, the Minister for Industry, Tourism and Investment, will be absence from the House today, tomorrow, and Thursday to attend the Arctic 360 Conference in Toronto, Ontario. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Tlicho diversification:
Recently, I learned of an important development in northern Ontario where three First Nations have entered a landmark partnership with Canada Nickel to advance a major mining project in their traditional territory near Timmins. This agreement includes preferential access to an estimated $2.5 billion in contract opportunities, ensuring that Indigenous governments are true partners, not just observers in resource development.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to compare the Ontario Nickel-First Nations agreement with the MOU announced at the AME roundup in Vancouver. This MOU was concluded with the Government of the Northwest Territories, the Tlicho government, and Yellowknife Dene. It binds the parties to work together towards the Arctic Economic and Security Corridor. This MOU is a good start but does very little to make mines reality. Today, economic activity in the Tlicho is concentrated in mining, construction, and resource development, yet very few of these opportunities have translated into real lasting benefits for the communities. The region's economic context is clear.
One, Mr. Speaker, the closure of diamond and Gahcho Kue will have a significant impact on Tlicho communities, and today the GNWT has no meaningful alternative. That being said, and as many Tlicho citizens often said, we have a lot of resource minerals on our land; Fortune Minerals nickel project is just one of the several potential developers. Infrastructure gaps hinders the development. A road from the Tlicho Highway to Gameti with future connection to the Sahtu, possibly the Arctic Ocean, could create a transformative trade and development corridor. A diversified mineral development corridor could attract multiple industry while supporting cultural resilience and traditional land.
Mr. Speaker, seizing opportunity requires strategic partnership -- Mr. Speaker, can I have unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted
Mr. Speaker, the time to act is now before mine closures deepen economic hardship. My vision is for connected prosperous Tlicho region that leads northern Canada in mineral development and Arctic trades. Mr. Speaker, we may not have a Ring of Fire but we could have a Frosty Circle. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Monfwi. Members' statements. Member from Inuvik Boot Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I want to talk about the community engagement sessions that are taking place across the Mackenzie Valley on the proposed Mackenzie Valley Highway. Mr. Speaker, my colleague, the MLA from the Sahtu, is currently attending these sessions alongside members of the strategic infrastructure, energy, and supply chains' team.
These sessions give residents a chance to hear where the project is at, what work is being planned, and what the next steps are for the project and communities. They also give people a chance to ask questions and share their views directly with the project team.
Mr. Speaker, the proposed highway would extend from Highway No. 1 at Wrigley to Tulita and Norman Wells and create a road with year-round access. This project has potential to improve access and travel to currently remote communities along the corridor, support and grow local economies, and make it easier for people to access services.
Mr. Speaker, as the MLA for Inuvik Boot Lake, I am glad the long-term vision for this project looks beyond phase one with the plan to eventually extend the highway north through the Mackenzie Delta to connect with Inuvik and on to Tuktoyaktuk. While the current environmental assessment focuses on the Wrigley to Norman Wells section, this bigger picture matters, Mr. Speaker. It shows how this project could strengthen supply lines, improve regional connections, and support Arctic security. The Minister responsible has let me know that the project team had a good turnout in Norman Wells yesterday, and meetings are continuing this week in Deline, Tulita, Fort Good Hope, and Colville Lake, with another session planned in Fort Simpson in early March. Mr. Speaker, I encourage residents to attend, learn more, share their thoughts. Hearing directly from communities is important as this project moves through this regulatory process. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Inuvik Boot Lake. Members' statements. Member from Range Lake.
Mr. Speaker, since the Minister of health has declined to hear from my constituents about the struggles they face under broken medical travel policies and her continued refusal to grant meaningful exceptions, I will share their experiences with this House.
Last year, a constituent's health crisis left her critically ill with a serious kidney condition. She was quickly medevaced to Edmonton and intubated, yet denied an escort, forcing her husband to cover flights and a week's of accommodation out-of-pocket while she fought to stabilize. After extensive communication with the Minister of medical travel, the family received coverage only for the final days of the emergency as she returned to Yellowknife.
Another constituent had just tragically lost her husband and suddenly found herself a single mother of two children. While grieving and adjusting to this new reality, she had to travel to Edmonton for essential medical care. She asked for her children to accompany her to help ease the situation during this difficult time, but again and again she was denied. No accommodation, no compassion and, worse, she was accused of trying to get medical travel to cover her child care.
Now my office is assisting a family of a young girl who survived a rare eye cancer. Her treatment was in Toronto where she formed a close bond with her doctors. She now needs regular fittings for her prosthetic eye which, as any parent can imagine, is a traumatizing experience. Yet medical travel refuses to send her east anymore, cutting her off from the doctors she trusts. As she grows, she may soon need a new prosthetic but with EHB now income-tested, the family could face thousands of dollars on top of the trauma of struggling with unfamiliar professionals against doctors' advice.
There is a common theme here that all MLAs are too familiar with - trauma, incapacitation, and situations where young children and seniors must endure circumstances they cannot manage alone. This Minister has the power that no other Northerner has, and MLAs, along with their constituents, are calling on her to exercise this power. Stop standing in the way of doctors and families and make health care work for the people who need it most. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Range Lake. Members' statements. Member from Yellowknife North.
Mr. Speaker, in health care we've heard that the Minister's top priority is cultural safety and anti-racism, along with the small community model of care and medical travel. I've read two reports produced last year that were supposed to lay out a roadmap towards cultural safety in our healthcare system, honouring the voices of Indigenous peoples and the equitable access report. There's a lot of important feedback and ideas in there from Indigenous patients and families and the patient advocates who try to help.
My challenge for the Minister is to ask, do any of those steps towards cultural safety make sense without focusing first and foremost on stabilizing our health care workforce? Are we trying to build a beautiful new house on a foundation of sand? Is there any scenario where we could achieve culturally safe care without continuity of care, without a stable workforce of regular nurses and physicians who have a relationship with their patients, know their health history, and know the communities they're working in?
We've gotten to a point, Mr. Speaker, where there are literally thousands of temporary healthcare workers revolving through our system every year - locum doctors and nurses, agency nurses, contracted paramedics. Some of our frontline managers barely have time to do anything else besides plugging holes, always looking for new people to fill the schedule.
Could all those practitioners ever be properly trained in cultural safety and anti-racism? We don't possibly have the human resources or money or time. Our Indigenous patient advocates are already undersupported but with more temporary workers from down south, we see more patients feeling disrespected and misunderstood. It is just unsustainable to keep dumping more cases on these advocates and expect them to investigate and meaningfully address incidents.
The clear vision is for health practitioners to be working together in well-connected teams, but how is that possible with a revolving door of temporary workers? We need more focus on long-term health prevention and promotion in communities, but contracted paramedics that are brought in to plug holes are not trained in those specialties.
Mr. Speaker, health care workforce stabilization cannot be just another competing priority shoved down the list. It is foundational to the success of everything else. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Yellowknife North. Members' statements. Member from Great Slave.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Black History Month celebrations in Yellowknife are about to begin and will last through February and into early March. I encourage us all to celebrate black culture and residents' contributions to the NWT year-round, Mr. Speaker.
Back Up North's events celebrate the diversity of the black community and their heritage across the NWT. Events this year feature food, culture, dance, music, learning, and celebrating community. This Saturday, Yellowknife residents are invited to a community welcome dinner from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Tree of Peace Friendship centre. The evening will feature African and Caribbean dishes. On Saturday, February 14th, from noon to 5 p.m., there will be a baking workshop at Ecole St. Patrick High School focused on teaching youth practical skills such as baking, cake decorating, and preparing snacks that they can make at home. Additionally, stay tuned for more information on a movie night in collaboration with Collège Nordique Francophone at its downtown campus. The culmination of these community events will be the annual Black History Month Gala on March 7th at the Chateau Nova. Tickets are on sale now and moving quickly, and I invite all Members to enjoy a night of food and entertainment featuring the legendary Canadian singer Julie Black. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Great Slave. Members' statements. Member from the Deh Cho.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] INSERT* [Translation Ends]. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, mahsi.
Today my Member's statement is one of gratitude and commitment. I want to first and foremost thank the constituents of the Deh Cho for placing their continued trust in me. Mahsi. As their MLA, I will continue to bring forward the issues they raise, important issues like the economy, the environment, health, education, housing, and public safety. Additionally, I want to thank my family, especially my husband Norman, for their steadfast support. I would not be able to carry out my duties as MLA without their support.
Mr. Speaker, the needs in our communities are significant. For too long, the government has approached small communities with a top-down mindset, telling them how to live, what to prioritize, and how services should look. Unfortunately, this approach has not worked. We see the results of this in our health outcomes, our incarceration statistics, the growing impacts of addictions, and the raising rates of homelessness. Our communities know what they need, and they know what works for them. The government must create the conditions for small communities to flourish, starting with our youth.
We need our young people to graduate with both academic and practical life skills - how to cook, how to budget, prepare their own meals, and take care of themselves. They should be able to enter post-secondary education without years of upgrading. We need more housing, homes for people experiencing homelessness, homes that support independence and opportunities for homeownership that build pride and stability. We need culturally grounded addictions treatment centres that help people heal using traditional cultural practices found in our communities. We need accessible, reliable health care in every community to reduce medical travel and improve outcomes. And we must address the high cost of living in the North by supporting wage growth and encourage local food production, such as gardening and preservation.
Mr. Speaker, our needs are many, but so is our determination. I thank this Assembly for working to support our communities, and I look forward to continue this valuable work. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from the Deh Cho. Members' statements. Member from Frame Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, a constituent recently raised concern with me about some abandoned vehicles adjacent to their property which have been an eyesore for many years. Initially, I thought this was a pretty cut-and-dry municipal issue, but after raising it with a colleague on city council, they came back to me and noted that a legislative gap at the territorial level was preventing the city from taking action.
The Motor Vehicles Act currently stipulates that the owner of a vehicle is liable for towing, storage, and disposal fees related to an abandoned vehicle. This works well when the owner is identifiable and can be tracked down but occasionally this is not possible for various reasons. My understanding from liaising with the city is that in order to deal with abandoned vehicles for whom the owner is not clear or the vehicle has lost intrinsic value is a minor modification of the Motor Vehicles Act which would allow officers to deem the vehicle worthless. This would allow tow companies to take the vehicle for scrap disposal as opposed to having to pay to store it indefinitely, which they currently do. Making this small change would assist the city in resolving this issue for my constituent but also in a wider sense as I know this is not an isolated issue. It occurs throughout my city, Mr. Speaker, and I have heard this is a problem at the Inuvik airport and that it is affecting cleanup of Enterprise also, to name a few other areas in the territory it is creating problems.
Mr. Speaker, this is a relatively minor legislative change which would help our municipalities address a longstanding issue. So I am hoping our infrastructure Minister can get this done quickly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Frame Lake. Members' statements. Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. At the start of the 20th Assembly, the Premier issued a mandate letter outlining his expectation for each Minister aligning their priorities in the common agenda for this government. Those letters were received after this Assembly voted for current executive council following the leadership commitment process where we shared our vision and considered candidates for ministerial positions. After two years, it is fair now to start asking the Premier what accountability exists when a Minister fails to uphold the trust of Regular Members and fails to deliver the mandate entrusted to them by this Premier.
The first responsibility is outlined in the Premier's mandate letter is clear: Ministers, in the spirit of consensus government, are expected to maintain constructive, open, respectful, and collaborative relationship with Regular Members. Over the past two years, my colleagues and I have sought to work collaboratively with the Minister of Health and Social Services to improve key services and advance reconciliation yet actions speaks for themselves and recent exchange with the Minister makes it clear that her agenda is narrow, limited, and disregards both collaboration with Regular Members and the mandate entrusted to her by the Premier.
When I am advancing -- advocating for this chamber leaders to call to action on our mandate letter, we both seek advanced reconciliation, implement UNDRIP, and strengthen partnerships with Indigenous governments. There is consensus on this mandate, and the principle of consensus government set an expectation that working together is possible. We have long awaited a modern collaborative approach for the government that, one, replaces the legal and colonial style approach with commitment to fulfilling treaty obligation and partnering genuinely with Indigenous governments. This government must take action now, or our term will not simply end with progress. I fear even decades could pass with treaties unresolved, reconciliation stalled, moments remembered as a missed opportunity.
Like all my colleagues on this side of the House, I want to help the Premier and this Cabinet take that action and fulfill their mandate. I would have questions for the Premier at the appropriate time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. Members' statements. Member from Yellowknife Centre.
Mr. Speaker, the Gahcho Kue announcement yesterday is a clear signal, if not a message, that our mining sector is in trouble. Once the backbone of the NWT economy, Mr. Speaker, it is under enormous strain everyone can agree upon. This deeply troubling news for people like me, I see this strain may not be the right word, Mr. Speaker. There may be a different word to look at this particular case, more so is our economy is turning into a nonexistence. Once a strong resource economy is fading away. Further erosion of our NWT economy is I fear what is next.
This government doesn't seem to recognize the urgency of this particular problem, Mr. Speaker, and that becomes fearful for citizens I talk to abound. Hope is not a plan, Mr. Speaker. I don't know if this government hopes someone will save us, but I could assure you hope won't feed your kids and I can guarantee a hope doesn't keep the lights on. When it takes over ten years or more to get a project to move forward, Mr. Speaker, the reality is we need that investment, the employment, the economic certainty to save the North, Mr. Speaker. And back to hope.
Which business school out there teaches hope as an economic plan? I assure you not a single one.
Every delay sends a message to the industry, Mr. Speaker, that the NWT is a difficult place to work, too slow, uninterested, and far too uncertain to invest money here. Investors look elsewhere. They take their bags of money and opportunity to other jurisdictions that welcome them. Mr. Speaker, jurisdictions such as Nunavut and the Yukon. Their economies are accelerating forward while ours is stalling.
Mr. Speaker, to be honest, it's about what are we going to do about what's coming next? If it wasn't for the potential DND investment of $10 billion potentially ramping up, I don't know what we'd be doing about this potential serious gap ahead of us, Mr. Speaker. And to be clear, any success of that investment is solely credited to D -- let me try again. Solely entirely credited to DND, not the GNWT, Mr. Speaker. So I tell the GNWT to stand out of their way and don't mess it up.
Mr. Speaker, we're fearful. Many people are fearful in my community when they hear this. So back to hope. Is this government going to wait for Providence to save us? Is there happenstance that we wait in line for? We can only wait for divine intervention and luck so long, Mr. Speaker. No one is suggesting this urgency means we have to ignore environmental responsibilities, but we need to be fighting, fighting for jobs, because jobs lead to -- help us on the fight of poverty, to help families, and build healthy and strong communities. Mr. Speaker, I will have questions during question period later today with respect to my statement because we need urgent action. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Yellowknife Centre. Members' statements.
Colleagues, it is with great regret that I advise the House of the passing of Dolphus Henry (Duffy) Cazon. Today, it is not to mourn his passing but to celebrate a life full of joy, generosity, and simple pleasures that touched us all.
Born on July 30, 1953, in Fort Simpson to Baptiste and Marie Alphonsine Cazon, Duffy was one of 17 children who grew up embracing the land alongside his siblings -- running, laughing, and learning the rhythms of our northern home. From his young days, Duffy's love for music lit up the room. He'd practice that accordion with such passion and later in life nothing made him happier than rock n' roll tunes or a good kung fu movie. Give him a T-shirt from his favourite band or a DVD of Bruce Lee and his eyes would sparkle. Kathy Tsetso reminded us of his quirky love for chocolate-covered cherries, a mystery until we learned these were his mother's favorite. This story captures Duffy's loyalty, sentimental, and full of heart.
Duffy was generosity itself. If you needed something and he had it, it was yours - no questions asked. Much of his adult life brought physical challenges confining him to a motorized wheelchair but did that slow him down? Never. We'd spot him zipping through Fort Simpson, that big smile on his face, often on the hunt for his favourite snuff. Despite it all he stayed happy, positive, a familiar and beloved presence who lifted spirits wherever he went.
In his later years at the Fort Simpson long-term care facility, Duffy found a second family in the staff and residents who adored his humour and warmth. To them, we say thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your kindness and care. After a long battle with health issues, Duffy passed peacefully on December 17, 2025, at the age of 72 years young.
Duffy leaves a legacy of smiles, music, and open-hearted giving. He reminds us to find joy in the small things, to share freely, and to keep smiles through trials. Rest easy, Duffy, your spirit rolls on in our stories, our songs, and our community.
The family extends heartfelt thanks to the dedicated staff for their kindness and unwavering support during his time there. We know he is with his siblings and parents that predeceased him. He will be sadly missed.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to recognize two pages from Kakisa. They're from a constituency, and they're Chloe Chicot and Leah Simba. Welcome to the Legislative Assembly.
Thank you. Recognition of visitors in the gallery.
Again, for those ones up in the gallery, thank you very much for attending. We appreciate you giving us the honour of representing the people of the Northwest Territories for the 20th Assembly. I hope you enjoy the proceedings, and it is always nice to see people in the gallery.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Following up to my Member's statement, I have questions for the Minister of Strategic Infrastructure, Energy, and Supply Chains.
Mr. Speaker, can the Minister provide an update on the community engagement sessions and what the department's hearing from the residents as they engage with the community. Thank you.
Thank you, Member from Inuvik Boot Lake. Minister responsible for Strategic Infrastructure, Energy, and Supply Chains.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I had to practice to get it right myself. So, Mr. Speaker, I am happy to have the chance to speak to this. There's been a lot of engagements over 30 years on this particular stretch of highway, but we are at a different stage now. Over the last few years now, we've heard communities say they wanted to have community readiness. They don't want to just have the road get built. They want to be ready, they want to participate, they want to be ready when it is built. So we are accelerating the work for community readiness. The team is there all week. They had two days in Norman Wells. I would encourage anyone in the Sahtu -- it's all over social media, I don't have it in front of me here, to check out the engagements happening in the evenings. Because we are looking to really meet with the communities to figure out what needs to happen so they can participate more fully and to be ready. Again, community readiness is a different stage. It usually happens towards the end of a project. We're moving it forward. We're confident enough to know that we need to get this done, and that's what they're there laying the foundation for, for community readiness, participate, and to be ready when that road gets built. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you for that. So around that, I guess that same theme of being involved, what opportunities, Mr. Speaker, will there be for Indigenous governments and local communities to stay involved as this project moves forward?
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there's already work underway in partnership with Indigenous governments. We had, in the fall, signed a work plan with the Pehdzeh Ki First Nation out of Wrigley and met just last week there. We're going back again to design the final routing. The final design of the routing will be done together so that we're making best use of traditional knowledge as well as with more western traditional science-based design. They're putting those two things together so we have the best possible route. But meanwhile, Mr. Speaker, again, looking to work on a traditional knowledge studies throughout the area to make so that the final design has best use but also that -- again, the community readiness is about making sure that there are corporations in those communities, corporations and individuals who might need further training, who know what's coming, who are ready when the project come forward, that they're there to participate, that they can make best use of different opportunities, and to work with the Indigenous governments who are land holders and traditional land users that, again, when this project moves forward that they are there to participate in those contracts, that their members are there to participate in those contracts, and, really, so that this -- the work starting from today and going forward is seamless, that everyone knows the timeline and everyone's ready to bid on contracts, to participate in contracts, and have whatever training is necessary to do so. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister responsible for Strategic Infrastructure, Energy, and Supply Chains. Final supplementary. Member from Inuvik Boot Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you for that. Mr. Speaker, my final question is when the residents of Inuvik head south with their commerce to head into the Yukon and head into possibly Alberta, Mr. Speaker, when can the Minister anticipate that they can put their left signal light on and take a left turn and head all the way down to Yellowknife instead, Mr. Speaker?
