Mr. Speaker, today I would like to recognize the Government of the Northwest Territories' progress in advancing transitional housing initiatives and improving shelter operations across the North, as guided by A Way Home: A Comprehensive Strategy to Address Homelessness in the Northwest Territories.
In recent months, with the support of our partners, we have made meaningful advancements in addressing chronic homelessness in the NWT. I want to reaffirm our dedication to working together to find northern solutions that support and protect our most vulnerable residents.
Increasing transitional and supportive housing across the North was identified in A Way Home as a top priority. Enhanced supports and person-centered services give vulnerable residents the opportunity to address past issues, develop life skills and reconnect with their communities, ultimately helping them to move toward stable, long-term housing.
The GNWT and Housing NWT have been collaborating with several partners to bring more transitional and supportive housing to the North.
In December, Housing NWT and the Department of Executive and Indigenous Affairs unveiled the new temporary transitional housing facility located on Highway No. 3, adjacent to the Folk on the Rocks site in Yellowknife. This new 24-unit facility provides individuals experiencing homelessness with a supportive step when leaving the emergency shelter system. The facility is operated by the Yellowknife Women's Society, offering programming and services for residents such as case management, life skills development, and help with employment, income assistance and housing applications.
For the first time, residents have access to safe transitional housing in Yellowknife and soon they will also have access in Inuvik after returning from out-of-territory treatment services.
Housing NWT and the Department of Health and Social Services have collaborated with the Salvation Army in Yellowknife and the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation in Inuvik to develop a transitional housing model for residents returning from addiction treatment. One five-bedroom home in each community has been renovated to operate as a transitional home for post-addictions recovery programs. These homes offer a safe, substance-free, and supportive environment where residents live as a cohesive unit to focus on maintaining their recovery, rebuilding essential life skills, and working towards long-term stability within their community.
The 2026-2027 Budget contains significant proposed increases for the operations of emergency homeless shelters. This increased funding is to ensure the safe and stable operations of this vital network of emergency shelters. This will allow organizations to attract and retain staff and ensure that they are adequately funded to address inflationary costs.
It was recently announced that in spring of 2026, Housing NWT will assume operational responsibility for the Yellowknife Day Shelter and Sobering Centre, which are currently managed by Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority. With a designated operational lead in Housing NWT, services will align across all shelters, supporting the GNWT's efforts to deliver a unified and coordinated approach to homelessness across the territory.
In 2021, Housing NWT began operating the Inuvik homeless shelter. During this time, the GNWT increased shelter funding to strengthen service stability and support local capacity, which created the conditions necessary to develop community-led operations. As a result, this vital service returned to a community organization last month when the Inuvik Homeless Shelter Advisory Board assumed operational responsibility of the shelter. Housing NWT has also issued a request for proposals to identify a potential operator for the Inuvik warming shelter, continuing the GNWT's efforts to expand community involvement in homelessness services.
I am encouraged by the meaningful progress we have made in addressing chronic homelessness in the Northwest Territories. To ensure our housing solutions reflect the needs and realities of the North, we will continue to strengthen our partnerships with non-governmental organizations, Indigenous governments, community governments and individuals with lived experience. Through these shared efforts, we can build a more responsive housing system that supports the residents to find safe and stable places to call home. Quyananni, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Eight years ago, this Assembly received the report of a foundational review of Aurora College which our current Premier pushed for when he was an MLA. The review made a bold case for change that I think is worth reiterating now in 2026 as we face significant economic challenge because I don't think we've been acting with the urgency required to address what we are facing and was communicated in that report.
I quote, There are three key and urgent reasons that support the proposition and change recommended in the foundational review. Firstly, advances in higher education are increasing at a phenomenal rate, and, consequently, the college needs to adapt to this shift. Secondly, because of this increasing pace of change, the only way to retain a lifelong working capacity is to engage as a total NWT population in lifelong integrated learning. Hence, NWT social structures need to keep pace with the accelerated rate of change. The need for higher education has to be seen by the GNWT as a primary economic driver and key to developing a knowledge economy and as such, the need for workforce development has never been more acute. Thirdly, it is a well-researched fact that a critical mass of intellectual human capital attracts substantive investment. As a result, it's imperative that the NWT take action to immediately begin investment in a progressive 21st century higher education model. This investment will provide the necessary institutional capacity for the NWT to attract substantive national and multinational corporate attention and investment throughout the next three to four decades. It is important for the GNWT to decide and act on a new vision as early as practicable as the post-secondary sector is becoming increasingly global and competitive. The NWT is not only competing with other northern institutions but institutions from across Canada and North America.
Mr. Speaker, I highlight that last point in particular. When it was made, the proposal was for NWT to become the first circumpolar jurisdiction in Canada with a university. As I say these words today, eight years later, we are now facing the scenario of being the last with the Yukon years ahead of us and Nunavut making bold strides. Mr. Speaker, I ask for unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and colleagues. Mr. Speaker, if we want to understand why our jurisdiction is falling behind our peers, it is not due to inaction in one economic sector but rather that we have rested on our laurels while our neighbours have diversified. Mr. Speaker, the time to act on that was ten years ago, but now is the moment for us to turn this narrative around. Thank you.
Thank you, Member from Frame Lake. Members' statements. Member from Yellowknife North.
Mr. Speaker, committee was told back in May of last year give us time, give us space. This was from the public administrator of the health authority when his work plan was unveiled six months after his appointment to what we thought might be a one-year term. With the public administrator replacing the leadership council, we were told health authority governance would become more efficient, streamlined, nimble, with more consistent oversight. And we were told if politicians would just back off with our constant queries and if frontline practitioners would stop publicly raising alarm bells, leaving the PA scrambling with media work, health authority leadership could settle in and get to work making change.
It's now been 14 months since the PA was appointed. We have blown past nearly every deadline for concrete results that were laid out in the work plan with no deliverables in sight.
The main action in the work plan towards health care workforce stabilization was to develop and release a people strategy by June 2025. Last September, we were told it was almost ready and would be released in October. It still hasn't been released.
The PA was supposed to produce a balanced budget for the NTHSSA by last December so we could see savings in these main estimates. I see no evidence of that work, Mr. Speaker.
He was supposed to be reviewing the health authority governance and organizational structure to find efficiencies and reduce duplication between HSS and the authority. That was due by December but as of September hadn't even been initiated. Also not initiated as of September was a comprehensive business case for the small community model of care.
The PA was supposed to be held publicly accountable with a dashboard on the website charting progress on the work plan. That was supposed to be up last June. Guess what? Still no sign of it.
Well, what about the intangibles? The PA made much of his commitment to boost morale, improve workplace culture and communication, make practitioners feel heard. But the practitioners I've talked to say they've never even seen the PA step foot into their workplaces. Mr. Speaker, I am not interested in giving any more time or any more space to the PA. It's time for results. Thank you.
Thank you, Member from Yellowknife North. Members' statements. Member from Great Slave.
Mr. Speaker, Happy Lunar New Year, Happy Mardi Gras, blessed Shrove Tuesday, and Ramadan Mubarak, Mr. Speaker. My riding is diverse, and I want to remark on all holidays my constituents celebrate where and when I can.
As well, Mr. Speaker, I wish to also note that I have many constituents who are active in the YK Citizens for Ceasefire group. Every Saturday, they brave the cold and make their voices heard at the four-way intersection at 48th Street and 49th Avenue, in support of a free Palestine.
Today, they are rallying and raising their voices in a Canada-wide day of action to call for more stringent exports of arms and parts to the US, for transparency and consistency of permitting with all export partners. The proposed No More Loopholes Bill C-233 is before the House of Commons.
Mr. Lloyd Axworthy, former federal MP and Minister, stated in a column to the Globe and Mail that, quote, the bill does not restrict manufacturing, sales, or innovation. It merely standardizes reviews so that exports to the United States undergo the same processes as all others. Factories will continue to operate, jobs will remain secure, and responsible oversight will strengthen, rather than weaken, confidence in the sector, end quote.
Mr. Speaker, when we are experiencing the imperial boomerang in real time, that is, imperialist powers imposing repressive techniques honed abroad on the global south and then brought home and used against their own citizens, I am proud that my fellow Yellowknifers are speaking up for justice and appropriate transparency in arms trade. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Great Slave. Members' statements. Member from the Sahtu.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, regulatory and permitting approvals are critical to advance projects. Mr. Speaker, the cornerstone of our consensus government here in the Northwest Territories is working together for all people. It's about being proactive, communicative, and solution-driven. Today, I want to speak about why that spirit of collaboration must extend to include meaningful partnership between the Government of the Northwest Territories, the federal government, and our Indigenous governments.
Mr. Speaker, the Mackenzie Valley Highway environmental assessment demonstrates both the promise and the complexity of the major infrastructure developments. The scope has been extended, in consultation with Indigenous governments, Wrigley to Inuvik. Phase 1 is already underway. Phase 2 included in this scope, progress is needed, regulatory challenges overcome, overlapping consultation requirements across multiple Indigenous governments. Alternatively, Indigenous governments, through their modern treaties, have the option to direct negotiations with the federal government on access.
These aren't just bureaucratic hurdles, Mr. Speaker. My recent trips, I heard loudly consultation fatigue. When Indigenous governments don't have adequate capacity support, when we rush consultations instead of building it into the process from day one, delays can be frustrating.
Mr. Speaker, I am calling on this government to establish a joint Department of Infrastructure and Indigenous governments team to lead phase 2 of the Mackenzie Valley Highway environmental assessment. This team would coordinate consultation, eliminate duplication, ensure adequate capacity funding flows to Indigenous governments, and build timelines together. This is consensus government and a meaningful collaboration way. This is how we turn regulatory challenges into opportunities for genuine partnerships. Mr. Speaker, our Indigenous governments hold a key to progress and development. Mahsi.
Thank you, Member from the Sahtu. Members' statements. Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise again to speak to this government's continued refusal to address a growing crisis in Indigenous education. Today I want to dig deeper into Jordan's Principle funding, which our schools have become so resilient. If you look closely, you will see that this funding has not only taken on responsibility that belongs to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment but also filling in the gap left by the Minister of Health and Social Services.
When it comes to ensuring children and complex needs can fully participate in learning, there is a clear intersection between health and education. As schools' population continues to grow, an increasing number of children are arriving with disabilities, challenges that directly impact their ability to learn, including autism, speech, language, or auditory disorders, hearing loss, and mental health conditions. These needs must be identified early so the school can design a learning environment that meets their needs. Parents cannot do it alone, and many struggle to access funding from primary care or cannot afford the services their children require. As a result, our schools are not only forced to act as hubs for these services but they are also funding assessments and providing learning equipment out of their own budget. That should never happen and allowed to be happen.
I have said before, and I will say it again, relying on the Jordan's Principle to fund core territorial public services is how government is given honouring the treaties and failed to follow through the commitments made in the name of MMIWG, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and UNDRIP. Actions speak louder than words, and what is happening speaks louder and clear to all who want to hear it.
Every dollar received from Ottawa was a dollar this government failed to provide to necessary territorial services, and where those dollars were going was plain for all to see. Each year that passed was a choice and a choice to say no to Indigenous children and to ignore the treaty rights on education. Later today, I will ask the Minister of Health and Social Services on how she plans to stop shifting her responsibilities onto schools, especially now that the federal government will no longer pick up the tab. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. Members' statements. Member from Mackenzie Delta.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The residents of the Northwest Territories require the best medical treatment that is available to them based on the treaties that were signed with the Crown, not with the Government of the Northwest Territories. These treaty obligations have to be honoured. If the residents have to live by policies and procedures, then we as a government are failing the residents of the NWT and are not obligating these treaties that our former chiefs signed on our behalf.
Mr. Speaker, before Chief Julius, a great Gwich'in chief, put his mark on the paper, it was made clear that he would sign Treaty 11 based on promises from the Crown. Two main promises that he wanted was the best education for his children and the best health care for his people. Conroy, the government agent, stated that as long as you can see that mountain -- and he was referring to Black Mountain -- just north of Teetl’it Zheh, he wanted these promises to be honoured. And today you can still see that mountain, but the treaty promises are not being honoured by the federal government or the territorial governments.
Mr. Speaker, it is time that we change the way that we treat our citizens, especially the Indigenous population of the Northwest Territories, when it pertains to health care. We have to stop answering them based on policies and procedures and provide them with assurance and security that we do, indeed, care for their well-being.
Mr. Speaker, I have been continuously receiving texts, emails, and calls about the way people are being treated when it comes to health care as a whole. They ask when is this type of treatment going to stop and when are they going to be treated with respect and not policies and procedures. Mr. Speaker, patients have been given little to no notice of their appointments, and most times have to cancel or reschedule because the time frame is too short. Patients with special needs are being denied escorts because of the policies. It is time to implement community navigators in the smaller communities who know the residents and their specific needs. Mr. Speaker, the time to provide the best health care to the residents of the Northwest Territories has long passed. Let us start a new page in health care, not based on policies and procedures but practice. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Mackenzie Delta. Members' statements. Member from Inuvik Boot Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I want to use my Member's statement today to thank everyone for the important work we've completed over the past two-plus weeks. Sometimes it certainly doesn't feel like we've got that work accomplished but there has, indeed, been some good work done, and I'd like to thank the Members of the House for that.
A reminder to us all, Mr. Speaker, that there are still a lot of concerned citizens out there. We have a high cost of energy still, a high cost of food, and certainly we know that there are those struggling with addictions and homelessness, Mr. Speaker, and we always have to keep those front and center on our mind. Mr. Speaker, they are counting on us. They're counting on us to work together as we conclude. So I look forward to concluding the budget process, to create a budget that's good for all Northerners, Mr. Speaker.
And I'd also like to say safe travels for those heading back to their home communities as we take a short break between this session. And thank you all, and, again, safe travels to everyone. Thank you.
Thank you, Member from Inuvik Boot Lake. Members' statements. Member from Monfwi.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today there is growing urgency in the Tlicho region felt in Behchoko, Gameti, Wekweeti, and Whati where many families depend on the diamond mines for stable, well-paying work. For decades, the diamond industry has been a cornerstone of opportunity for Tlicho citizens, providing hundreds of jobs and strengthening our local economies. But that foundation is now at risk. The looming closures of Ekati and Gahcho Kue are immediate and serious threat to Tlicho workers. Gahcho Kue paused expansion and financial pressures driven by falling diamond prices and global instability suggests its operating life may shorten. Ekati, meanwhile, has required prior federal support just to continue operating, with warning that even more assistance may be needed if conditions fail to improve. These mines sustains more than 1,000 jobs, Mr. Speaker, across the Northwest Territories, and a significant share of those workers come from Tlicho community. If the mines shut down, the economy shock will hit regions like mine the hardest where alternative employment is already limited.
Mr. Speaker, industry leaders have cautioned that mine closures could trigger population loss and shrinking territorial revenue impacts that would be felt most severely in Indigenous communities like mine.
Mr. Speaker, while the GNWT has introduced temporary relief measures, such as tax adjustments and increased evaluation capacities, these steps address only short-term pressure. They do not answer the larger question facing the Tlicho Nation: What long-term plan exists to ensure workers have real sustainable employment options once the mines are gone.
Our region, Mr. Speaker, has contributed greatly to the prosperity of the Northwest Territories. It is time for the GNWT to demonstrate the same commitment by delivering a clear, forward-looking strategy that protects Tlicho livelihoods beyond the diamond mining era. Mr. Speaker, I will have question for the Minister of ITI. Thank you.
Thank you, Member from Monfwi. Members' statements. Member from Yellowknife Centre.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Recently, I was speaking to Bob Zimmer. He's the MP in northern BC He's also the Conservative critic for northern affairs, and the conversation was really interesting. I asked MP Zimmer, are you familiar with the Premier's buddy, you know, that senior envoy in Ottawa who is a self-proclaimed Ottawa expert, insider, knows everything. He said, in short, who? Mr. Speaker, when I asked some more questions, he goes well, I've heard of the guy, and he said he's been unable to reach him. He doesn't even know how to get ahold of him. Mr. Speaker, he did say eventually he did bump into him at one of those wine and cheese functions, you know those ones with the little fancy crackers and stuff where people try to rub elbows and like to think they're bigger than they are. Well, Mr. Speaker, he did corner him and say, hi, let's work together. That was the last contact he had with the NWT $440,000 senior envoy, Mr. Speaker. Begs the question is what's the value of this MP. Good question. I asked him that -- sorry, senior envoy, from the perspective of this MP. He said well, if you've got a Minister in Cabinet, in government, all that good stuff, he said there is no point. He's doing the job that the Minister is currently doing. I'd consider that an utter failure and disappointment, Mr. Speaker, that our government is paying someone to do our MP's job, open doors.
Mr. Speaker, I listened to that Cabin Radio back in December 2025, and my goodness, Mr. Speaker, that Cabin Radio should have been a situation where someone should have resigned in shame. They didn't clearly lay out a plan. They couldn't articulate what they're doing, and he barely even wanted to answer the question how much that position cost, Mr. Speaker.
And speaking of cost, Mr. Speaker, is this government paying the Premier's buddy a $440,000 concierge service to do what? To drive people to the hockey games? To pick them up at the airport? Carry their luggage? Take them to the casinos? Take them shopping? I don't know. Nobody knows. There's no transparency, Mr. Speaker. The hubris of this government is beyond unaccountable, Mr. Speaker. It is just confusing.
Mr. Speaker, over the period of this government, over the whole continuum, we will pay $1.8 million approximately for this guy who has delivered what? Nothing, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, the bottom line is that I say fire the senior envoy -- because the Premier isn't even paying attention to my statement -- put that money into health care, put that money into child care, put that money into literacy, give it to seniors, Mr. Speaker. Let's spend it in a real result that gives real meaning to Northerners, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.
Thank you, Member from Yellowknife Centre. Members' statements.
Colleagues, on December 12th, 2025, I had the honour of attending the Western Arctic Marine Training Centre's Bridge Watch Rating graduation ceremony in Hay River. This was the second year in a row I've been invited. In true northern way of celebrating the graduates, they had elder Roy Fabian and four youth do an opening pray song.
This remarkable program equips new entrants with essential Transport Canada certifications for bridge watch and deck duties, preparing them for safe, skilled careers at sea. Twelve dedicated students started and successfully completed the intensive 15-week course, earning their credentials. They hailed from across Canada and the North: Hay River, Vernon BC, Fort McPherson, Inuvik, Vancouver BC, Toronto ON, Whitehorse YT, Victoria BC. And proudly, Trenton Diamond 'C from Fort Simpson. Eight were Northerners showcasing the program's draw for locals and beyond.
What makes this initiative stand out? It's fully funded for Northerners through Transport Canada's Oceans Protection Plan, delivered in partnership with BCIT, and includes hands-on simulator training AND safety modules, and marine emergency duties all tailored for remote marine challenges. Students from outside the NWT flock here, excited by their reputation and job-ready outcomes. Past grads have joined the Coast Guard, BC Ferries, and more.
The grads received special messages from Thire Hein, former alumni; Minister Rebecca Alty; Premier Simpson, WAMTC board of director Terry Camsell; and executive director John Vandenberg. This program builds economic opportunities, marine experience, and pride in our North's workforce.
Congratulations to the grads, instructors, and the WAMTC team. I encourage and continue to support to keep attracting talent like Trenton from Fort Simpson in this field of work. Thank you.
Members' statements. Member from Range Lake.
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Rule 8.3(3)(a), I give notice of intent to proceed with Bill 3, Carbon Tax Repeal Act, for further consideration in Committee of the Whole. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize a hard-working Range Lake page Adam Kamali. Thank you for being here and supporting our proceedings. It's great to have you as part of our democracy today, Adam. Thank you.
Thank you, Member from Range Lake. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member from Yellowknife South.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased today to have a page from Yellowknife South. She also happens to be someone I know very well. This is Ms. Savannah Gostlin who is paging for us here today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I like that red colour. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member from Frame Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd just like to quickly recognize Frame Lake page Charlotte Hilton who is in the House today. Again, thank you so much for your service, and we've really been enjoying having the pages in the House, as always, this week. Thank you.
Thank you, Member from Range Lake. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. I'd like to recognize MaryJane Cazon, our translator from Fort Simpson. She is going to head home today. So MaryJane, have a safe trip home and we'll see you next week.
Recognition of visitors in the gallery. If we missed anyone in the gallery, welcome to your chambers. I hope you are enjoying the proceedings. It's always nice to see people in the gallery.
Your Standing Committee on Public Accounts is pleased to provide its Report on the Review of the Auditor General's 2025 Audit of Protected and Conserved Areas in the Northwest Territories and commends it to the House.
The Speaker of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly tabled the Report of the Auditor General of Canada to the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly - Protected and Conserved Areas in the Northwest Territories on May 23, 20251 ("the audit" or "the report").
The Office of the Auditor General's report provided detailed findings on the GNWT's readiness and capacity to deliver on the Healthy Land, Healthy People: GNWT Priorities for the Northwest Territories Conservation Network 2023-2028 (HLHP) work plan's objectives related to conservation. The audit focused on three outcomes: establishing new protected areas, supporting the effective and equitable management of existing protected and conserved areas, and securing long-term funding for conservation activities.
Protected areas in the NWT operate within a complex inter-governmental landscape, involving Indigenous governments, the federal government, and regional co-management systems. The GNWT's role is shaped by statutory duties under the Protected Areas Act (PAA), its intergovernmental commitments under land claim and self-government agreements, the broader national biodiversity commitments associated with Canada's 2030 targets, and other relevant territorial and federal legislation.
The PAA establishes the territorial framework for creating permanent protected areas through establishment agreements that specify roles, responsibilities, governance structures, and management expectations. Territorial protected areas (TPA) must be co-developed with Indigenous governments, with decisions made through collaborative processes that reflect Indigenous law, knowledge systems, and stewardship principles. Beyond the PAA, land and resource management in the NWT is also influenced by settled land claim agreements and ongoing negotiations in unsettled areas like the Dehcho. These agreements establish co-management boards, planning processes, consultation obligations, and shared roles in stewardship. The HLHP plan provides a strategic policy framework emphasizing Indigenous-led conservation, long-term sustainability, biodiversity protection, and recognition of cultural continuity.
Committee completed an extensive review of the OAG's report, including holding a public briefing on October 29th, 2025. This is Committee's report on that review with recommendations for the GNWT.
Committee thanks Jerry V. DeMarco, Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development; Carey Agnew, Principal; and Stephanie Moores, Director, for their work on the audit and their briefing. Committee also thanks Karen Hogan, Auditor General of Canada.
Committee also thanks John MacDonald, Secretary to Cabinet and Deputy Minister of Executive and Indigenous Affairs; Robert Jenkins, Deputy Minister of Environment and Climate Change; and Pamela Strand, Deputy Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, and their teams for information supporting this review.
Committee recognizes that the GNWT has made meaningful progress toward ensuring that the territory is on track to achieve outcomes related to protecting biodiversity and ecological integrity while sustaining cultural practices and economic development for current and future generations through its network of protected and conserved areas under the PAA.
The audit confirmed that GNWT has advanced key priorities under the HLHP work plan, including securing long-term financing for Indigenous-led conservation under the Project Finance for Permanence (PFP) agreement, and working to expand and manage the conservation network. While challenges remain in planning, governance, and operational capacity, committee acknowledges that these efforts represent a significant step forward in building a strong and sustainable framework for land protection and stewardship and advancing reconciliation with Indigenous governments.
To that end, committee acknowledges the significant efforts made by the departments and urges continued collaboration and innovation to strengthen conservation outcomes for future generations through a whole-of-government approach together with Indigenous governments.
A central finding of the OAG audit was the GNWT's unsustainable reliance on short-term federal funding, which accounted for approximately 41 percent of conservation network expenditures in 2023-2024. Short-term funding creates operational instability, contributing to high turnover rates, unfilled positions, and challenges in meeting timelines for regulatory development, management plans, and monitoring programs.
The PFP agreement represents a major positive step in securing up to $375 million in long-term financing for Indigenous-led conservation activities. However, the PFP specifically funds Indigenous governments, not the GNWT, and does not replace the GNWT's own operational responsibilities under the PAA or its intergovernmental obligations. As Indigenous governments begin accessing PFP funds, the GNWT must ensure its own capacity keeps pace to avoid delays or gaps in fulfilling its statutory and partnership obligations.
Committee concludes that the GNWT may benefit from increased funding as well as a scaled funding model that reflects the distinct stages of conservation work under the PAA, including Cabinet approval of a candidate area, negotiation of an establishment agreement, regulatory development, and management planning. These stages require coordinated, multi-year departmental effort. Committee therefore makes the following two recommendations:
Committee observes that conservation initiatives outside the PAA may follow different processes and funding pathways, and the GNWT's financial responsibilities for this work are not always clearly defined or predictable. Committee observes that a clearer understanding of these obligations is needed, along with a coordinated approach to securing federal support for non-PAA conservation activities. Committee consequently recommends:
Committee's study highlighted that conservation planning occurs over several years, and key activities cannot be completed within a single fiscal cycle. Reliance on annual funding creates uncertainty and slows progress on protected area establishment, management planning, and monitoring. Committee notes that flexible multi-year funding would provide greater predictability and allow resources to align with the timing of conservation work. Committee also recognizes that implementing multi-year funding is challenging under the current constraints of the Financial Administration Act, which limits the GNWT's ability to commit funds across fiscal years. Furthermore, while the financial administration manual (IB 805.02) allows for multi-year ongoing contribution agreements, any uncommitted surplus at the end of a fiscal year is clawed back. Committee is concerned that the existing financial tools for flexible, stable, long-term funding is not adequate for the scope and scale of conservation work and would therefore recommend:
Committee is aware that many Indigenous governments face capacity constraints that limit meaningful participation in conservation planning and the implementation of establishment agreements under the PAA. While PFP will provide substantial funding for Indigenous-led conservation work, it is uncertain if Indigenous governments and organizations will have capacity to engage in PAA-related activities. Limited staff, competing priorities, and increasingly complex conservation tables can restrict full participation and slow progress on shared objectives. Committee consequently recommends:
The audit found that progress on advancing Dinaga Wek'ehodi and the four Dehcho candidate protected areas has been limited, despite their combined potential to add 23,521 square kilometers of protection, which is significant for meeting territorial and national conservation targets. Decision-making on these sites is complex and requires consensus among multiple Indigenous governments, coordination with ongoing land claim negotiations in the Dehcho, and substantial technical, ecological, cultural, and socio-economic analysis. The Nature Agreement identifies 2028 as the target for completing several of these candidate areas and commits the GNWT to leading annual public reporting on progress beginning in 2025. Committee notes that no structured approach for meeting these obligations has been outlined and that the first annual report has not yet been published. Without a clear action plan, defined milestones, and identified resourcing, the GNWT risks falling behind the 2028 targets and weakening transparency and accountability in the establishment process.
Mr. Speaker, would like to share a quote from the Deputy Minister of Environment and Climate Change who shared with the committee at the public briefing: co-management only works if relationships are healthy.
We emphatically agree.
The audit found that Indigenous representation in hiring for positions associated with TPAs was limited. For the first five years after establishment, management boards were rarely involved in planning or carrying out hiring for roles identified in establishment agreements. Committee finds that this lack of involvement fell short of co-management commitments and has limited opportunities for Indigenous communities to participate directly in stewardship roles.
Although improvements were noted in 2023, participation by management boards remained inconsistent. The audit recommended that the GNWT ensure meaningful board involvement, and the GNWT agreed. At the public briefing on October 29, 2025, officials identified several improvements, including adding board members to hiring committees, limiting competitions to nearby communities, and seeking board input on job descriptions and recruitment. Committee notes these are positive steps but remains concerned that the GNWT has not identified indicators to measure whether these changes improve Indigenous representation or retention.
The audit also found that the GNWT lacked structured monitoring of progress in implementing establishment agreements. Although agreements require a formal five-year review, work had not begun and no critical path or milestones were in place. Committee agrees this gap risks delays in management planning, monitoring programs, and Guardians initiatives. While GNWT officials have accepted the recommendation and pointed to existing mechanisms such as meetings with management boards, the OAG questioned whether these are sufficient. In the public hearing, the Principal advised that interim check-ins may be needed to complement the five-year review cycle. To support those comments, committee recommends:
The audit confirms that the core instruments for TPAs remain unfinished or only partially in place. Draft regulations for Thaidene Nene were co-developed but not finalized, related policies remain interim or in draft, and management plans for both Thaidene Nene and Ts'ude Niline Tuyeta were not completed within five years of their establishment agreements. These gaps delay dependent work such as monitoring programs and create uncertainty for decision makers and proponents.
Committee finds that the lack of finalized regulations, approved management plans, and consolidated permitting guidance has left boards and proponents relying on interim tools and ad hoc coordination. This slows implementation of establishment agreements and undermines confidence in the permitting system. The audit's "partially completed" status for regulations and policies, combined with missed plan timelines, demonstrates the need for permanent rules and a clear pathway for activities within TPAs. As such, committee recommends:
Leadership in conservation requires GNWT to coordinate across departments, anticipate pressures from increased Indigenous-led conservation initiatives, and ensure its processes are transparent, timely, and well resourced. The audit's Exhibit 4 identified key factors that enabled the successful negotiation of the PFP agreement, including stable representation, shared work planning, sufficient capacity, cultural practices, and strong facilitation. Applying these practices to TPA establishment and implementation could strengthen GNWT's leadership and improve outcomes across the conservation network.
Committee affirms that GNWT must respect Indigenous governments' right to lead conservation in their regions, and at the same time provide clear direction and ensure territorial commitments are met. GNWT cannot defer leadership by suggesting that progress depends solely on Indigenous capacity or availability. It must set a coordinated plan for protected and conserved areas, align targets across departments, and resource delivery.
Historic harms and systemic exclusion of Indigenous peoples from land stewardship and governance have left legacies that continue to affect trust and relationships. Some of these harms are recent, making rebuilding trust more challenging. These unresolved issues can impede efforts to work together on shared priorities such as conservation, even when frameworks for collaboration exist. Moving forward requires acknowledging these harms, issuing public apologies where appropriate, and actively creating space for Indigenous leadership while ensuring governments fulfill their responsibilities as partners.
Committee acknowledges that the GNWT enacted the UNDRIP Implementation Act, (UNDRIPIA) which commits the GNWT to harmonizing its laws and policies with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. UNDRIPIA came into force on October 6, 2023, and requires the Minister, in collaboration and cooperation with Indigenous governments or organizations of the NWT and the executive council, co-develop an action plan to achieve the objectives of the Declaration within two years of coming into force. Committee notes that this legislative timeline has passed. The action plan was not tabled during the October 2025 sitting, and the required public engagement has not occurred.
To give full effect to these commitments and demonstrate progress, committee recommends that GNWT take immediate steps to operationalize the Act and embed UNDRIP principles into conservation policy and practice. Conservation is an area where reconciliation must be visible and measurable. Committee further recommends that GNWT engage Indigenous leadership meaningfully by using the Council of Leaders and other fora with Indigenous governments and organizations to guide this work and creating forums for dialogue that build trust, consensus, and shared decision-making.
This concludes the Standing Committee on Public Accounts' Report on the Review of the Auditor General's 2025 Audit of Protected and Conserved Areas in the Northwest Territories. Committee looks forward to the Government's response, and their provision of details as to how they will implement these recommendations.
Thank you, Member from Range Lake. Reports of standing and special committees. Member from Range Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Nunakput, that Committee Report 35-20(1), Standing Committee on Public Accounts Report on the Review of the Auditor General's 2025 Audit of Protected and Conserved Areas in the Northwest Territories, be received by the Assembly and referred to Committee of the Whole. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member. The motion is in order. To the motion.
Question.
