Please be seated. Thank you, colleagues. Before we start, I'd like to recognize a very important person to this 19th Assembly, Ms. Caroline Cochrane; Rory, the other half of, so. So Shalene Woodward, Meredith Wilson -- okay, I am going to try this again -- Angela Gzowski and her partner Jeremy Bird. I would like to thank you very much for being here today and giving me the honour to recognize you. Welcome to the Legislative Assembly.

Mr. Speaker, I stand before you today to talk about how the Government of the Northwest Territories is making improvements when it comes to our technology systems and online services. Our main goal is simple: We want to make government services easier to access and safer to use. We want people to be able to securely access services like applying for a permit, or accessing a marriage, birth or death certificate, no matter where they live in the Northwest Territories.

Residents can now access a wide array of services digitally, from applying for vital statistics documents or renewing driver's licenses and vehicle registrations, to managing apprenticeship profiles or obtaining fishing licenses.

Businesses benefit from the ability to apply for certain licenses and permits online, including those related to liquor sales or business operations outside of community boundaries, as well as submitting applications for electrical and mechanical safety inspections. We are also making it easier for families to access health care by enabling applications and renewals for healthcare cards online. These additions reflect our efforts to consider online service delivery in our planning processes and ensure that individuals and businesses can obtain services securely and conveniently, no matter where they live in the territory.

Mr. Speaker, over the past year, we have improved how we plan for future technology. Instead of creating systems in silos, we now follow shared principles for every new system. These principles make sure systems are secure to talk to one another systems and can safely share information when needed. This helps different government programs get what they need without repeating the same work and provides a value-add.

A key part of these improvements is a new program called information technology, or IT, planning studies. These studies help identify exactly what is needed, look at different options, and work out the costs before we spend public money. This year we started six of these studies. They are looking at replacing older systems used for case management, health information, inspections, and various registries. This approach helps reduce risks, saves time in setting up systems, and lets us choose systems that many different program areas can use instead of building separate ones. The plan for how these studies will work has been put together and will start being used this year.

Mr. Speaker, we are also making important improvements to our IT teams and how we manage technology project implementations. This means making sure we have the right people and ways of working to build and handle technology projects efficiently. We have improved our process for planning projects, which will result in shorter, clearer projects with better funding plans, and this will improve the likelihood of projects being completed successfully. We have also spoken to decision-makers about how important it is to think about technology needs when they are creating new policies and programs. Good governance relies on secure, reliable, and modern technology systems.

Sound planning, improved management, and fiscal prudence is going to guide everything we do, and no technology project will be moving ahead unless it benefits the public, follows our IT principles, and the government department or program area is ready to move forward with that project. Simply put, we are treating technology systems like any other major infrastructure project: First we plan carefully, then we build.

Mr. Speaker, by taking this careful approach to our technology system investments, the government is getting ready to provide services that are modern, dependable, and easier for Northerners to use. We are focused on using public funds responsibly in this space and keeping information safe. I look forward to continuing to share updates with the Legislative Assembly as we work to make these plans a reality. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister of Finance. Ministers' statements. Minister responsible for Housing NWT.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I am proud to recognize the outstanding achievement of staff at Housing NWT who were recently honoured with the Community Project of the Year award from Canadian Biomass. This award celebrates the district heating wood-pellet boiler system installed at Sissons Court housing complex in Yellowknife.I want to extend my sincere gratitude to the dedicated staff of infrastructure services at Housing NWT, as well as those from the Department of Infrastructure's energy, design and technical services group, for their support and commitment.

In 2022, Sissons Court's biomass heating plant replaced 45 aging fuel-oil furnaces and now provides renewable heating to 53 public housing units. This transition to wood pellets has lowered energy costs and reduced greenhouse gas emissions, advancing the Government of the Northwest Territory's mandate to deliver affordable and sustainable housing. The project was a locally driven and supplied initiative relying on partnerships between government and the private sector. The system was designed by a northern consultant team, TAG Engineering, with assistance from a technical team at the GNWT and was installed by Hay River-based contractor Taylor and Company.

The Yellowknife Housing Authority, with assistance from the local contractor J&R Mechanical, are dedicated to the ongoing operation and maintenance of the heat plant to ensure reliable heat for residents.

The Sissons Court project was funded in part by a federal funding program called the Low Carbon Economy Leadership Fund and showcases the power of collaboration between Housing NWT and local contractors. It is expected to generate significant long-term benefits, saving approximately $125,000 annually in energy costs and offsetting 300 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions in its first year of operation.

Mr. Speaker, biomass energy in the form of wood pellets is an important alternative in the Northwest Territories where traditional fuels such as oil and propane are costly and prone to market volatility. As demonstrated by this project, biomass is a proven and practical solution to implementing the GNWT's commitment to net zero by 2050. This biomass award marks a meaningful step forward in Housing NWT's mission demonstrating that sustainable energy solutions can be part of how we build stronger, more resilient communities across the North. Quyananni, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister responsible for Housing NWT. Ministers' statements. Minister for Education, Culture and Employment.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize an important cultural milestone. The NorthWords NWT Writers Festival is celebrating its 20th anniversary: Twenty years of championing northern voices and building community through storytelling.

Launched in 2006, NorthWords was born from a vision to bring Canada's most celebrated literary voices to the North and to elevate the powerful stories already being told in our own communities. That vision was realized by dedicated literary champions, including Judith Drinnan, Cathy Jewison, Doris McCann, Larry Adamson, and Richard Van Camp. With early support from partners like the Tlicho government and De Beers Canada, they created a festival that has become nationally respected for its celebration of storytelling, mentorship, and northern culture.

Over the years, NorthWords has welcomed major Canadian authors like Linden MacIntyre and Elizabeth Hay. These guests brought fresh perspectives and returned home with stories of the North's people, land, and creative talent.

NorthWords has also proudly amplified Indigenous voices. Esteemed authors and knowledge-keepers such as the late Lee Maracle, the late Richard Wagamese, Katherena Vermette, Duke Redbird, Niigaan Sinclair, and Rosanna Deerchild, have shared stories rooted in truth, history, identity, and cultural resurgence. Their contributions have fostered meaningful conversations and affirmed the essential place of Indigenous storytelling in our collective narrative.

Mr. Speaker, what makes NorthWords truly special is its ongoing commitment to northern writers. It has given a platform for authors from across the territory, like Richard Van Camp, Allison McCreesh, Fran Hurcomb, whose voices reflect the humour, complexity, and resilience of life in the North. Through NorthWords, these voices are being heard far beyond our borders. That is why the government has supported NorthWords over the years.

With that support, the festival has grown into a year-round literary organization offering mentorships, open mics, workshops, and publications like Coming Home: Stories from the NWT, which helped many Northerners publish their work for the first time.

Mr. Speaker, the anniversary is not just about looking back. It is a moment to recognize the role of the arts in building stronger communities, preserving culture, and helping people, especially youth, express who they are and where they come from.

I want to thank the organizers, the board members, and volunteers who have helped grow NorthWords into what it is today. NorthWords makes us as the North proud. As we mark this anniversary, let us celebrate the stories already told and commit to creating space for many more to come. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Ministers' statements. Minister of Health and Social Services.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to update this House on the work that's being done by the health and social services system on cultural safety and anti-racism, one of my top three priorities as Minister.

First and foremost, Mr. Speaker, our government has a duty to confront the persistent health inequities faced by Indigenous residents. Our commitment to cultural safety and anti-racism tackles a difficult reality and that is that these inequities stem from a health and social services system founded on colonial values that have marginalized Indigenous peoples and excluded them from decision-making. Those foundations continue to influence our legislation, policies, funding formulas, and clinical standards, embedding racism in the very structures that shape and care we provide.

Undoing this legacy is challenging work. It requires us to rethink governance models, realign resources, and place Indigenous knowledge and legal orders on equal footing with public government approaches. We have begun a sustained effort to audit existing policies for colonial bias, co-develop new accountability mechanisms with Indigenous governments, and elevate Indigenous leadership at every level of the system. This is complex and, at times, uncomfortable work, but it is essential if we are to create a health system that serves all residents equitably and without colonial harm.

Part of this work includes offering training to all GNWT employees, Mr. Speaker, and I want to commend my colleagues for participating in the cultural safety and anti-racism training offered by the department. We will continue to offer this training, including to GNWT deputy ministers and assistant deputy ministers in the coming year. I believe that any genuine organizational shift towards cultural safety must start with the commitment from leadership, and I am pleased to see the leaders of our public service fully engaging with this principle.

Like any effective work addressing anti-Indigenous racism, our work originates from within, guided by a dedicated team of Indigenous staff from across the Northwest Territories. They bring rich insights rooted in lived experience and Indigenous knowledge reinforced by extensive professional expertise. This team is responsible for developing an Indigenous made-in-the-North approach to cultural safety that challenges the status quo by identifying and addressing anti-Indigenous racism head-on.

Mr. Speaker, our goal is to support equitable access to culturally-safe relationship-based care that tangibly improves health outcomes for Indigenous people. We are doing this through the Office of Client Experience, primary care reform, and by improving access to care in small communities. Our team, with staff from across the health and social services system, is piloting a new equity tool to generate deep reflection, relationship-building, and accountability, to Indigenous communities.

The work to date has been informed by community voices and our progress has been driven by the principle of nothing about us without us. Instead of top-down directives, we are listening to the advice and guidance of the health and social services Indigenous advisory body. Our leadership in cultural safety and anti-racism is gaining wide recognition and respect with other departments and jurisdictions now seeking our expertise. We are proud of that. Real progress means embracing discomfort and rethinking long-held assumptions about expertise and decision-making power. Our team is guiding these candid discussions, fostering safe, productive learning spaces and, most importantly, building relationships rooted in trust with each other and with the communities we serve.

Mr. Speaker, racism is more than individual acts. It is embedded in the way we do business, from the beliefs and values that we have as an organization to the policies, practices, and unwritten rules we adopt. Racism is often unchecked, and systemic. If left unaddressed, racism flourishes and spreads. We will continue to bring these systemic barriers to light, placing Indigenous priorities at the centre, and delivering a meaningful change where it is needed the most. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to echo the words of our Minister of education in congratulating the NorthWords Festival on its 20th year.

The NorthWords Festival is a celebration of northern writers and storytellers, bringing together authors, readers, and community members for readings, panel discussions, workshops, and special events. And one of the most anticipated event for the festival is tonight's book launch. It's called Book of Hope: Healthcare and Survival in the North, hosted by Hoteth Dega // at Yellowknife Books starting at 6:30 p.m.

Mr. Speaker, the Book of Hope is written by Agnes R. Pascal, who is Tetlit Gwich'in, originally from Fort McPherson and now residing in Inuvik. Her book is a powerful collection of firsthand narratives from northern and Indigenous cancer survivors and caregivers, offering insight into the unique challenges of healthcare accessibility in our communities.

As much as we've been focused lately on supporting healthcare staff, I think it's essential that we keep coming back to the experiences of patients, their journeys, both their literal travel and their life journeys, to understand the ways that our system as a whole works and doesn't work well. And on that note, I also want to take a moment to express any appreciation for the NWT cancer navigation team at the health authorities which is doing incredible work supporting members of our communities going through some of the toughest times of their lives. I am hoping that session doesn't go too long this evening so that we can all go over and attend the launch of this important book of hope.

Mr. Speaker, the NorthWords Festival so much for everyone of all ages. Some of the events this week are free, and others do require the purchase of tickets, but they're incredibly accessible. So I encourage everyone to try to get out to at least one event this week before the last day, which is Sunday.

Finally, a big thanks and congratulations to the NorthWords organizers, volunteers, and all of the participating writers and storytellers. Happy 20 years, NorthWords. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Yellowknife North. Members' statements. Member from Frame Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, at my recent constituency meeting, I had a good discussion with Frame Lake residents about their reaction to the after-action review of the 2023 wildfire season. One of the key concerns we discussed was the lack of trust and confidence in GNWT communications during the event, and I do want to take a second to acknowledge that the report made a point of noting that NWT Fires' regular updates were received positively.

My constituents were clear, Mr. Speaker, that it is important to them that the government rebuild trust with residents, as it's crucial that residents feel confident to look to their government for guidance during times of crisis. My constituents expressed concern that due to experiences of past evacuations, when there are future evacuation orders residents may not take them seriously. That concern in particular is one I want us to pay close attention to as its implications are very serious.

I know that the GNWT is in the process of preparing a response to the report, and I want to suggest that rebuilding trust should be a main theme which informs that response. Rebuilding trust and confidence in the public to look to their government for guidance and support first and foremost but also building stronger relationships and understanding with Indigenous and municipal governments and with the many NGOs we rely on to help deliver services to residents. Building trust and fostering confidence in the public and our partners that we are prepared and have solid plans and response structures in place is the key to ensuring future emergency response will be safe and successful. Just as critical as trust is ensuring that everyone implicated in planning is fully aware of their role and responsibilities from full-time emergency response staff to indirectly involved GNWT staff, all the way down to individual residents.

One of the key recommendations of the review that I think needs to be looked at closely, and taken seriously, is the recommendation to establish a dedicated territorial emergency management agency. This may be what's needed to ensure that trust and relationship building I have discussed above takes place. We have a lot of work to do, Mr. Speaker. I would like to explore more of the review's recommendations, but don't have time in a short statement. I wanted to highlight the primary concerns of my constituents today and will be following up comprehensively on the report going forward. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Frame Lake. Members' statements. Member from Great Slave.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I want to continue the line of questioning and talk a little bit about my constituency experience with the NWT nomination program.

The Minister yesterday expanded on some of what she is going to be going to Ottawa and advocating for on behalf of the program and our residents, including restoring the allocation to 300, engaging -- asking the federal government to engage directly with GNWT and NWT stakeholders, allow the GNWT to extend work permits for a two-year NWT-specific frame, and to enhance support for settlement services. These are all fantastic pieces, Mr. Speaker, but I am most crucially interested in the third ask, which is to extend those work permits for a two-year NWT-specific work permit.

Constituents don't want to extend their work permits right now, Mr. Speaker, because the way that the program is structured means that if they extend their work permit, they are then losing out on the ability to get into the allotment that it currently exists, and then they are ineligible to seek that permanent residency track from our program.

Mr. Speaker, it's really important for newcomers who are on temporary work permits right now, it's important for them to get clarity on whether the GNWT will continue to only consider applications of those applicant who are -- whose permits are set to expire within a year or less. There's a lot of anxiety and frustration, Mr. Speaker. I've spoken about this many times, and I will be seeking clarity from the Minister of ECE later today. Thank you.

Thank you, Member from Great Slave. Members' statements. Member from the Sahtu.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Colville Lake school was a capital project approved in the later part of the 18th Assembly, 2019. Mr. Speaker, the residents, students, local DEA, and teachers of the community of Colville Lake was and remain steadfast on their new school's arrival. The completed procurement, construction, certifications, now the transportation.

Mr. Speaker, the winter road journey, after the highgrade at Fort Wrigley north, can be very challenging at best, creating difficulties on logistics and trucking companies.

Mr. Speaker, the journey, the winter road journey to Colville Lake is 645 kilometers with three ice crossings. These crossings represent additional weight limitations. Prior to this challenging journey, the over-dimensional three-part modular buildings first must be transferred from Edmonton to Wrigley, a distance of 1,618 kilometers, a section with challenges of overhead structures and structural bridges. As you can understand, Mr. Speaker, there are many considerations when planning a journey of this mobilization.

This coming transportation season, we cannot afford to let our community and the children down. Mr. Speaker, I raised these questions on numerous occasions: When will these long overdue learning facility units be delivered? Investing in our community, describing, upgrading our education environment to suit the positive outcomes and bring smiles to the residents, in particular our students, is the right thing to do and our mandate. An example to that, behind the dejishu, there sits four classes in one cubical room. Later, Mr. Speaker, I will have questions to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Mahsi.

Thank you, Member from the Sahtu. Members' statements. Member from Inuvik Boot Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, drugs and the criminal activity associated with drugs are ravaging our communities. All communities large and small are feeling the effects, Mr. Speaker. We've heard that loud and clear from Members in this House many times. We have legislation being considered to provide additional tools in our fight to deal with this dire situation:

The safer communities and neighbourhoods legislation, allowing residents to make confidential complaints to investigators on illegal activity;

The civil forfeiture legislation, designed to recover proceeds and instruments used to facilitate crime;

Mr. Speaker, the trespass legislation to protect landowners from trespassers by deferring potential criminal behaviour or inadvertent damages that trespassers may cause; and, Mr. Speaker,

Reviewing the Residential Tenancies Act give it the teeth required to assist in dealing with this illegal activity.

Moving this legislation forward as quickly as possible is paramount in our fight to deal with this problem. If there was ever a time to fast track legislation, Mr. Speaker, and put put all the resources necessary to expedite our process, this is it.

This is no time to drag our feet, Mr. Speaker. We need to move timelines up. We need to pull out all the stops. This is a key part of the mandate of this government, Mr. Speaker, and all of us in this House. Let's get it done. Let's let the residents know we are serious about dealing with drugs and crime in our communities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Inuvik Boot Lake. Member from Monfwi.

Student financial assistance. Mr. Speaker, as another school year ends, I want to recognize the high school students graduating across the Northwest Territories. This is an exciting time for our young people, filled with hope and ambition, as they prepare to leave their communities to pursue post-secondary education. However, Mr. Speaker, the reality for Indigenous students in our smaller communities is more complicated. The education outcomes in small communities continue to fall behind those in our regional centres.

Mr. Speaker, too many of our graduates do not meet the entry requirement for direct admission into the programs of their choice. Instead, they are forced to pursue academic upgrading before continuing their studies.

Mr. Speaker, we discussed this in the last sitting with the closure of the community learning centres. Our students do not want to return to high school or even Aurora College to complete their upgrading. Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, our current Student Financial Assistance Policy does not support students upgrading outside of Aurora College. Students and families who want to explore other institutions are denied funding. It feels like we are holding them hostage to limited options in Fort Smith, Yellowknife, or Inuvik. We also lack financial assistance for part-time studies. Students on income support or those working full-time in small communities deserve access to programs like personal support worker training without financial barriers.

Mr. Speaker, if we want to create a strong workforce and reduce dependency, we must invest in flexible, accessible education for all our youth, especially our Indigenous students in small communities. I will have questions for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment at the appropriate time. Thank you.

Thank you, Member from Monfwi. Members' statements. Member from Range Lake.

Mr. Speaker, while healthcare administration is a territorial responsibility, the federal government still plays an important role in ensuring all provinces and territories comply with the Canada Health Act, an Act which guarantees universal, comprehensive health care to all Canadians based solely on their needs and not their financial abilities. While not an outright guarantee to a right to health care, it is compliance which determines the eligibility of provinces and territories to receive health care funding through the Canada health transfer and a cherished part of Canadian identity. Clearly, funding available through the Canada health transfer is not enough for our needs here in the North, and the Minister of Health and Social Services is always ready to press her federal counterparts in efforts to secure more resources to address the systemic challenges Northerners face. However, given that these systemic challenges have escalated into what can now only be described as an urgent crisis with no clear end in sight, it can be safely assumed that the Minister is gearing up for another round of lobbying when the point of failure is reached.

Before this Minister turns, however, to admonish her counterparts in Ottawa for their perceived inaction, we should first examine our own record as a government in upholding the very laws we are responsible for enforcing. Is the North's health care truly comprehensive without primary care? Is it universal when communities and small communities are serviced by hospitals, health centres, and health cabins that have no doctors, nurses, or other trained medical professionals on staff? Even on an operational standard, is it still a trauma bay if it is eventually run by the same staff who run a flu clinic?

Maybe we should stop calling this a health care crisis, and we should start calling this a leadership crisis. We have the same geography, logistics, and unique northern challenges we've always had. How can we turn to the federal government to ask for more when, to many, it feels like we aren't meeting the minimum standards required to be compliant with the Canada Health Act?

Mr. Speaker, nurses are asking. Doctors are asking. Northerners are asking. It's time that the Minister answer those questions with a real plan, not a work plan to a public administer -- administrator, but a real plan to fix health care in the NWT. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Range Lake. Members' statements. Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When our ancestors entered treaty 8 in the spirit of peace and friendship, they also did so with the understanding of the "medicine chest clause" and how it would significantly lasting commitments to health and well-being for our people. Through our oral history, we continue to remember and uphold these rights which are now constitutionally-protected under section 35 of the Canadian Constitution. These rights have been further reinforced by the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People, UNDRIP, which this very House has adopted.

UNDRIP clearly affirms the rights of Indigenous people to the highest attainable standard of health. The truth and reconciliation also identified and improved access to health services as essential to reconciliation, a message echoed by the UNDRIP // final report.

Mr. Speaker, Indigenous people of the Northwest Territories continue to experience substandard health care and inequitable access to essential services. Here in the NWT, only 59 percent of residents report having access to regular healthcare providers. In small communities like Lutselk'e and Fort Resolution, the numbers are even worse.

I have heard directly from the chiefs and my constituents in my communities who are calling for the creation of an intergovernmental working group to ensure Indigenous governments have a seat at the table in shaping health and social services. They are watching the innovative healthcare model being advanced by other First Nations across Canada, whether administered through Indigenous governments or through private First Nations run health centres, and they hope to replicate these successes here. It's time to work with leaders to build a healthcare system that truly serves all Northerners and uphold our treaty rights.

Mr. Speaker, I look forward to working with Indigenous governments on this issue, and I will have questions for the Minister at the appropriate time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. Members' statements. Member from Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I've never seen consensus government as frustrating as I've seen it today in my four terms. Mr. Speaker, I repeatedly ask and point out to this Premier to involve Members as part of the team. Let them feel part of the solution as we work on these problems together. Members needs wins. You know what his response to me was? Write a letter.

Mr. Speaker, I've seen this letter writing exercise, or even questioned exercise, which is they're just waiting for our comments to officially trigger their official disagreement why we're wrong. But don't worry, it's already drafted and in the queue.

Mr. Speaker, some people are saying we were here to be sent to work together. That is true. There is some truth in that, Mr. Speaker. But what I've noticed and seen is the informal expectation that you are not allowed to challenge the government, Mr. Speaker. And if you don't agree, then you're defined as being disagreeable. Mr. Speaker, it leaves me to wonder, are Members just members of the Simpson-ettes? I don't know.

Perhaps, Mr. Speaker, there are many other concerns. So when Members like myself are questioning the $440,000 envoy appointed to Ottawa, it's because it's a bad decision. Premier says, it's my decision. Mr. Speaker, when you challenge these things, you know, you expect a little more discussion. But no, it's his decision, too darn bad.

Mr. Speaker, I feel like it's no longer consensus government; it's more -- it feels more like akin to an ill repute regime by being able to make these types of decisions without them really being fulsomely discussed.

Mr. Speaker, has this government become drunk on power because they can? Mr. Speaker, why is the Premier on his own getting to appoint a $440,000 employee?

Mr. Speaker, because he can, because others do so? Well, Mr. Speaker, by way of example, Ontario does it. That's not a good answer. Quebec does it. That's a terrible answer. Mr. Speaker, I'll tell you, that's almost like the beginning of a bad dad joke. Oh, what one lemming said to the other? Well, because they did it.

Mr. Speaker, the envoy in Ontario costs around $140,000 per year. The envoy in Quebec costs $140,000 a year. How does ours cost more than twice as much? Mr. Speaker, are we getting more than twice as much value? Mr. Speaker, there's so much more to talk about but I'll tell you, when I'm holding court in the coffee shops and in the communities, in the grocery stores, no one likes this position because they don't see a stinking element of value. They want transparency, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Yellowknife Centre. Members' statements. Member from Kam Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, equitable access to sport is fundamental to creating inclusive communities where everyone can experience the physical, social, and mental health benefits of athletic participation. Barriers like cost, equipment, and lack of safe spaces prevent many from participating, particularly affecting low-income communities, people with disabilities, and marginalized groups. Sport creates safe spaces when people find the right spaces, and a new volunteer-led organization is working to do just that.

Northwest Territories Equitable Sport Access, affectionately referred to as NTESA, connects youth with sport mentors, hosts teams in Yellowknife's leagues, and organizes accessible pop-up events where donation dollars raised are turned around to help all NWT residents access sports. NTESA is fully volunteer-based, an organizational pillar that upholds the importance of adults investing in youth and community without expecting pay. These volunteers don't just run programs; they shape lives and they save them. They create welcoming spaces that make sport accessible to all, including a sold-out dodgeball tournament this past Sunday that saw a diverse roster battle for hours, raising hundreds of dollars for NWT youth, sport, and recreation.

Mr. Speaker, you've made it clear where sport sits in your priorities, and our perspectives have always aligned on the court, field, and ice. Sport isn't just a game. Teamwork builds trust, game setbacks teach resilience, and discipline develops character.

The impact is measurable: high school athletes have 40 percent lower dropout rates and are twice as likely to graduate. Youth in organized sports are 50 percent less likely to experience depression and 25 percent less anxious. Sports participants are three times more likely to do community volunteer, 50 percent less likely to use drugs, and have higher adult employment rates. Beyond individual benefits, sport strengthens communities by reducing youth crime and creating connections that truly last a lifetime.

Mr. Speaker, access to sport and recreation saves lives and builds stronger communities. Those aren't my words but those of NWT residents who participated in multiple Standing Committee on Social Development reports in the 19th Assembly. Every dollar and hour we, as residents, invest in sport and recreation changes our territory's trajectory one athlete, one volunteer, one community at a time. If you want to get involved in NTESA, it's as easy as showing up. And, together, we can ensure sport remains a bridge to opportunity rather than a barrier. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Kam Lake. Members' statements.

Colleagues, this past December, I had the opportunity to chat with Jonathan Antoine about his recent trip to Los Angeles. He explained that they were able to announce the debut of the short documentary Hunting in the Deh Cho, directed by himself at the prestigious LA Skins Film Festival on November 24th at 12 p.m. This significant event took place at the iconic Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles, California.

He explained that this remarkable experience would not have been possible without the unwavering dedication of the festival organizers, and sincere gratitude is owed to them for selecting this important work to be showcased. This is his second time showcasing his films in Los Angeles.

He explained to me that he extends his heartfelt appreciation to Ricky Tsetso and Errol Villeneuve whose courage in sharing their invaluable stories is pivotal in highlighting the rich cultural heritage of Dene people of Liidlii Kue. Additionally, the generous support from the Deh Cho GNWT ITI team was instrumental in bringing this project to fruition.

In true Jonathan fashion, he made special mention to Dustin Dewar, whose artistic vision has transformed the team's ideas into a compelling narrative. He spent days working to provide the final product that was Jonathan vision. He stressed that the wonderful community and residents of Liidlii Kue and Fort Simpson deserve recognition for their steadfast encouragement and belief in this mission and his dream of being a film director.

As the conversation came full circle, he talked about the immense support from his family and friends which cannot be overlooked. Their unwavering faith has helped him do this type of adventure in film and they are very much part of his achievements.

Moving forward with this journey, he has a strong commitment to continue to screen this documentary wherever opportunities arise. Together, he and his team will share these important stories and foster greater understanding within our communities. I look forward to seeing what he does next. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It's an honour today to do what I've actually seen one of the visitors in the gallery do before. As Premier, it's an honour to recognize former Premier Caroline Cochrane who is joining us today along with Shalene Woodward, both of whom I served with and worked with in the last Assembly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Premier. Member from Range Lake.