Debates of Feb. 6th, 2025

This is page numbers 1573 - 1614 of the Hansard for the 20th Assembly, 1st Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library.

The word of the day was know .

Topics

Oral Questions

Members Present

Prayer Or Reflection

Budget Address

Consumer Carbon Taxation

Land Transfers to Municipalities

2025 Sahtu Winter Road Resupply

Trauma, Healing and Harm Reduction

Struggles for Youth in Mackenzie Delta Communities

Statement of Solidarity for the 2SLTGBTQQIPA+ Community

Illicit Drug Activity in Monfwi Communities

Respite and Home Care Services in Dehcho Communities

Primary Health care Appointment Availability

Celebration of Life of Rosie Betthale-Reid

Acknowledging the Passing of Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh Constituents

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Mr. Testart's Reply

Mr. Morse's Reply

Mr. Edjericon's Reply

Mr. Hawkins' Reply

Healthcare Sustainability

Trauma, Healing and Harm Reduction

Land Transfers to Municipalities

Respite and Home Care in Dehcho Communities

2025 Sahtu Winter Road Resupply

Services at Primary Health Clinics

Public Safety and RCMP Support

Fast-Tracking Critical Minerals Projects

On-the-Land Healing Camp Initiative

Modernization of Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements Program

Tabled Document 275-20(1): 2025-2026 Main Estimates

Tabled Document 276-20(1): 2025-2026 Business Plan Update

Tabled Document 277-20(1): Status of Women Council of the Northwest Territories 2023-2024 Annual Report

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Report Of Committee Of The Whole

Orders Of The Day

Members Present

Mr. Edjericon , Mr. Hawkins , Hon. Lucy Kuptana , Hon. Jay Macdonald , Hon. Vince McKay , Mr. McNeely , Ms. Morgan , Mr. Morse , Mr. Nerysoo , Ms. Reid , Mr. Rodgers , Hon. Lesa Semmler , Hon R.J. Simpson , Mr. Testart , Hon. Shane Thompson , Hon. Caroline Wawzonek , Mrs. Weyallon Armstrong , Mrs. Yakeleya

The House met at 1:31 p.m.

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---Prayer or reflection

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Prayer Or Reflection

Prayer Or Reflection

Page 1573

The Speaker

Shane Thompson

I'd like to thank Theresa Echinelle for opening prayer and guiding words. We have a full audience today. I don't understand why; I wonder what excitement is happening today. Oh, right, item number 2, Budget Address. Minister of Finance .

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Budget Address

Budget Address

Page 1573

Caroline Wawzonek

Yellowknife South

Mr. Speaker, I am delivering the second budget of the 20th Assembly at a time of significant economic and political uncertainty - not only in the Northwest Territories but across Canada and the world - made more perilous by the potential implementation of import tariffs by the United States. The Government of the Northwest Territories is a small player on this very large stage, but we can provide stability within the territory and must continue to maintain our readiness for whatever challenges and uncertainties may arise.

Events like these tariffs are why we introduced fiscal sustainability in the first place, but they also demonstrate why we are applying it in a strategic fashion. We are not making cuts for the sake of cuts; rather, we are using the budget we have wisely and being cautious with reductions so we can meet uncertainty with confidence while remaining committed to delivering on the priority goals set by this Assembly.

Budget 2025 provides resources to fund the actions, activities, and programs that move us toward these goals and the priorities set by this Assembly while ensuring we live within our means. We are focused on maximizing efficiency and innovation to make the most of existing resources, rather than simply creating new budget line items.

Today, I will outline some of the financial resources dedicated to our continued work in achieving the goals of the mandate, as well as to other programs and services on which communities and residents depend. To start, I will provide an update on the fiscal challenges we face.

Mr. Speaker, 2024-2025 was yet another challenging year for many communities and residents across the Northwest Territories. While residents in the south were recovering from the 2023 wildfires and evacuations, residents in the Beaufort Delta were experiencing record-setting fall and winter snowfalls. This snow had a heavy impact on roads and raised the costs to maintain regional access and supply chains.

And, by the spring, we faced a different weather effect in the form of extreme low water that resulted in a crisis for communities in the Sahtu with the first ever complete cancellation of a barge season since Marine Transportation Services or its predecessors began to conduct barge resupply. We also had yet another difficult wildfire season as residents of Fort Good Hope were evacuated. Low water on the Snare hydro system raised costs as Northwest Territories Power Corporation was forced to burn diesel and the GNWT stepped in to maintain pricing stability for ratepayers on the Snare system.

Ratepayers across the Northwest Territories benefit from that action through the Territorial Power Support Program that subsidizes rates to those in Yellowknife. Last, but not least, health care needs and costs continue to escalate.

As we near the end of this fiscal year, we are projecting expenses to be $197 million higher and revenues $27 million less than budgeted and have revised the projected 2024-2025 operating surplus to $69 million.

As a result, we are not yet within reach of the targets set in our fiscal strategy of Restoring Balance. This strategy was never meant to prevent prompt responses during extraordinary challenges or demand cuts for the sake of achieving a reduction target. Restoring Balance is part of shifting the culture of how we deliver programs and services to ensure that we maximize the value from the budget available. We remain committed to Restoring Balance and we are grateful to see support for evidence-based changes.

For example, using the resources proposed in Budget 2025, our public service will continue over the coming year to deliver efficiency improvements through the Health System Sustainability Unit, through fleet management, and our lease envelope.

The proposed 2025-2026 Budget forecasts revenues to increase two per cent from 2024-2025 to almost $2.7 billion, with Territorial Formula Financing driving total revenue growth. Total operating expenditures are increasing 6.5 per cent to almost $2.5 billion. We are proposing $9.1 million in reductions across all departments. The resulting $145 million in net new spending includes $27 million in programs that are federally funded and $108 million for collective bargaining increases for compensation and benefits. Inflationary and increased program demand costs were kept to less than $27 million.

And the remaining $10-million increase to the expenditures for discretionary spending is an increase of only 0.5 per cent compared to last year's budget.

The resulting operating surplus of $170 million would generate enough of a cash operating surplus to fund all of 2025-2026 capital investments. Despite this, at the end of the next fiscal year total debt is projected to be $1.772 billion, which is $31 million higher than the current 2024-2025 estimate. Short-term borrowing is projected to increase $50 million while long-term borrowing is expected to decrease $19 million. This projection puts us close enough to the federal borrowing limit and we have requested, and expect to receive, a borrowing increase from Canada to give us the flexibility to respond to any future unforeseen fiscal pressures.

[Translation] -- which have succeeded themselves. Nevertheless, we do not propose to increase the fiscal capacity by introducing new taxes apart from the land taxes which are increasing with an inflation. The resident salaried residents are confronted with the same financial pressures as the government, and giving grants for energy costs to then see these advances reduced by tax increases would be counterproductive. We would prefer that the -- we would prosper and contribute to the taxes by having greater income rather than by subsidizing increased tax rates. [Translation Ends]

Mr. Speaker, the Northwest Territories is now on the eve of the closing of one of the diamond mines that have been the backbone of our private sector economy for over 25 years.

And for the third consecutive year, overall economic activity is expected to decline in 2025. However, business investment remains a key driver of growth. While mineral exploration and appraisal spending in 2024 is projected to be lower compared to 2023, that year defied expectations, reaching a 15-year high.

Population continues slow but positive growth and the Northwest Territories economy continues to have high employment and some of the highest wages and salaries in the country. Interest rates are coming down and subdued inflation should support robust retail and wholesale trade activity. The construction industry contributed to growth in the goods sector and our service sector, the largest in Canada on a per capita basis, saw growth in professional and technical services and a rebound in tourism-related areas, while trapping, film, and commercial fishing are also on the rise.

The public sector remains a significant part of our economy, bringing both advantages and challenges. It offers stability and strong employment growth, especially important given the cyclical nature of the mineral industry. This stability is further bolstered by Indigenous governments, where there has been a growth of nearly 200 public administration jobs since 2023. However, the public sector alone does not drive the economic diversity or entrepreneurism that leads to stronger productivity and long-term growth.

Acknowledging the economic and fiscal challenges we face does not change the GNWT's obligation to deliver on the priorities set by this Assembly. These priorities reflect the needs and aspirations of Northwest Territories residents for long-term health and prosperity. Being realistic about how we fund the work of government does not diminish their importance. However, it requires us to assess how we allocate budgets, strengthen collaboration across departments, and ensure public servants have the support they need to fully contribute toward these goals.

A key development in 2025 will be the completion of Housing NWT's comprehensive Territorial Housing Needs Assessment that incorporates community and regional perspectives on the varying housing needs across the territory. As we heard from participants at the recent NWT Housing Forum Symposium, a lack of data on housing needs hampers access to available funding sources. The Territorial Housing Needs Assessment will fill this gap and provide a platform for the development of a plan to provide stable, attainable, and affordable homes across the housing spectrum.

We will ensure that this assessment is shared with all levels of government so that we maximize opportunities for its success. To supplement this work, Housing NWT is also developing a three-year investment plan for the replacement and repair of its existing houses.

Housing is a priority actioned across many departments. In this budget, we propose adding $3.7 million, including $500,000 in federal funding, for a strategic approach to reducing homelessness in Yellowknife, along with $809,000 for the Transitional Housing Addictions Recovery Program.

We continue to deliver on the mandate priority to provide shelter for vulnerable residents and address the effects of trauma in a culturally appropriate way. Building on the work being delivered this year, we propose to add $264,000 for the Yellowknife Shelter and Sobering Centre bringing total funding to $6.2 million for 34 positions.

Care homes are also facing cost pressures and an additional $136,000 is proposed for increased costs at the Avens Long Term Care and $56,000 to fully fund adult supported living at the Charlotte Vehus Home and the Billy Moore Group Home, with the capacity to care for up to 13 clients in the Beaufort Delta.

Creating opportunities for new homes often means ensuring access to land, whether through the remediation and clearing of old, unused buildings or through new allocations. The Department of Environment and Climate Change has prioritized land applications for housing and to date has received 204 applications, of which 121 are in their final stages of processing and 27 parcels have been issued.

The challenges to our narrowly focused private economy are well known: the North faces a significant deficit in core public infrastructure compared to the rest of Canada, especially in transportation and energy corridors. That lack exacerbates the reality of being more remote by making delivery and access to goods and services in our communities more expensive. Our labour market is tight, and housing is in short supply. And finally, the regulatory spaces that control new entrants to exploration and mining remains a shared responsibility with the federal government, which makes efforts at modification, including streamlining rules, more challenging.

We are taking steps to address these structural issues so that we strengthen the territory's economic foundation and encourage continued growth in sectors that significantly influence the economic health of communities.

[Translation] The Mackenzie River highway in its environmental assessment and to update its profitably analysis so that we'll be able to move forward with this project which will establish a connection with the Sahtu and will allow to create road access (audio) centre of the Canadian arctic. We also propose to use the budget for 2025 to continue the exchanges and analysis concerning the construction of an all season road crossing the geological slave province rich in minerals in order to obtain the technical support and community support to move on to environmental assessment. [Translation Ends]

In telecommunications, we are including $1.1 million to extend the Mackenzie Valley Fibre Link to the Arctic Coast by connecting Tuktoyaktuk.

The Department of Municipal and Community Affairs works closely with community governments to ensure flexibility in federal infrastructure funding and has helped ensure that all of the $117 million dedicated to local governments from the federal Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program was allocated to projects focused on community roads, solid waste projects and cultural spaces.

In 2025-2026, we will implement an action plan in furtherance of the memorandum of understanding on economic corridors signed with the Government of Alberta to support collaboration on the enhancement of critical infrastructure and improve efficiency of transportation networks. We will also be exploring similar agreements with other jurisdictions.

Our energy system has not evolved significantly over many successive governments leaving energy infrastructure aging and vulnerable to breaking down and our residents facing volatile costs. With this year's budget, we will advance better energy connectivity between our communities to increase the reliability and sustainability of power. We will work to advance a Fort Providence transmission line and will be undertaking the design of a Whati transmission line.

We will also advance work to improve our capacity and ability to generate power across the Northwest Territories. We will use this year's budget to support partners on the Taltson expansion project to expand the knowledge of legacy impacts and advance consideration of establishing a business entity for the project. We will use this year's budget to support multiple departments in the delivery of the renewed energy strategy and examine alternative means of accessing more reliable and affordable energy sources appropriate to each community.

Upgrading our aging energy systems will take time. While that work continues, the government is proposing a $12-million subsidy to offset high power costs, limiting the required 24.8 per cent energy increase for ratepayers in 2025 down to a more manageable 15 per cent increase overall and that residential ratepayers who qualify for the Territorial Power Subsidy Program may face a 9 per cent rate increase. Final rates will be determined by the Public Utilities Board through the general rate application process.

We are helping to reduce labour shortages in trades through our apprenticeship programs and Housing NWT scholarships. The Department of Infrastructure dedicates $1.6 million of its proposed budget to hire and train apprentices and works with Procurement and Shared Services within the Department of Finance to make certain that training and targets for apprenticeship requirements are included in all design-build project evaluations.

Our Crown agencies play a major role in supporting private sector employment. For example, Housing NWT awards over 90 per cent of its annual contracting opportunities to local businesses. These contracts range from minor repairs and maintenance to large construction projects. And for the coming year, Housing NWT, working with Local Housing Organizations, plans to increase its in-house apprenticeship opportunities to 15 and will continue to support apprenticeship work assignments through new construction contracts.

The Department of Education, Culture and Employment plays a supporting role for employment opportunities and increasing participation in trades, particularly in small communities. The department is making a tangible impact through Labour Market Transfer Agreements by supporting 156 residents, 63 employers, and 11 projects. The Small Community Employment Support program has contributed to the creation of 643 jobs, directly benefiting small communities across the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, many Northerners want to stay in their communities for work. That is why this budget retains $4-million with the Small Community Employment Program so that small communities, plus regional centres with employment rates less than 50 per cent, remain eligible for this funding that supports the creation of new jobs in the communities that need them most.

This budget proposes $10.5 million to make child care more affordable, helping parents participate more fully in the formal labour force. The Government of the Northwest Territories will continue to advocate to the federal government to increase compensation levels of early child care staff to align with education assistants in the K-12 system.

Last fiscal year, we concluded collective bargaining with several unions across the public service. The GNWT delivers services across a vast territory of 33 communities, which does not provide for economies of scale and results in situations where no private market actors provide access to necessities such as fuel or barge supplies. In these situations, the public service fills these needs in addition to providing schooling, health care, safe highways and airports, economic development supports and land management.

We watched closely as labour disruptions impacted services across Canada. Concluding our collective agreements in a manner that avoided labour strife and maintained our competitive position as an employer for the delivery of essential goods and services was an important achievement for the GNWT, and this year's proposed budget incorporates those changes to all salaries and benefits.

We also propose to better support timely medical travel assistance for GNWT employees and their immediate families with $7.4 million, which includes the adding one benefit officer in Inuvik and another in Norman Wells to improve for processing times.

We are proposing $496,000 to encourage more exploration in the non-renewable sector. This includes $275,000 to expand research about critical minerals in the Selwyn Basin and Slave Geological Province. This work is mostly offset with federal funding and involves collaboration between the Northwest Territories geological survey office and university and industry partners. Also included is $167,000 for the Pan-Territorial Resource Investment Marketing Initiative, which is a federal and all territories joint campaign to market the territories as destinations for business and investment opportunities in the mining sector.

We are continuing to improve regulations to support the economy with an additional $54,000 in this budget to complete the Mineral Resources Act regulations. As well this year, the Department of Environment and Climate Change will use its proposed budget to advance targeted amendments to the Waters Regulations to improve

interpretation and add consistency and clarity to the regulatory regime for our mineral resource sector.

We will be implementing the Fire Prevention Act regulations that adopt the 2020 National Fire Code and adds certainty to construction projects. In addition, we will continue multidepartment work towards a Building Standards Framework for introduction during the life of this government.

Support for northern business is always a priority for the GNWT and sector-specific efforts encourage investment and create growth in communities of every size.

For instance, Housing NWT supports increasing productivity in the construction and property management sectors through early uptake of innovative approaches such as wood pellet heat plants, integration of mass-timber structural building systems, and hybrid modular construction approaches in its multi-unit residential projects. These approaches provide baseline information that the private sector can use to grow their businesses.

[Translation] So traditional hunting sector is recovering from this difficult period. We propose to maintain the financial support granted to the program for the -- that helped hunters and trappers cover their expenses. This budget will allow to continue the program -- or the authentic fur program for the Mackenzie Valley which offers a unique one stop shop for sales and international options which actually commercialize fur, protects hunters against sudden lowering of prices, give them payments when the fur is sold at a higher rate and compensates for the variations in costs, for example, the costs and commissions. [Translation Ends]

In this Budget, we are proposing to add $600,000 to the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment for additional economic diversification initiatives. This includes increasing funding for the Northwest Territories Film Strategy from $500,000 to $1 million to help showcase the territory's spectacular settings.

The Tourism 2025 strategy is in its final year, and Budget 2025 proposes to increase its funding as planned by $100,000 to continue with the recovery roadmap that was released in 2021. This increase will support the Community Tourism Infrastructure Contribution Program, which helps other governments and non-government organizations enhance tourism facilities. Through this program we have already invested $1.4 million to support 41 projects across the territory.

Remediation of old mines and oil and gas wells may prove to be a stable source of local employment in future years. Federal funding for next year's budget will permit spending of $696,000 for ongoing pre-remediation work at several mine sites, including public consultation, to produce finalized remediation plans.

Mr. Speaker, meeting Northwest Territories residents' health care needs, while trying to make progress on our Restoring Balance targets, is our main fiscal challenge. While the Healthcare System Sustainability Unit does deeper analysis of how essential programs and services are delivered, we are funding the territorial health and social services system with a focus on supporting changes that address the dual priorities that residents receive the highest quality access to care and programs that are available to address the effects of trauma.

We are reforming primary health care with the development of an integrated primary care framework, including performance benchmarks that provide the data for further evidence-based improvements. We maintain a focus on prevention through education and awareness efforts about sexually transmitted and blood borne infections and testing, immunizations, injury prevention, elder abuse and family violence, mental health, and illicit drugs. To improve experiences for residents who need to travel for care, we are updating medical travel policies and processes.

Work is ongoing to renew the health care system human resources plan to improve efforts to recruit and retain professional staff.

Addressing the effects of trauma is not a quick fix and we are continuing to make a variety of supports available for residents with mental health and addictions needs including walk-in and same-day access for community counselling with online support options, and 24/7 supports through 811 and other helplines. We also provide funding to Indigenous governments and communities to support culturally-based and safe healing options. We use biannual service user surveys to measure effectiveness of the services provided and to support the ongoing review of policies and program design to ensure alignment with person-centered, trauma informed and culturally safe care.

Our health and social services system relies on a strong network of staff and health care professionals. We are proposing several increases to support staff and health care professionals across the territory.

We are making progress addressing hospital overcapacity issues and are proposing $5.6 million for 26 full-time equivalent positions for physicians, nurses, and coordinators, including 19 positions plus four relief positions for Stanton Territorial Hospital's emergency, intensive care, and medicine units and three full-time nurses and support for a relief position at the Inuvik Regional Hospital. We are also asking for $511,000 for two nurses in Yellowknife and one nurse in Fort Smith to the Corrections Health Services roster. In addition, we are proposing $13.7 million to cover shortfalls in physician services.

As requested, and approved during last year's budget negotiations, Budget 2025 also dedicates $331,000 in proposed spending to maintain two positions under the midwifery program to support two communities that do not have access to midwife services.

Providing care for patients with cancer is a partnership with Alberta Health Services and with their support, the Health and Social Services Authorities are working to bring treatment closer to home. To support this effort, the budget includes $869,000 to provide the hematology and medical oncology units with enough resources for two oncologists and two registered nurses.

We also propose $446,000 to add three positions to the Office of the Public Guardian to better support people who lack the ability to make their own decisions because of long-term health and social conditions like dementia, brain injury, or developmental disabilities.

We need our staff to be safe in their workplaces. The correlation between increased drug use and rising violent incidents within health and social services settings increases the demand for de-escalation training for staff. We propose an additional $620,000 to fund specialized occupational health and safety positions.

Frontline health and social services cannot operate effectively without properly resourced administration. We are seeking to right-size the administrative arm of the health and social services system with proposals to augment resources for recruitment, prevention programs, and actions to reduce structural deficits along with other cost drivers.

Included in the additional funding to improve administrative capacity in the health care system is funding to assist continuous recruitment of health and social services professionals. For example, funding has not kept pace with the expenses for moving new staff and professionals to the territory, making it hard to get staff and professionals to the communities where they are needed. We propose to help resolve this issue in this budget with $6 million to fund relocation costs more realistically. We are also proposing $5.4 million to ensure accommodations for locums.

Further, the Office of Medical Affairs and Credentialing, which is responsible for recruitment, retention, contract administration, credentialing and labour relations for resident and locum physicians, is facing its own staffing shortage and we are proposing to remedy this with $651,000 in this budget.

The Healthcare System Sustainability Unit cannot effectively achieve its goals of evidence-based recommendations without proper data from the health and social services system. And Budget 2025 adds $513,000 for records and information management to fund three positions.

Similarly, catching up on the health and social services deficits means properly funding budgets to address external cost drivers such as tighter real estate markets, changing lease terms, building maintenance requirements, and increases in insurance. Budget 2025 includes a proposal to add $1.9 million to offset the lease cost shortfalls projected for the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority and the Tlichǫ Community Services Agency; and, $613,000 for increased payments to the Boreal Health Partnership for services at the Stanton Territorial Hospital.

Mitigating the spread of disease helps lower the demand for health services. We are proposing an additional $673,000 to fund four positions to operate infection prevention and control programs across the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority.

The need for diagnostic tools to help practitioners prescribe appropriate therapies for sleep apnea is becoming increasingly important as the population ages and obesity rates rise. We are proposing $412,000 for the sleep studies program.

We are working diligently to honour the principle of keeping children with their families and in their communities but, when families are in crisis, intervention is still necessary, and the volume of cases continues to rise. We are proposing to ensure increasing costs for in-territory child and family supports are addressed with an additional $3.1 million to meet the need for more foster placements and adequate financial and other caregiver support. This budget also proposes an additional $240,000 for respite services for families in the territory.

We are proposing an additional $1.1 million for adult southern placements so these residents can receive the required specialized care that is unavailable within the territory. These range from short-term stays for treatment or transitional programs for mental health or behavioural needs to long-term treatments for lifelong disabilities.

We also propose to address the shortfall of $6.2 million in supplies used in the delivery of healthcare, which includes the Respiratory Syncytial Virus vaccine to protect infants, children and those with chronic lung disease, as well as to support Covid-19 vaccine costs. These proposed funds also cover cost pressures for chemotherapy drugs, caused by an increased number of patients, the cost of treatments, and the growing types of treatments available and being deployed.

Right-sizing health and social services budgets to be more reflective of costs will be ongoing work during the life of this government while we continue to gather data to support immediate improvements in health care delivery that hopefully also lower costs.

Mr. Speaker, we spend over $200 million annually on programs and services that support safety for residents and communities either directly, such as for law enforcement, or indirectly, by providing operating infrastructure grants to communities to help them with their funding needs to provide municipal services. We also work to mitigate safety risks. For example, we updated the GNWT Emergency Plan last year and we are using this to help strengthen communities' abilities to deal with emergencies. We are advancing our efforts to remove historic hazardous waste and are on track to remove it from half of all communities by 2028.

Mr. Speaker, we are proposing to advance the priority to support safety for residents and communities with an additional $18.3 million, partially offset with $7.1 million in federal support, to help address cost pressures for communities, winter road construction, mitigate natural disaster risks and enhance public safety.

We are proposing to support the ability of communities to deliver on their spending responsibilities with $6.3 million to address municipal funding needs for operations, maintenance, water and waste programs. Continuing with last year's commitments, the Community Access Program remains available for governments to obtain infrastructure funding for access roads, trails and docks with a proposed $1.5 million.

This budget sets aside a proposed $4.2 million for the Department of Infrastructure to enhance its ability to cope with higher costs, including winter road construction and maintenance costs.

Risk mitigation continues to play an important role in all our programs but is particularly key in programs to keep communities safe. With $2.7 million in federal support, we are proposing $2.9 million to mitigate natural disaster risks. This proposed funding includes $2.1 million for the FireSmart program, $571,000 for wildfire suppression equipment and monitoring, and $210,000 for the Hunter and Trapper Disaster Compensation program as a response to flooding.

Assessing risk starts with gathering evidence. Partnering with the federal government permits the use of $1.4 million in federal funds for research and monitoring activities, including $796,000 in Integrated Climate Resilience for Coastal Communities and $460,000 to participate and contribute to the national forest inventory.

Budget 2025 contains an additional $2.9 million, including $2.4 million in federal funding, for public safety measures delivered primarily through the Department of Justice. The additional funds include $824,000 for the integration of services, $800,000 to support the federal Gun and Gang Violence Action Fund, $499,000 to further enhance support for the Indigenous Justice Program, and $251,000 for implementing the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence and enhance victim services with independent legal advice.

We are also proposing another $372,000 in funding for the RCMP G-Division Emergency Response Team with an additional two constables.

Mr. Speaker, we accomplished a lot in the first year of this Assembly despite some real challenges. However, we will end this fiscal year embroiled in economic disruption and uncertainty caused by potential US tariffs and an unpredictable political landscape. As of today, we do not yet know if tariffs will be in place; or, whether government support will be available to maintain domestic supply chains or cost stability. But we will stand united with all of Canada.

The next few years are likely to bring continued challenges and disruptions, whether geopolitical, climate-related, or otherwise. That is why we must continue pressing forward on our priorities to build a stronger future - one that maintains fiscal stability while ensuring we have the capacity to react and respond to an emerging crisis.

The fiscal strategy outlined in Restoring Balance is a work in progress, designed to guide our financial course over the full four-year term. Fiscal sustainability is fundamental to good governance, ensuring that as a government, we have the ability to support communities and residents through times of turbulence. Budget 2025 reflects our ongoing commitment to these principles.

Business plans, which outline how allocated budgets will be used, are also ongoing works in progress. They reflect the type of planning needed to achieve our priorities and strengthen our future. Budget 2025 is designed to fund these business plans and all of our ongoing programs and services in a realistic manner, incorporating evidence-based decision-making and advancing the priorities and mandate of this Assembly. Our goal is to support residents in how they want to live, work, and grow.

We have continued to demonstrate that, as a government and as a territory, we can face challenges with resilience, creativity, and determination. At the same time, we remain focused on the long term, ensuring that we continue to build a Northwest Territories that is healthy, prosperous, and safe.

I want to thank the Members of the Legislative Assembly for their work in shaping the 2025-2026 Budget. I look forward to working collaboratively on our shared priorities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Budget Address

Budget Address

Page 1576

The Speaker

Shane Thompson

Thank you, Minister of Finance . We will now take a brief adjournment.

---SHORT RECESS

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Budget Address

Budget Address

Page 1576

The Speaker

Shane Thompson

Thank you, colleagues. Thanks to the finance Minister. We'll try to keep you quiet for a little bit here. You did a great job; thank you very much.

Ministers' statements. Members' statements. Member from Range Lake .

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Member's Statement 440-20(1): Consumer Carbon Taxation

Members' Statements

Page 1576

Kieron Testart

Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, a spectre is haunting our North - the spectre of a zombie carbon tax. Soon, every -- or currently, every major political party leader in Canada at the federal level, Mark -- or soon to be federal leader, Mark Carney, Chrystia Freeland, Pierre Poilievre, even Jagmeet Singh, have given a death sentence to the consumer carbon tax, and the date of its demise is now set for March 9th WHEN Prime Minister Trudeau's successor will be chosen.

All those who are vying to replace him have made it clear they'll be abandoning the consumer carbon tax and removing or amending the federal backstop for all provinces and territories. This means no consumer carbon tax in almost every jurisdiction in Canada except for us here in the Northwest Territories where our government is still relying on its so-called made-in-the North carbon pricing regime, and it will be in place long after almost everyone else has shifted responsibility back to Ottawa.

Mr. Speaker, the leading contender to lead Canada in Ottawa, if you believe the polls, the NWT's own Mr. Carney has declared the consumer carbon tax a divisive policy that must be replaced with a more effective alternative. His main competitor, my friend Chrystia Freeland, who herself enforced the tax as a federal Minister of Finance , has vowed to scrap the policy in no uncertain terms. The leader of the opposition meanwhile has made axe the tax his slogan so popular it could even be found on some front porches in my riding of Range Lake.

Even the NDP, a party well known for its tax and spend mantra, has dropped the carbon tax on their platform. As soon as Trudeau leaves Rideau Hall for the last time, he's taking the tax with him and putting all the responsibility for its continued existence squarely on the shoulders of our territorial government.

So, Mr. Speaker, with such a dramatic change in policy in the last few months at the federal level, our constituents are looking for similar developments here at home. We've heard loud and clear from voters during the last election that the policy's not working for Northerners. Our Premier acknowledges much when he immediately declared his desire for a northern carveout, and I have brought forward a bill, the Carbon Tax Repeal Act, to make that so. So let's get this done. Let's get ahead of the curb. Let's not be caught off guard and wait months to negotiate a new deal with Ottawa. Let's kill the tax now and save Northerners some money. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Member's Statement 440-20(1): Consumer Carbon Taxation

Members' Statements

Page 1577

The Speaker

Shane Thompson

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

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Member's Statement 441-20(1): Land Transfers to Municipalities

Members' Statements

Page 1577

Denny Rodgers

Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the devolution of lands and resources from the federal government to the Government of the Northwest Territories was a historic step in strengthening our ability to manage our own land and chart our own economic future. However, the work is not yet complete. Now is the time to take the next step in devolution, one that brings land management decisions closer to the people most affected by them.

Mr. Speaker, our communities are the backbone of the North. They are where families grow, where businesses develop, and where our culture thrives, yet many communities still lack the authority to fully manage the lands within their municipal boundaries. This must change, Mr. Speaker. We need to empower communities with the ability to tax, manage, and plan for the future of all territorial and Commissioner's lands within their community boundaries.

Mr. Speaker, decentralizing decision-making will allow communities to take control of their own land use planning, enable them to prepare for housing development, economic growth, and responsible land management. Local governments know their needs best, and by transferring these powers we will provide them with the tools to build stronger, more resilient communities.

Mr. Speaker, this is about fairness, empowerment, and ensuring that decisions about land are made at the level closest to the people. It is time to complete the process of devolution and ensure that our communities have the authority they need to shape their own futures. I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting this next phase of devolution. Let's bring land management decisions in community boundaries where they belong, into the hands of our communities across the North, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

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Member's Statement 441-20(1): Land Transfers to Municipalities

Members' Statements

Page 1577

The Speaker

Shane Thompson

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

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Member's Statement 442-20(1): 2025 Sahtu Winter Road Resupply

Members' Statements

Page 1577

Daniel McNeely

Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Sahtu winter road resupply 2025: Mr. Speaker, as we know, the Sahtu affordable Mackenzie River barging resupply for the past summer and a half was cancelled. Mr. Speaker, the only alternative affordable resupply system in place is the winter road. With warmer weathers, shortened schedules, challenging landscapes and increased traffic, both domestic and commercial, Mr. Speaker, I cannot emphasize enough on the inventory management and deliveries the Sahtu cannot go through more hardships related to air transportation costs.

Mr. Speaker, Sahtu needs sustainable, essential goods and services. Allow us to imagine the region's eight grocers on annual affordable retail prices while considering annual inventory finances, heated storage costs, expiration dates of goods. This scenario is dramatically concerning to families, commercial projects, and government supplies.

Mr. Speaker, an estimated 1,000 truckloads are expected this season. We have government and Imperial Oil's fuel inventory on the schedule: The Colville Lake school wide loads, the Fort Good Hope construction centre, grocers resupply, household staples, commercial projects, and government inventory and supplies.

Mr. Speaker, typically, normal traffic for the movement of fuel is about 130 truckloads per season; however, for the 2024-2025 season we are anticipating 600 truckloads fuel only which is a priority. This large increase includes both government and Imperial Oil inventories.

Mr. Speaker, I'm equally pleased to announce measures/steps being taken/arranged for sustainable by community engagements with the food bank of Canada, Nutrition North, later this month on affordable groceries. Discussions underway will include supply chains, logistics on the community establishment of food security. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement

---Unanimous consent granted

Mahsi, thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you, colleagues. Ultimately, Mr. Speaker, it's through resilience these interim measures are underway while Indigenous governments and the Government of the Northwest Territories finalize regulatory and funding arrangements for the Mackenzie Valley Highway. Mahsi.

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Member's Statement 442-20(1): 2025 Sahtu Winter Road Resupply

Members' Statements

Page 1577

The Speaker

Shane Thompson

Thank you, Member from the Sahtu . Members' statements. Member from Yellowknife North .

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Member's Statement 443-20(1): Trauma, Healing and Harm Reduction

Members' Statements

Page 1577

Shauna Morgan

Yellowknife North

Mr. Speaker, one priority of this Assembly that we talk about surprisingly seldom is addressing the effects of trauma. And when we do talk about healing, we tend to frame it as black or white, all or nothing. We sometimes assume we can just take people with substance addictions from their rock bottom and then send them to treatment to become totally sober, all healed. And maybe that transformation does happen all at once for some people. But our shelters and our streets are overflowing with folks who are not totally sober. Maybe they've tried multiple times, maybe they're at some messy place along their journey.

Certainly, they are focused on surviving and managing their pain day to day. These folks often turn to health care workers and staff at non-profits like the Women's Society and the Salvation Army, and we expect those frontline workers to somehow keep them safe day after day. Right now they don't have the tools to keep them safe which puts these frontline workers in a horrible situation. They need better harm reduction tools.

Now, officially, the GNWT has endorsed the principle of harm reduction in documents such as the 2023 Alcohol Strategy, but any harm reduction programs we've actually started to put in place have been starved of resources. What would it look like if this government actually embraced harm reduction?

First, the managed alcohol program, started in 2020 here in Yellowknife at the Spruce Bough supportive living facility, would have proper medical oversight by a nurse or doctor. Managed alcohol would be offered to other shelter users and communities outside Yellowknife. People staying in the hospital who are alcohol dependent would not be forced to detox which has shown to be ineffective and counterproductive anyway. We would establish on-the-land healing camps that don't require folks to be sober first.

Safe supply programs would receive dedicated funding instead of public health having to do it off the side of their desk with spare change. There would be a day shelter space where homeless people can safely use. We all want members of our communities to heal and move forward with their lives. But if we're going to be successful, we have to be practical. Start by meeting people where they're at, offer them safety and stabilization, offer them some space, some room to regroup and consider what else is possible. Mr. Speaker, I ask for unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and my colleagues. Healing from trauma is not all or nothing. We need to help people slowly build momentum with small successes supported by a system designed to reduce harms along the way. Thank you, and I will have questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services . Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Member's Statement 443-20(1): Trauma, Healing and Harm Reduction

Members' Statements

Page 1577

The Speaker

Shane Thompson

Thank you, Member from Yellowknife North . Members' statements. Member from Mackenzie Delta .

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Member's Statement 444-20(1): Struggles for Youth in Mackenzie Delta Communities

Members' Statements

Page 1577

George Nerysoo

Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to talk about the struggles of the young people of my riding from Mackenzie Delta. With the recent announcement of closures of the community learning centres and the level of education that our students are receiving at the present time, we see no real future for the younger generation of the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, the Indigenous people of my riding are among the highest percentage of the income support program - 15 percent. This program is not doing justice to the individuals who are introduced to this program. I believe this program was intended to be a temporary solution to offset the cost of living when employment opportunities were not available. Instead, the recipients of this program are not given alternatives to be independent and self-sufficient. In turn, we see the recipients making a living from this program.

Mr. Speaker, this government is trying to get its final responsibilities back on track and, at the same time, we are trying to rebuild the economy of the Northwest Territories. In order to build the economy of the Northwest Territories, we need a workforce, a home-grown workforce from the North. We have to invest in our resources. That means investing in our people of the Northwest Territories. Giving handouts, no longer an option, is hurting the government. It is hurting the Northwest Territories' economy. It is hurting the Indigenous governments. It is hurting the communities. And it's hurting the individuals who are reliant on this program.

Mr. Speaker, I realize that there are people out there in our communities who benefit from this program, the disabled and the elderly who are unable to work to sustain their daily needs. Today we have a young age group who are able to work, but they see an easier lifestyle provided by this government. It is time for this government to give the residents of Northwest Territories a voice and conduct public engagements on how to better provide these services without the recipients of the income support program losing their self-esteem and dignity. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Member's Statement 444-20(1): Struggles for Youth in Mackenzie Delta Communities

Members' Statements

Page 1578

The Speaker

Shane Thompson

Thank you, Member from Mackenzie Delta . Members' statements. Member from Frame Lake .

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Member's Statement 445-20(1): Statement of Solidarity for the 2SLTGBTQQIPA+ Community

Members' Statements

Page 1578

Julian Morse

Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, inspired by a few of my colleagues yesterday, I just wanted to stand up and make a short statement today just about the increase anxiety and stress occurring for 2SLTGBTQIPA+ people south of the border, and I wanted to stand up and make a statement expressing my support and my solidarity for this community here in the territory.

Mr. Speaker, we have seen that we in Canada are not immune to the shift that's happening. Some jurisdictions are beginning to introduce legislation which I've heard is making transgender youth feel unsafe. Mr. Speaker, I have constituents, friends, loved ones in this community. I want you to know that I will fight to maintain your rights and ensure you're supported here in the Northwest Territories.

I'm pleased to say that in this government I see us, for the most part, being supportive in the language of our legislation, in our programs, in our consideration of important issues, in the communications I see from the Premier , from government, and I'm happy to see that. I'm committed to ensuring this continues and to ensuring this territory is a welcoming, safe place where anyone can thrive. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Member's Statement 445-20(1): Statement of Solidarity for the 2SLTGBTQQIPA+ Community

Members' Statements

Page 1578

The Speaker

Shane Thompson

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

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Member's Statement 446-20(1): Illicit Drug Activity in Monfwi Communities

Members' Statements

Page 1578

Jane Weyallon Armstrong

Monfwi

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to discuss the drug problem in our communities and the escalating threat of violent crime. This past November, officers from the Behchoko RCMP detachment stopped a suspicious vehicle on Highway No. 3 and found a loaded handgun, approximately 25 grams of what they suspected to be crack cocaine, and $30,000 in cash. Later the same month, Behchoko RCMP seized $76,000 and a small quantity of illicit drugs from a different vehicle with Alberta license plates that they had stopped for suspicious driving.

Last February, Behchoko RCMP reported that they seized 1.9 kilograms of cocaine, a semi-automatic handgun and a prohibited extended round magazine, in a single search.

Mr. Speaker, making residents and communities safe is a priority of this Assembly. Drugs are getting into our communities. The people bringing them in carry semi-automatic, automatic weapons, and they are leaving with hundreds of thousands of dollars which, in turn, perpetuates our problem. These suppliers are criminals who prey on vulnerable people. Keeping them out would not solve substance abuse problems overnight, but it will make Behchoko and other communities safer.

Can the Minister of Justice please investigate this matter and take actions to keep vulnerable members of our community safe whether that means stopping more cars on the highway or increasing police presence, something must be done, Mr. Speaker. I will have questions for the Minister of Justice . Thank you.

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Member's Statement 446-20(1): Illicit Drug Activity in Monfwi Communities

Members' Statements

Page 1578

The Speaker

Shane Thompson

Thank you, Member from Monfwi . Members' statements. Member from Deh Cho .

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Member's Statement 447-20(1): Respite and Home Care Services in Dehcho Communities

Members' Statements

Page 1578

Sheryl Yakeleya

Deh Cho

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker [no translation available].

Mr. Speaker, I'd like to discuss the critical need for respite services and aftercare -- after hours home care in my riding. Mr. Speaker, many elders want to live in their homes for as long as possible. The GNWT currently provides residents with home and community care service after medical based -- after a medical needs-based assessment. This includes respite services so full-time caregivers can take a break. The respite program for local communities is funded by health and social services and supports families in small communities who have children with special needs or loved ones with disabilities.

Mr. Speaker, this program is active in Deline, Fort Smith, Aklavik, Fort Liard, and Fort McPherson, where respite workers provide safe individualized and flexible respite support to families and primary caregivers. The program is designed to hire and train local residents so they can provide in-home or in-community relief for caregivers, families and children and youth with disabilities. They work with NWT Disabilities Council to receive training and first aid CPR certification. We need opportunities like this in the Deh Cho communities, Mr. Speaker.

Many residents also need after hours care or medical attention outside of regular clinic hours. Some of these residents are elders who can no longer drive or have family members who could assist them. We have heard that the current departmental policy prohibits nurses from providing emergency services outside health centres. But, Mr. Speaker, having a home care worker with first responder training, someone with a vehicle who has the proper liability insurance and is familiar to residents, could drastically change the delivery of health services in communities in my riding where there are no ambulatory services.

I will have questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services . Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

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Member's Statement 447-20(1): Respite and Home Care Services in Dehcho Communities

Members' Statements

Page 1578

The Speaker

Shane Thompson

Thank you, Member from the Deh Cho . Members' statements. Member from Yellowknife Centre .

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Member's Statement 448-20(1): Primary Health care Appointment Availability

Members' Statements

Page 1578

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Sometimes I think this government misses the important things, the nuts and bolts of people's health care and how their families are impacted by government process, including the government bureaucracy, two favorite words - process and bureaucracy.

Mr. Speaker, I had heard from numerous constituents, but several as of late, about their concerns about getting appointments through the clinics. And this isn't just a Yellowknife issue. This is a territorial issue, Mr. Speaker. So, for example, if you want a same-day appointment, you have to walk down at 7:30 in the morning and stand in line. Now, that doesn't sound too bad, but we can't make online appointments, which has been raised in this house before, even though you can make online doctors' appointments at other clinics in the Northwest Territories.

It's often we get into these discussions about real practical solutions that I think this government should seize and run with, Mr. Speaker. But you get down there at 7:30, there's a line of anywhere from 6 to 15 people and therein lies the first part of the problem: There's only a couple online -- or sorry, same-day appointments. So your next appointment, if you made it a couple days ago, would be sometime two months later.

But if you're lucky to get one of the two or three appointments, the situation is so bad, the person speaking to the health care professional, the kind person trying to do their job, they're communicating in a way everybody knows their name, everybody knows their birth date, and not everyone can do wink, wink, nudge, nudge, it's an itch. In other words, privacy is constantly compromised at these clinics in situations.

It's not anyone's do fault in the sense of they're not doing this on purpose, but it's just the facilitation of practical, decent stuff that make the everyday family appreciate that their government's trying to work for them.

Mr. Speaker, I can book a plane ticket online. As a matter of fact, I can even deal with CRA online. But I can't book an appointment to see a doctor online. And now, the government will say, including the health Minister about, like, oh my goodness, we have all these technical problems. Well, let's go to the phone system. Well, the phone system, when you call, you get an answering message, if it goes to the answering message, Mr. Speaker, that you'll get a call back within two or three days if you're lucky. It doesn't have the lucky part, Mr. Speaker, I should say, in all fairness. That said, you're lucky to get the phone call response.

Mr. Speaker, there are practical solutions that the government could do. I've raised them. Other members have raised them. We've raised them loud and clear. We can act upon them about service, Mr. Speaker. And that's where my questions will lead later today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Member's Statement 448-20(1): Primary Health care Appointment Availability

Members' Statements

Page 1578

The Speaker

Shane Thompson

Thank you, Member from Yellowknife Centre . Members' statements. Good afternoon, Colleagues.

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Member's Statement 449-20(1): Celebration of Life of Rosie Betthale-Reid

Members' Statements

Page 1578

Shane Thompson

Nahendeh

Good afternoon, Colleagues. Rose Betthale-Reid was born at Macahish Lake, also known as Sandy Lake, on May 25th, 1954, to William and Germainie Betthale. With great sadness, she passed away on January 9th, 2025. For those who knew this lady, she wore many hats. Some would describe her as someone who fought for those less fortunate. Others, she was an interpreter that helped elders. Others, she was the person that would get on the stage to sing or make people laugh even if it was at her own expense. She loved it and didn't care.

I got to know her just before I became an MLA; however, I heard about her before that time. She was committed to getting things done, fight for the underdog, or correcting issues. I can confirm she had an amazing sense of humour. There were numerous times she had me laughing uncontrollably. I got to witness her and her husband's willingness to help out others. They made a great team.

Rosie loved her family deeply. She was always talking about her children, stepchildren, grandchildren, and her husband Kyle. She was very proud of each of them and would show me pictures as she told me their stories. Where possible, she would stop in and see them. The last time I spoke to her was at the airport in Fort Simpson when she came to see her granddaughter who was working at the counter.

Rosie was very spiritual. She and her husband would pray anywhere and at ceremonies or on nature walks. They would feed the fire or water offering tobacco and food, sending their love to God and to the loved ones that passed on. When others passed away, she would gather a group of ladies to help clean the body one last time. As like all celebrations of life, there are so many aspects of a person's life you might miss. I have attached her eulogy done by her son Clinton Betthale and Joe Tambour and a poem done by her granddaughter which I would like them deemed as read and printed in the Hansard.

Colleagues, the family would like to thank all those people that provided support during this difficult time. I can tell you she will be sadly missed.

Eulogy: Clinton Betthale and Joe Tambour

This wonderful person, Rose Betthale-Reid was full of character was born at Macahish Sandy Lake on May 25, 1954, to William and Germainie Betthale.

Whoever would have thought this quiet, sad little girl who grew up in residential should, would grow up to become bigger than personality than anyone one. That she was.

She grew up to be the hilarious, outspoken, singer, dancer, hunter, fisher and just full of life. She loved life to the fullest.

On quiet moments she would reflect on the hardship and emotional pain she went through. Sadness would overwhelm her, but something would snap her out of it. She mischievously would smile and say, “Take me on now” and would laugh.

She loved her children and grandchildren even more. She relied on her oldest son Clinton for anything and like his mom, he'd support her in every way he can.

Rosie loved to pray anywhere. At ceremonies, she and her brother Louie would feed the fire, offering tobacco and food, sending her love to God, and loved ones that passed on.

At her Petitot camp, she would feed the water and birds. She and Kyle would thank God for everything every day.

Rosie loved to travel with Kyle. They went to Maui and to Jamacia. When they went to Jamaica one time, there was a concert for Bob Marley right in front of their hotel. They opened the balcony doors and windows to hear the music and watched the beautiful sun as it set. Then she told Kyle to take a photo of the sunset. As he struggled with the camera, the sun was gone down. They both stated laughing and couldn't stop laughing. That's when they realized they were stoned from the Marijuana smoke from all the people that were smoking it outside the hotel. So they closed the door and windows right away.

She always loved to share this story, as it got people laughing.

Her dancing partner was her husband, Kyle. Oh, those two loved to dance. This past Christmas holidays, there was a drum dance, and she had a surprise dancer. A little small had grabbed her hand and pulled her into the line of dancers. It was three-year-old Hayze McLeod. Rosie had tears in her eyes for this little dancer.

Rosie and Kyle loved helping people and they never asked for anything in return. Sometimes they would get people to chop wood for them. They would in return give them enough tobacco or a gift card. Both loved going for rides on the Cole's Lake Road. Every time she sees tracks (moose or caribou) they would stop, and she would check to see how fresh the tracks were. She became a good shot too. She usually got what she hunted. One time one of her son's Steven said “she shot two bush chickens. As she ran after them, she tripped and fell and disappeared in the bush.

He yelled to see if she was ok then that is when she pooped out holding the two bush chickens, yelling “I got them” with a big Rosie laughter.

Her happiest day was when her and Kyle got married on June 29, 1995, on the front lawn of her late brother William Betthale.

She loved fishing, hunting, going for drives, singing and dancing. She did everything she wasn't allowed to do, when she was young. She wasn't everyone's cup of tea, but she didn't care. She'll just laugh and say “Ehh, who cares?” Rosie left so suddenly but left a legend.

Poem: Rosie

If roses grow in heaven, Lord

please pick a bunch for me place them in my

Grandma's arm and tell her they are from me.

tell her I love her and miss her and when she

Turns to smile, place a kiss upon her cheek and

hold her for a while.

God saw she was getting tired, and a cure was

not to be.

So, he put his arms around her and whispered,

“Come with me.”

With tear-filled eyes we watched her suffer and fade away.

Although we loved her deeply, we could not

make her stay.

A golden heart stopped beating, hard-working

hands put on rest.

God broke our heart to prove to us he only

takes the best.

Read by Megan Steeves

Members' statements. Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilidheh.

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Member's Statement 450-20(1): Acknowledging the Passing of Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh Constituents

Members' Statements

Page 1579

Richard Edjericon

Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Mr. Speaker, before I focus on the vital work we must do together in this House, I must first report with a heavy heart of the tragedies that have so deeply affected my Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh communities in the recent months. We dedicate Christmas seasons to our families and loved ones, but sadly this year, our communities were grieving. One after another, I have attended funerals and Celebration of Life to grieve with my community members and their families, and I still grieve with them when I return to my constituency meetings or just a call to check in because the losses are so great; there is still much mourning taking place.

Last year in N'dilo, we lost a respected elder Alex Beaulieu, and then tragically, his son, more recently in the new year, the loss of Roland Conrad also deeply affected the community as well. The Beaulieus are a big family here in the North, and sadly, the loss of Gail Beaulieu, a respected elder who also was a nurse in the Fort Resolution for over 30 plus years. And Tom Beaulieu, Tommy Beaulieu, who is also a respected elder who also worked for the GNWT for 30 plus years in Fort Resolution for the GNWT.

As well the people of Fort Resolution experienced even more loss with the respective passing of a young man Anthony King; a well-respected elder Eddie Fabien; a respected elder Nancy Hunter; and another respected elder Kenny Jean Reimer. Further the loss of the late respected elder who also we all know here in the House and also a translator was the late Tom Unka who was also a respected elder from our community. From so closely we felt and had worked in this building for 15 years with Mr. Unka, and my heart goes out to the families.

The loss of another young man Jason Larocque and Sky Champagne, another young lady. It was also a painful experience for the community given their very young age.

The community of Lutselk'e unfortunately experienced their share of profound sorrows as well this Christmas. They also lost Cathy Marlowe, Jamie Sanderson, and Adam Casaway, and their community will never be the same without them. These deep personal losses made for at Christmastime of much grieving and sorrow. The loss of so many elders in such short period of time is a profound reminder that this generation who raised us and guided us are sadly now passing on.

Certainly, all cultures cherish and value their elders but for Indigenous communities, we have lost so much to centuries of colonialism, their connection to our land, history, and will be hard to replace. But thankfully, the knowledge they have passed on through their teachings and story tellings, the knowledge of culture they have lived on the land since time immemorial, we will carry through into eternity because our generations will keep the spirit of all of our ancestors alive.

In the long term, their experience are our blessing and will keep us strong. But right now our hearts are still aching. Please pray for my communities, also to all the communities in the Northwest Territories who also lost loved ones in the recent months, because the hard times are easier when we face them together. I just want to say condolences with a heavy heart to all the families in my riding and to the families who lost loved ones over the holidays. Mahsi.

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Member's Statement 450-20(1): Acknowledging the Passing of Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh Constituents

Members' Statements

Page 1579

The Speaker

Shane Thompson

Our condolences go out to all the families and our prayers.

Members' statements. Motions.

Before we go any further, I'd like to look up into the gallery and recognize Mr. Marc Whitford, president from North Slave Metis. Thank you very much for coming to our Assembly.

Returns to oral questions. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member from Yellowknife Centre .

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Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 1580

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I almost jumped the gun on that one, and thank you for being as kind as you are. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to recognize Ms. Katie Johnson. She is a Yellowknife Centre constituent, and she's certainly a very strong advocate for inclusive education. She's very smart and hardworking at this issue, and I hope the government heeds some of the lessons and excitement she brings with ideas she channels through me and other Members of this House. Thank you very much.

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Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 1580

The Speaker

Shane Thompson

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh .

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Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 1580

Richard Edjericon

Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I too want to recognize the North Slave Metis Alliance president Mr. Marc Whitford. Also, I want to acknowledge, again, it's good to see everybody here and all the translators. It's good to see you, welcome back. Mahsi. And lastly, Mr. Speaker, I want to thank everybody in the gallery. Mahsi.

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Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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Page 1580

The Speaker

Shane Thompson

Thank you, Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh . Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member from Frame Lake .

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Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 1580

Julian Morse

Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Frame Lake is happy to boast that we have a young page in the House today, Mr. Jacob Couture is here, so thank you to him for all his work and all the pages, of course. And I'm not sure if he's actually still up there, but I saw a constituent, Matt Halliday, who is the new Chamber of Commerce executive director. He's had a busy job in front of him the past couple of weeks. So good to see him in the gallery. There was a couple other constituents who were in the gallery for the Budget Address but quickly disappeared. So thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 1580

The Speaker

Shane Thompson

Thank you, Member from Frame Lake . Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member from Hay River North .

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Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 1580

R.J. Simpson

Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We're lucky to have a number of distinguished guests with us today in the gallery, and so I would like to recognize them. I'd like to recognize President Marc Whitford from the North Slave Metis Alliance, of course; Major Tony Brushett from the Salvation Army, a strong partner with the Government of the Northwest Territories; as well as from the Northwest Territories Teachers' Association, executive director Matthew Miller who was the president in the last term, and I worked with him closely, and current president, Ms.

Rita Mueller, my former deputy minister and a mentor who I worked with very closely for a number of years, and we're happy to have them here. Thank you.

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Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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Page 1580

The Speaker

Shane Thompson

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member from Inuvik Twin Lakes .

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Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 1580

Lesa Semmler

Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to recognize Dan Florizone, our newly appointed public administrator here today for the Northwest Territories health and social services. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 1580

The Speaker

Shane Thompson

Member from Inuvik Twin Lakes . Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member from Yellowknife South .

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Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 1580

Caroline Wawzonek

Yellowknife South

Mr. Speaker, again, I'm not sure who all is here, but I know that Gayla Thunstrom, the UNW president was here and she also happens to be a Yellowknife South resident. Also representing Yellowknife South here today, Mr. Speaker, North Slave Metis Alliance president Marc Whitford, and I'm very proud to say he is a resident of Yellowknife South. Thank you.

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Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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Page 1580

The Speaker

Shane Thompson

Thank you, Member from Yellowknife South . Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member from Monfwi .

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Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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Page 1580

Jane Weyallon Armstrong

Monfwi

I would like to acknowledge Ms. Rita Mueller. She lived in Behchoko for many years and a teacher and a principal, and she is the president of the NWT Teachers' Association. And I have known Rita since 1994 when she first moved to Behchoko, or in Edzo to work at the Chief Jimmy Bruneau School. So I would like to acknowledge and recognize her. Thank you.

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Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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Page 1580

The Speaker

Shane Thompson

Thank you. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member from Great Slave .

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Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 1580

Kate Reid

Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I too would like to recognize Ms. Mueller who is now the president of the NWT Teachers' Association. She was also my assistant deputy minister and one of the first people I talked to about my aspirations to be in this House, and she was very encouraging. I'd also like to say thank you very much to all Great Slave pages today in the Assembly. That would be Gabrielle, Sokhna, and Olivier. Thank you.

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Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 1580

The Speaker

Shane Thompson

Thank you, Member from Great Slave . Recognition of visitors in the gallery.

I'm going to embarrass Ms. Mueller a little bit. I can date her back to 1992 when she was our aquatics person way back when to our regional person, so I've known Rita, and she's given her heart and soul to the Northwest Territories whether it was through the departments or education. So I thank her very much for all that she does and continues to do, and she is a great mentor and supporter of youth in the Northwest Territories.

If we have missed anyone in the gallery today, welcome to your chamber. I hope you enjoy the proceedings. It is always nice to see people in the gallery, and let's have a good day.

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Replies to the Budget Address, Day 1 of 7. Nobody wants to do it, eh? Nobody at all? Sorry, had a little bit of fun. Member from Range Lake .

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Mr. Testart's Reply

Replies To The Budget Address

Page 1580

Kieron Testart

Range Lake

We're having a good day, Mr. Speaker. [No translation available].

Mr. Speaker, let me tell you a story about perseverance and determination. It's about a place where the people are as rugged as the land they call home; where, despite the vast distances between each community, everyone knows everyone. It's about a government that has been tested time and time again by flood, fire, and pestilence, and rose to the occasion when its people needed it most. I am, of course, telling the story of the Northwest Territories. I am proud to be a part of this story. The NWT is my home, and it's the most spectacular place on earth.

Nowhere can you find such stark natural beauty, pristine nature, and bountiful resources. From the shores of Great Slave Lake to the riverbanks of the Mighty Mackenzie and all the way to the vast Arctic Ocean, Northerners have occupied these lands since time immemorial, and this is no easy task.

For most of the year, our climate is an active danger to those who are unprepared, and you never know when a wolf, bear, or wolverine is right around the corner. But this experience is what breeds resilience in our people and provides us with the spark of creativity and ingenuity to do so much more with so much less. This is the story of the North, Mr. Speaker. It is our story.

Today, a new

chapter is being written and it comes with much uncertainty. Yes, inflation continues to challenge our cost of living. Yes, our diamond mines are closing. Yes, we face the likely imposition of US tariffs. And yet even so, I remain optimistic for our future for if we, as a territory so small in population but so big on ambition, can overcome so much with grit and nerve, well, we can overcome these challenges and build a stronger future for our children and grandchildren.

At $2.5 billion, this budget has the second largest revenue gain in the history of the Northwest Territories. We boast a double A credit rating and are on the cusp of unlocking more fiscal flexibility to invest in our future, grow our economy, and create good jobs for all our residents. We have renewed alliances with Indigenous nations and brought new resources in from the federal government to meet our most pressing needs. Canada's National Arctic and Northern Policy Framework promises new investment and security for our communities as they fulfill their destiny as the custodians of Canada's sovereignty in an international contest for dominance in the North.

Mr. Speaker, our economy may be changing but our government's historic strong financial stewardship has prepared us for what we have always known was coming. We've managed the boom and bust cycle before but this time we have built a robust public administrative sector in our economy that acts as a stabilizing force for the often unpredictable cycles inherent to natural resources. While some in the past may have questioned why the GNWT has expanded its workforce to such a degree, well, this is why - to serve communities in times of economic turbulence and captain our economy back to prosperity.

Northerners have nothing to fear. This government has got your back and we will continue to fight for you no matter the cost.

Mr. Speaker, I have a confession to make - I think this a very lovely story but sadly it's not the one we heard earlier today, and it's not the tone that has been set by this Cabinet. It's easy, as you can see, to draw on the strengths of the GNWT as a foundation for progress, but instead we hear time and time again from this government a tone that is both simultaneously overwhelmed and underwhelming. The government is broke; we're on the edge of the fiscal cliff; there's no money for your priorities, and on and on and on.

This gloomy messaging is so pervasive that yesterday a constituent asked me, and honestly I might add, if the GNWT was declaring bankruptcy and shutting down and if so, what would happen to their government-backed loans.

The Member for Deh Cho often tells me that language is key to personal and professional success, that through proper messaging and positivity anyone can make things happen. It is a very wise message but seemingly lost on our speech writers as a government. So let's get into, Mr. Speaker, and tell the story of this budget. It starts and ends in the same place: The status quo.

Despite loudly proclaiming the fiscal sustainability strategy at the start of this Assembly — without the collaboration from Regular Members I might add, the GNWT continues to spend taxpayer money with abandon. Forced growth and new initiatives are supposedly held at $10 million a year and yet again we have in excess of $90 million in new spending, an overall -- an overall increase to the entire budget of 6.5 percent from the last estimates to the tune of $145.5 million.

Mr. Speaker, how are we supposed to tell our public servants they can't buy new pens and copier toner when we can't stick to our own promises on fiscal management? As we speak, nurses in the ER aren't allowed to buy ginger ale for patients, but we can blow past our spending caps without blinking an eye. Oh don't worry, if we hit the debt ceiling we can just ask for another billion dollars from the prime Minister. We already have a borrowing limit that equals our sister territories combined.

The public accounts do not lie, Mr. Speaker, and they paint a troubling picture. All financial health indicators point to a worsening economy burdened with public debt and totally reliant on federal transfer payments. Last year our resource royalties were a whopping zero dollars, which should continue to alarm Northerners, not because companies aren't paying their fair share but because so few of them are paying at all. This cannot continue. This government needs to take fiscal sustainability seriously or stop talking about it altogether because we're trying nothing, and we're all out of ideas.

Not only is this government failing to meet its sustainability goals, but its failing to meet its mandate to deliver on the priorities of the 20th Assembly. Of $2.375 billion, only $147.5 million are being used to fulfil our priorities. That's 6 percent. What political system delivers budgets where 94 percent of spending is directed by unelected public officials rather than elected representatives? If this isn't the tail wagging the dog, then what is, Mr. Speaker?

Mr. Speaker, there is another story I want to tell. It's about our potential to be so much more. My honourable friends of the Regular Member seats have pleaded with our decision makers to take more measured risks and swing for the fences. We have yet to see that happen. But let me give you an example of what could come -- from what could happen for the Northwest Territories from our commonwealth family.

So why are the affairs, Mr. Speaker, of these two tiny islands two oceans away important to this House? Because it shows how different that a change in tax policy has profoundly reshaped the fortunes of Jersey compared to its neighbour. This is a lesson we must learn in the Northwest Territories. There is no reason why Northerners need to be taxed to the level we are today considering the high cost of living and the many challenges to our continued growth. The revenues earned from personal and corporate income tax are dwarfed by federal transfers and the territorial funding -- territorial financing formula grant.

Furthermore, decreasing tax revenues would not affect this funding formula, allowing us to keep earning a grant based on average taxation rates while we actually charge far less. This would be a huge incentive for corporations and individuals to relocate to the NWT to take advantage of these lower tax rates. We can also seek to negotiate an exemption to federal taxation here in the NWT to extend this advantage further.

Is this novel approach to tax policy that incentivizes the growth of a financial services industry a new thing? Absolutely. Is it risky? Totally. But when you consider that the generational changes that could be borne from such a move, we can't afford not to do it or something like it. Far too often this entire system of government is paralyzed by its own profound lack of imagination and ambition. We can and must dream bigger if we are to save the NWT from an economic crash that will be far worse than the austerity exercises that have been contemplated in the past.

Instead of a cohesive plan that achieves balanced budgets while building a better future, we have a government that continues to fail to curb its own expenditures while actively making program delivery worse through marginal cuts. This has resulted in a loss of confidence from Northerners in our economy, not to mention a morale crisis that is spreading fast through the public service.

Mr. Speaker, it's time to get back on track. We have precious little time in this Assembly to course correct and start making the right investments in our future. It's time to undo the cuts that have hurt our constituents and start making some real change for our economy.

Mr. Speaker, here are some ideas that we can start moving forward on. We can end the income testing for extended health benefits that has added additional costs to constituents where many of them are telling me they are worse off today than they were a year ago when we first took office. We can end the consumer carbon tax and transition to a cap and trade model to ensure that polluters pay and consumers don't, and we take the tax burden off of everyday northern families and working people in the Northwest Territories.

We can expand professional development funding for health care professionals who are currently limited to -- I believe it's $2,000 and have to share hotel rooms when they go to conferences instead of being able to learn and network at these important events and encourage more people, more health care workers, to come to the Northwest Territories. We can double the mineral incentive program, maybe even triple it, and expand that economic multiplier across our economy and bring more exploration projects into the Northwest Territories.

We can expand community funding to 100 percent of what they're owed by our own formula financing. Let's find the money to do that because money spent on local economics has the greatest impact, far more impactful than money spent by the GNWT. We can cut tax rates for beer and cannabis producers. These are small industries, but they have the potential to create enormous growth. Right now, small brewers in Alberta employ more people than oil and gas. This is something that could support our tourism industry, and all they're looking for is a little help from our government.

Mr. Speaker, we need a rooting decision for the Taltson hydroelectric submarine cable line. We need to complete that expansion and bring power, cheap affordable clean power into the Slave Geological Province. We've waited too long for a decision. Now is the time, and this government needs to move forward on that as quickly as possible.

We need to expand community safety officer programs throughout the Northwest Territories. We have had one pilot on the books that continues to be extended. Communities are hurting. We just heard the honourable Member from Monfwi talk about it today. There are drug dealers in our communities. There is crime in our communities and community members don't feel safe. We can't afford to put a detachment in every community, but we can afford community safety officers.

We need to look at our NIHB commitments, our non-insured health care commitments, which are -- we operate on behalf of the federal government. And for why? We're not getting paid for that, and we're spending an enormous amount of our own treasure for something that we're not getting compensated for. We have a great partnership with the Council of Leaders, with Indigenous governments, all across the territory. Let's rely on them to get Ottawa to pay for this program that is their responsibility. And while we're at it, let's get them to cover Metis health benefits as well.

These are decisions that require some political will and capital to achieve, and this is the kind of leadership that Northerners are looking for. We can cut costs by showing real leadership and going back to the negotiating table. It doesn't all have to be lost as to jobs and programs.

Mr. Speaker, Aurora College is not working. It's been very clear to me, and many Members of this House, that this institution is continuing to take -- we continue to throw good money after bad on this. The closure of the CLCs with no notice to this Assembly, or even the Minister, is shocking to say the least. And I think it's time we let them sink or swim on their own. I'm proposing a 30 percent cut to their funding. They should establish a foundation, do some fundraising, and find those resources on their own. It's time for them to learn how to be an independent institution and cut the GNWT leash.

Mr. Speaker, oil and gas needs to be part of our future as well. We are in an increasingly insecure time for Canada and for the West. We cannot rely on trading partners that we could ten years ago. We might not even be able to rely on the US. So we need to develop our own sources of energy.

And now is the time to incentivize and encourage people to look for oil and gas resources in the Northwest Territories and develop the proven resource that we already have - Cameron Hills, the work that the Inuvialuit are doing on their natural gas plant and, of course, the offshore which comes up for renewal, the offshore moratorium which expires in 2027. Let's plan for that future because if we get one offshore drilling rig can replace -- or will exceed the royalties of all the diamond mines put together. And that is money we can invest in our future that doesn't come from taxpayers, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, we continue to pay too much money on agency nurses, agency nurses that are taking away local jobs, local opportunities, and not providing continuity of care in our communities. These are expensive, unnecessary, and we need to solve the fundamental problems in our health care system with staffing and morale and not keep hiring expensive hired guns from the south that have no connection to our communities. Mr. Speaker, we need to phase them out. We need to phase them out by 2026.

Mr. Speaker, I talked about our friends in Jersey and Guernsey. Mr. Speaker, it's time for a tax cut for personal income tax. It's also time for a tax cut in corporate income tax. As I said, these are -- we'll lose some revenue but the gains of an increased population of taking the edge off the cost of living, these are things we should be looking for and things we can deliver, Mr. Speaker. And I understand that chambers of commerce, that local banks, they've looked at this, they've explored this, let's work with them and bring a proposal forward for the Minister of Finance to execute. Let's lower the taxes now.

It's not time to wait on this. It's time to act. Let's get ahead of things and start building a generational change for our future.

Mr. Speaker, if we legalize online gaming, something that I'm proponent of, we could bring in 7 to $8 million, as much as that in additional revenue for no administrative cost. Just imagine what we could do with that extra money. Imagine the jobs it would save, the programs it would save, the debt we could pay off just from writing a piece of legislation or some regulations. This is something we must do. It's something that is long overdue. And I know the Minister has said he is supportive, so I look forward to working with all the Cabinet on that one because I think taxation is something we need.

But we can't be afraid of it. We can't be afraid of these industries that have a bad reputation because they're there, they're happening, and as long as they're unregulated, we can't keep people safe from them.

Mr. Speaker, we are putting enormous burdens on our schools and students and teachers with curriculum changes, with decaying infrastructure, things we need to invest in. Some places haven't had school replacements for a long time. It's time to look at our schools and -- especially the decisions that we place on them and fund them properly, especially therapeutic services. These are at-risk services because they are expensive, they're difficult to staff, but without them our kids will be even farther left behind, and Indigenous kids, in particular, will be most hardest hit if we pull back on therapeutic services.

Currently, in Yellowknife at least, it's the school boards who are providing the lion's share of that funding. We need to help them succeed.

Mr. Speaker, we can offer -- we need to incentivize frontline workers in our health care system. We can only do that if we start spending more money on shift premiums, on labour market supplements, on retention bonuses for frontline nurses, doctors, and allied health care staff. We need to make the floor a desirable place to be because currently people are fleeing it like it's on fire. And that's not good for morale. It's creating staff shortages. I can show you numbers that would make your head spin, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I have many more ideas, and we'll take time speaking about them, but this is what we should be looking at, ways to do business differently, not status quo budgets that aren't moving the needle. How many more times are we going to have the same thing presented in this House whilst we're being told we're not allowed to spend money? Sustainability is the order of the day. If sustainability is the order of the day, let's see some reductions and they're just not there.

So, Mr. Speaker, I will be reviewing this budget. I will be presenting further ideas, but I am unsatisfied, my constituents are dissatisfied, and they're alarmed. We need to do better as a government, and we need to build a better future for the Northwest Territories. And I look forward to the debates in this chamber because we are far from doing that with Budget 2025. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Mr. Testart's Reply

Replies To The Budget Address

Page 1582

The Speaker

Shane Thompson

Thank you, Member from Range Lake . Replies to Budget Address, Day 1 of 7. Member from Frame Lake .

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Mr. Morse's Reply

Replies To The Budget Address

Page 1582

Julian Morse

Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm going to be trying something a little bit different this year. Last year I spent a couple of weeks honing and writing a statement that ended up running out of about 20 minutes and had every possible idea that I could put into it, not unlike the Member for Range Lake that just laid out quite a -- I don't know what to call that -- a mandate, I suppose. But what I'm going to give this year is an initial reaction to the budget.

You know, we just heard the Minister's speech, and I want to some of my initial thoughts, and just to hedge that with saying, you know, obviously, the budget is now out. I want an opportunity to engage with my constituents, hear from people, hear if people have concerns with anything, and develop kind of a final position on it after doing that.

Mr. Speaker, something that stood out to me, I had a constituency meeting on Monday, and I reached out to a colleague and said, you know, in some ways I'm a bit unsure how to react to this budget. There's not a whole lot in there to get very angry or particularly excited about. And, again, maybe I need to be changing the coffee that I'm drinking in the morning because certainly the Member for Range Lake found a lot to get excited about in there. But anyways, the point being, Mr. Speaker, is, you know, we -- what I've seen, and similar to the Member for Range Lake , is a pretty status quo budget.

You know, it's not a budget -- I had some constituents express concern that they were going to see some heavy cuts coming forward. Considering all the communication about fiscal responsibility that we've heard over the past year, people thought this was going to be a really difficult budget. I'm not seeing big, big changes, and I'm not seeing big initiatives either.

And so we just heard from the Finance Minister . We heard the messaging of the government. So what story do I see?

Mr. Speaker, the story that emerged for me over the past two weeks while committee was reviewing the budget is I see us struggling to action some of our priorities effectively because we are struggling to manage our finances effectively. As pointed out previously, we have not been able to follow the government's own Restoring Balance fiscal policy. The Minister speak to this, spoke to the reasons for it. But the bottom line is we haven't done it. And I think that we are also not substantively actioning some of our priorities.

In a few cases, I do think that we are heading in the right direction and starting to get on the right track. I want to acknowledge good work where I see it. Over the past year, the government has established a health care sustainability unit, hired a public administrator, actions that tell us that they're taking the difficulties that we're having with the health care system keeping it sustainable, keeping it fiscally sustainable primarily also, and they're taking that seriously and actioning that. We are yet to see what that looks like. I've got a bit more to say about that later.

When I was listening to the Premier 's speech the other day, I noted that, you know, there's a fair bit in there about the safe communities priority. They have taken a fair bit of action, and I'm looking forward to seeing results from that. The one critique I might make is what I don't see attached to the actions is are we trying to measure anything, have we set targets, what is the target that we're trying to achieve, and what does success look like. I think in some cases that is our biggest struggle, is communicating what is success going to look like for this government.

Mr. Speaker, departments have made millions of dollars in operational cuts, significant cuts over the past year. They have been trying. I would note that this year it was largely offset by a new collective agreement that added $74 million per year that we have to find the money for. I believe the government speak for this is forced growth, as we like to call it. One Member did point out that some of the growth is forced. We also have a lot of excluded employees, and we make a choice to increase their salaries at the same level that we increase unionized staff; so it's not all forced, there are choices involved in some of the growth that we're seeing.

Mr. Speaker, I was reflecting last night -- we were looking at the supplementary estimates. And I was reflecting last night on, you know, my experience in the previous government that I sat in the leadership seat for at the City of Yellowknife and the fact that at the municipal level, the government really struggles to make ends meet. The government really pinches pennies and squeezes the most out of every possible dollar. And I spoke to, you know, sometimes I would walk the halls of city hall and honestly feel a bit guilty. These weren't fancy offices.

This wasn't a, you know, a government that was rife with cash. In some cases, I think -- you know, this is just a little shout out to our city, but, you know, city hall could really use some renovations. But this was a government that has to balance its budget every single year. This is a government that has to make tough decisions. You'd see city staff driving around in a pickup truck from 1995 because tough decisions have to be made, and we have to stretch every dollar.

I'm not sure I see the same level of penny pinching at the GNWT yet. The Member for Range Lake pointed out that there's been a spending freeze but over the years, you know, the government has very nice buildings, they have very nice offices, they have nice vehicles. There's many things that tell me that this is not a government that is trying to squeeze the most out of every possible dollar that we can. That's just what I've seen. It's just a comparison that I make between the way the municipality operates and the way our government operates.

Mr. Speaker, I want to talk to one of the issues that I think keeps coming up for me and continues to be a problem that vexes our ability to move forward.

Mr. Speaker, the government did articulate a mandate, and MLAs worked hard to set very focused priorities. I don't think that we did enough to establish specific targets or identify exactly what we meant and, as I mentioned earlier, define what success would like look for those priorities. What do we mean? What do we mean success is going to look like for our housing priority, for example.

And one of the frustrations that I find myself repeating and becoming a bit of a broken record on is priority implementation. We have to focus on the priorities we've set. This has got -- our mandate has got to be where we focus our energy. And, Mr. Speaker, I don't think priority implementation is as difficult as we're making it out to be.

I think of one of my constituents. Of course I'm going to change their name for their privacy. We're going to call her Emily today. Emily is seeking a unit in public housing. She has a disabled son, facing significant challenges. Emily really, really needs a home. I have been e-mailing back and forth with the housing Minister's staff and the housing Minister herself for a year now trying to get Emily off of the waiting list into a home, a home that's accessible, something that's appropriate for her and her son to live in, to hopefully thrive, to better the conditions that they're currently living in.

It's really easy for me to see that one of my priorities has to be getting Emily into a home. And so when I think about our priorities, when I think about actioning priorities, it's very easy for me to take Emily on one hand and say, yes, that I've absolutely no doubt that putting her in a public housing unit is something that needs to happen, an accessible public housing unit.

And I can take any number of activities that the government is doing -- I'm not going to name them, I'm not going to name a specific thing here -- but I'm going to say that I can say many of them and say is this as high a priority for me as putting Emily in a home. It is not. This is the priority. It is clear as day to me. And I think that we need to go through that kind of exercise. We have got to look within.

We've got to determine what is important, what is most important -- that's what priorities mean -- and we have to determine what can we let go of in order to make substantive and real change and real action toward the priorities that we've set. That's what priority setting looks like. And I think everybody in this room must have an Emily. It's really easy for me when that's the exercise that I go through.

And I can tell you, Mr. Speaker, that if we have to make difficult decisions, that is a very easy story for me to bring back to my constituents. It's very easy for me to say this is the reason a difficult decision had to be made because we're doing this, we are doing a good thing, we're doing a moral thing, we're doing what government should be doing. What's difficult is if we're just saying we're doing fiscal responsibility because we need to save money. That's not the most compelling story you can tell a constituent. We had to make this difficult decision you don't like.

Well, the government's running out of money. We're doing a lot of things with it, big mixture of things, but we can't put Emily in a home because we're out of money. And this leads me to a point that I've also been speaking to and I think also is one of the high level problems that is preventing us from moving forward in a positive way.

In a lot of cases, we are either struggling to or not measuring the results of what we're doing. So when I hear talk about new revenue sources, also known as taxes, things that residents don't want to be hearing about, can I reasonably say that we are getting good value for money out of all of the programs that the government offers and we absolutely need to put this revenue source in place in order to make it happen? It's a very difficult thing to say yes to. It's difficult because we're not measuring some of the things that we're doing. We don't have good measures to help us determine is this program working?

Is it achieving what we need it to achieve? You know, the finance Minister implemented -- started to implement GRI last term. I think it was a great initiative. It hasn't quite taken on the urgency that I think it needed to in order for it to help us with these kind of decisions. What is working, what isn't, how can we move resources in such a way to help us succeed.

I want to speak a bit to some of the priorities that are important to me in this budget. Housing is top of mind, again.

I want to recognize that political decision-making often gets ahead of a government's ability to implement. Where we're at right now is the Department of Housing NWT is currently doing a lot of work to implement the priorities that were set and the direction that was given in the previous Assembly. This is a problem that I encountered at the city also, that council's decision-making got way ahead of administration's ability to actually carry out the various plans and things that we're approving to the point where plans were getting left behind and forgotten and council was approving new plans.

It can happen here too. So I recognize that in a lot of ways, the decisions that we make here about housing and the path that we set forward is going to be something that is going to have to carry into the future of the next Assembly. But, Mr. Speaker, if we don't clearly lay that path out now, if we don't establish targets, if we don't tell residents what success is going to look like and what we're trying to achieve, we are failing to tell our story and we are failing to effectively action the priority that we set.

On housing, we just received a presentation from a researcher and the Standing Committee on Social Development has been working very hard on the housing as a human right. And something that the presenter highlighted to me is the idea of self-sufficiency. And this was a big theme in our priority setting session which I think has been lost along the way. But it's right there at the beginning of our priorities. The 20th Assembly wants a territory where people are supported, where they want to live, work, and grow.

What that meant to me, and for people who weren't in the room when we were having those conversations, MLAs were advocating for building up people's self-sufficiency, self-reliance, reducing the amount of dependence on government. So I do take a small pause when I talk about the housing priority that I don't think that the status quo, that the system, as it is, is going to be that success that I'm s