Members of Cabinet met yesterday with federal Ministers to discuss increases to federal health care funding.

Premier Caroline Cochrane was joined by Minister of Health and Social Services Julie Green and Minister of Finance Caroline Wawzonek in a meeting with federal Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities Dominic LeBlanc and federal Minister of Health Jean-Yves Duclos.

Premier Caroline Cochrane has made the following change to senior management in the Northwest Territories public service.

Dr. Erin Kelly is appointed as Deputy Minister of the new Department of Environment and Climate Change, effective April 1, 2023. The Deputy Minister of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (ENR) since February 2020, Dr. Kelly played a key leadership role for the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) in bringing to successful conclusion negotiations to establish Thaidene Nëné and Ts’udé Nilįné Tuyeta.

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Mr. Speaker, I welcome my colleagues back for the February – March 2023 sitting of the 19th Legislative Assembly. I hope you all had an opportunity over the last few months to spend time in your constituencies hearing from residents and stakeholders so that we can collectively and collaboratively work together to advance the priorities of the people who elected us to represent them.

Last week Cabinet members and officials from the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) attended the Association for Mineral Exploration (AME) Roundup conference in Vancouver to promote the territory’s mineral resource, exploration, and development sector.

Premier Caroline Cochrane and members of Cabinet will be in Ottawa this week to meet with federal ministers to discuss Northwest Territories (NWT) priorities ahead of next year’s Federal budget.

The goal of the meetings is to raise awareness and build a better understanding of key NWT priorities and the benefits investment in the North will have on Canada. These priorities include the Taltson Hydro Expansion Project, Mackenzie Valley Highway, and the Aurora College transformation to a Polytechnic University.

The attached is being distributed on behalf of the Embassy of Iceland in Ottawa, the City of Yellowknife, and the Government of the Northwest Territories.

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Madam Speaker, settling and implementing treaty, land, resources, and self-government agreements is a priority for the Government of the Northwest Territories and a key part of the Mandate of the Government of the Northwest Territories.

Concluding agreements with our Indigenous government partners will advance reconciliation, recognize, and affirm Indigenous and treaty rights, support program and service delivery by Indigenous governments, and set the stage for economic self-determination.

Caroline Cochrane, Premier of the Northwest Territories, and Julie Green, Minister of Health and Social Services, met with the team from Supporting Wellbeing to congratulate them on receiving the Council of the Federation (COF) Award for Innovation in Mental Health and Addictions Care.

The award is presented by Premiers in each province and territory for innovative initiatives that positively impact mental health and addictions care in their respective jurisdictions. Each award winner also receives a $5,000 prize to advance their initiative.

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Mr. Speaker, good afternoon. It is a pleasure to be back in the House for the Fall sitting of the 19th Legislative Assembly.

Mr. Speaker, just over three years ago many of us were elected to this House to represent residents in constituencies across the territory. With just under one year remaining in the life of this government, we have much to accomplish.

Premier Caroline Cochrane issued the following statement on the second observance of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation:

“Today, we honour those who have experienced the pain caused by the residential school system that stole language, culture, and tradition from Indigenous people for decades. We honour those who survived, their families who have faced the generational impacts of the trauma and abuse thousands experienced, and the communities that continue to pick up the pieces from the lasting impacts of residential schools.