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Mr. Speaker, in 2021 the Government of the Northwest Territories released the Northwest Territories Arts Strategy, a 10-year plan to improve NWT’s arts programs and services, and strengthen the territory’s arts sector. The first key action identified in the strategy was to complete a review of the GNWT’s arts programs so that we could have a better understanding of the changes required to help us achieve our goals for the sector.

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Mr. Speaker, the Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission is always looking for new ways to support employers and create safer workplaces in the Northwest Territories.

Through ongoing communication and engagement with employers, the WSCC identified an opportunity to improve their services and provide additional supports for employers facing occupational health and safety challenges that is separate from their role as enforcer of the Safety Act through penalties and fines.

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Mr. Speaker, June is Seniors Month, a time for us to recognize the important role of Seniors in our families, communities, and the territory. They connect us with language, land and culture, and bridge the past and the future.

Under the Mandate of the Government of the Northwest Territories, 2019-2023, we are supporting this role by enabling Seniors to age in place with dignity. We want to help Seniors remain in their homes and communities for as long as they are able.

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Mr. Speaker, as we prepare to wrap up another school year, I would like to highlight a number of exciting initiatives that reflect our government’s commitment to improve student outcomes in the Northwest Territories.

This semester, three high schools in the territory piloted the new Northern Studies 30 course. This made-in-the-NWT high school course is the first in the territory to follow British Columbia’s curricular framework.

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) is pleased to announce the inductees of the 2023 Northwest Territories (NWT) Education Hall of Fame.

Each of the inductees have made a strong and lasting impression on their colleagues, students and communities. These four deserving individuals and one organization/team have provided exemplary service to education in the NWT.

The 2023 inductees and their categories are*:

In an effort to enhance road safety, the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has introduced amendments to the Hours of Service Regulations under the Motor Vehicles Act to require the use of Electronic Logging Devices (ELD) for commercial vehicles weighing at or above 4,500 kilograms operating in the Northwest Territories (NWT).

Today in the Legislative Assembly, Premier Caroline Cochrane tabled A Way Home: A Comprehensive Strategy to Address Homelessness in the Northwest Territories.

The strategy builds on existing Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) efforts to address homelessness and identifies actions that the GNWT can take to address homelessness in all its forms. This included enhancing supports for those at risk of becoming homeless, and improved, person-centred services for those experiencing chronic homelessness.

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Mr. Speaker, today I would like to recognize the athletes, coaches, managers, and mission staff who will represent Team NT at the 2023 North American Indigenous Games that will be held in Halifax, Nova Scotia from July 15 to 23.

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Mr. Speaker, we know that no single government can effectively address housing issues in the Northwest Territories on their own, therefore in order to be successful, our government continues to build partnerships with Indigenous governments, community governments, private companies, the Government of Canada, and non-governmental organizations, or NGOs.

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Mr. Speaker, homelessness is a complex, multifaceted tragedy experienced by many individuals and families in the Northwest Territories, and is an epidemic across Canada. It was my desire to see our government do more for our most vulnerable residents, including those who experience homelessness, that led me into politics. I am very proud to say that later today I will table A Way Home: A Comprehensive Strategy to Address Homelessness in the Northwest Territories.