Recognizing the impact of inflation, the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) is introducing temporary relief to electricity rates. The relief will offset significant increases in the price and consumption of diesel over the past year and a half in the territory.

To keep consumer electricity bills at their current levels, the GNWT is making a one-time contribution of $15.2 million to the Northwest Territories Power Corporation (NTPC). 

Two significant uncontrollable events have occurred that have driven the cost to provide power much higher.

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Mr. Speaker, earlier this sitting I was very pleased to update this House on the establishment of the Northwest Territories Housing Forum. The NWT Housing Forum is just one of 42 program and policy changes that Housing NWT staff have been working tirelessly on in collaboration with partners from across the territory.

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Mr. Speaker, I rise today to inform this House and residents of the NWT about the upcoming changes to the Extended Health Benefits Policy. They will come into effect on April 1, 2024. The Government of the Northwest Territories is dedicated to ensuring fair access to extended health benefits for all NWT residents, with a focus on  people with low income who are not covered under the existing policy.

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Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the 4th anniversary of the release of the Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. The Final Report describes the dire situation faced by Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people as genocide.  It also delivers 231 Calls for Justice directed at governments, institutions, social service providers, industries, and all Canadians to affect change.

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Mr. Speaker, today I rise to share very good news out of Ottawa.

On behalf of the Government of Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced they will be matching contributions made to United Way NWT. This generosity will have a direct impact on people affected by wildfires in Northwest Territories, and I am deeply grateful for Canada’s support.

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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*: