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Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories is committed to creating a public service that ensures underrepresented groups are genuinely included, celebrated and supported to meet their full potential. It is a public service that strives to be welcoming, culturally competent, and free of discrimination; one that serves in a way that respects and includes the diverse population of this territory.
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Mr. Speaker, the COVID-19 pandemic challenged our entire society on a fundamental level, forcing us to grow and adapt in the face of unprecedented threats to the health and wellbeing of our loved ones and our communities. Three years since the outbreak of the pandemic, it is still easy for many of us to recall the fear and uncertainty of those early days, as the world searched for answers amid reports of rapidly rising death tolls.
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Mr. Speaker, as the Minister of Health and Social Service, I am deeply concerned about the harm alcohol does in our territory. Alcohol misuse continues to have significant, even devastating effects on individuals, families, and communities, resulting in poor health, social problems, and economic costs. We know that alcohol impacts NWT residents disproportionately compared to other regions in Canada, and alcohol-related hospitalizations and deaths remain several times higher.
The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) is seeking input on the first phase of proposed amendments to the Child Day Care Standards Regulations.
The first phase includes:
The Government of the Northwest Territories would like to advise residents that the winter road season is coming to an end. Drivers should check the highway conditions map before embarking on their journey.
As temperatures increase and ice begins to melt, road conditions can quickly become unsafe for travel. While every effort will be made to provide advance notice, roads may need to close quickly.
Premier Caroline Cochrane today issued the following statement:
“This afternoon, federal Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland unveiled the 2023 Federal Budget. I, like many Northerners, have been eagerly awaiting its release to learn how it will support residents of the Northwest Territories (NWT).
On March 28-30, northern harvesters are invited to the Genuine Mackenzie Valley Fur forum (GMVF) at the Chief Drygeese Centre in Dettah.
This gathering brings together people involved in the NWT fur industry to exchange knowledge, discuss ways to support and enhance the GMVF program, and contribute to the growth and resilience of the northern traditional economy. Each day of the forum features a different theme: where we are now, where we are going, and how we get there.
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Mr. Speaker, I want to share with you some of the exciting things happening at Housing Northwest Territories that are a direct result of our renewal strategy.
Since the initiation of the strategy, Housing NWT has worked with the Council of Leaders to revise and modernize its mandate and use that mandate to guide the review of our policies and programs. We are now in the process of implementing the changes coming from that review.
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Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories, like many other public and private sector employers in Canada, wants to ensure that its employees enjoy a high level of engagement and satisfaction in their work. However, decreases in employee morale are being experienced across Canada in the public sector, and the Northwest Territories is no exception.
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Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories is committed to strengthening connections with air transportation businesses and industries. Collaboration with world- wide aviation leaders is vital to the Yellowknife Airport’s success, and to the growth of our territory through its tourism and employment sectors.
