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Mr. Speaker, the COVID-19 pandemic has been a challenging time for all of us. Like all jurisdictions, our initial response was focused on public health measures.

To date, we have been successful in protecting the health and safety of our residents thanks to the actions we took early, and the commitment from residents to follow the public health orders and recommendations in order to limit the spread of COVID-19.

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Mr. Speaker, before I begin my statement today I want to acknowledge that many people, including those that work in and around this Legislative Assembly and government, are being retraumatized by the confirmation of the mass grave of Indigenous children at the Kamloops Indian Residential School.  I am providing this notice so that those who are hurting may choose not to listen if they will be triggered by what I say.

R.J. Simpson, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment (ECE), met with education leaders on Tuesday, May 25, 2021 to discuss several priority initiatives.

Premier Caroline Cochrane and Municipal and Community Affairs Minister, Paulie Chinna issued the below statement on the flooding situation in Aklavik and the Government of the Northwest Territories response:

“The community of Aklavik declared a State of Local Emergency in the early hours of May 30^th and began an official evacuation of 141 residents earlier this morning in addition to 25 residents evacuated earlier as a result of flood waters breaching the banks of the Mackenzie River.

Premier Cochrane's Itinerary for the week of May 30, 2021

Issued May 28, 2021. If there are any changes, an updated version of the itinerary will be provided on June 2, 2021.

Public Events and Meetings

No public events or meetings are scheduled.

Closed Events and Meetings

The following events are closed to the media

May 31

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Mr. Speaker, the health and prosperity of our territory begins with how well we prepare our children and youth to succeed in life. Making sure that every student from every background and region in the Northwest Territories, or NWT, has equitable access to relevant, culturally appropriate and quality education will ultimately lead to improved well-being across the North and within all our communities.

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Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to speak today about the collaborative work of the GNWT’s Emergency Management Organization, or EMO, and community governments to help ensure the safety and security of residents in the emergency response to the recent flood situations experienced by several of our communities.

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Mr. Speaker, the recent floods have been devastating for many Northerners who have experienced damage to their community, property and to their livelihoods. 

I witnessed the anxiety and stress in the voices and faces of people in my own community as water levels rose and homes and businesses were threatened and many were affected.

In the face of this adversity, I also saw firsthand how communities, leaders and Northerners can rise to meet challenges they must overcome.

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Mr. Speaker, the COVID-19 pandemic has presented the Northwest Territories and its residents, communities and businesses with many challenges.

I know all residents are now well into the ‘COVID-19 fatigue’ stage. We all want to see things back to normal and public health measures lifted.

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Mr. Speaker, I want to begin by welcoming all my colleagues back to the Chamber for this sitting of the 19^th Legislative Assembly. I look forward to providing updates on key issues, and mandate priorities, as well as hearing from Regular Members on issues important to residents over the course of the next seven sitting days.