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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.

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) advises travellers that the Dempster Highway (Highway 8) border checkpoint will soon be adjusting hours of operation to correspond with the operating hours of Abraham Francis Ferry.

The Northwest Territories (NWT) Arts Council is looking for three individuals with a passion for the arts, culture and heritage of the NWT to join its board for a two-year term starting September 1, 2021.

The deadline to apply is June 30, 2021.

The council promotes the arts in the NWT and provides recommendations to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment (ECE) on financial awards for creative artistic projects in the visual, literary, media and performing arts, and on issues and policies associated with the arts and artists.

The Department of Health and Social Services (HSS) is asking individuals who have accessed the Community Counselling Program and Child and/or the Youth Care Counselling (CYCC) Program in the last six months for their views by completing the Northwest Territories (NWT) Community Counselling Program Questionnaire.

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) announced today that it has made changes to  the eligibility criteria for Métis Health Benefits  to reduce barriers to access supplementary health insurance.

The Métis Health Benefits Policy first came into effect in 1995 and had not seen any substantial changes since then. The GNWT had heard concerns about the administrative practice for determining the ‘payor of last resort’ eligibility criteria.. 

Minister of Health and Social Services, Julie Green has extended the territory-wide Public Health Emergency under the Northwest Territories’ Public Health Act on the advice of Chief Public Health Officer (CPHO) Dr. Kami Kandola.

The latest extension continues through June 8, 2021. 

The Public Health Emergency is required to continue to decisively respond to shifts in the NWT’s own public health situation, and maintain preventative measures.

After a successful roll-out of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to residents aged 12-17 in Yellowknife, Ndılǫ, Dettah, and Behchokǫ̀,  the Government of the Northwest Territories is announcing the next round of school-based vaccine clinics, which will be led by the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authorities (NTHSSA).  

Premier Cochrane's Itinerary for the week of May 23, 2021

Issued May 21, 2021. If there are any changes, an updated version of the itinerary will be provided on May 26, 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 24

• Regular Business

May 25