Today, the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment announces that the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) and the Government of Canada have finalized a funding agreement to support French language services and communications in the Northwest Territories (NWT) until 2023.

This agreement provides a multi-year collaborative framework to support the planning and delivery of quality French language communication and service, ensuring stability and continuity in the delivery of GNWT services in French to residents of the Northwest Territories.

Check against delivery

Today, I would like to update the Members on the progress we have made with our commitment to reduce the municipal funding gap and the additional funding support that has been provided for community governments.

This government committed to reducing the funding gap by $5 million, and we have made significant progress on this goal.  This past fiscal year we added $2.594 million of ongoing funding for community governments.   

Check against delivery

Monsieur le President, I am proud to celebrate the Francophone community of the Northwest Territories during the 23rd Annual Rendez-vous de la Francophonie. This nation-wide initiative, held every March, is an opportunity for Canada’s 10 million French-speakers and all Canadians to celebrate and promote French language and culture.

Check against delivery

Mr. Speaker, one of the priorities of our government is to make strategic infrastructure investments that connect communities, expand the economy, and reduce the cost of living.  There are a number of initiatives being undertaken to support this priority, and one of those is to continue to seek ways to advance the construction of all-season roads such as the Mackenzie Valley Highway and the Tłı̨chǫ Highway.

The attached is being distributed on behalf of the Legislative Assembly and the Government of the Northwest Territories.

The Department of Education, Culture and Employment (ECE) has developed a new online tracker to share progress on actions underway to improve Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12 (JK-12) student outcomes in the Northwest Territories (NWT).

The Mandate of the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) includes the commitment to increase JK-12 student educational outcomes to the same level as the rest of Canada.

Check against delivery

Check against delivery

Mr. Speaker, today I am pleased to provide an update to Members on additional sport funding, provided to community governments and sport organizations, through a partnership between the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs and Sport Canada.

To date, the COVID-19 emergency support funding for sport organizations has provided a total of $1.846 million for communities and sport organizations in order to:

Check against delivery

Mr. Speaker, as we approach the end of this sitting, I know Members of this House and residents of the Northwest Territories are looking forward to spring and summer in the North and all that it offers. This is a good time for us to reflect on the past year to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. It has been a long haul for all of us.

Check against delivery

Mr. Speaker, with the recent announcement of the delay of the 2022 Arctic Winter Games,
I wanted to reach out to Northwest Territories, or NWT, youth and offer some words of encouragement to anyone who is feeling overwhelmed or disappointed by this news.