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Mr. Speaker, I am excited to announce that today, the Government of the Northwest Territories is releasing the Aurora College Transformation Implementation Plan and the Initial Areas of Teaching and Research Specialization for the polytechnic university. These foundational documents, along with input from our residents and partners, will help guide the transformation of Aurora College into a polytechnic university and beyond over the next six years.

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Mr. Speaker, poverty reduction is an urgent challenge that everyone needs to be aware of. Poverty levels have further increased with COVID-19, which could push more residents into poverty due to an uncertain economy, food insecurity, and high cost of living.

To support residents during the pandemic, the Government of Northwest Territories took action on several fronts. During the month of March, income assistance recipients received a one-time emergency allowance.

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Mr. Speaker, four years after the Government of the Northwest Territories launched its Marine Transportation Services, or MTS, we continue to improve our capacity to operate a reliable and professional marine shipping service in the North.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (ENR) has released two new videos promoting the NWT-wide Community-based Water Quality Monitoring Program.

The videos provide an overview of the program and step-by-step instructions on how to take a water sample. The two videos are intended to be valuable resources for NWT communities looking to get more involved in research and monitoring.

The Government of the Northwest Territories advises that Highway 8 (The Dempster Highway) will temporarily close to all traffic between kilometre 1 and 14.2 once ferries stop operating for the season.  Both ferries are currently on notice and could close within days, depending upon conditions.

Travellers are advised to complete the movement of essential goods and services prior to the closure.

The intent is to re-open the highway once ice crossings open for the season. Until that time, drivers are advised to use Highway 1 to enter or leave the territory.

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Good evening and thank you for the invitation to speak to you tonight.

I first want to say that I appreciate it has been a particularly difficult time for seniors here in Yellowknife and across the Northwest Territories.

Being apart from your circle of family and friends can take its toll on the health of seniors.

Premier Cochrane's Itinerary for October 29, 2020

Issued October 28, 2020.

Public Events and Meetings

The Premier will be participating in a sitting of the Legislative Assembly.

Closed Events and Meetings

The following events are closed to the media

The Premier will be chairing a Cabinet House Strategy meeting. 

The Premier will be chairing a Cabinet meeting. 

The Premier will be participating in a meeting of Canada's Premiers.

Internal Meetings

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Mr. Speaker, increasing the number and variety of culturally respectful,
community-based mental health and addictions programs, including aftercare is a mandate commitment for the Government of the Northwest Territories.

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Mr. Speaker, appropriate community engagement is vitally important to all Government of the Northwest Territories departments and agencies, including the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation.

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Mr. Speaker, it has always been my belief that partnership between our communities, the Government of the Northwest Territories and other levels of government are the key to increasing affordable housing in the Northwest Territories.  Through the National Housing Co-investment Fund, we have an opportunity to make this a reality.