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Mr. Speaker, the 2025 emergency season once again tested the strength and resilience of our territory. It showed the courage and dedication of those who step forward in times of crisis to protect residents and communities. It also reinforced that the changes and improvements we have made since 2023 are making a real difference in how we respond and recover.
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Mr. Speaker, the Territory’s 2025 wildfire season was a challenging one. With 201 wildfires and nearly 1.4 million hectares burned, this was one of the most-active wildfire seasons in Northwest Territories’ history.
I want to acknowledge the tireless dedication, personal sacrifice, and incredible teamwork of our staff. Wildfire crews showed up day after day to protect our territory. These efforts deserve the recognition and appreciation of this House.
Premier R.J. Simpson issued the following statement today in response to recent discussion about the state of the Northwest Territories’ mining industry:
“Mining has been central to the Northwest Territories’ economy for generations, and our government shares the concern about the challenges the industry is facing.
Jay Macdonald, Minister of Justice, issued the following statement in response to Prime Minister Mark Carney’s recent announcement on building safer communities.
“The Government of the Northwest Territories welcomes Prime Minister Mark Carney’s announcement that the federal government will table amendments to the Criminal Code next week to strengthen bail and sentencing provisions for violent and repeat offenders. These proposed reforms respond to concerns that Northerners have been voicing for some time about the impact of crime and safety in communities.
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Mr. Speaker, I am committed to building more homes for Northerners.
We are turning this commitment into action through a multi-year plan with funding from the GNWT, the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation, and Housing NWT. Each year for the rest of this Legislative Assembly, Housing NWT will invest $50 million annually, including $41.6 million per year from the GNWT, to build new homes and repair existing ones.
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Mr. Speaker, thank you for this opportunity to provide the Legislative Assembly with the fall economic and fiscal update. This statement will describe the changes that have happened since Budget 2025 was released, review the supplementary appropriations to date for 2025-2026, and outline how we are revising our fiscal strategy goals to better match the uncertain economic times we find ourselves in.
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Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise Members that the Honourable Member for Kam Lake, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, will be absent from the House today as she is travelling back from the Forum of Ministers Responsible for Immigration in Toronto, Ontario.
The Honourable Member for Thebacha, Minister of Justice, will be absent for today and tomorrow to virtually attend the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Ministers Responsible for Justice and Public Safety meeting.
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Mr. Speaker, as we come together for this fall sitting of the 20th Legislative Assembly, I want to begin by welcoming all Members back to the House and by thanking the people of the Northwest Territories for their strength, generosity, and optimism about the future of our territory, even in the face of challenges.
Construction on the site of Housing NWT’s new 50-Unit mixed-use building in Yellowknife will pause over the winter season. Materials will be manufactured off-site during this time. Work will start again on site by Spring 2026.
To date, the following work has been completed:
A contract for 84 new housing units has been awarded to Arcan Construction Ltd., working with METCAN Building Solutions, an NWT manufacturer that builds homes in Hay River, Northwest Territories.
This milestone reflects Housing NWT’s commitment to address urgent housing needs across the territory, while also supporting the NWT economy. This contract represents a portion of the 98 planned units across nine communities.
