Mr. Speaker, we are making significant progress in meeting this government’s mandate commitments to strengthen the Northwest Territories postsecondary education system.

I am pleased to advise that the drafting of legislation to govern postsecondary education in the NWT is nearing completion. The proposed legislation will create, for the first time, a process to ensure the effective governance and quality assurance of all postsecondary institutions operating in the territory.

Ministerial Travel

Please note that travel schedules may change with little or no notice. This schedule is accurate as of February 25, 2019.

The Minister of Health and Social Services has released the 2019 NWT Patient Experience Questionnaire. The Questionnaire is available in both print and online formats.

The Questionnaire is designed to assist the Department of Health and Social Services to understand the quality of care we are providing. Responses help the Department improve services and monitor progress over time.

Across Canada, March is Nutrition Month, and this year, dietitians are helping Canadians realize the potential for food to improve health, fuel activities, and bring people together.

Premier Bob McLeod and Caroline Cochrane, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment today announced the appointment of Dr. Thomas Weegar as the Associate Deputy Minister of Postsecondary Education for the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT).

Mr. Speaker, over the past 15 years, the Government of the Northwest Territories has worked in partnership with the federal government to help meet the infrastructure needs of community governments.  These efforts have helped community governments access federal funding, in accordance with our current mandate commitment in this area.

Mr. Speaker, securing funding to advance planning and construction of new transportation corridors is a key commitment in this government’s mandate. These transformative projects help to connect communities, support employment and training opportunities, increase our resiliency to climate change, and create new social and economic opportunities.

Today, I am pleased to provide an update on the Tłı̨chǫ All-Season Road project, an exciting new 97-kilometre highway that will provide year-round access to Whatı̀ from Highway No. 3.

Mr. Speaker, a few months ago I had the pleasure of signing the Bilateral Agreement between the Northwest Territories and Canada on the National Housing Strategy.  One of the first funding allocations Canada proposed under the Strategy was the Northern Housing Fund, which brought $36 million in funding to the Northwest Territories.  However, this is just a starting point.

Mr. Speaker, Regional Wellness Council members are a critical part of our health and social services system.  They are change leaders in their communities and a voice for residents in their regions.  They champion the ideas and concerns of residents and are passionate about using that information to shape and improve our health and social services. 

Mr. Speaker, I know you and all the other Members here understand the importance of barren-ground caribou to our communities. Caribou are central to the way of life in the North, and have sustained people here for many generations. This is why together, this Legislative Assembly made a mandate commitment to improve food security in the Northwest Territories through the effective co-management of wildlife, including caribou.