Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories has been working hard to fulfill its mandate commitment to secure funding to advance planning and construction of priority transportation corridors in the Northwest Territories. This includes upgrading the winter road portions of the Mackenzie Valley Winter Road to an all-weather highway, and planning for the Slave Geological Province Corridor. Today, I am pleased to provide an update on the status of these strategic infrastructure projects.

Mr. Speaker, there have been many positive initiatives developed as we have worked to fulfill mandate commitments related to housing.  Good quality and affordable housing in our communities cannot be brought about just from the efforts of government.  We need to engage all parties that have the capability and the willingness to improve housing conditions for our residents. 

Mr. Speaker, Income Security programs are a vital piece of the societal safety network that together help address the needs of NWT residents.    

Those who access programs within this complex network are often at a point of vulnerability in their lives. It is good government practice to continually review and evaluate programs, especially social ones, to ensure that those in need are being provided appropriate supports and services.

Mr. Speaker, in recognition of global Open Government Week, I would like to take this opportunity to update this House on our Government’s progress in advancing our mandate commitments for increasing government transparency and accountability.

One year ago, Mr. Speaker, I stood on this floor and announced the release of our government’s Open Government Policy.  The Policy represented an important step toward fulfilling our government’s pledge to greater openness and transparency.

Mr. Speaker, today I would like to provide Members with an update on the draft Child and Family Services Quality Improvement Plan. The Quality Improvement Plan sets out actions that we are taking right now to address issues identified as part of internal reviews, the 2018 Auditor General’s Report, and from staff feedback.

Ministerial Travel

Please note that travel schedules may change with little or no notice. This schedule is accurate as of March 11, 2019.

• Bob McLeod will be delivering a keynote address at the Arctic Oil and Gas Symposium on March 13 in Calgary.
• Wally Schumann is participating in industry meetings on March 15 in Calgary.

Meetings and Appearances

Please note that event organizers may have attendance restrictions­­_­ for their event. Contact organizers for more information.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge International Women’s Day.  International Women’s Day is held annually on March 8^th to celebrate women’s social, cultural and political achievements throughout history and across nations.  International Women’s Day also provides an important opportunity to showcase commitments towards women’s equality, to raise awareness and to highlight initiatives towards gender parity.

Mr. Speaker, the land, water, air, wildlife and plants of the Northwest Territories play a critical role in the lives of Northerners.  They are part of our heritage, identity and way of life. They provide for us in many ways as food for our families, traditional clothing, and transportation routes. The land sustains our livelihoods through hunting, trapping and gathering. It is the basis for our arts and culture.

Caroline Cochrane, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment (ECE), today launched the Postsecondary Education Visioning Survey and invites all residents of the NWT to participate in this important process.

The Government Response to the Aurora College Foundational Review committed to establishing a vision for postsecondary education in the NWT -- a common vision to guide future decision-making around education after high school.

Ministerial Travel

Please note that travel schedules may change with little or no notice. This schedule is accurate as of March 4, 2019.

There is no travel scheduled for this time period. 

Meetings and Appearances

Please note that event organizers may have attendance restrictions­­_­ for their event. Contact organizers for more information.