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Mr. Speaker, art is powerful and art is beautiful, but it is far more than a thing of beauty. Art is a personal, local, and global connector. It connects people to themselves, to one another, and to people living across the world. Further, it connects us to culture, land, and Elders and is critical to our well-being and to our shared and individual histories. Art is a conduit of healing. Art is foundational to how we educate our children, preserve traditions, feed community wellness, and build a strong and independent territory.

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Mr. Speaker, today marks the 80th anniversary of D-Day.

The landing at Normandy was a turning point of the second world war. As Premier, and as a Canadian, I honour the sacrifice of all those who served in this war, the ultimate sacrifice of all those who lost their lives in the conflict, and the memory of the veterans who have passed on in the years since.

Minister of Health and Social Services, Lesa Semmler, has announced this year’s recipients of the Healthy Choices Fund. Fifteen organizations will receive funding to help them carry out projects and activities that support individuals, families, and communities in making positive lifestyle choices.

Some of this year’s successful proposals include:

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Mr. Speaker, it is my honour to stand before you to commemorate a significant milestone for Inuvialuit and all residents of the Northwest Territories. This year marks the 40th Anniversary of the Inuvialuit Final Agreement, a landmark event that we celebrate each year on June 5th as Inuvialuit Day.

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Mr. Speaker, today I would like to highlight a successful initiative that the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs is supporting to remove hazardous waste from solid waste sites in communities across the Northwest Territories.

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Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to update you on crucial improvements to the Northwest Territories Income Assistance program.

In July, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment will introduce a new, targeted Income Assistance program for seniors and persons with disabilities. These anticipated changes, first announced last year, are ready to roll out across the territory next month.

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Mr. Speaker, today I rise to acknowledge the 5th anniversary of the release of the Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. The Final Report describes the dire situation faced by Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people as genocide, and delivers 231 Calls for Justice directed at governments, institutions, social service providers, industries, and all Canadians.

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) is pleased to announce that improvements to the Income Assistance program and the new Income Assistance for Seniors and Persons with Disabilities program will come into effect July 1, 2024.

Ministerial Activities Advisory for the week of June 4-10

Ministerial Travel 

Please note that travel schedules may change with little or no notice. This schedule is accurate as of June 3. 

The Government of the Northwest Territories is seeking individuals from the South Slave, Dehcho, North Slave, and Tłı̨chǫ regions with a passion for the arts, culture, and heritage to join the NWT Arts Council for a two-year term starting December 1, 2024.

Council members provide recommendations to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment on financial awards for arts projects in the visual, literary, media and performing arts, and on issues and policies associated with the arts and artists.

To be eligible: