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Mr. Speaker, picture this: standing beneath the dancing aurora as the night sky comes alive; gliding across a pristine lake so still it mirrors the world above; or tracking the footsteps of generations before us along an ancient northern trail. This is the magic of the Northwest Territories; a land that captivates the soul and invites adventure-seekers from around the world. Tourism is not just an industry here; it is a gateway to our land, to our cultures, and to the people who call this place home.

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Mr. Speaker, I recently had the privilege of travelling to Washington, D.C., with all of Canada’s Premiers, an historic first that underscored our united Team Canada approach to strengthening relations with the United States.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to acknowledge the work being done by our regional and divisional staff when it comes to supporting supply chain success in the territory.

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Following portion will be spoken in Inuvialuktun

[Mr. Speaker, “let us speak together.”

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Mr. Speaker, I stand today to highlight one of the most significant achievements of 2024: the finalization of the Our Land for the Future Agreement, formerly called the NWT Project Finance for Permanence Agreement.

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Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise the House that the Honourable Member for Hay River North, Premier, will be absent from the House for the remainder of this week to attend the Council of the Federation in Washington DC.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about the recent Housing Symposium that was hosted by the NWT Housing Forum on January 22nd and 23rd in Yellowknife. This year’s symposium marked the first in-person gathering since the Forum began in 2023.  Over the course of two days, we engaged in important discussions, shared innovative ideas, and strengthened our partnerships.

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Drin Gwiinzii, Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the establishment of the Hamlet of Tsiigehtchic.

 The new Hamlet’s first Mayor and Council were sworn in on January 15, 2025, marking a significant milestone for the community of Tsiigehtchic and for the Northwest Territories.

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Mr. Speaker, the Department of Health and Social Services is committed to enabling seniors to age in place with dignity as close to home as possible. With an aging population and an increase in the complexity of healthcare needs, the demand for Personal Support Workers is growing.

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Mr. Speaker, a year ago, I delivered the first Sessional Statement of the 20th Legislative Assembly. We had not yet established our collective priorities, or the government mandate that flows from them, but we had begun to establish the relationships essential to the work of consensus government, which continue to shape our efforts today.