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Mr. Speaker, today, I want to talk about opportunity; opportunity that strengthens communities, creates pathways to employment and entrepreneurship, and positions Northerners to capitalize on the heightened national and international interest in the North. As the Minister of Finance said in yesterday’s Budget Address, a strong Northwest Territories builds a stronger Canada, and that strength begins with our people and the opportunities before them.

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Mr. Speaker, across the Northwest Territories, residents want better access to primary and community care that feels safe, respectful, and connected to culture and community. Indigenous residents have been clear about the harm, discrimination, and inequities they continue to experience in the health and social services system. These experiences affect trust, access, and health outcomes in ways that cannot be ignored.

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Mr. Speaker, Housing NWT continues to repair, retrofit, and construct housing across the NWT at a rapid pace, establishing a strong economic foundation in the NWT and more homes for Northerners, two of this government’s top priorities.

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Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise the House that I will deliver the Budget Address on Thursday February 5, 2026.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Mr. Speaker, we gather today at a significant moment for our territory and for our country. It is a moment of change and uncertainty, but for the Northwest Territories, it is also a moment of opportunity.

Watch the full video of the Territorial Address on YouTube. 

When Canada looks to its future, the North is a guiding light — and the Northwest Territories is at its heart. Progress is coming into view as we turn shared priorities into action.

Speech delivered by Premier R.J. Simpson for the Geoscience Forum on November 25, 2025.
 

Good morning. Mahsi cho for being here today.

The NWT is at the heart of Canada’s resource future. From critical minerals to world-class geology, this territory holds the materials, and the expertise that Canada needs to stay competitive in a rapidly changing global economy.

Keynote speech delivered by Premier R.J. Simpson for “Canada’s Next Economic Transformation: Industrial Policy in Tumultuous Times,” a daylong conference held in Ottawa on September 16, 2025, by the Institute for Research on Public Policy. A video version of the speech is available here.

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Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to update you on progress made by the Government of the Northwest Territories' Sector Support Initiative for Non-Governmental Organizations.

In response to the 2023 External Advisory Committee report on Strengthening the Non-Profit and Charitable Sector, the GNWT has committed to building stronger relationships, cutting red tape, and making funding more reliable for NGOs.

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Mr. Speaker, during the last sitting, I committed to keeping this Legislative Assembly informed about the steps our government is taking to support adult learning and community-based education in the wake of Aurora College’s decision to close Community Learning Centres earlier this year.

Today, I rise to share an important milestone in that work. Mr. Speaker, I am going to begin my update in Dene Zhatıé

[The following portion  will be spoken in Dene Zhatıé]