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Mr. Speaker, as COVID-19 approached at the beginning of this year, our government was preparing our institutions to respond to the threat of a generation.
Before a case ever reached our borders, we pulled together a team from across our public service to stand up our emergency response. As the threat grew, so too did our response.
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Mr. Speaker, in February during the delivery of the Budget Speech I said it was time to use creativity and innovation to find internal efficiencies. Since then, our government has had to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and in my last two fiscal updates since the onset of COVID-19, I have again said that now is the time to use creativity and use this moment of heightened awareness around our fiscal situation to consider how we want to emerge from the pandemic as a government and as a Territory.
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Mr. Speaker, we have a strong and effective regulatory system in the Northwest Territories that relies on Indigenous, territorial and federal governments working together to make wise decisions about the use of our land and water. This system is always evolving to serve the people of this territory better.
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Mr. Speaker, today the Department of Education, Culture and Employment is celebrating the official launch of the Our Languages curriculum. This launch marks an important milestone for Indigenous languages in the Northwest Territories.
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Mr. Speaker, I am excited to announce that today, the Government of the Northwest Territories is releasing the Aurora College Transformation Implementation Plan and the Initial Areas of Teaching and Research Specialization for the polytechnic university. These foundational documents, along with input from our residents and partners, will help guide the transformation of Aurora College into a polytechnic university and beyond over the next six years.
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Mr. Speaker, poverty reduction is an urgent challenge that everyone needs to be aware of. Poverty levels have further increased with COVID-19, which could push more residents into poverty due to an uncertain economy, food insecurity, and high cost of living.
To support residents during the pandemic, the Government of Northwest Territories took action on several fronts. During the month of March, income assistance recipients received a one-time emergency allowance.
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Mr. Speaker, four years after the Government of the Northwest Territories launched its Marine Transportation Services, or MTS, we continue to improve our capacity to operate a reliable and professional marine shipping service in the North.
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Good evening and thank you for the invitation to speak to you tonight.
I first want to say that I appreciate it has been a particularly difficult time for seniors here in Yellowknife and across the Northwest Territories.
Being apart from your circle of family and friends can take its toll on the health of seniors.
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Mr. Speaker, increasing the number and variety of culturally respectful,
community-based mental health and addictions programs, including aftercare is a mandate commitment for the Government of the Northwest Territories.
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Mr. Speaker, appropriate community engagement is vitally important to all Government of the Northwest Territories departments and agencies, including the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation.
