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Mr. Speaker, I recently represented the Northwest Territories in Toronto at the Federal-Provincial-Territorial meeting of Ministers Responsible for addressing Red Tape and improving government efficiencies.
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Mr. Speaker, access to primary and community health care matters to people across the Northwest Territories. It affects whether someone can get help when they need it, how supported they feel when managing ongoing health needs, and whether care reflects who they are, where they live, and what matters to them. Most importantly, it can support residents on their health and wellness journey.
Residents have told us they want health care that is easier to access, more connected, and culturally safe.
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Mr. Speaker, the Northwest Territories is at a pivotal moment. Significant investments are being made across our territory in critical minerals, infrastructure, and economic development and we stand to see immense benefits over the coming years. Meeting this moment is about workforce readiness, where each Northerner can participate fully in the economy, using our skills, abilities and resources to maximize what is possible.
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Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about the responsibility all of us carry as Members of this Legislative Assembly.
In our system of consensus government, every Member has an important role to play. Regular Members have a responsibility to scrutinize government decisions, hold Ministers accountable, propose alternatives, and speak on behalf of their constituents. Cabinet has a responsibility to listen, to respond, to be accountable for the decisions we make, and to do the work residents expect of us.
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Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise the House that the Honourable Member for Thebacha, Minister of Environment and Climate Change will be absent from the House today and tomorrow to attend the Canadian Council of Ministers of Forestry in Langford, British Columbia.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
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Mr. Speaker, oral health is an important part of overall health. Yet for too many residents of the Northwest Territories, especially in small and remote communities, getting dental care has meant long waits, cancelled clinics, or costly travel outside their home community.
Today, I am pleased to update Members on concrete steps I have taken as Minister to fix long‑standing barriers and bring dental care back into communities, where people want and deserve to receive care.
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Mr. Speaker, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples establishes the minimum standard for the survival, dignity, and well-being of Indigenous peoples worldwide. First voted on by the UN General Assembly in 2007, this vital human rights instrument affirms the rights of Indigenous peoples to self-determination and authority to manage their own affairs, whether this is in the education system, healthcare, or justice. Its implementation in Canada has been a long time coming.
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Mr. Speaker, the lack of adequate housing remains one of the most significant challenges facing the Northwest Territories today. Across our territory, too many residents face barriers to safe, suitable, and affordable housing.
The findings of the Territorial Housing Needs Assessment confirm what we are hearing in our communities: that Elders, seniors, singles, and vulnerable residents are disproportionately affected by core housing need and are at increased risk of homelessness.
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Mr. Speaker, housing insecurity remains a significant challenge across the Northwest Territories, and understanding its full scope is essential. Through an empathetic, collaborative approach, strong partnerships, and continued coordination, we are working to advance the priorities in the government’s strategic response to homelessness, titled ‘A Way Home’, to better support individuals facing housing challenges.
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to provide an update on this year’s winter road and summer barging resupply seasons.
Every year, communities across the Northwest Territories rely on a massive, coordinated effort to make sure fuel and essential goods arrive safely and on time. For many communities, especially those without all-season road access, these resupply seasons are critical.
