Delivered on March 6, 2017

Mr. Speaker, Northwest Territories’ residents want a government that is transparent and accountable.  On March 3, 2016, for the first time in the Northwest Territories, Members of the Legislative Assembly unanimously adopted a Mandate for the Government of the Northwest Territories. The purpose of the Mandate is to guide the work of the Government of the Northwest Territories over its four-year term.

Delivered on March 3, 2017

Mr. Speaker, as a government we have committed in our mandate to improve access to justice for the residents of the NWT. Today, I am pleased to announce an initiative that will assist residents involved in civil or family justice matters.

Delivered on March 3, 2017

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to provide an update on the progress to approve the 2017-2018 Main Estimates. Since the Budget Address on February 1, 2017 we have seen significant debate on specific elements of our annual budget and an extensive review of the Main Estimates in Committee of the Whole.

Delivered on March 3, 2017

Mr. Speaker, this morning CBC published an article quoting from Oral Questions yesterday. The article repeats a misstatement that I made during my reply to Oral Question 670-18(2).

I would like to take an opportunity to correct the record.  Quoting from unedited Hansard, I said:

“I understand that there was a careful evaluation of the bid made by the Power Corporation. The bid from Virdi was the lowest rated, and among the factors looked at was price”.

Delivered on March 2, 2017

Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories made a commitment in its mandate to continue the integration of the health and social services system to improve care for our people. Today, I want to provide an update on our work to transform the Northwest Territories health and social services system.

Delivered on March 2, 2017

Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories made a commitment in its mandate to pursue an agreement with the federal government on the management of offshore resources.

Delivered on March 2, 2017

Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories has made a commitment in its mandate to increase online accessibility to driver and motor vehicle services as well as commercial permitting services. I’d like to tell Members today about work the Department of Transportation has done to fulfill that commitment.

Delivered on March 2, 2017

Mr. Speaker, the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs was recently the subject of a Performance Audit conducted by the Office of the Auditor General of Canada. The audit assessed the Department’s performance as it relates to supporting community governments with the provision of essential services to residents.

Delivered on March 1, 2017

Mr. Speaker, as I’ve said in this Assembly, education is one of the cornerstones of development and success. There are always people behind a student’s experience in education, and they are usually teachers or principals.

Delivered on March 1, 2017

Mr. Speaker, I am very proud of the work that the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs has done as part of the Government of the Northwest Territories’ commitment to education, training and youth development. Today, I would like to provide an update on the progress the Department is making in the area of governance capacity building and support for community governments in the Norwest Territories.