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Mr. Speaker, in 2021 the Government of the Northwest Territories released the Northwest Territories Arts Strategy, a 10-year plan to improve NWT’s arts programs and services, and strengthen the territory’s arts sector. The first key action identified in the strategy was to complete a review of the GNWT’s arts programs so that we could have a better understanding of the changes required to help us achieve our goals for the sector.

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Mr. Speaker, the Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission is always looking for new ways to support employers and create safer workplaces in the Northwest Territories.

Through ongoing communication and engagement with employers, the WSCC identified an opportunity to improve their services and provide additional supports for employers facing occupational health and safety challenges that is separate from their role as enforcer of the Safety Act through penalties and fines.

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Mr. Speaker, June is Seniors Month, a time for us to recognize the important role of Seniors in our families, communities, and the territory. They connect us with language, land and culture, and bridge the past and the future.

Under the Mandate of the Government of the Northwest Territories, 2019-2023, we are supporting this role by enabling Seniors to age in place with dignity. We want to help Seniors remain in their homes and communities for as long as they are able.

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Mr. Speaker, as we prepare to wrap up another school year, I would like to highlight a number of exciting initiatives that reflect our government’s commitment to improve student outcomes in the Northwest Territories.

This semester, three high schools in the territory piloted the new Northern Studies 30 course. This made-in-the-NWT high school course is the first in the territory to follow British Columbia’s curricular framework.

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Mr. Speaker, today I would like to recognize the athletes, coaches, managers, and mission staff who will represent Team NT at the 2023 North American Indigenous Games that will be held in Halifax, Nova Scotia from July 15 to 23.

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Mr. Speaker, we know that no single government can effectively address housing issues in the Northwest Territories on their own, therefore in order to be successful, our government continues to build partnerships with Indigenous governments, community governments, private companies, the Government of Canada, and non-governmental organizations, or NGOs.

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Mr. Speaker, homelessness is a complex, multifaceted tragedy experienced by many individuals and families in the Northwest Territories, and is an epidemic across Canada. It was my desire to see our government do more for our most vulnerable residents, including those who experience homelessness, that led me into politics. I am very proud to say that later today I will table A Way Home: A Comprehensive Strategy to Address Homelessness in the Northwest Territories.

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Mr. Speaker, enhancing road safety is a priority for the Government of the Northwest Territories. We all want our highways to be as safe as possible for everyone who uses them.

To support this effort, I would like to announce that as of June 1, 2023, the Hours of Service Regulations will be amended to make Electronic Logging Devices mandatory for commercial vehicles weighing 4,500 kilograms or more.

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Mr. Speaker, water is life and our government is committed to ensuring we always have an abundant supply of clean and safe water.  

This year has been challenging to say the least. Earlier this spring we learned of large wastewater spills and seepages that had occurred in the Alberta Oil Sands.

To our dismay, these spills had not been communicated to the GNWT or Indigenous governments in the territory. The NWT is downstream from the oil sands, and water flows here so we need to know when these incidents occur.  

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Mr. Speaker, three years ago I was mandated to initiate a review of our government’s Student Financial Assistance program with the goal of improving access to post-secondary education for all Northwest Territories residents by reducing barriers and ensuring benefit levels are meeting the needs of students.

I am happy to stand here today and say that we have completed our review, and are now taking steps towards implementing necessary, significant changes to the program to better meet the needs of students.