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Mr. Speaker, we continue to navigate our ever-changing circumstances as the pandemic continues around the world. After a long winter, I am sure we are all looking forward to summer, fresh air, and outdoor activities.

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Mr. Speaker, our territorial economy has suffered the impact of COVID-19 like every other jurisdiction in the country.  Bouncing back stronger means investing in areas that provide for the immediate participation of our communities and maximizing benefits for our residents.  Investments and improvements in transportation infrastructure is one area we know can have positive impacts on our economy. These investments connect our communities and ensure access to essential goods and services.

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Mr. Speaker, the youth of today are the strong, future leaders of tomorrow. Through initiatives like the NWT Youth Ambassador program, youth are provided opportunities to develop life and job skills, while building the confidence to deal with complex challenges.
I am pleased to inform the house today that the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs is now accepting applications for the 2021-2022 NWT Youth Ambassador Program – Virtual Edition for youth aged 16 to 22.

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Mr. Speaker, many NWT residents are living with some form of disability. They are our neighbors, co-workers, family members, leaders, and friends.  We are grateful for the contributions that persons with disabilities make in the territory. For this reason, we continue to advance work to ensure all residents are able to participate fully in all communities, without barriers.  

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Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories is committed to strengthening relationships with governments. We are also committed to providing opportunities to create a more diverse, inclusive and representative public service.

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Mr. Speaker, wildfire season is here and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, or ENR, and our dedicated wildfire management team are ready.

Today, I would like to provide an update on what ENR has done to get ready for the 2021 fire season, and the role residents and communities across the Northwest Territories have in preventing wildfires.

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Mr. Speaker, the COVID-19 pandemic has been a challenging time for all of us. Like all jurisdictions, our initial response was focused on public health measures.

To date, we have been successful in protecting the health and safety of our residents thanks to the actions we took early, and the commitment from residents to follow the public health orders and recommendations in order to limit the spread of COVID-19.

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Mr. Speaker, before I begin my statement today I want to acknowledge that many people, including those that work in and around this Legislative Assembly and government, are being retraumatized by the confirmation of the mass grave of Indigenous children at the Kamloops Indian Residential School.  I am providing this notice so that those who are hurting may choose not to listen if they will be triggered by what I say.

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Mr. Speaker, the health and prosperity of our territory begins with how well we prepare our children and youth to succeed in life. Making sure that every student from every background and region in the Northwest Territories, or NWT, has equitable access to relevant, culturally appropriate and quality education will ultimately lead to improved well-being across the North and within all our communities.