Mr. Speaker, a few months ago I had the pleasure of signing the Bilateral Agreement between the Northwest Territories and Canada on the National Housing Strategy.  One of the first funding allocations Canada proposed under the Strategy was the Northern Housing Fund, which brought $36 million in funding to the Northwest Territories.  However, this is just a starting point.

Mr. Speaker, I know you and all the other Members here understand the importance of barren-ground caribou to our communities. Caribou are central to the way of life in the North, and have sustained people here for many generations. This is why together, this Legislative Assembly made a mandate commitment to improve food security in the Northwest Territories through the effective co-management of wildlife, including caribou.

Mr. Speaker, from January 16 to 17, 2019, the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs brought community government leaders together to discuss cannabis.  This was our first opportunity for such a gathering since cannabis became legal in Canada on October 17, 2018.

Mr. Speaker, from February 15 to March 3, 2019, athletes from the Northwest Territories will be representing our territory at the 2019 Canada Winter Games in Red Deer, Alberta.  This event is an important celebration of Canadian sport and culture.  It will be the largest event of its kind ever hosted in Red Deer and central Alberta and one of the largest in Alberta since the 1988 Calgary Olympics.