Check against delivery

Good morning, thank you for joining us today.

Earlier today I announced that I would be assuming responsibility for the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, effective today.

The COVID-19 pandemic is a global crisis on a level the world has not seen in generations. Taking action to slow its spread and protect public health requires personal attention and leadership from the highest levels of government.

Around the world, we are seeing national leaders take charge of their countries’ response to COVID-19. Here in Canada the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister are leading the national response. At the provincial and territorial level, Premiers are the public face of their governments’ responses, while continuing to work hard behind the scenes to provide leadership and share plans with each other.

As in other jurisdictions, the challenge COVID-19 presents to the Northwest Territories requires a coordinated team approach from Cabinet, if we are to manage it successfully. As leader of the team, I feel it is my responsibility to take a more hands-on role in managing and leading the government’s response as Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs.

Overseeing this collaborative effort is consistent with my responsibilities to provide overall management and direction to the Executive Branch of the Government of the Northwest Territories, as set out in the Executive and Indigenous Affairs Establishment Policy.

As Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, I will be responsible for providing leadership and direction to the Emergency Management Organization, which is responsible for coordinating the GNWT’s emergency management activities. In this role, I will be working closely with Associate Deputy Minister Russ Neudorf and EMO Director Ivan Russell to provide all our support to the Chief Public Health Officer and ensure the entire government is working to implement and enforce her orders to protect public health.

COVID-19 is a serious challenge to the Northwest Territories, and to the world. But it is a challenge we can meet together.

Under the leadership of the Chief Public Health Officer, our government started preparing for this weeks before the global pandemic was declared. The measures we have put in place, at the direction of Dr. Kandola, have been put in place to protect our residents and our communities.

We cannot prevent COVID-19 from coming to our territory and our communities, but we must all play a role in slowing its spread and managing its impact on our people.

We all must follow the direction of Dr. Kandola to stay home, avoid unnecessary outings, and stay connected online or by telephone while maintaining physical distance. Whether we are sick or healthy, we need to wash our hands, avoid touching our faces and cough into our elbows.

These are simple actions, but these are the actions that will help protect our friends and our loved ones, especially those who are most vulnerable. In the south we are seeing the devastating consequences of what happens when people choose not to take precautions.

I want to reiterate that responding to COVID-19 is a team effort and will require the full effort of every Minister and every department. Each Minister will continue to be responsible for doing their part to help us all combat COVID-19 and I continue to have confidence in our whole team.

Thank you. I’ll open the floor to questions now.