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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.

R. J. Simpson, le ministre de l’Éducation, de la Culture et de la Formation, a rencontré les leaders de l’éducation le mardi 25 mai 2021 pour discuter de plusieurs initiatives prioritaires.

La première ministre Caroline Cochrane et la ministre des Affaires municipales et communautaires Paulie Chinna font la déclaration suivante concernant les inondations à Aklavik et la réponse du gouvernement des Territoires du Nord-Ouest :

« La collectivité d’Aklavik a déclaré l’état d’urgence local aux premières heures du 30 mai et a entrepris officiellement l’évacuation de 141 résidents plus tôt ce matin en plus de 25 résidents évacués plus tôt en raison de la crue des eaux du fleuve Mackenzie. 

Programme de la première ministre Cochrane pour la semaine du 30 mai 2021

Publié le 28 mai 2021. Une mise à jour du programme sera publiée le 2 juin 2021, au besoin.

Événements et réunions publics

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Événements et réunions à huis clos

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31 mai

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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.

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Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to speak today about the collaborative work of the GNWT’s Emergency Management Organization, or EMO, and community governments to help ensure the safety and security of residents in the emergency response to the recent flood situations experienced by several of our communities.

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Mr. Speaker, the recent floods have been devastating for many Northerners who have experienced damage to their community, property and to their livelihoods. 

I witnessed the anxiety and stress in the voices and faces of people in my own community as water levels rose and homes and businesses were threatened and many were affected.

In the face of this adversity, I also saw firsthand how communities, leaders and Northerners can rise to meet challenges they must overcome.

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Mr. Speaker, the COVID-19 pandemic has presented the Northwest Territories and its residents, communities and businesses with many challenges.

I know all residents are now well into the ‘COVID-19 fatigue’ stage. We all want to see things back to normal and public health measures lifted.

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Mr. Speaker, I want to begin by welcoming all my colleagues back to the Chamber for this sitting of the 19^th Legislative Assembly. I look forward to providing updates on key issues, and mandate priorities, as well as hearing from Regular Members on issues important to residents over the course of the next seven sitting days.