Check Against Delivery

Mr. Speaker, today I am pleased to rise and speak to Members about the celebration of the 2020 Hockey Day in Canada being hosted here in Yellowknife. The celebration was launched on February 5^th and will continue to the 8^th.

This event marks the 9^th year of the festival celebrating hockey, one of Canada’s national sports. Norman Wells, Dettah and N’Dilo will also play host to visits associated with Hockey Day in Canada, as well as Deline, which is the birthplace of hockey in Canada.

Check Against Delivery

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Report of the Office of the Auditor General of Canada was tabled on the audit of Early Childhood and the Kindergarten to Grade 12 education system in the Northwest Territories. The Report focused on five areas: Inclusive schooling; Indigenous language and culture-based education; equitable access to quality education; programming, staff qualifications, and training in licensed early childhood programs; and how these areas worked to support student outcomes.

Check Against Delivery

Mr. Speaker, later today, I will be tabling the Mandate of the GNWT 2019-2023. The Mandate will guide our actions as a government and serve to hold Cabinet accountable as we work to advance the priorities of the 19^th Legislative Assembly.

The Northwest Territories faces unprecedented challenges.  We have been elected in a time of global economic uncertainty, increasingly complex social issues, and multifaceted impacts of climate change.

Mr. Speaker, caribou are central to our communities, as a food source and as part of the local culture and way of life.

As you know, Mr. Speaker, our caribou herds are struggling. In particular, the Bathurst and Bluenose-East herds have suffered serious declines in recent years.

Check Against Delivery.

Happy New Year everyone!  I am once again honoured to welcome you all back.  I trust you all had a wonderful festive season with your loved ones.

As we enter a new decade, we begin our work for the people of the Northwest Territories.  Your work can be challenging, but working together as a team will ensure you make the best decisions.

I wish you a productive session with good outcomes and personal balance with life and work for each of you.

Check against delivery 

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to provide an update to Northerners on the 2019 novel coronavirus. I would like to assure residents that at this time the risk of contracting this virus is low in the NWT.

Since the coronavirus was first reported in the Hubei Province of China, our Government and the Federal Government have moved quickly to ensure we are prepared. Our public health and emergency preparations are well underway and we will continue to monitor the situation as it develops.

Aujourd’hui, la première ministre Caroline Cochrane a annoncé la nomination de Mme Erin Kelly, Ph. D., à titre de sous‑ministre de l’Environnement et des Ressources naturelles et de M. Andy Bevan à titre de sous‑ministre délégué au renouveau en éducation postsecondaire. Il occupera également le rôle de président du Collège Aurora.

Activités ministérielles pour la semaine du 4 au 10 février 2020

Déplacements ministériels

Veuillez noter que le calendrier des déplacements pourrait être modifié avec peu ou pas de préavis. Ce calendrier est à jour en date du 3 février 2020.

Après une réunion productive, les membres du conseil d’administration de la Coalition des familles d’accueil des TNO, la ministre Diane Thom et des représentants du ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux ont convenu de trouver de nouvelles façons de collaborer pour aborder les besoins sur le terrain et dans les foyers d’accueil, et pour aborder les défis au sein du système des Services à l’enfance et à la famille.

Dans le cadre de son objectif d’éliminer la pauvreté aux Territoires du Nord-Ouest, le gouvernement des Territoires du Nord-Ouest souhaite rappeler au public que les demandes de financement au titre du Fonds anti-pauvreté pour 2020-2021 sont actuellement acceptées. L’appel de demandes initial a été envoyé aux gouvernements autochtones, aux administrations communautaires et aux organisations non gouvernementales le 10 décembre 2019.