Priorities have been set by the 20th Legislative Assembly of the NWT and there are only four this year.
This is a drop from the 22 set by the 19th assembly, which itself pared back priorities from the 25 set by the 18th assembly.
The latest goals were announced on Feb. 20.
The four priorities are “suitability, accessibility and affordability of housing,” “a strong economic foundation,” “access to healthcare and addressing the effects of trauma,” and “safe residents and communities.”
“Members of the 20th Assembly have listened carefully and found common ground in these four main themes, which provide an ambitious yet manageable focus,” said Yellowknife North MLA Shauna Morgan, who sits as caucus chair. “Now the process begins to collaboratively create a mandate for each GNWT department, which will flesh out how the government will be accountable to achieve real progress in each of these areas.”
For comparison’s sake, the 19th legislative assembly set more specific priorities, which were “settle and implement treaty, land, resources, and self-government agreements,” “implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples,” “improve early childhood development indicators for all children,” “advance universal child care by increasing availability and affordability,” “increase student education outcomes to the same level as the rest of Canada,” “create a polytechnic university,” “increase regional decision-making authority,” “reduce the municipal funding gap,” “increase employment in small communities,” “increase the number of affordable homes and reduce core housing need,” “make strategic infrastructure investments that connect communities, expand the economy or reduce the cost of living, including the Mackenzie Valley Highway, the Slave Geological Corridor and the Taltson Hydro Project,” “increase economic diversification by supporting growth in non-extractive sectors and setting regional diversification targets,” “increase resource exploration and development,” “reduce the cost of power and increase the use of alternative and renewable energy,” “ensure government procurement and contracting maximizes benefits to residents and businesses,” “adopt a benefit retention approach to economic development,” “increase the number of resident healthcare professionals by at least 20 per cent,” “increase the number and variety of culturally respectful, community-based mental health and addictions programs, including aftercare,” “enable seniors to age in place with dignity,” “strengthen the government’s leadership and authority on climate change,” “ensure climate change impacts are specifically considered when making government decisions,” and “increase food security through locally produced, harvested, and affordable food.”
“We want a Northwest Territories that prioritizes reconciliation and the well-being and prosperity of residents,” reads a one-page memo released alongside the four latest GNWT priorities. “We will achieve this through good governance and collaboration with Indigenous governments, all communities and the public.”
The four priorities will shape government decision-making for the next four years of the 20th Legislative Assembly’s mandate.