Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly wraps up first week back in session

The Legislative Assembly is back for the rest of the month and into November. So far, it's come with some pretty big updates. Caroline Wozniak, the Territory's Finance Minister, is forecasting a deficit of $39 million for the 2026-27 fiscal year. And while she says the Territory can look ahead to major projects and opportunities, she says they're not guaranteed. Challenges facing the Northwest Territories are real. Longstanding industries are winding down. The cost of living and doing business remains high. and government finances are under increasing pressure. We need to be honest about those realities because they will not simply disappear as we look at a promising horizon. Wozniak says the most significant financial pressures include added support to the Northwest Territories Power Corporation to address low water levels, high fuel costs, and increasing costs for wildfire emergencies. Meanwhile, Speaker Shane Thompson had to remind members to be respectful and stay off their phone. While giving his opening statement, he said he's reminded of when he once coached a youth soccer team with players who didn't always get along. It was mostly small stuff. Disagreement between players who come here or there. An unwillingness to work with all their teammates. Thompson, as speaker, is responsible for keeping decorum. He says he expects members to follow the rules, and he wants this final year of this assembly to be as professional as possible. Choose your words carefully and respectfully. When I hear, with all due respect, I expect what follows to be disrespectful. When I hear, no offense, but I expect to hear something that will be offensive. When I hear, I'm just joking, I don't expect it to be funny. But members have been in agreement with some things so far. That includes renaming the territorial riding Great Slave to Yellowknife East. That change comes after the Electoral Boundaries Commission issued a report in February. It criticized the name as being, quote, demeaning and objectionable. The Legislative Assembly says its Board of Management would bring forward legislation to make that change official. Devin Trudynek, CBC News, Yellowknife.