2023 NWT Election
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Jane Armstrong
Candidate in the Monfwi All Ridings race.
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News that mentions Jane Armstrong
N.W.T. MLAs to discuss separate collective agreement for nurses
March 14, 2025
CBC North - MLA has brought forward a proposed bill for public discussion that would allow nurses to have their own bargaining unit when negotiating a collective agreement. She said she has been taking the lead from nurses and informally consulting with UNW member nurses across different N.W.T. "We rarely put health-care workers themselves at the centre of the solution. "From the perspective of workers, to hear from them directly so our recommendations can better reflect the realities of front-line workers," Morgan said. Regular MLAs voted unanimously in favour of a review of the challenges nurses and healthcare workers face.
With added housing cash, NWT’s 2025-26 budget comfortably passes
March 13, 2025
Cabin Radio - The NWT government’s 2025-26 budget was finalized on Thursday evening, coming through the House in a 15-3 vote. Finance minister Caroline Wawzonek added $41.6 million in housing cash following discussion with regular MLAs, alongside smaller amendments. Range Lake’s Kieron Testart, voting against the budget, said cabinet wasn’t proposing enough action in a time of impending crisis. This is the issue for me that I will defeat budget after budget over until we get movement on it,” Morse said, characterizing his stance on housing during budget deliberations. “I would have liked to have heard: ‘We’re going to have a net increase of 50 houses, 100 houses, 200 houses.
Motion to halt Indigenous Employment Policy is defeated
March 13, 2025
Cabin Radio - An attempt by some MLAs to call a halt to the introduction of a new Indigenous Employment Policy at the territorial government has failed. The policy is designed to update the decades-old Affirmative Action Policy, which politicians have long accused of failing to ensure the NWT government hired enough Indigenous staff to adequately reflect the peoples of the territory. On Thursday, one MLA who doesn’t back the new policy – Yellowknife Centre MLA Robert Hawkins – brought forward a motion calling for an “immediate halt” to its rollout. No one else is doing affirmative action policies any more, but we just can’t seem to change this one,” she said. Supporting Hawkins’ motion: 4 – Yellowknife Centre, Range Lake, Tu Nedhé-Wiilideh, Frame Lake.
NWT adds $41M in housing spending to draft budget
March 13, 2025
Cabin Radio - The NWT’s finance minister says she will add more than $41 million in new housing money to the territory’s latest budget, among other spending. Caroline Wawzonek announced the changes to the NWT government’s 2025-26 draft operating budget in the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday afternoon. Inuvik Boot Lake MLA Denny Rodgers, who chairs an accountability and oversight committee made up of all 11 regular MLAs, said housing is a priority need. Monfwi MLA Jane Weyallon Armstrong has repeatedly raised the issue of Housing NWT collecting arrears from Elders in the 19th and 20th assemblies. Some regular MLAs have criticized the draft operating budget for not doing enough to advance the assembly’s priorities while also failing to meet fiscal sustainability targets.
‘Policies and procedures protect the criminals,’ says angry MLA
March 12, 2025
CKLB 101.9 - Outsiders often will set up shop in Housing NWT units, either coercing or working with the tenants. “The residents know who these drug dealers are and where they are stationed, yet, when they give tips to any of the authorities, it is the ‘policies and procedures’ that protect the criminals. The Indigenous Employment Policy establishes “preferred hiring status” for Indigenous peoples, with primary consideration given to those who are recognized members or descendants of First Nations, Métis, or Inuit peoples indigenous to the present boundaries of the Northwest Territories. Additional consideration will be given to Indigenous peoples who are recognized members and descendent of a First Nations, Métis, or Inuit peoples indigenous to areas of Canada outside of the present boundaries of the Northwest Territories. Monfwi MLA Jane Weyallon Armstrong said more GNWT office decentralization would be helpful, providing opportunities for Indigenous people where they live, where their families are.
Some MLAs still critical of Indigenous Employment Policy
March 11, 2025
Cabin Radio - Some regular MLAs remain critical of the NWT government’s impending Indigenous Employment Policy despite changes. Great Slave MLA Kate Reid said while she will back the new policy if it is supported by Indigenous MLAs, she was concerned that, unlike the affirmative action policy, the Indigenous Employment Policy will not prioritize people with disabilities. Denny Rodgers, the MLA for Inuvik Boot Lake, said he was in favour of increasing Indigenous employment in the territorial government. She also called for the territory to move jobs from Yellowknife to smaller communities to increase Indigenous employment. Some MLAs hope to halt policyShortly after the public briefing, the Department of Finance issued a press release stating it had approved the new Indigenous Employment Policy.
Facing skeptical MLAs, college defends community centre closures
March 6, 2025
Cabin Radio - Aurora College’s leaders insisted on Thursday that the territory’s residents could thrive through online learning as they defended the planned closure of community learning centres. Wekweètì’s community learning centre. Great Slave MLA Kate Reid said the college had acted “abruptly and without community input” in reaching its decision. “They’re becoming more comfortable with online learning. That’s why online learning is part of the modernized approach.”But MLAs like Monfwi’s Jane Weyallon Armstrong were not convinced by the argument that moving adult upgrading online represented a step forward.
American liquor purchases frozen, as GNWT does what it can in Trump Trade War
March 4, 2025
CKLB 101.9 - Said Testart: “Today is a fairly momentous day in the Canada-U.S. trade relationship. “I know the Premier has been front and centre with Team Canada on protecting our nation’s interests and Northerners interests. Canada has responded to the Trump Trade War by putting tariffs on $30 billion worth of American goods, with $125 billion more in three weeks time. Meanwhile, NWT MP Michael McLeod stated, “there are no winners in a trade war,” in an afternoon release. And this spring, the GNWT will co-host a wildfire preparedness gathering in Yellowknife, in partnership with the NWT Association of Communities.
Bullying on rise beyond our borders thanks to ‘odious’ American president, says MLA
February 27, 2025
CKLB 101.9 - “By wearing pink, we promote safe environments, free from bullying and harassment, for everyone. “Bullying can take many shapes, whether it is based on age, race, religion, gender, sexuality or physical differences. We know that in Canada and beyond, 2SLGBTQQIA+ youth face disproportionately high rates of bullying. The federal government this week appointed former Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated president Aluki Kotierk to oversee an external review of the Nutrition North subsidy. “With this reduction in spots available, I am worried that other means of entry to Canada will be sought,” said the MLA.
How NWT MLAs have voted in the 20th Assembly so far
February 27, 2025
Cabin Radio - Testart said he believed if a group of regular MLAs voted together, cabinet would take them more seriously. Cabin Radio looked at how regular MLAs have voted in the current assembly so far, and what effect a voting bloc could have on the NWT legislature. Looking at votes in the 20th Legislative Assembly so far, when cabinet members have voted, the majority of regular MLAs have voted the same way as cabinet. In November 2024, six regular MLAs voted against a bill that implemented the 2025-26 capital budget. Regular MLAs mostly vote in syncIn most cases, regular MLAs in the 20th Assembly have voted in unison on motions and bills on a variety of issues.
Budget must improve lives in small communities, says Yakeleya
February 27, 2025
Cabin Radio - Dehcho MLA Sheryl Yakeleya says there is not enough emphasis in the NWT’s draft budget on strengthening the economies of small communities. She described a “striking difference” between the economic outlook in Yellowknife, regional centres and small communities. “There is a divide between those who have, who are living in bigger centres and communities, and those who have not in the small communities,” she said. On Tuesday, other MLAs called for more investment in small communities, a focus on the non-renewable resource sector, fiscal restraint and a culture shift. “The government should be putting money towards actions that will improve the lives of residents in small communities and improve the capacity of local communities,” she said, “because this strengthens the territory overall.”George Nerysoo.
MLAs narrowly defeat bid to remove $5.25M from ECE’s budget
February 27, 2025
Cabin Radio - However, the college has yet to set out a finalized version of its plan to replace the community learning centres. “This money is intended for community learning centres and if they’re not going to use it for community learning centres, I’d say they don’t need it,” said Hawkins. He suggested that once the college returns with a plan for adult education in smaller NWT communities, the funding could be restored. (The college has previously suggested its annual GNWT funding for community learning centres is about $3 million.) “This is going to absolutely have a negative impact on adult learning in small communities,” said Cleveland of the motion’s effect on funding for adult education.
Tłı̨chǫ communities to receive 10 new housing units
February 25, 2025
Cabin Radio - According to a Monday press release, 10 new housing units are being installed in the communities through a partnership between Housing NWT and the Tłı̨chǫ Investment Corporation. We need more projects like this to address housing needs across the Tłı̨chǫ region and the NWT.”The new housing units were funded by the federal government. Three buildings – a seniors’ duplex, a single-occupancy duplex and a two-story duplex – have been completed in Behchokǫ̀. An additional singles duplex is designated for Gamètì and one two-story duplex for Whatì. “There is no question that housing challenges in the NWT require a collaborative approach,” territorial housing minister Lucy Kuptana stated.
New public housing units in Behchokǫ̀, N.W.T. expected to welcome tenants next month
February 24, 2025
CBC North - The long public housing waiting list in Behchokǫ̀, N.W.T. (Luke Carrol/CBC)The units will go to those at the top of the public housing waiting list, a list that is determined through a point-based system. "People who apply, it depends on what situation they are in," said Lillian Erasmus, the housing manager for Behchokǫ̀ Ko Gha K'aodee, the local public housing authority. A new public housing unit in Behchokǫ̀, N.W.T. (Luke Carroll/CBC)Territorial Housing Minister Lucy Kuptana says the seniors and the bachelor units were a collaboration between Housing NWT and the Tłı̨chǫ Investment Corporation.
Community Learning Centre closures decried by Regular MLAs
February 9, 2025
CKLB 101.9 - Monfwi MLA Jane Weyallon Armstrong says there was no consultation about the end of the programSeveral Regular MLAs schooled Education Minister Caitlin Cleveland in the NWT Assembly last week on the ramifications of Aurora College’s recent decision to close all Community Learning Centres. Aurora College is closing 19 Community Learning Centres located mostly in smaller communities across the NWT as of June 30. “The Community Learning Centres work closely with schools in the communities and gives adults a place to earn high school credits. At the very least, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, should have consulted with residents to evaluate each learning centre on an individual basis.”Weyallon Armstrong suggested Community Learning Centres funding should go to the school boards. He said he receives regular complaints of drug deals and other illegal activity and asked if security could be put in place.