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. health minister says she won’t pause changes to health benefits regime
June 5, 2024
CBC North - 's health minister says she won't pause the rollout of changes to the territory's extended health benefits program, after a standing committee of MLAs urged her to do so. The program helps cover the cost of prescription drugs, medical supplies and equipment that aren't eligible for coverage through third-party insurers. Two significant changes include an income assessment to determine eligibility for the program and doing away with the current specified disease conditions list. residents currently do not have access to the benefits that the program will provide. Semmler said income thresholds will be set at the ministerial level, and "will allow for consistent review and flexibility."
Welfare work requirements are retired by GNWT
June 4, 2024
CKLB 101.9 - The territorial government announced today that improvements to the Income Assistance program and the new Income Assistance for Seniors and Persons with Disabilities program will come into effect July 1. George Nerysoo, MLA for Mackenzie Delta, said there needs to be an incentive to get off Income Assistance. “What we see is that once people start, they do not get out income assistance. “How do you address the cycle of dependency that carries through the families and generations on income assistance? She reminded all that Income Support was created as a temporary solution to be used by clients for a short period of time.
Standing committee calls on N.W.T. health minister to pause changes to benefits regime
June 4, 2024
CBC North - 's standing committee on social development has asked the minister of health and social services to pause the roll-out of controversial changes to the territory's extended health benefits program, which are set to take effect on Sept. 1. "We believe it is crucial to address these concerns thoroughly before moving forward with any changes to the extended health benefits program," Armstrong said in a statement. "Our priority is to ensure that the changes do not negatively impact the residents who rely on these benefits." People also said they supported providing access to supplementary health benefits to all N.W.T. The committee told Semmler it needs to know how much the government stands to save through income testing, what removing income testing but maintaining current levels of benefit support would look like and what removing income testing and expanding levels of benefit support would look like.
‘Who runs this territory? The drug trade is winning,’ says Monfwi MLA
May 28, 2024
CKLB 101.9 - The illegal drug trade is out of control in the territory, and there will be more lives ruined, and people killed unless the RCMP are given more resources, Monfwi MLA Jane Weyallon-Armstrong told the NWT Legislative Assembly today. The drug trade is destroying the lives of our people. When are we going to stand up and let drug dealers know that the NWT is not a place to do business. This rise of drugs and crime is debilitating our communities in our territory … who runs this territory? Minister Simpson agreed with the MLA who slammed easy bail access for drug dealers.
What MLAs heard about Missing Persons Act in Aklavik and Inuvik
April 11, 2024
Cabin Radio - He was just genuine and transparent.”Aklavik residents at a public meeting regarding the draft Missing Persons Act. Photo: Samantha KerrBill 2, which would create a Missing Persons Act for the first time in the NWT, aims to address concerns that police don’t have a full set of tools at their disposal when people go missing in the territory. And I think that’s hope.”Steven and Frank Gruben with their mother at the wedding of Laura and Charlie Kalinek in 2012. MLAs plan to act fastMissing persons legislation has to balance providing information to police with the privacy of individuals. Kieron Testart at the Inuvik public meeting regarding the draft Missing Persons Act.
N.W.T. MLAs hold Missing Persons Act meetings in Aklavik and Inuvik
April 11, 2024
CBC North - 's proposed new Missing Persons Act. The territory committed to exploring a Missing Persons Act in 2020 and it was brought back into the spotlight after the disappearance of Frank Gruben last spring. 's proposed Missing Persons Act on Wednesday. Weyallon Armstrong also said the missing persons act can play an important role in the territory. "This bill is very important — important for the N.W.T., important for everybody.
Assembly update for February 29
March 1, 2024
CKLB 101.9 - ...the NWT Legislative Assembly on Thursday, Monfwi MLA Jane Jane Armstrong raised the issue of poor-quality health-care in smaller communities. The MLA appeared to reference the unexpected death of Monfwi’s Rachel Simpson on Tuesday in an Edmonton hospital after allegedly being told on the weekend by Lac La...
NWT’s MLAs pass Israel-Hamas ceasefire motion
February 29, 2024
Cabin Radio - A Yellowknife citizens’ group that has held rallies supporting a ceasefire in Gaza welcomed a vote in which MLAs backed a related motion at the NWT legislature. “Ultimately, we’re very encouraged and very thankful to all the members who voted in favour,” said Derek Lindman, a spokesperson for YK Citizens for Ceasefire. Great Slave MLA Kate Reid and Yellowknife North MLA Shauna Morgan tabled and seconded the motion, respectively, in response to a YK Citizens for Ceasefire petition. I told him first, because I’m a human being,” Reid said in an impassioned speech in support of the motion. “We feel very strongly that humanitarian aid is vital at this time – that Gazans are being starved on purpose through the withholding of aid,” he said.
Housing should be fundamental right in N.W.T., MLAs say
February 29, 2024
CBC North - Northwest Territories MLAs say housing should be a fundamental right in the territory and join national and international governments in making that a part of the territory's law. Sheryl Yakeleya, MLA for the Dehcho, brought forward a motion on Wednesday to make housing a fundamental human right in the N.W.T. "By acknowledging housing as a human right it means that the [territory] acknowledges that housing is essential to a person's dignity and wellbeing," she said. Housing is already recognized as a human right by the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), the U.N.'s Universal Declaration of Human Rights , and Canada's National Housing Strategy Act . Cabinet abstained from the vote, but Housing Minister Lucy Kuptana says the federal government is responsible for meeting its own legal obligations on housing.
Shane Thompson opts for the no-nonsense approach
February 25, 2024
Cabin Radio - Few other speakers have made a habit of going after MLAs for occasional violation of this rule. There’s a little bit of give and take, but you need to follow the rules,” Thompson told Cabin Radio earlier this month, setting out his philosophy. If you ask my girls’ soccer team or my boys’ soccer team, this is how I did things.”From left: George Nerysoo, Jane Weyallon Armstrong and Shane Thompson. Ollie Williams/Cabin RadioHeaven help any member of a Thompson soccer team who inadvertently spoke to a motion when they should have been speaking to an amendment to a motion. Thompson is also aware that he might be coming off as a little short at times, an impression on which he’s already begun riffing.
N.W.T. MLAs vote for inquiry into 2023 wildfire response, but premier makes no promises
February 22, 2024
CBC North - MLAs voted Thursday to hold a public inquiry into the territory's 2023 wildfire response, but Premier R.J. Simpson says his government isn't making any promises. Following the vote, Simpson told reporters he doesn't believe it's the right time for a public inquiry, with another wildfire season approaching. Simpson said the government would hear from the public through that process, before deciding whether to proceed with a public inquiry. "If this isn't grounds for a public inquiry, I don't know what is," he said. If people are not satisfied with the results of those, then a public inquiry could be revisited, Simpson said.
Here’s how N.W.T. MLAs say they’ll vote on a public inquiry into last summer’s wildfire response
February 22, 2024
CBC North - MLAs will be debating and voting Thursday on whether to call a public inquiry into the territory's handling of the 2023 wildfires. Premier R.J. Simpson has said that he does not support a public inquiry. The motion on whether to call a public inquiry is non-binding and essentially serves as a recommendation to government. assembly to "demand a public inquiry into the Hay River-Enterprise-Kakisa wildfire." The petition has over 1,000 signatures from people who feel a public inquiry will help improve emergency preparedness across the territory.
100 new housing units being built in N.W.T. but one MLA says it’s not enough
February 9, 2024
CBC North - Housing Minister Lucy Kuptana said 100 new public housing units have been built or are close to being built — the first time the territory's public housing stock has been expanded in decades, she told the legislature Thursday. "For Indigenous people living in the Tłı̨chǫ region, housing is a nightmare," Jane Weyallon Armstrong, the MLA for Monfwi, said during Thursday's sitting. Monfwi MLA Jane Weyallon Armstrong said there are more than 200 people on the housing waitlist in the Tłı̨chǫ region. She said families whose homes burned down were put into public housing units that became available. Weyallon Armstrong said housing is top of mind as MLAs move to discuss this assembly's priorities in the coming days.
R.J. Simpson elected Premier of the Northwest Territories
December 8, 2023
CKLB 101.9 - Shane Thompson was elected Speaker of the House, while six MLAs were elected to cabinet. R.J. Simpson is the new Premier of the Northwest Territories. The MLA for Hay River North and former cabinet minister was elected to the top office by colleagues on Thursday. At the start of the day, there were four nominees for Premier: Simpson, Range Lake MLA Kieron Testart, Yellowknife South MLA Caroline Wawzonek, and Nahendeh MLA Shane Thompson. This means just four MLAs did not put their names forward for either speaker, premier, or cabinet.
Live: Shane Thompson becomes speaker, is out of premier race
December 7, 2023
Cabin Radio - Shane Thompson became the NWT’s speaker-elect as he emotionally dropped out of the race to become premier during Thursday’s key session at the legislature. Of the premier candidates, Wawzonek and Testart are from Yellowknife, while Simpson represents the Hay River North district. Premier and cabinet need to make sure plans are in place, he says. Simpson says working with Indigenous governments to advance the needs of the entire territory "would be the cornerstone" of his work as premier. He says progress has been made and that sole-sourcing opportunities for Indigenous governments should be advanced.