What ties do you have to the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and what steps will you take to grow those connections if elected?

In my capacity as an MLA, I have assisted several persons with issues who are part of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and by doing so have had to undertake my own research to better understand the issues and the community. As an MLA it is important that I provide fair and equitable representation to all constituents and would continue to do so if re-elected. In the 19 th Legislative Assembly, I have lobbied for additional funding to support 2SLGBTQIA+ organizations including Northern Mosaic. To effectively advocate for constituents or groups I ask them to contact me and inform me of the issues and potential solutions.  

The Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two Spirit Report specifically states 2SLGBTQQIA+ Indigenous communities are included in the Calls to Action. If you were elected, what is your plan for seeing through an inclusive MMIWG2S Act in the NWT?

I would be interested in discussing what such legislation would look like. If there is additional information you could provide me with, it would be appreciated. There needs to be recognition within the NWT and Federal Human Rights Act to ensure protections for 2SLGBTQI+. In addition, legislation such as the Education Act, Health Act, Justice Act, and others, need to be reviewed and identify discriminatory clauses and make appropriate changes.

What do you know about the current challenges of two spirit, indigiqueer, transgender, non-binary and gender non-conforming people in the NWT, and what steps will you take to commit to addressing these challenges?

Firstly, it is important to educate residents on what the current challenges of two spirit, indigiqueer, transgender, non-binary, and gender non-conforming are. We need to encourage acceptance, and this can only be accomplished through education. It is also important that protections are imbedded in policy and legislation that would protect against discrimination not only territorially, but throughout Canada and Internationally.

The NWT currently offers the most protection for two spirit, transgender, non-binary and gender non-conforming people in Canada. This includes gender-affirming surgeries, trans+ healthcare, policies and more. Given the current political atmosphere targeting two spirit, transgender, non-binary and gender non-conforming people, what steps would you take to preserve these protections?

In collaboration and consultation with the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, I would commit to advocating for the recognition and protections to be entrenched in appropriate legislation.

The evacuation(s) this past summer were detrimental to many communities with devastating aftermaths. Were you impacted by the evacuation(s) this past summer and what did you do during that time? If elected, how do you plan to deal with the ongoing impacts, and how would you improve a future response?

Hay River was impacted by 3 evacuations in the last 18 months. For each evacuation I remained in Hay River and provided my support to those front-line workers; persons who remained behind; and those that did evacuate. I worked to inform those that evacuated with information of what was taking place on the ground including available financial supports.

Each evacuation was to come with lessons learned, but each time it did not appear that happened. What required is a third-party independent inquiry of all 3 evacuations and disaster responses for Hay River and the South Slave. We need to specifically define what are essential services and personnel. The outcome must include solutions, responsibilities, funding, and come with a plan that is clear, concise, flexible, and usable by any community who is faced with similar situations. This review will be a priority for me, and should be for all those elected going into the next assembly.