A JUST RECOVERY FOR THE NWT
THIS MOMENT IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENSHRINE JUSTICE FOR THE PEOPLE, LAND & CLIMATE.
The world may be hungry to go back to normal. But before COVID hit, there were other deep-rooted crises in the Northwest Territories, including inequality, racism, & climate change. As young people and allies, we devoted 2019 to organizing for bold, justice- and science-based action to address these systemic realities because countless lives, including ours, depend on it. While the pandemic has shifted the world's attention, these problems have not gone away. But neither have we.
As many of us have struggled with a lack of good work, income security, quality housing, Internet access, and mental health and addictions support during the pandemic, the past few months have also shown us how easily governments can put people's needs first. In the NWT, buildings were rapidly repurposed for housing vulnerable groups, low-wage workers' pay was boosted, and evictions were banned, all in a matter of months. On the federal level, billions of dollars came through to support people in need. It's now clearer than ever that political will, not money, is what has been lacking.
History has shown us that moments of crisis, like the one we're in now, can transform societies for the better. This moment presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to rebuild in a way that finally puts people, the land, and the climate first. We call on the GNWT to seize it.
OUR DEMANDS
Through discussions with frontline workers, community leaders, and those with lived experience, we've developed six calls to action for the GNWT to address the social, racial, and environmental injustices that COVID has exacerbated, during and beyond the pandemic.
GOOD JOBS, LIVING WAGES & SICK LEAVE FOR ALL
The NWT has the lowest minimum wage of all the territories, at $13.46/hour. No one should be expected to live on this in the North, where the living wage is $23.95/hour. In addition, many don't have access to paid sick leave, compromising their health & others' if they have to show up to work to pay their bills.
The GNWT must raise the minimum wage to be in line with the living wage, and legislate two weeks of paid sick leave for all.
GUARANTEED LIVEABLE INCOME
Income inequality in the NWT is one of the highest in the country. Too many residents have to deal with paternalistic, bureaucratic income support programs to meet their basic needs. One of the Calls for Justice from the National Inquiry on MMIWG2S, a GLI would establish an income floor below which no one in the NWT would be permitted to fall. In conjunction with other social programs, a GLI would open up new possibilities for those who wish to spend more time caring for loved ones, on the land, growing food, or creating art.
We call on the GNWT to implement a Guaranteed Liveable Income.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR ALL
The NWT is in a housing crisis. Seeing that every person is sheltered in quality housing that meets their needs must be a top priority. Indigenous governments & organizations providing frontline services must be meaningfully consulted & in control of all housing initiatives in their communities. Investing in low-carbon housing is also an opportunity to create local jobs & lower emissions.
The GNWT must work with Indigenous governments to ensure all residents have access to quality, affordable housing.
UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO INTERNET
Access to free, high-speed Internet is a necessity in normal times, and especially in times of isolation. It is paramount to health, safety and remaining connected in a vast, remote region, yet costs remain high and the speed and quality is low.
The GNWT must immediately ensure that all people have access to quality, affordable Internet and work to provide a long-term public option.
COMMUNITY HEALING AND WELLNESS
Mental health and addictions touch the lives of many across the NWT. Everyone should have access to quality treatment options without having to leave their home community if they prefer to stay close to home. Programs should be community-led, trauma-informed and range between those based in Indigenous methods and Western ones, including on-the-land healing, cultural programming & counselling. Wellness initiatives, such as public spaces designed to foster connection to land, should be supported.
The GNWT must guarantee all NWT residents access to a range of culturally relevant mental health and addictions treatment options both in and away from their home communities.
GREEN NEW DEAL
As the climate crisis worsens and mines close, now is the time for massive public investments to diversify our economy and slash our emissions. We must fund community-owned renewable energy projects, and create education and training programs that will help the NWT to adapt to climate change while leaving no worker behind. We must invest in other low-carbon sectors like land protection and remediation, Indigenous Guardians programs, early childhood education and care, Elder care and Indigenous language revitalization. Community-driven and Indigenous-led initiatives that meet these goals must be prioritized over all others.
The GNWT must transition away from fossil fuels and transform the economy with a Green New Deal that leaves no worker behind.
LEELA GILDAY
Artist, Yellowknife
CHIEF DANNY MASUZUMI
Fort Good Hope
DR. COURTNEY HOWARD
ER Doctor, Yellowknife
PAUL ANDREW
Shútoat'ine Elder, Yellowknife
PATRICK SCOTT
Executive Director, Dehcho First Nations Association, Yellowknife
CHLOE DRAGON SMITH
Land Relationships Specialist, Yellowknife
CHIEF JOACHIM BONNETROUGE
Deh Gáh Got'îê First Nation
SUSAN CHATWOOD
Associate Professor, University of Alberta, Yellowknife
SHAUNA MORGAN
City Councillor, Yellowknife
BOB BROMLEY
Retired Biologist, MLA 2007-2015, Yellowknife
JESSICA BRUHN
Clinical Director, Re-Creation Healing, Yellowknife
DENNIS BEVINGTON
Fort Smith
NICOLE REDVERS
Yellowknife
RAYMOND PIDZAMECKY, MSW
Social Worker
MARLIES HOUWING
Family Doctor, Yellowknife
DANIEL T'SELEIE
Fort Good Hope
CRAIG SCOTT
Parent, Yellowknife
MARIA PELOVA
Family Doctor, Yellowknife
SHANNON JENNINGS
Student, Yellowknife
KAREN HAMRE
Landscape Architect, Yellowknife
SARA-ANNE PETERSON
Retired, Fort Smith
RYLAN CAMPBELL
Student, Yellowknife
AGGIE BROCKMAN
Consultant, Yellowknife
OZGER ONER
Yellowknife
NICK SOWSUN
Lawyer, Yellowknife
MARCO ESTEBAN
Yellowknife
DEBORAH SIMMONS
Tulít'a
TOMIKO ROBSON
Parent/Teacher, Yellowknife
CINDY NGO
Student, Yellowknife
ZANDER AFFLECK
Student, Yellowknife
ZOE GUILE
Conservation Planner, Yellowknife
SARAH PAIN
Yellowknife
VIVIANNE PAUZÉ
Student, Yellowknife
DAN KORVER
Architect, Yellowknife
JANE SUNDERWALD
Teacher, Yellowknife
AISLYNN STIRLING-CROSBY
Yellowknife
MARIMAR MACUSI
Yellowknife
KARYNE DANIELS
Alternative Learning Classroom Assistant, Yellowknife
AMANDINE FALETTE GALIUSSI
Early Childhood Educator, Yellowknife
ADELINE VETTE
Parent, Yellowknife
SAMIIRA ABDIRAHMAN
Student, Yellowknife
AVEN ELLIOTT
Yellowknife
ALANNA
Student, Yellowknife
AKUTHRI BALAJI
Student, Yellowknife
NATHAN ENSING
Yellowknife
JULIE LOOMIS
Yellowknife
JILL ALAIN
Speech-Language Pathologist, Yellowknife
WILLIAM GORDON
Husband/Father/Hockey Dad, Yellowknife
ZACKARY NAEDZO
Student/Activist, Yellowknife
JACQUELINE HALLIBURN
Lawyer, Yellowknife
ELAINE GILLESPIE
Yellowknife
MARGEAUX GUILE
Yellowknife
TYRA MOSES
Founder/CEO of DeneMedia.com, Denendeh
CAREY BRAY
Early Childhood Interventionist, Yellowknife
BRANDON CASTILLO
Yellowknife
ANONDA CANADIEN
Student, Activist, Land Defender/Protector,
Fort Providence
HOLLY JONES
Community Coach, Inuvik
SIMONE HIPFNER
Yellowknife
JULIE HARRIS
Teacher, Yellowknife
BRENNAN DEBASSIGE
Gold Miner, Yellowknife
DYLAN
Student, Yellowknife
ALEXIS MCLEOD
Student, Yellowknife
ANIKA AFFLECK
Student, Yellowknife
SUZETTE MONTREUIL
NGO Executive Director, Yellowknife
NEESHA RAO
Lawyer/Interim Executive Director, Yellowknife
WALTER BROWN
Community Development, Yellowknife
KATARINA KUHNERT
Inuvik
KATHRYN ORAAS
Yellowknife
ADY MCLEOD
Administrator, Yellowknife
LOIS LITTLE
Yellowknife
SABRINA FLACK
Doula, Moon Sprout Wellness, Yellowknife
ARLENE HACHE
Community Advocate, Yellowknife
ELLEN GILLIES
Yellowknife
KYLE ROGERS
Student, Yellowknife
PRETTY NGO
Student, Yellowknife
STEVEN GRIFFITH-COCHRANE
Family Physician, Yellowknife
RUTH BOWEN
Part-Time Researcher, Yellowknife
ADITHI BALAJI
Student, Yellowknife
KATHRYN WALKER
Teacher, Yellowknife
MARLIES HOUWING
Family Doctor, Yellowknife
RACHEL MACNEILL
Yellowknife
MICHELLE SWALLOW
Parent, Yellowknife
STEPHANIE BARRY
Program Support - Finance, Yellowknife
ASHLEY DAW
Artist, Yellowknife
ABE DRENNAN
Artist and Teacher, Inuvik
JANET DEAN
Project Manager/Facilitator, Yellowknife
ANDREW WITTLINGER
Parent/Builder, Yellowknife
ROSAMIN NATHOO
Inuvik
LAWRENCE NORBERT
Self-Government Advisor, Tsiigehtchic
TONY DEVLIN
Communications, Inuvik
ROBERT GRANDJAMBE JR.
Hunter/Trapper, Fort Smith
ALANA KRONSTAL
Yellowknife
KORRY GARVEY
Social Service Worker, Yellowknife
DANA HARRIS
Environmental Technician, Yellowknife
KIERRA ALTY
Teacher, Yellowknife
JULIA CUTLER
Yellowknife
THOMAS GAGNON-VAN LEEUWEN
Literacy Instructor, Yellowknife
SARAH CHAPMAN
Student, Yellowknife
ALYSSA TITUS
Family Physician, Yellowknife
PAUL FALVO
Dad/Lawyer, Yellowknife
GROUP SUPPORTERS
The following groups have signed on to this campaign and stand with us in calling for a Just Recovery for the Northwest Territories:
TRENT PETERSON
Yellowknife
BRIAN MCCUTCHEON
Semi-Retired Communications Consultant, Yellowknife
NIMISHA BASTEDO
Teacher, Fort Providence
BRADLEY THOM
DGGFN, Fort Providence
MEGHAN LEITCH
Physician, Yellowknife
TYANNA STEINWAND
Research Manager, Tlicho Government
AARON PLOTNER
Education Assistant/Outdoor Program Coordinator, Dettah
JULIA GYAPAY
MSc Student - Public Health, Hay River
MEGHAN HOUSLEY
Yellowknife
MINA CONNELLY
Lawyer, Yellowknife
ARIEL HOLMWOOD-BRAMWELL
Student, Yellowknife
MEGHAN SCHNURR
Yellowknife
JULIAN SCHRODER
Biologist, Yellowknife
TOM MCLENNAN
Pilot, Yellowknife
DYLAN RITIAS
Student, Inuvik
JOANNE SPEAKMAN
Research Assistant, Yellowknife
JASMINE GORDON
Registered Nurse, Inuvik
WENDY BISARO
Retired MLA 2007-2015, Yellowknife
MIKI ERLICH
Parent, Yellowknife
ELLIE MIA TAYLOR
Student, Yellowknife
CHLOE SON
Student, Yellowknife
CHRISTINA CARRIGAN
Yellowknife
MAURA MENG
Advocacy Coordinator - YWCA NWT, Yellowknife
KIM BAILEY
Yellowknife
ELLA KOKELJ
Yellowknife
SUSAN FITZKY
Social Worker, Yellowknife
KIRA YOUNG
Student, Yellowknife
SHEA ALAIN
Respiratory Therapist, Yellowknife
GWICH'IN LANGUAGE REVIVAL CAMPAIGN
PUBLIC SERVICE ALLIANCE OF CANADA - NORTH
YELLOWKNIFE WOMEN'S SOCIETY
UNION OF NORTHERN WORKERS
RE-CREATION HEALING PSYCHOTHERAPY
OUR TIME - YELLOWKNIFE
CLIMATE STRIKE YELLOWKNIFE
YELLOWKNIFE ARTIST RUN COMMUNITY CENTRE
ALTERNATIVES NORTH
ECOLOGY NORTH
BUILDING NORTHERN FUTURES
AKLAVIK HUNTERS AND TRAPPERS COMMITTEE
SIR JOHN FRANKLIN HIGH SCHOOL GREEN TEAM
NWT MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
MLA RESPONSE TRACKER
Which Members of the Legislative Assembly have publicly committed to governing for a Just Recovery?
MLAs have been e-mailed at least twice for their position since September 10. If we haven't heard from an MLA by now, we're considering that a refusal to publicly commit to a Just Recovery. This section will be updated as responses are received.