Bob Bromley

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In following up on my Member’s statement, my questions are for the Minister of Transportation. I want to note that the development of the Giant Mine never delivered economic benefits to the people of the Drygeese territory. It crippled the subsistence wealth of their traditional lands and left a legacy of poisons to deal with. If Giant were a new mine being developed today, an economic benefits agreement would certainly be in place as a first order.

Suppose that this mine were being developed today, based on his experience over the last 12 years of diamond and other...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This House has debated and put in place a responsible policy that allows for negotiated contracts. It was created to “lead to benefits for businesses or residents which could not reasonably be expected to be achieved through competitive contracting, or contribute to the creation, growth and competitive capacity of Northwest Territories-based businesses.” This policy has regularly been applied in appropriate cases across the NWT, with major benefits accruing to our residents and businesses.

A couple of my colleagues have questioned the application of this policy for the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to just follow that up by stating that I am aware that there are a number of local and regional corporations who have expressed an interest in participating with the Det’on Cho on this project. As part of the negotiations for establishing the contract, what steps is the department taking to ensure a full complement of local subcontractors are included in the Det’on Cho Giant bypass work?

Thanks to the Minister for those comments. As I’ve noted, some critics of this negotiated contract underway right now claim that we already have a full, competitive complement capable of this project. I don’t disagree with them on that point. Yet, as I said, YKDFN’s Det’on Cho Corporation is taking root today because that First Nations’ participation was never promoted when the mine was developed.

I’m wondering what are the Minister’s views on ensuring that Det’on Cho is enabled to join the ranks of our successful First Nations and other development corporations and finally get an opportunity...

The Negotiated Contracts Policy exists for good reasons, and I’m glad we’ve put it to good use here. If there are problems with the policy, let’s have a discussion, but let’s not wait until the policy happens to be applied in our own backyard to speak out on it.

I look forward to the successful completion of the contract negotiations and the flow of benefits to our local economy that will result. I will have questions for the Minister of Transportation.

Thanks to the Minister for those comments again. The Detah road, as the Minister mentioned, is actually an unfinished project because of lack of government funds, and I’m hoping we can find some. But it’s a prime example of the good work being done by Det’on Cho. I’m wondering if the Minister can outline some of the local and territorial economic benefits resulting from this negotiated contract, assuming that there’s some monitoring of those benefits.

I appreciate those remarks. Good to hear. I see early childhood development as the answer; one of the big answers to many of our issues in the health, education and the justice field, a huge opportunity. So we need to get these things in place. Ninety percent of what we know of the brain today has been learned in the last decade. We need to incorporate that. There are amazing relationships being discovered, and opportunities for savings and treating our people better. So will the Minister tell us when we will be getting this information and can we expect to see it in the business plans for the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the Minister’s commitment once again. We need to move from an outdated energy system that is costing our people in every way, to one that promotes healthy land, people and economies. What steps will the Minister take to get all of this done during our term? Thank you.

Thanks to the Minister for that response. I wish it was completely accurate, but unfortunately many of those $60 million, of course, were directed to irrational subsidies of fossil fuels. Many of our people across the Northwest Territories want to reduce their energy costs. They have motivation and infrastructure suitable for generating renewable energy for their own use and for sale, but first a fair price is needed. A feed-in tariff price is fair because it recognizes the benefits and savings of renewable energy. Will the Minister commit to considering a feed-in tariff policy and requiring...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d also like to recognize our table officers today. I recognize Mr. Anthony “Tony” Whitford as the resident of Weledeh.

In the gallery, I believe, is Amanda Mallon, who was there earlier. She is a resident of Weledeh and city councillor.

Also there is Gail Cyr, who has been mentioned, a recent recipient of the Queen’s Jubilee Medal. Also, if memory serves, also perhaps a past Wise Woman Award winner and most importantly, of course, a resident of Weledeh.