Bob McLeod

At this time, the federal government has given us no indication that they intend to reconsider their decision to ban offshore drilling in the Arctic. The federal government has committed to a five-year scientific review of this decision; however, they have not provided any information about what that review will entail. I'll be following up with Prime Minister Trudeau at every opportunity to ensure that the Government of the Northwest Territories is involved in any review and that traditional knowledge is a key feature of that review.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to recognize a constituent of Yellowknife South, Magnolia Unka, daughter of Tommy Unka. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm pleased to report that we are already doing that. Inuvik holds a renewable energy technology conference on an annual basis, and it's scheduled for the middle of June. Members are welcome to attend. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm pleased to report that our attendance at Mineral Roundup in Vancouver was money very well spent. Our sister territory, Yukon government, was also there in full force with their whole Cabinet and their opposition parties as well promoting mining. The whole government has a stake in the success of mining. A strong mining sector also means revenues for the Government of the Northwest Territories' social programs and other services. Aboriginal government representatives that were there had some very specific questions in the areas of housing, education, and health, and...

This government is committed to economic diversification. Cabinet recently participated at the mineral exploration conference in Vancouver to promote opportunities for exploration and mining. During the last government there was a focus on promoting the Asian tourism market, and we continue to see positive results with an increase of 20,000 tourists from 2011 to 2016. The completion of the Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk Highway in 2017 will be a milestone in the Northwest Territories helping to connect communities support a resilient transportation system in the face of climate change and capture...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I indicated publically, I was informed of the ban on drilling in Arctic waters by the Prime Minister two hours before he made the announcement in Vancouver. This was a couple weeks ago. At that time, I expressed my concerns and I have since written to the Prime Minister reiterating the Government of Northwest Territories' position that it is imperative that our government be involved in decisions that affect our people in the Northwest Territories. We must be able to give our residents hope for a brighter economic future.

The Prime Minister assured me that he knows...

Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise Members that the Honourable Glen Abernethy will be absent from the House for the remainder of this week to attend the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Ministers of Social Services meetings in Toronto, Ontario. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The way we see it working out is that federal Minister Bennett and myself will accept the reports and we'll meet and determine a path forward. On our part, I certainly expect that we will work with the Joint Cabinet and Standing Committee on Aboriginal Relations and that we would, at the appropriate time, share that document and discuss it and, certainly, on a similar basis with the Aboriginal governments. They've all written and asked for copies of the report, so we'll determine a path forward with the federal Minister and we'll discuss it, and, at the appropriate time, we'll share it with...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm pleased to report that negotiations at all three tables with the Dehcho, Akaitcho and NWT Metis Nation are ongoing and by all accounts the negotiations are proceeding and we're making progress. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am very pleased to recognize my wife and life-long partner and number one constituent, Melody McLeod. Thank you.