Bob McLeod

We first became aware of this issue in the summer of 2014 when the hamlet raised concerns with potential public safety issues. When ECE met with the DEA in February of 2015, the hamlet indicated that they would use signage to restrict parking in the area around the school, and they put up appropriate signage to that effect. But to fix the problem longer term, the hamlet has advised that they need to do some drainage improvements, so we see the solution as being part of that, and certainly, we will follow up with them to see if we can get the work done this year.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize Ted Blondin, the chair of the Tlicho Community Services Agency. Welcome to the Assembly.

Mr. Speaker, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission is an important milestone in Canada’s history. The release of their report, Honouring the Truth, Reconciling the Future, this past June has moved the national discussion to reconciliation and provided tangible actions that need to be taken.

It has compelled Canadians to recognize and accept the history of our young nation. The discussion is no longer about whether the residential school experience happened or not. What it is about is this: Aboriginal people in Canada have suffered from and continue to suffer from the direct impacts of...

We have quite a number of strategies. We finished the Economic Opportunities Strategy, Mineral Development Strategy that the Member is referring to. We also have a Land Use Strategy Framework, and the Member knows that the lack of investment or the downward turn in mineral exploration is something that’s happened across the world. It’s an international problem.

I have said many times that we will have balanced development. A priority is to settle land claims, and there will be up to 80 percent of land available to development when it is all said and done. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As a Member, he’s been around a long time and should know we have had a Protected Areas Strategy that was developed in the 1990s. When devolution occurred, we devolved and evolved and we’ve taken that Protected Areas Strategy and reviewed it and served our northern priorities. It is a draft document and those have been put out for discussion. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

We have been working with a very large group in developing this draft plan, so it shouldn’t have been a surprise to anybody. We’ve reached out and had a number of meetings with the Chamber of Mines, Chamber of Commerce and other organizations. Also, we have to keep in mind that settling the land claims is very important. We want to do it as quickly as possible. There’s 144,000 square kilometres of land as part of the interim land withdrawal, and once those land claims are settled there’ll be additional land available. As I said, it’s a draft document and it’ll be a transition document and it...

The appropriate term is “balanced development.” We’ve always said that we would have development while protecting the land and environment at the same time. With the draft Conservation Strategy, it allows for up to 80 percent for development. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, we often talk about the people of the NWT as being our greatest resource. I think it’s fair to say that our Government of the Northwest Territories’ public service is made up of many of those remarkable people who dedicate themselves to public service. Today I would like to acknowledge one of those public servants who has dedicated 25 years to this government and the people of the NWT.

On December 4th Hilda Camirand will retire.

---Applause

During her career she has supported many Premiers and Ministers. All of them, including myself, have benefitted from her wise counsel, expert...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document, entitled “Cabinet Operational Guidelines During a Transition Period.”

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document, entitled “2014-2015 Status of Women Council of the NWT Annual Report.” Thank you.