David Ramsay

I think I remember hearing somebody else say the exact same thing that Mr. Bromley mentioned, a certain MP from around here.

Getting back to Mr. Bromley’s point, we have to use the devolution process. I think once devolution is upon us – the jurisdiction’s currently with the federal government – this Legislature, at some point in time, is going to be able to make decisions like the ones that Mr. Bromley talks about.

When it comes to the Mineral Development Strategy, I think it’s very important to realize that currently, when a deposit is discovered and it’s deemed economically viable to pursue...

Avalon has gone out. I know they have an IBA in place with the community of Fort Resolution. For us, it’s through the socio-economic agreements and, again, we are negotiating an agreement with Avalon that would see maximized benefits for local businesses and people on jobs and business opportunities associated with both the operation at Thor Lake, the mine itself, and the hydromet facility south of the lake. We’re working on that and we will continue to try to get the best deal for Northerners. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I thank the Member for his concern and his questions regarding the secondary industry. In my time as a Member of this House, I’ve always had the belief in the industry. The bottom fell out in 2008-2009. We went from having factories to having nothing, and certainly, with the sale of these two factories, we’ve got an agreement on the polar bear, we’ve got somebody who is very passionate about rebirth of the industry and reviving this industry in Deepak International. We are very excited about the future of the secondary industry here in the Northwest Territories, and...

Thank you. We’ve done a number of things. In the South Slave ITI office, we’ve looked at a feasibility study for a limestone quarry in the south part of the Northwest Territories that would help in supplying limestone to the potential hydromet facility at the old Pine Point mine site. We continue negotiations, as I mentioned, on a socio-economic agreement. We’re looking at the establishment of a special economic zone in the old Pine Point mine site. I know the Mackenzie Valley Pipeline preparedness office or petroleum planning office now in Hay River has also done a preliminary examination on...

I thank the Member for the questions. I guess, first off, it just holds tremendous promise for the region and for the territory. Again, we can’t afford to mess this up. It has to be done right. We’re going to take our time, we’re going to get those guidelines together, and we’re going to work with the communities. There is so much opportunity there. If more wells are drilled and this resource is proven up and gets to a stage where it’s going to be commercially sent somewhere, there’s the existing pipeline south from Norman Wells. In discussions with experts and industry, if the volumes are...

Thank you. We could certainly take a look at compiling those statistics for the Member and sharing with the Members of this House. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. We’ve had a number of initiatives that we’ve done in the Sahtu. Going back to last fall, we had the readiness session. When the Members asked me questions here in the House just recently about getting a post-mortem on this winter’s operations in the spring, that’s something I feel the department can certainly help out with, and I know Transportation’s involved in that as well, so we can look forward to that. We’ve also got this business development officer that you see in the budget at ITI.

Our staff have done a great deal in trying to coordinate, as the Member knows...

Thank you. I certainly do believe the Department of Transportation has a role to play in educating the public, and especially young people on the use of helmets and the safe use of helmets.

As far as future activities go and initiatives go, we’re looking at a release of an animated public service announcement on helmet use to be aired during Northbeat programming on CBC and also that would be available on demand on You Tube. We’re looking at the organization of a Take Your Helmet to Work Day, and perhaps that’s something that Members of the Legislative Assembly could in fact bring a helmet to...

Thank you, Madam Chair. I’ve never seen that level of detail at committee but the suggestion is one that it’s the first time I’ve heard it. Maybe we could go to Deputy Minister Vician for a response.

Yes, Madam Chair. There’s approximately $7 million that remains.