David Ramsay

I agree with the Member that we have to ensure that the money we are spending, whether it’s through standing offer agreements or other sources of procurement, is done so that it maximizes the benefits to the economy here in the Northwest Territories to local businesses. I want to assure the Member that this is something that this government is going to continue to pursue.

To a large extent, socioeconomic agreements and IBAs cover off a great deal of that. I think, as a government, we have to continue to again maximize opportunities for local companies and persons looking for employment here in the Northwest Territories wherever possible, and we will continue to do that. Thank you.

A decision on procurement will be made by Cabinet sometime this month. To the dates, I wouldn’t want to pin it down to a certain date, but certainly by the end of the month we will have a way forward on the procurement of the Highway No. 4 realignment, at which time we’ll gladly convey that to the Members of this House.

Again, I don’t believe we are in a rush. I think we are getting a little bit behind schedule when it comes time to make a decision on procurement on the realignment of Highway No. 4.

Again, this project has been in the mix now for several years. Construction was to begin in the winter/spring of this year to be completed by this fall. We’re moving now to look at a construction start date sometime in April.

We need to find out the best way to maximize the benefits to the economy of the Northwest Territories. We’re interested, as your colleague Mrs. Groenewegen stated in her questions to me, in...

Mr. Speaker, the prevention of an oil spill in the Canadian Arctic offshore is the primary goal. We’ve got to prevent that from happening. Again, we’re confident with the NEB’s response, that the regulatory regime has the tools needed to protect the safety of northern residents, workers and the environment.

In their application, applicants must submit a contingency plan that outlines what measures they will use to respond to an out-of-control well. A relief well is one contingency measure. Obviously, projects that are occurring in the Beaufort Sea would operate in significantly isolated and...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Certainly, we’re confident with the work that the National Energy Board has been doing and we support the work that they continue to do. The key thing for us is that Northerners want to provide input into decision-making about future offshore drilling and they also want to be prepared in developing plans for future drilling projects. I think those are some things that we can take away from it. We’re pleased with the extensive engagement, as well, that Northerners had with the NEB to produce the Arctic review that was released earlier today. Thank you.

I believe as we move this forward, we get to the business plans and we get to discuss the priorities of the department and where we are moving forward, I think a training component to this is something that’s important to the Members of this House. I believe there’s some value to it. We could certainly look at that further down the road.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Certainly I appreciate the Member’s concern over the Prospectors Grubstake Program, a program that was cut loose back in 2009. Today I believe we really need to send a message to folks that are out there prospecting, that the Government of the Northwest Territories is interested in the work that prospectors provide. The program historically was oversubscribed and I would certainly be interested in working with committee. I know the Member chairs the Economic Development and Infrastructure committee. I would certainly be interested in working with the committee to ensure...

Yes, Mr. Speaker, that is the case. We are going to continue to communicate that message to the public here in the Northwest Territories. Obviously the new law comes into place January 1st. So again, I’d encourage everybody to adhere to that new law, and over the holiday season especially if you could take the pledge to leave the phone alone, that would also help. Thank you.

Obviously the opportunity at Avalon, not just for the mine but for the processing and the value added, a component to that is of great value to the economy here in the Northwest Territories and those discussions certainly are taking place. Thank you.