David Ramsay

Obviously the potential in the area of forestry is immense here in the Northwest Territories, especially in the southwest corner of the territory and south of Great Slave Lake. Definitely we need to be looking towards devolution as a way and a means and the settlement of both the Akaitcho land claim and the Dehcho land claim to advance forestry and that sector here in the Northwest Territories, and that discussion will take place with ENR on ways that both ITI and ENR can work together, as we move forward toward devolution on getting the most we can and maximizing the benefits of our forestry...

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.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That discussion has to take place with my colleagues on the accessibility of land, but certainly the agricultural component is something that’s of value here. We need to ensure that we’re getting programming dollars out to the various communities around the Northwest Territories. Under the Growing Forward Fund that we have from the federal government, we’ve put that program into 29 communities across the Northwest Territories, mostly small vegetable garden plots, but we are working with the money that we have to get programs out there for people to avail themselves of...

That’s an area that the last government spent a great deal of time on. There was some additional funding put into the SEED Program and that’s something, as we move forward and work through the business plan for the upcoming year and the next four years, is a discussion that we will have to have with committee and Regular Members of this House to determine how that should happen. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s my pleasure to recognize a few visitors in the gallery today. I’d like to first recognize Mr. Tom Hoefer, the executive director of the NWT and Nunavut Chamber of Mines. Mr. John Ketchum, who is the GNWT manager at the Northwest Territories Geoscience Office. Both men were instrumental in the Geoscience Forum that was recently held and I thank them for that. Also with them this afternoon is Mr. Christian Bertelsen. He’s the acting director of minerals and petroleum with Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada. I’d also like to welcome this afternoon our...