Frieda Martselos

Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Friday, October the 6th, 2023, I will move the following motion: Now therefore I move, second by the honourable Member for Hay River North, that this Legislative Assembly request the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories to dissolve the 19th Assembly of Northwest Territories on October 15th, 2023 to permit polling day for a general election to be held on November 14th, 2023.

And further, that the Speaker transmit this resolution to the Commissioner. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I realize that the end of the 19th Assembly is upon us. So I just wanted to ask the Minister if she can confirm that this project will continue to be pursued by NTPC and the Government of the Northwest Territories regardless of the upcoming election. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, will the Minister of NTPC commit to have bilateral meetings with the First Nation who has reserve lands right beside the Taltson dam and come to an agreement? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I support the bill because I think the majority of the people of the Northwest Territories are of Indigenous. I just I want to talk about a couple things.

The IGC is with three governments. Okay, I mean, with the federal and territorial government and the government that signs on. And it's not necessarily that I want to make this very clear because I think clarity is very important.

When you sign on, that means you have a say in land and resources now that we're actually doing some of the work with especially with the process convention. You have to realize the...

Mr. Speaker, can the Minister provide any update on her engagements with the federal government regarding the Taltson expansion? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, despite opposition or doubts from some about the viability of the Taltson Hydro Expansion, can the Minister confirm that this project is still a priority for the Government of the Northwest Territories? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I want to speak once again about a major infrastructure project that our government has been pursuing for years and has committed to construct at some point in the future. The project I'm talking about is the Taltson hydro expansion.

Mr. Speaker, I know that there are some Members from past and present in this House who are strongly against the expansion of the Taltson dam, and each Members' reasons are varied. I, however, wanted to stand up here today and state once again, as I have on numerous occasions, that I am somebody who is strongly in favour...

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table a Government of the Northwest Territories public service announcement dated September 27, 2023 titled "Public Service Announcement Have your say on the delivery of an Indigenous Environmental Studies and Sciences Diploma Program". Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, as I have said many times, Fort Smith is the education capital of the NWT. Our community is proud and honoured with this distinction. Therefore, I am sure people can understand Fort Smith's concern with anything that might threaten the ENR technology program at Aurora College Thebacha campus. Can the Minister provide clarity on what exactly this new environmental program will be, which campus will it be offered at, and whether that will in any way undermine or threaten the ENR technology program in Fort Smith? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as mentioned in my Member's statements, Trent University's applying to provide a new program of Indigenous environmental studies and sciences at Aurora College starting in the fall of 2023. Can the Minister of ECE explain who's pushing for and leading the efforts to introduce this new program at the college? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.