Frieda Martselos

Mr. Speaker, if Indigenous governments, Indigenous organizations, or a majority of the NWT population rejects these two new policies mentioned, will the Finance Minister take that criticism seriously and amend these proposed policies to better reflect the will of the people of the NWT? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess maybe the Indigenous governments haven't read it yet. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister tell us if she is confident that the Dene, Inuit, and Metis people from the NWT will be supportive of the new Indigenous Employment Policy and the Employment Equity Policy? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this past Tuesday, the Government of the Northwest Territories shared its plan to address changes to the Affirmative Action Policy. In their announcement, it states the government's intention to replace the existing Affirmative Action Policy with two new policies in its place. The Indigenous Employment Policy and the Employment Equity Policy.

The Indigenous Employment Policy would prioritize hiring persons who are descendants of Dene, Inuit, and Metis people who are Indigenous to the present-day boundaries of the NWT. And the Employment Equity Policy would...

Mr. Speaker, will the Minister commit that ENR will examine the wildlife business regulations and provide more clarity around the areas I've identified today? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, has the Department of ENR ever suspended an outfitting license because of inactivity? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, in the event that an outfitter license does not become available, how does ENR notify the public and interested applicants of that availability? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, are outfitter license holders able to hold on to their outfitting license indefinitely as long as they follow the rules, or is there an opportunity every ten years for new applicants to apply to become holders of outfitter licenses? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in September 2022 I was contacted by a constituent about outfitter licenses as this constituent was starting an outfitting business offering boat charters, tours, and guided fishing and hunting trips in the South Slave Region. So I emailed the minister of ENR asking some questions on outfitter licenses under the wildlife business regulations, and I really did not like the answers I received.

For context, Mr. Speaker, my constituent is an Indigenous man who was born and raised in Fort Smith, and he did apply for an outfitters license, but the department...

Thank you, Madam Chair. I just want to point out a couple of things also. Some of these regulations that were talked about is a reminder from one of my colleagues on the 17th Assembly and a former ENR Minister. We also have a site in we always talk about Cameron Hills and we also always talk about Giant Mine. But we have a site that has to be looked at also is the NTCL Bell Rock site. It's one of the outstanding issues with the Salt River claim, Salt River First Nation. And, yes, you know, sometimes we are blamed for a lot of these recommendations that we bring forward when it's other...

Mr. Speaker, can the Minister explain what ENR's rationale is with issuing an outfitters license to a local harvesting committee but not issue the license directly to an Indigenous NWT resident? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.