Frieda Martselos

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, in line with my statement the other day about economic recovery, today I want to talk about the longawaited and major NWT infrastructure the Mackenzie Valley Highway.

Madam Speaker, for decades, it's been envisioned by both territorial and national leaders alike, that the Mackenzie Valley Highway extend from the southernmost tip of the 60th parallel up to the Dempster Highway in Inuvik. Among the first to envision this was Prime Minister John Diefenbaker with his northern vision of developing the northernmost regions of Canada to enable a road to...

My final question, Mr. Chair, is about the harvesters support program. It has remained the same for years. And there's not a big increase or anything in this, like some of my colleagues have mentioned. And it's the one program that affects everybody within the First Nations, whether it be Metis or First Nation Dene in my community. And, you know, it's important that we look at that and increases should be done throughout the Northwest Territories on the harvesters support program. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I would like clarity on Furs Act because when the Wildlife Act was passed, I was Chief at the time and the public engagement was not we were not listened to. And there was some sections in the act that still have we still have a problem with in my community, especially the First Nation, the two First Nations. And so I'm wondering when those public engagements are going to start and hopefully they're facetoface and not virtual. I think it's extremely I don't want it to happen and then there is no engagement, you know, because not everybody wants to go virtual...

Madam Speaker, I'm wondering if the Minister can provide clarity on something. According to the Department of Infrastructure's website, 40 of 42 bridges and two access roads have already been built along the proposed Mackenzie Valley Highway route, yet construction of the highway has not officially begun. Can the Minister confirm if construction of the highway has begun or not? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker, can the Minister of Infrastructure provide us an update on the status of the Mackenzie Valley Highway Project? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Further to the Wildlife Act, you know, Salt River has to follow the Wildlife Act but there's no enforcement on reserve. You know, they expect the Government of the Northwest Territories expects all members on reserve to follow the act and but we don't have no enforcement when we have poachers or anyone else on the lands. And I just wonder, Mr. Chair, if that is going to be addressed eventually. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Madam Speaker, can the Minister provide us any specific dates or timelines for when construction of the Mackenzie Valley Highway will be starting? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker, I think the Minister has answered some of my questions but I'm going to ask it again.

Madam Speaker, can the Minister provide a timeline for when we can expect the environmental review for the Mackenzie Valley Highway to be complete? Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, for my statement topic today, I want to talk about a new mining project in the NWT, which is the NICO project in the Tlicho region produced by the company Fortune Minerals. This project will be built near Whati connected to the new Tlicho AllSeason Road and will be extracting important minerals such as cobalt, gold, bismuth, and copper. These minerals have a huge and increasing demand within the modern industrial economy. Cobalt is particularly a key mineral in the production of lithium ion batteries which is used to power many common consumer goods such as...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to table an article entitled "Volvo Announces Massive 50GigawattHour Battery Plant in Sweden".

And the second is titled "Fortune Minerals" from the Edmonton Journal, "Article Aiming to Develop in Alberta after Saskatchewan Rejected Proposed Metals Refinery". Thank you, Mr. Speaker.