Herbert Nakimayak

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the response. Getting back to water boards, environmental boards, they carry a lot of Indigenous knowledge and are very key in the role that they play in decisions on major projects across the territory. Mr. Speaker, I acknowledge that, and I respect that, and kudos in involving them in the decisions moving forward. Mr. Speaker, ENR is to lead on some very important water management work, including trans-boundary water agreements. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister tell how Indigenous governments and traditional knowledge are incorporated into this work?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier my Member's statement was on World Water Day with the United Nations, and I have questions for the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources. Mr. Speaker, I am aware that ENR will be running a few activities in Tuktoyaktuk for World Water Day for the general public. Can the Minister tell us a bit more about how ENR recognizes World Water Day or other engagement activities for water awareness? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The cost of living in Nunakput is the highest in the Northwest Territories. On February 18th, the price of diesel fuel in Paulatuk went up almost 17 percent, hitting $1.94 per litre. The cost of regular gasoline is up to $1.98 a litre. Prices went up in Sachs Harbour and Ulukhaktok, as well.

Mr. Speaker, the rising cost has been hard on hunters living in these communities. People need fuel to hunt, to feed their families, and to continue to pass on their cultural survival skills to future generations. Families simply cannot afford the price increases of fuel, supplies...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thanks to the Minister for that. I know that Tuktoyaktuk was struggling last year with the loss of an SAO and the lack of communications with this, so I'm just wondering if the community lost out on any funding dollars, whether it's from Canada or from the GNWT, on this project due to the lack of communication and change in leadership? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I understand that sometimes the cost of delivering goods is out of our control and we must comply. Just to come back, the cost of living is high in the northern part of the territory. I appreciate the Minister's response, because I know they're always looking out for the best interests of our residents. My final question is: will the Minister commit to working with his colleagues and myself to revise the process for setting fuel prices in remote communities to ensure that they reduce the cost of living and do not result in hardship for people?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier I spoke about the cost of living in Nunakput, and my questions are for the Minister of Infrastructure. My question is: how does the Minister justify the recent increase of fuel prices in Nunakput, given the mandate priority of reducing the cost of living, reducing poverty, and investing in traditional harvesting and consumption of traditional foods? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I appreciate that. I'm just thinking about, you know, I mentioned during the session we talk about climate change and our eyes are only trained enough to notice it in the summer. You know, out of sight, out of mind in the wintertime. We've been faced with a lot of blizzards all over the territory, and that's really hard on our infrastructure, whether it's territorial, municipal, or Indigenous governments' infrastructure. I think we need to look at that moving forward into 2019-2020, and beyond into the next Assembly, to see what we can do to help assist communities with...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. On page 362, on the information items, I see that national disaster mitigation for Tuktoyaktuk was $48,000. I'd just like to get a little update on that, Mr. Chair. Thank you.

I appreciate the response. The cost of delivery is high in our region, with the current structure that we have. I'm sure there are other competitors that can deliver fuel at a lower rate. However, we rely on the system that we have right now. Based on the average annual consumption, how much would it cost the government to leave the prices of fuel in Ulukhaktok, Sachs Harbour, and Paulatuk where they were before the latest price increase?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The OAG found that in 22 cases CPWs, without the knowledge of senior staff in the authorities or the department, "worked with [children's] biological parents to transfer guardianship… to a family member or other person, who then were given full parental rights and responsibility." Significantly, when a guardianship agreement is completed, CFS cedes its right to act on behalf of (or for) the child in question.

At the time of the OAG's review, there was no related legislation or formal policies, standards, rules, or advice to guide CPWs in the matter of guardianship...