Herbert Nakimayak

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I see my constituent Georgina Jacobson Masuzumi is here. I just wanted to recognize her and welcome her to the House. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Quyanainni, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this past summer, while we worked and travelled in our constituencies, the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls continued to take shape. Five commissioners were appointed in early August, continuing the pre-inquiry work begun at the start of this year when federal minister Carolyn Bennett visited Yellowknife in January. During her visit the Minister committed to work that recognizes "different and unique situations" — both across Canada and here in the Northwest Territories, the traditional home of many diverse Dene, Metis...

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the response from the Minister. My final question to the Minister of ENR is: will the Department of ENR work more closely with the federal government to ensure that the GNWT and communities are more prepared in the future in a case of a significant incident such as this in the Arctic Ocean? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

HON. ROBERT MCLEOD: Mr. Speaker, as I said before, because of the increased traffic or expected increased traffic, we will have to better plan for incidents like this, should they happen. I mean, I can assure the Member and the folks up in the coastal...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister for ENR, pertaining to the stranded barge on Toker Point north of Tuktoyaktuk. Mr. Speaker, my first question to the Minister is: What is the Department of ENR doing to be more prepared in the future to minimize the environment impact of ships going aground in the Arctic Ocean? Quyanainni, Mr. Speaker.

Quyanainni, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today my statement will be on the stranded barge at Toker Point north of Tuktoyaktuk in the Beaufort Sea. Mr. Speaker, the Investigator is a barge leased from Harley Marine from the United States by Fathom Marine from Vancouver. The barge went aground on September 2nd at Toker Point, and since that time efforts have been made to remove the fuel and remove the barge. Canadian Coast Guard is the lead agency, with assistance from Transport Canada. ILA has Environmental Monitors out on site for the majority of the time the barge has been accessible by boat...

Thanks for the response on that, and I do believe there will be more activity in the Northwest Passage and the Arctic Ocean in the next few years to come. Mr. Speaker, my second question is pertaining to the incident, since there was such a long time for activity, to this incident. Can the department identify the process once a ship has run aground in the Beaufort Sea? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would just like to recognize some folks from the Beaufort-Delta. Jiri Raska from IDC, Denny Rodgers from IDC as well, and Ms. Judy McLeod and also Mr. Rocky Simpson. Welcome to them and everyone else in the gallery. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Nunakput region with its communities of Paulatuk, Sachs Harbour, Tuktoyaktuk, and Ulukhaktok may be remote, but our communities are close-knit. Because we are close to our families, friends, and neighbours, Mr. Speaker, I know that many are struggling with matters of mental health. When we gathered in the House in February, I spoke about the terrible impacts of suicide on communities in my region. More broadly, Mr. Speaker, mental health needs in our communities continues to demand our attention. In the past, the Minister of Health and Social Services...

Mr. Speaker, my second question is: earlier this year the Minister spoke about Nunakput women’s group to set up to address mental health and stressors within the relationships. Can the Minister update the House on the status of the work of this group?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I just want to welcome my aunt, Eileen Ruben, from Paulatuk; my daughter, Madeleine Nakimayak, from London; and my mom, Helen Nakimayak. Welcome. It is good to have you here. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.