Katrina Nokleby

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also rise to recognize the members of NAPEG that have joined us here today for the first reading of the bill. Yes, first reading of the bill make sure I have that right.

One of the really interesting things about this group I've already acknowledged Ed so I'm not going to speak further about him is that all three of the women sitting up there are my constituents. I am also a former councillor for NAPEG. So it's very exciting for me to have them all here and to have such amazing strong scientificallyminded women in my riding. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also rise to recognize Ed Hoff in the galley. I have known Ed since I was here 15 years ago. He has been a great mentor and friend, and I'm not sure that he actually has retired because I don't think engineers really retire; we just consult until the end. And I just want to say if anybody wants to know anything about Yellowknife's permafrost, Ed could give you a great walking tour of that. So welcome, Ed, to the gallery. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I don't really have anything to add to what my colleague has already expressed, which I think she did a very good job on capturing how the discussion went through the committee and noting, in particular, the concerns of Indigenous governments and organizations around their expenses and their costs. And while I do wish we could expand the scope of the bill to include all the social and indirect costs that we are paying as a territory, it's unfortunate that that is not something we can go after these opioid companies or these pharmaceutical companies for. However, I do...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories intervened in Attorney General of Quebec et al versus the Attorney General of Canada, which is a challenge to a federal law, C92, which provides for First Nation, Inuit, and Metis governments to implement their own child welfare laws. My questions are for the Premier.

What was the legal basis and rationale for the Government of the Northwest Territories intervening in this case before the Supreme Court of Canada?

How does the GNWT justify its intervention in this matter when the public position of the GNWT has been...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in 2021, the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation passed its first law, Inuvialuit Qitunrariit Inuuniarnikkun Maligaksat, meaning the Inuvialuit Family Way of Life law. Maligaksat draws down jurisdiction for child welfare for Inuvialuit children and youth under federal Bill C92, An Act Respecting First Nations, Inuit and Metis Children, Youth and Families.

Maligaksat establishes IRC's inherent right over child and family services to:

Ensure cultural continuity of Inuvialuit children and youth;

Enhance supports available to Inuvialuit families to thrive;

Improve...

Thank you. I appreciate the Minister's answer. So in its capacity with this type of money, is MACA providing technical advice to the communities, and are they helping with the preparation of the federal application process? Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I would be remiss to let $2.5 million go by and not ask a question. So can the Minister tell me does she know when this work will be complete? Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I guess I am confused, but I did think that we were already in the path of getting more money. What I'm hearing does sound like it's now going to be at least a couple more years before there's any shovels in the ground on this project. And I can tell you 100 percent that that diesel plant is not going to make it five more years at minimum. The road has already been eroded away leading up to the side of it, and once you are not able to drive beside the road you have safety issues and even accessing the site. So can the Minister please tell me what she is...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So if I think I'm hearing right, that means that we actually have not put in the ask yet to the federal government for more money, which I was under the impression through the last few sittings that when the plan did not go ahead last fall, like when I asked, that it was because the government was getting more money.

Can the Minister clarify whether or not they have gone for more money for the LNG plant, or are they still preparing the application? Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Sticking with roads, I'm looking at the Tlicho AllSeason Road to Whati. There is a $4 million carryover, which I kind of find interesting because as a committee we travelled to Whati, we talked about the road with them, and at the time there was, you know, a lot of concern about how narrow the road was and the dust suppression issues, etcetera, which I do want to thank the Department of Infrastructure did seem to get quite quickly on dust suppression after we left. However, given that people feel the road was constructed too narrowly, then now we're carrying over last...