Katrina Nokleby

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Premier will be formally introducing our government's mandate during this session. I do not want to get ahead of the process and speak to it is content in any detail today. However, I can confirm that our mandate will lay out actions and investments to address the priorities that we have identified. Those include more jobs, more business opportunities, and growth and diversity for our economy.

Our mandate includes initiatives that are aimed at increasing employment in small communities; increasing resource exploration and development; ensuring government procurement...

I would like to clarify that there was no decision or direction given by Transport Canada to narrow the runway. Transport Canada is responsible for establishing the regulations and standards. The current standards indicate that a 30-metre runway is required for the type of airport and service in Fort Smith, and I would be happy to share the Department of Infrastructure's copies of these standards with the Member.

Transport Canada also administers the Airport Capital Assistance Program. This is the program that the GNWT relies on for funding for construction and maintenance of its airport system...

The decision to replace the airside lighting and to narrow the runway at the Fort Smith airport was made based on current and future operational and regulatory needs. As part of ongoing airport planning, it was determined that the aging lighting system needed to be replaced. It was also determined that a 30-metre runway would meet federal regulations and would not affect the level of service at the Fort Smith airport. Because the lighting replacement project would require digging up sections of the runway, it made good sense to complete both projects at the same time.

When the Fort Smith...

During the design phase it was determined that, due to the regional climate, Arctic kits were not required for the lighting at the Fort Smith airport; therefore, they were not included in the design. The Fort Smith airfield lighting is checked at least twice daily by maintenance staff at the airport and documented in accordance with our preventative maintenance processes, and it is operating to specification.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Safety is our top priority in the operation and maintenance of the Northwest Territories transportation system, including the airports. Transport Canada sets the standards by which airports are designed and operated. The GNWT is responsible for constructing, operating, and maintaining airports to those standards. The GNWT is also responsible for reviewing airport infrastructure and planning for future operational and regulatory needs.

The recent projects undertaken at the Fort Smith airport, the installation of LED lighting and the rightsizing of the runway, were...

I'd like to recognize Father Daley. He is one of my constituents or Great Slave. Thank you.

I am not doing very well at this. I would also like to recognize my CA, Colleen O'Connor, and my constituent Cathy Olsen, who are also in the gallery. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would also like to recognize some of my constituents with the SADD group. That would be Jaedenz White, I am sorry if I said your name wrong; Hannah Patzer; and Ellie Taylor. There was one on the list who didn't have a riding. I will recognize James Rose, as well, because I am not sure which riding he is in, so thought I would mention him, too. Thank you.

I got off easy yesterday. The Taltson hydro expansion project is a priority of this government as it will allow us to establish long-term energy infrastructure that can provide cost effective energy to communities, residents, and industry. It is identified as one of the priorities of the 19th Legislative Assembly, as one of the strategic infrastructure investments that connect communities, expand the economy, or reduce the cost of living.

The Taltson hydro expansion project will also help achieve the 19th Legislative Assembly's priority to reduce the cost of power and increase the use of...

That is one of the things that we must consider. Our first step will be to get some better understanding of why the bids were so high. Ideally, we will find a way to move the project ahead within the budget that we have, but this will take some time. While it is too early in the process to know how we will proceed, I will confirm to Members that we remain committed to building the plant.