Kevin O'Reilly

Yeah, okay, thanks for that. Okay, for the tailings cover, the dust suppressant, stuff starts to dry out in May. Do we actually have the suppressant in stock, so to speak, and is it ready to be sprayed on or whatever in May? Because that's when the stuff starts to blow around, so. That's something we've seen from Giant Mine for years and the same out there so do we have the stuff ready to go? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Merci, Madam la Presidente. Lots of issues here were raised at the recent hydrogen workshop, including the need to pose the right research questions, ensure stakeholder engagement, do life cycle analysis of options, and looking at bridging technologies.

Can the Minister commit to developing a Northwest Territories hydrogen strategy that will examine these issues and more? Mahsi, Madam Speaker.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. You'll want to reset the clock but I don't think I need the full ten minutes you might be relieved to know.

On this one, contaminated sites is listed as one of the program areas, and I note that in one of the very few successful environmental rights act requests for an investigation, there might have been two only successful in about 20 years. The last one, though, was about the Ptarmigan Mine, which is down the road here in Yellowknife. Quite frankly, it's a disgrace. People, tourists have to drive by that thing all the time, and it's just a total mess. But the Minister did...

Merci, Madam la Presidente. I want to thank the Minister for her excitement over the workshop. We heard that a regional approach is needed for the required energy transition to get us off fossil fuels. For example, trucking and shipping is a big part of the economy for northern regions while surplus hydro is found in the south.

Can the Minister tell us how the new energy action plan will recognize and embrace our regional needs here in the Northwest Territories? Mahsi, Madam Speaker.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Nothing further.

Yeah, thanks for that information. So this review one of the questions I had was whether the criteria are going to change because I understand there's only some things that can get claimed. There's a maximum amount and that not everybody was necessarily happy with the amount that they received compared to the actual damages. So when is this review going to be finished and when will the criteria be changed? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Merci, Madam la Presidente. As a member of the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment, I participated in a January 25th workshop "Can Hydrogen power the North?” organized by the Department of Infrastructure.

Hydrogen is a gas and it has been used in Canada for many years to produce fertilizer and other chemicals. Largely as a result of the climate emergency, there is international interest in hydrogen as an energy carrier. Fossil or carbonbased fuels are also an energy carrier but when burned, release carbon dioxide. For hydrogen, water is the usual byproduct which could...

Yeah, okay, thanks. This is all coming as news to me. So just so I can get this clarified, so the first from the junction to kilometre 12, ENR is issuing wood cutting permits to anybody, any residents? And then beyond kilometre 12, that's still under negotiation with the Tlicho government? Is that what I hear the Minister say? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Yeah, can someone tell me when the last time the Community Harvester Assistance Program amount was actually increased? Because it looks like it's just a constant for as long as the Main Estimates appear, or the years that are listed here. Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Yeah, I think the risk of fires is only going to increase with the climate crisis. So if there's more applications for funding, the department will find the money to get the work done; is that what I'm hearing the Minister say? Thanks, Mr. Chair.