Kevin O'Reilly

Thanks, Madam Chair. I sat in on the committee hearing and some of the deliberations that they had on the private Member's bill. I think it's probably fair to well, let me start by saying up until two or three years ago, I didn't even know what a limiter was. So a little bit of privilege I guess there. But I was very surprised to learn that we these things were here in the Northwest Territories and that people sort of had to live with this reality of if they go into arrears, utility can install a limiter that turns their power on for 15 minutes and then turns it off for 15 minutes. And...

Thanks, Madam Chair. So less than about a million dollars. What's that actually being spent on, may I ask. Thanks, Madam Chair.

Merci, Monsieur le President. Thanks to the Minister for that. I'll just remind him again that the road is opening tomorrow. So it's great that there's meetings happening but the road opens tomorrow.

I fully understand that inland fisheries are federal jurisdiction but we obviously have a role to play. The sellers of sport fishing licenses, promotion of country food, harvesting and sustainable livelihoods. And the Minister also has a fish a wildlife and fish division under his department. So what, if anything, has the Minister done about the impacts of the new road access on the sport fishery...

Merci, Monsieur le President. My questions are about this government's lack of preparedness around the opening of the Tlicho AllSeason Road. I'll mainly focus on the environmental side for now. So my questions are for the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources.

The legally binding measures from an environmental assessment project have not been completed, especially when it comes to the impact on woodland caribou. Can the Minister tell us how this will affect the proposed opening date of the road scheduled for tomorrow? Merci, Mr. Speaker.

Thanks, Madam Chair. I move that the Chair rise and report progress. Thank you.

Yeah, thanks for that response, and yeah, I support this, as a dedicated pedestrian/cyclist. Thanks, Madam Chair.

Madam Chair, committee wishes to consider Tabled Document 43719(2), Capital Estimates, 20222023, with Municipal and Community Affairs, Legislative Assembly, Justice, Northwest Territories Housing Corporation, Infrastructure; and Bill 36, an Act to Amend the Territorial Justice Act. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Merci, Monsieur le President. I want to thank the Minister for that. I'd really be curious to know what's happening there, but I remain very concerned about the continuing failing of this government to adequately plan for new roads, let alone properly maintain the ones that we have.

Can the Minister tell us what lessons, if any, we've learned about the banishment of environmental impacts from the Inuvik to Tuk highway and how those were applied to the Tlicho AllSeason Road? Merci, Mr. Speaker.

Merci, Monsieur le President. I want to thank the Minister for that. Of course there's a number of things that are still not approved, and he didn't actually address my question about what effect that's going to have on the opening, which is tomorrow. So the effect, Mr. Speaker, I'll tell you, is nothing. This government hasn't completed its commitments.

I noted the recently released boreal caribou population and harvest models report from ENR that recommended a very limited or no resident harvest for the boreal caribou population around the Tlicho AllSeason Road. What is the Minister going to...

Merci, Monsieur le President. As I understand it, the Tlicho AllSeason Road is supposed to be completed and opened tomorrow. It is clear that the road has been supported by various Tlicho governments and that it will undoubtedly bring some benefits. However, there does not seem to be a coordinated approach from this government to ensure those benefits are maximized and adverse impacts are managed.

I was also surprised to learn a few months ago that the road doesn't even go into the community of Whati and that extensive work costing a further $9 million will be required on an access road. I'm...