Frame Lake

Statements in Debates

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 137)

Thanks, Madam Chair. Yeah, I'm not sure how else I can get the Minister to agree do this in a bit more timely fashion and make the information public, but if I don't get the information and it's not been made public I'll ask her on the floor of the House.

So the next line here, minor modernization and improvements, is going up by a little over $2 million. Can I get an explanation as to what the additional funding is for and what it's going to accomplish. Thanks, Madam Chair.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 137)

Thanks. I'm sure the Minister's going to guess my next question. Does the housing corporation pay the carbon tax, and what proportion of this increase is related to the carbon tax? Thanks, Madam Chair.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 137)

Merci, Madam la Presidente. Committee wishes to deal with Tabled Document 81319(2), 20232024 Main Estimates, Housing NWT. Mahsi.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 137)

Merci, Monsieur le President. I want to thank the Minister for that. So there's going to be another hit coming our way? So as I understand, the closure and reclamation plan for Cameron Hills has never been completed, and there's no publiclyavailable cost estimate for the site. So it's not clear just what ELM is actually doing and how the public is supposed to have any input.

Can the Minister tell us when the closure plan and cost estimate work will be completed and why this work was not done before ELM was contracted? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 137)

Merci, Monsieur le President. My questions are for the Minister of Lands, who seems to have primary responsibility for the former Cameron Hills solid gas field.

Can the Minister tell us when the abandonment agreement with Environmental Liabilities Management Incorporated, or ELM, was signed and the value of that work or contract? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 136)

Merci, Monsieur le President. That's a little clearer, thank you. I understand Diavik hasn't asked us. We haven't asked them. So the issues probably still unresolved. But if we're going to take it on, we better get the money that goes with it.

So but, Mr. Speaker, I want to move on to the other issue that I raised, which is transition planning. So there's apparently 500 NWT/Nunavut workers at the site. So can the Premier tell us what, if any, role GNWT has played in the transition planning to date and whether there are any plans to do anything more substantive to assist the employees? Mahsi, Mr...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 136)

Merci, Monsieur le President. I want to thank the Minister for that. Maybe I'm a little bit not understanding here but Diavik has indicated they want to hear from our government on whether the GNWT wants to take over this airstrip. So what is the answer? Clearly Diavik will save money by not having to reclaim the airstrip and the new owner will incur liabilities and expenses related to its ongoing operations and maintenance and ultimate reclamation.

So, can the Premier tell us whether Diavik has offered to cover these liabilities and/or whether GNWT will ask for these costs as part of any...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 136)

Merci, Monsieur le President. The Diavik Diamond Mine is set to cease production in 2025 and there are some questions about what this government is doing to plan for that event. Under the devolution agreement, GNWT is fully responsible if the operator cannot, or will not, carry out any required remediation, so there is a lot at stake.

The final closure and reclamation plan was submitted to the Wek'eezhii Land and Water Board on October 13, 2022. It is undergoing a thorough review and is subject to approval of that board. There are some curious statements in this plan regarding the airstrip...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 136)

Merci, Madam la Presidente. I move that the chair rise and report progress. Mahsi.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 136)

Merci, Monsieur le President. I think we have a failure to communicate here so let me try it this way: So the closure plan says that DDMI's waiting an expression of interest from the GNWT on a path forward and a schedule for transferring the airstrip responsibilities. That's from DDMI.

So can the Minister confirm and provide this side with the information, confidentially if necessary, has Diavik asked our government to take over the airstrip or even asked our government whether we're interested in taking it over? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.