Statements in Debates
The Minister has indicated that there is some cooperation between his department and ENR in terms of trying to advance this business initiative forward. What role does ITI have within the forest management agreement that was reached between the project proponent plus the community in terms of ensuring this business initiative is realized?
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier I made my statement regarding the wood pellet progress towards establishing an operation in my riding plus the South Slave region. Recently the community of Fort Providence and Aurora Pellets renewed their discussions and negotiations, so my questions are to the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment. My question is: what level of commitment does the GNWT have in terms of ensuring that the biomass industry has a role in the NWT economy? Mahsi.
Masi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the biomass industry presents a great opportunity for the Northwest Territories. In May of this year, Aurora Wood Pellets got a legal title to 2.2 hectares of land in the Deh Cho, near Enterprise. Mr. Speaker, I've been a major supporter of biomass initiatives. Land tenure was a huge step towards developing a wood pellet plant in our region.
Mr. Speaker, a wood pellet plant would create much-needed jobs and help develop the local and regional workforce. The pellet mill is expected to produce at least 150,000 cubic metres of pellets each year and create 45 to 50...
Thank you, Mr. Chair. No further questions.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm just trying to understand the process. At which point would the community be approached in terms of considering whether it could be given to the community to perhaps take over responsibility in terms of maintaining the building? Is that perhaps the last step in the policy? Thank you.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Wednesday, November 2, 2016 I will move the following motion: now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, that the Legislative Assembly strongly recommends that the Department of Justice take immediate action to extend the service contract and funding for delivery of A New Day Men's Healing Program by one year, to December 31, 2017, thereby granting sufficient time for the completion of a program evaluation as well as any subsequent required program transitions;
And further, the Legislative Assembly...
I'd like to thank the Minister for his reply. Recently we passed a motion in this House basically positioning the department to contemplate the idea of an implementation plan to move forward on the JK initiative. How will the Aboriginal Head Start Program be part of the JK Implementation Plan?
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, at the Deh Gah School in Fort Providence, two recent graduates share a special connection. They made their journey from kindergarten to grade 12, to graduation, together. In fact, they started preschool together in an Aboriginal Head Start program in Fort Providence. We've talked about Aboriginal Head Start or AHS here, in the House, many times before, but, to give a brief history, Aboriginal Head Start is a federally funded program with a mandate to serve preschool aged children, providing early intervention and early childhood education to foster spiritual...
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just out of curiosity, like how is the building being maintained currently? I understand there has to be at the very minimum and lighting in terms of operating a building. Is that still continuing and for how long. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm just trying to understand the government's policy in terms of surplus buildings, just in terms of appraising the situation in Fort Providence. We did have at one time an old health centre that, I understand, has been decommissioned. So the Department of Health and Social Services, of course, did upgrade the building, so, from what we understand, the latest was that there's supposed to be an assessment in terms of whether there are hazardous materials contained in the building and perhaps consider a remediation plan of some sort.
So I understand that the department does...