Michael Nadli

I wanted to ask the Minister if he could update the House in terms of the process of developing the regulations. At what point would this House see the final end product of these regulations coming to this House for public input at some point? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to take this opportunity to recognize two Pages from my constituency. First of all, Trinity Cayen who is in the House. Trinity is 15 years old. She is in Grade 8. Her interests are math and English. Her hobbies include basketball, reading and writing. Also, at the same time, she loves going camping with her family and cookouts with family. Also, Nick Smallgeese, who is from the Chief Sunrise School. He is 14 years old and in Grade 9. His interests include math and doing volunteer work at the store. His hobbies include archery, soccer and camping with the...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. We have commonly heard that the GNWT is in a balancing act, weighing both conservation and industrial development with a zeal to create an economy for jobs and business opportunities in the overall growth of the NWT.

Industrial economic development, when we say that we’re presuming that we’re underdeveloped, that the system that we have, particularly the environmental regime that we have in place, could be said to be archaic, and our recent efforts have been made to try to update the whole system that we have through the devolution exercise. Similarly, we have a very...

Other jurisdictions in Canada have established a resolute position in terms of allowing a moratorium against hydraulic fracturing. What makes the NWT different, that we’re not going to follow suit in establishing a moratorium for the NWT? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wanted to pose a couple of questions to the Minister of ITI. My first question is: Will the Minister support the idea of establishing a moratorium on disallowing hydraulic fracturing in the NWT? Mahsi. Yes or no.

Our colleagues in the Yukon have noted the need for further research on the permafrost degradation relative to the climate change we’re seeing, including the warming trends that we’re seeing all over the world, including in the NWT.

Climate change is causing a trend of drought in certain areas of the world and North America, especially in the southern part of North America, and we’re experiencing a shortage of quality water. Water is becoming a precious and valued commodity. We need to ensure that we have a rigorous environmental assessment in place to ensure that we protect the water system...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The consultant’s report (p. 12) points out what may have been a drafting error in Bill 37, with respect to Section 77. This section, as drafted, provides for the comptroller general to charge an expenditure to an appropriation, even if that results in the appropriation being exceeded. Section 77 provides that the excess shall be a deemed appropriation. As the consultant notes: “This is a very significant departure from previous provisions in this area that restricted such authority to the recording of year-end expenditure accruals, and made provision that any overage was...

The Minister is on record saying that the only real way to get rid of the ticks would be to put a flea collar on the moose.

How would the department identify and treat affected moose that are impacted by ticks? Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I wanted to follow up on my statement regarding the moose ticks in the NWT. My question is to the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources. Recently on record, the NWT experienced major impacts on the woodland caribou in terms of their population decline. At the same time, we experienced a major impact on the Mackenzie wood bison population in terms of the anthrax outbreak. Now we’re seeing, perhaps, the vestiges of a warming climate where it’s getting warmer in the NWT.

Has the GNWT identified a risk to the NWT moose from ticks or other insect infestations? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Of course, in the southern NWT, the Deh Cho location, we’re situated very close to Alberta and there have been records in terms of deer coming up to the NWT, and cougar sightings as well.

Will the department undertake, perhaps, some work with local harvesters and, at the same time, prepare and maybe work on a moose population survey and whether that’s been planned for sometime this fall? Mahsi.