Norman Yakeleya

I want to ask the Minister of ITI in regard to the Sahtu region. I’d like to look at some of the areas that we can explore with the Minister’s engagement with the communities to prepare community workers for training in the mining sector either in Selwyn, Howard’s Pass, MacTung or the DEMCO around Great Bear Lake.

Is the Minister looking at any type of training to prepare for these mining operations?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a tradition of putting my final Member’s statement of the budget session to song. I know my colleagues look forward to it every year with great anticipation, as you do too, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, early in this session, the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment announced the traditional names for the great Mackenzie River that flows north majestically through our beautiful land. We’re all familiar with the South Slavey name for the river, Deh Cho. In my language, the North Slavey language, the name is a little different. The great Harry Bellafonte paid...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I look forward to that report.

---Laughter

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Thebacha, that, notwithstanding Rule 4, when this House adjourns on Thursday, March 12, 2015, it shall be adjourned until Wednesday, May 27, 2015;

AND FURTHER, that any time prior to May 27, 2015, if the Speaker is satisfied, after consultation with the Executive Council and Members of the Legislative Assembly, that the public interest requires that the House should meet at an earlier time during the adjournment, the Speaker may give notice and thereupon the House shall meet at the time stated in such notice and shall...

The people in the Northwest Territories, when they looked at the economic development, such as oil and gas, mining, traditional economy, the fishery industry, anywhere around the North they look at the projects with their eyes wide open and they look at the possibilities.

In regard to the mining sector in the Sahtu, is there a willingness on behalf of his department to look at a mining conference so we can look at the whole buffet sort of thing of what is involved with mining, getting our people ready, getting the region ready if we are to ever, ever get a road into those mines so we can start...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of ITI. It has been noted that the Sahtu received, to date, $13 million from the royalties from the diamond mines here. There are mining opportunities in this area here and I want to look at opportunities for jobs, especially outside the Yellowknife region.

I want to ask the Minister, what ways are you helping to ensure Sahtu residents are prepared for opportunities in the mining sector, either in this area here or in the Sahtu region?

Mining has been pretty active in the Sahtu, and I’d like to continue my question. In the Mackenzie Mountains across from Tulita, I think the Minister is aware that there’s a lake called Drum Lake where the Drum Lake Lodge is situated. In that area there is a small site that’s been abandoned by, reportedly, a Shell company there that needs to be cleaned up.

Has the Minister looked at this small site at the Drum Lake area?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will continue on with my theme of economic development in the Northwest Territories, particularly in the Sahtu region.

Today I would like to talk about the potential for minerals, for mining in the Sahtu region. The amount of land related to mining exploration within the Sahtu, there are 397 mineral claims covering approximately 301,000 hectares, 14 mineral leases covering approximately 5.8 hectares, and 1.08 percent of the total Sahtu area is occupied by active mineral tenure.

The land claim was negotiated in 1993 and became law in 1994. The land claim asserts...

Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment. Would the Minister provide the following information:

What is/are the cleanest-burning fossil fuel(s) for heating use and for generating electricity?

Please provide the city of Yellowknife’s annual energy consumption, with a breakdown of each source of energy.

Please describe a typical hydraulic fracturing operation, including how many times a well is “fracked.”

Please provide a table or graph showing the annual water use of:

a typical hydraulic fracturing operation;

Imperial Oil’s facilities in Norman Wells;

the city...

Is the Minister receiving any type of signals from the federal government in respect to the proposal that is now in the office of the federal government?