Robert C. McLeod

Thank you, Mr. Chair. To my right, I have Mr. David Stewart, deputy minister of Finance. To my left, I have Ms. Sandy Kalgutkar, who is the deputy secretary to the FMB. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The federal government has come up with the carbon pricing. They have a federal backstop. I think the Member previous to you spoke on federal backstop and his non-support of it. If we went with the federal backstop, then the costs would be a lot higher. We are coming up with a made-in-the-North approach. That is going to look at a number of different groups across the Northwest Territories, and I assured the Member previous that we are going to do what we can, we will do what we can, to mitigate the effects of carbon pricing on all levels of people in the Northwest Territories. It is high on...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River South, that Bill 7, Chartered Professional Accountants Act, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Member's point is well taken. We do recognize that there is a remediation economy that is coming. I think we have seen a demonstration of that on the Canol Trail, for example, but that one, too, they brought, I believe, a southern company in, and that was through the federal government.

We have to ensure, and as much like HazMat remediation in units that were built a number of years ago, we see that as another economy because the Housing Corporation unfortunately can't take down a lot of their houses until they have HazMat remediation. I do know a few businesses that have taken some HazMat...

The Indigenous involvement in the project is considered through the use of the Aboriginal opportunities consideration within the federal government processing system, and we will have to work with the contractor to the ensure that they recognize that there are a lot of folks up here who can do the work and try to utilize them. I think it would be beneficial for the project and beneficial for the locals.

As far as flowing the money through the GNWT, I mean, it is a federal responsibility, the cleanup of Giant Mine. I take the Member's point, though, where we would be much more recognizing of the...

Mr. Speaker, this Legislative Assembly made a mandate commitment to develop a territorial climate change strategy that takes into account Northern energy demands and the cost of living, while reflecting international and national commitments to lower greenhouse gas emissions, exploring options for carbon pricing systems, and capturing local alternatives.

The people of the Northwest Territories are concerned about the changes they are noticing to the land and water. They want to be part of improved planning and communication around climate change, renewable energy, and energy efficiency, and...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following two documents entitled "Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 4, 2017-2018"; and "Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 4, 2017-2018." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

We are always supportive of anything that allows us to take advantage of northern business opportunities. The Giant Mine remediation is very complex in operations, so, as I said before, we will work before with the main construction manager. We will make our views known. I am sure they are doing their due diligence now. If there are opportunities to utilize northern businesses as part of the remediation, then it would benefit both the project and the northern business. Again, we realize that there is a lot of money that is being put into this remediation, and I will assure the Members that...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as the Members are aware, the contract, the main construction management contract, was awarded in December of 2017. The Departments of ITI, ENR, ECE, and Infrastructure, we have an interdepartmental working group. We have had some updates from the Giant Mine remediation project team on the procurement and the socio-economic issues, specifically with terms of reference for the main construction contract in addition to any other tendering documents. We have had opportunities to provide some input into the contract documents but not on the federal government...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased today to recognize some very important people up in the gallery. The little guy there is my grandson Colin Wainman, five years old. My granddaughter Ms. Morgan McLeod is seven years old. My grandson Rylan Wainman is 11 years old. My wife Judy I have been married for 38 years. I am very pleased to have them visiting us here in the gallery and watching our proceeding. Try not to ask too many questions with my grandchildren right here.