Wally Schumann

Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories has made a commitment in the mandate to respond to recommendations in the Northwest Territories’ Environmental Audit for improved environmental management. The Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act requires an environmental audit to be completed at least every five years by an independent auditor. The audit reflects obligations in the Sahtu, Gwich’in and Tlicho agreements and is a key tool for environmental management in the territory. Its recommendations will help guide governments, Aboriginal organizations and other decision-makers...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, second by the honourable Member from Thebacha, that Bill 7, An Act to Amend the Revolving Funds Act, be read for the second time. This bill amends the Revolving Funds Act to establish a revolving fund for the purpose of meeting the capital, operating and maintenance requirements for the Yellowknife Airport. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Member has invited us for a constituency tour and I believe that’s an opportunity when we’re up there in August that we should maybe take a chance to drive the Dempster and have a look at some of the concerns the Member has on the Dempster.

It’s ironic that through forced growth $3 million has recently been allowed for significant chip seal repair. For this coming season we are looking at chipsealing 80 kilometres of this section of highway between here and Behchoko, and I think it’s something the department is having a serious look at. There’s a couple of other options, but this particular year we’re moving forward with chipsealing on a certain section of highway. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

As many of us know that drive this highway, the department has some serious challenges with this section of highway between here and Behchoko. Over the number of years, the department has been working on and developing a program, that is under way, of monitoring four test sections of this highway to determine the best options, how we are going to deal with them moving down the road. There are some major challenges with this section of highway, but the degradation of permafrost and such… We need to make sure that the future money that is spent on this section of the highway, we will fix the...

Mr. Speaker, as stewards of the land, we have a responsibility to make prudent decisions about how we use, share, and protect it in a way that reflects the values and priorities of our residents. This includes the air we breathe. Historically, air emissions and air quality management in the Northwest Territories have been unregulated. The Government of the Northwest Territories is now proceeding to occupy this regulatory field. We have made a commitment in the government’s mandate to advance the territorial vision of land and resource management in accordance with the Land Use and...

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member of Yellowknife South, that Bill 7, An Act to Amend the Revolving Funds Act, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize the Princess Alexandra School grade six students here today. I’m going to read off half the list and then my fellow colleague across the floor will do the other half. Brenda Beck, Evan Harris, Abbigail King, Hailey Pike, Rochelle Smith, Mason Walters, Hope Buckley, Hannah Longstaff, Daniel Minoza, Jon Tatti, Kyle McDermott, Judson Pokiak, Reil Low, Lizzie Rymer, Tahner Hamilton, Jenna Demarcke, Ian Aylward, Stephanie Patterson is the chaperone, Mark Harris, Penny Pokiak, and Roy Walters. Welcome to the House.

As the Member is aware; we are working with all the people that are associated with this herd, from industry to NGOs to Aboriginal governments to boards. We are having consultation with these people ready to come up with a plan for this herd. As soon as we can come up with a schedule, how we are going to move forward with this -- the group is working on this, and we will share that with the Members and committee when possible. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. That would be a difficult question to answer because it's a community-based application and it varies year to year. Thank you, Mr. Chair.