Hay River South

Statements in Debates

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 72)

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following four documents entitled "Follow-Up Letter for Oral Question 502-18(3), Avalon Nechalacho Rare Earth Elements Project"; "Follow-Up Letter for Oral Question 567-18(3), Ice Bridges and Roadside Assistance"; "Follow-Up Letter for Oral Question 650-18(3), Sachs Harbour Power Generation"; and "Follow-Up Letter for Oral Question 670-18(3), Significant Discovery Licences."

On behalf of the Minister of Health and Social Services, I wish to table the following eight documents entitled "Follow-Up Letter for Oral Question 574-18(3): Mental Health Services Wait...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 72)

As the Minister responsible, I would be working with all of my Cabinet colleagues to strive to advance the Mackenzie Valley Highway environmental assessment, but, as part of that, the Government of the Northwest Territories' internal efforts to organize itself and move this project forward, the GNWT working groups will be created and led by Infrastructure to address specific issues. These working groups will consist of our government staff from various departments, of course, and agencies, and it is expected that youth issues will be addressed by the appropriate working groups.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 72)

As I have said, this is only the first stage of a larger CATSA project. We can take some lessons learned from this. Even the email that I sent out to all Members stating what was going on there, we will make sure that that gets out there before we start these things. I have to double check, though, for the Member, but I think, when you actually book your ticket, they actually notify you, the airlines notify you what's going on at the airport. I will have to check into that, but I have been informed, I think, that is the possibility of what's going on when you book your ticket.

You know...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 72)

I think the House will be very surprised with what we have done here. There were several communications tactics used to notify the public in advance, and I will be very specific: radio ads ran from April 24th to May 10th, that is radio ads; there were two newspaper ads, April 24th and May 3rd; posters were distributed to local businesses within the community, alerting the traveling public about the situation; several tweets were issued in the days leading up to the start of construction; and a public announcement was issued later to confirm the status and estimated completion dates.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 72)

Our regional staff in the area are always prepared to meet with the leadership and the community. If that is the desire of the community, they can certainly have the Member send me a request for that, and we can have our regional staff sit down and discuss options and hear their concerns. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 72)

With respect to dredging and waterworks, they are extremely difficult to get approvals for. We know that. The current amount of debris and silt, as I said, that are in the river carries, I have been advised that any dredging operation would be of minimal value. I think I have mentioned that in this House before. For those of you who have been on the Liard River Ferry in the summer time, it is a very dirty river, and dredging might be of very minimal value, doing that. We do know that the low water in the channel that we used last fall, as I have said, with that gravel bar presents a problem...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 72)

As this whole House knows, the travelling public and safety is number one for us. I will have to confirm with our staff where we are at on both of those ferries and get back to the Member. However, as we've updated this House in previous years, going forward the general public and Members of this Assembly need to be well aware that the river conditions can change drastically. We have had low water already this year, but, due to spring melt coming out of the mountains, things can change. Last year, that caused problems, particularly in Fort McPherson because of all of the debris that was coming...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 72)

I am not aware of there being any delays on this. We historically had these ferries in by June 2nd, so I believe we are on schedule. As I said, I can check into the Transport Canada inspection issue and see if there is an issue and relay that to the Member.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 72)

Certainly, I can follow up with that. I would like to add one more comment, I guess. It's up to the SSI if they want to have youth involvement. Myself, I can reach out to the SSI leadership and have these discussions on possibilities of having youth involvement in this, and I would encourage the Member and all Members to encourage the SSI leadership maybe to include future leadership people or youth people who want to be involved in this thing going forward.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 72)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The MoU that was signed between SSI and ourselves, the Sahtu Secretariat, was intended to formalize the working relationship between parties on the advancement of the Mackenzie Valley Highway through the environmental and regulatory reviews. The MoU provides for the creation of a working group with members of working group to be appointed by the SSI and the Government of the Northwest Territories Department of Infrastructure. Each party to the MoU is responsible for selecting its own members to the working group. SSI is responsible for appointing its own members to the...