Wally Schumann

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, this was an FPT in Vancouver. That is where I was last week with Minister Bains and all of my colleagues from across the country, and yes, we discussed the exact topic that the Member brought up. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The research was not commissioned solely for the work of the MRA. It was commissioned in support of the review of the socioeconomic agreements being undertaken by the Program Review Office. That work is ongoing.

In relevance to our work with the Mineral Resource Act, it was clear, and the research was also incorporated to inform an ongoing drafting of a new Mineral Resource Act. As the report itself states, it was a limited-in-scope project designed to spark a discussion about socioeconomic benefits, and we are using it just to do that.

For the record, I didn't say we are the only jurisdiction; we are one of very few.

One of the reasons that I believe that we need to keep track of the operators is, first of all, we have had some safety concerns, and that has been raised by other Members in Yellowknife, and particularly around the Ingraham Trail. Safety plans have to be incorporated. This is a whole new industry for the people of the Northwest Territories. This is an evolving business situation where it is growing so large and so fast that the city can barely keep up with it. We can't even get a hotel room in this city half of...

First of all, for the record, I want to put it on the record that the Northwest Territories is one of few jurisdictions in Canada that asks for operators to have a licence. I want that on the record.

Since this story has come to light, of course, I have been briefed up, because it has been in the news for two days and may be even coming out for a third day. This is something that the news outlet has latched onto. As I have said, I don't think this is a rampant thing happening in the Northwest Territories. Sure, there are problems that come along with success, and success in the tourism industry...

Yes, I believe supporting the hydro development is a priority to the federal government. The party under the pan-Canadian framework is to support clean technology including hydro and transmission development. In fact, if you look at the NWT appendix of the framework, you'll see that the federal government committed a collaboration with the Northwest Territories to the Taltson expansion.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As we talk about Taltson, we know it represents an excellent opportunity to develop clean, renewable energy and power, current and future industry in the Northwest Territories. Some Members may disagree with that, but that's my position that I take. As the Member knows, industry is currently responsible for 50 percent of our greenhouse gas emissions in the Northwest Territories. Clean power from the Taltson will allow us to fully meet our Climate Change Strategic Framework target and reduce emissions by 517 kilotonnes by 2030, and meet our Pan-Canadian Framework that we...

As I mentioned, the Arctic Energy Alliance is expanding their programs and services, and residents and businesses and communities in the Sahtu and in the Member's riding can access these things. The programs will help residents and businesses in the Sahtu pay for switching to efficient wood stoves and pellet stoves along with renewable energy, solar systems. There's an Arctic Energy regional office in Norman Wells, and I encourage the residents of the Sahtu region and the communities in his riding to reach out and find out what programs are available to them.

The Low Carbon Economy Leadership...

I can fully commit to doing that, plus I also fully commit to working with any individual entrepreneur that wants to look at doing this.

At the same time, I want to talk about what Northwestel has already done lately. They have recently gone to the same department I said, got an application together, and did the Connect to Innovate fund. They got some money out of that. They are working on that right now, and that funding is going to be actually to help build a fibre optic backbone to the community of Jean Marie, which is what they are working on. They are also working to extend satellite...

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following two documents entitled "Updates to Northwest Territories Petroleum Legislation: What We Heard" report, and pursuant to Section 32(2) of the Financial Administrative Act, I wish to table the NWT Business Development and Investment Corporation 2017-2018 Annual Report. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I can tell this House that we are fully committed to all of our FPT tables, and we are fully engaged with all the topics that are brought up at these tables. I can provide the Member with updates as we move along on this important file.