Hay River South

Statements in Debates

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 28)

As part of the Great Slave commercial revitalization policy planning and a two-price system, the wholesale to fisher and retail price was proposed to the Northwest Territories Freshwater Marketing Federation, to consider and was approved several years ago. Like anything, the intent of the strategy is not to compete and displace existing sales channels that fishers have and compete against small businesses, but the system having adequate supply of year-round fulfillment for sales opportunities and develop new ones.

As the Member from Hay River knows, some of the challenges around the way that...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 28)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As all Members know, the department is fully committed to this process. We believe in revitalizing the fishing strategy. We want to implement this strategy. We have committed significant funds from this government towards this strategy. We have also committed a position to help the fishermen in Hay River in moving this strategy forward.

We are working with other federal departments to secure some funding around this and other funding partners. These initial discussions are still looking very promising and, at the right and appropriate time, I will announce what kind of...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 28)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We can certainly look into that. I know Destination Deline and the Member have been working very hard to attract tourism, and they signed a MOU with a number of companies in China on their last trade mission there. We will certainly work with the community. I know the department has spent a lot of money and investment, up to over $500,000, on helping them get their position as Destination Deline, and we will certainly talk to our department and our regional staff and see what we can do. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 28)

As I have said, this work is commencing as we speak. If Members recall, last year, one of the hold-ups we had was Transport Canada officials who do the inspections got called away off to some other needy thing that they had to look after before they came back to the Member's riding to inspect the ferries, which held things up, but as things are going forward here for this season, it sounds like all the inspections will be done and the ferry should hopefully be in the water as early as Monday; and hopefully within three days of water testing, the ferries will be in operation.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 28)

The government is working on the development of a 2019-2023 Action Plan to guide the implementation of the 2030 Climate Change Strategic Framework, and this document will address the Auditor General's recommendations not already incorporated into the framework. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 28)

In terms of industrial targets, the specific emission reduction target of 89 kilotonnes for industry is identified in the graphic shown, actually, on page 32 of the Climate Change Strategic Framework. This target for industry is part of the overall 517-kilotonne reduction target for the NWT to be achieved by 2030 through the strategic objectives and actions outlined in the 2030 Energy Strategy.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources is working on a Climate Change Strategic Framework Action Plan, which they expect to finalize later this year.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 28)

As I've said, there is a full layer of gravel and it needs to be laid down on some sections, and compacting that needs to be done this year. Some of this work wasn't done in the fall of last year due to the early cold temperatures, when that type of work can't be performed. There will be additional signage that needs to be installed around there, shaping of embankments in different places along the highway system, and deficiencies and final inspection, and like I said, some work around the bridges and culverts that needs to be finished up.

People have to realize that this is a new highway. We...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 28)

Based on a 20-year average of opening and closing of the Inuvik winter road, we gained 45 days of access to the community of Tuktoyaktuk this year, with the winter road opening in November of last year to May 12th of this year. As all Members know, this has been a concern in the media lately, but one thing that people have to know is that this road is still under construction and we are working on it. The other thing that I always like to make very prevalent about this whole thing is that this highway was constructed in one of the harshest environments in Canada, and our contractors did a heck...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 28)

The department has been in contact with the DFO and, at present, they still have not indicated what the future plans are regarding the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation, but they have expressed to me and the Premier for sure that they want to ensure that the inland fishery survives, and sustainably, moving forward, and we will continue to update this House as we get more information of what DFO's plans are. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 3rd Session (day 28)

A business plan was developed in partnership with the Tu Cho fishery, which is a business arm of the NWT Fishing Federation. The accounts for utilities were part of the operational expense. The business plan was based on a worst case scenario, and it still shows a profit based on the historic catches of the lake, and especially the latest quotas we are been pulling out of the lake. So, worst case scenario, this thing still makes money.

We want to see this thing succeed. That's why we put so much energy and time and money into this. We are working with the fishermen to make sure that this...