Statements in Debates
As I said, the contractors have some deficiencies and some works to finish up on the terms of their contract going forward. We have some gravel to lay down, some packing to be completed; there are a number of things to be done around bridges, rip-wrap and painting and such, so these things are going to be completed this year, as I said, in the fall of this year.
There are some lessons learned already to be taken from the season that we just had it open. With the different amounts of snow where it has accumulated along the embankments, we have already recognized the fact that we need to put up...
Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following two documents entitled "Follow-up Letter to Oral Question 253-18(3), Ice Road Operations," and "Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 263-18(3), Dredging of the Port of Hay River." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk Highway was deemed substantially completed on the 15th of November of last year, and over the winter we experienced an average daily traffic count of 60 to 70 vehicles per day throughout the whole season without any issues. The work that is being performed and carried out on the highway this summer and fall is the contract work that has to be completed under the terms and conditions of the contract to correct all deficiencies noted during the final inspection of the highway. That was when we did that, last year, so this work is expected to be...
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...
No, I do not believe that we have had those types of activities in the Northwest Territories. What I can tell this House is our government works closely with NGOs on a regular basis. My department, in particular, has worked very closely with NGOs. In fact, our department has engaged directly with NGOs on natural resource legislation initiatives that we are bringing forward. We will continue to do so.
Mr. Speaker, the expansion and growth of the Northwest Territories' manufacturing sector offers a means to diversify the economy and encourage greater economic development and investment.
For that reason, our government has committed to developing a northern Manufacturing Strategy in collaboration with industry and the Northwest Territories' Manufacturers' Association.
In this government's mandate, we have committed to developing a Northwest Territories Manufacturing Strategy that will expand our territory's manufacturing sector; identify areas of potential growth; promote and market NWT...
Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document entitled "Communities and Diamonds Socio-Economic Agreements Annual Report 2017." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
This is Canada. Everyone gets to have their say. We believe everyone should be engaged in our processes, as open and as transparent as we can be. I think we are probably more and open transparent than any government in Canada. We will continue to move on that.
We are always open to all kinds of comments, no matter if it's legislation or public policy or what we are moving forward, but we are always open. We are not saying that criticism is a bad thing. Sometimes we need reflection on some of what we are doing and we take all comments seriously.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Member knows that's not our position. The number one priority of this government is land claims and settling outstanding land claims and self-government agreements in the territory. That's a position that the speaker took. That's his position. We have our position and we work closely with all Aboriginal governments to move things along. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
This individual who we had speaking at this event is someone that I think has an opinion. He had an opinion. He brought his opinion to us, but let's make something quite clear: this is an Indigenous person. He was an Indigenous leader in BC, of an Indigenous government. He is in the public government. He was a Cabinet Minister and now he is an MLA within the BC legislature. He brought his views to the table around industry and development, and try to get his people out of poverty and in having an economy in his area. His comments were taken. In fact, the Member says, if we would like to open...