Daniel McNeely

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Following up on my statement to the Minister of MACA, my first question is will the Minister of MACA accept this invitation to travel to Norman Wells and meet with the mayor Pope and town council to discuss and develop a joint federal town of Norman Wells strategy for lobbying for the funds needed to eliminate our high fuel crisis? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the 20th Assembly developed a federal engagement strategy. This will allow our relationship building on joint resources discussions to address the many challenges faced by our Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker, this federal engagement strategy certainly covers the disastrous situation faced by my community of Norman Wells and the Sahtu residents for the high fuel costs that's being air transported.

Mr. Speaker, as the Members recall last week, my request to the Minister of MACA for a briefing package outlines the preparations taken to lobby our federal...

The question is what day the Minister wants to travel. Thursday?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank to the Minister for that response. To help kind of clarify, I want to initiate a discussion between his department and the local government to develop an application that could be sent to the appropriate federal departments to offset the $6.6 million that's costing our government, or the citizens in this case, for unit price fuel. So will the Minister provide the briefing as mentioned last week in preparation for the measures taken to have our meeting in Norman Wells? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I too would like to recognize the ex-Premier Mr. Joe Handley. And also, first time to this House here, two students there from the Colville Lake school Mason Kochon and Briley Kochon. Welcome to the House there, young fellas.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thanks to the Minister for those comforting words. The residents of the Sahtu very much appreciate the words of support and acknowledgement in receipt of that state of an emergency declaration.

The unique opportunity is here. And my next question, will the Minister of MACA provide this notification to the federal public safety Ministers while they are in Yellowknife today or tomorrow or whenever they leave? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the town of Norman Wells issued a humanitarian state of an emergency October 15, 2024. Under the Emergency Management Act, a declaration of an emergency would mean the price of fuel could be fixed by the responsible Minister and there may be opportunities for federal support. The following summary explains the trigger mechanism for the declaration and the items in the act that concern the prices of fuel in section 17.

Mr. Speaker, section 17(1), paragraph 1, the Minister may procure, ration, or fix prices for food, fuel, equipment, medical supplies, and...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I rise today in order to report progress. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My follow-up question on my questions earlier is to the Minister of MACA. And before I ask this question, I want to emphasize the crisis that we're experiencing here. I continuously get texts here. The text reads: $1,500 for 280 liters, one-quarter of a tank, for my fuel at the house tank. And it's not even the dead of winter yet. That's just one of many that I'm receiving. My question to the Minister is the Minister of MACA willing to invite mayor Frank Pope and proceed on setting up a meeting with the federal counterpart to address the situation in person; would the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thanks to the Minister for that reply. Would the Minister provide a briefing or backup documents specific to the state and the discussion happening between his office or this government and the federal government and provide that to my office and the mayor of Norman Wells? Thank you.