Shane Thompson

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, the recent floods have been devastating for many Northerners who have experienced damage to their communities, property, and their livelihoods. I witnessed the anxiety and stress in the voices and faces of people in my own community as water levels rose and homes and businesses were threatened and many were affected.

In the face of this adversity, I also saw firsthand how communities, leaders, Northerners can rise to meet challenges they must overcome. I am very proud of how our communities have met this challenge.

I am very thankful to local leaders like...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, please be advised this will be the first of five Members' statements I will be doing about the flood situation in the Nahendeh. I can only speak about my experience and what I saw. Please note, there were a lot of moving parts, and I could not see them all.

As people are aware, both communities were in charge. They were the ones that declared the state of local emergency and are working with the Government of the Northwest Territories and the Federal Government, including MP McLeod. From what I have witnessed and been part of, it is sometimes hourly contacts...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Multiple land users are being considered for the GNWT arsenic soil quality guidelines, and this work is in the process of being finalized. The Giant Mine remediation project has approved a closure and remediation plans by the MacKenzie Valley Land and Water Board.

The criteria used by the projects were not solely based on the GNWT guidelines; they are site specific criteria for the Giant Mine that are confirmed through the human health and ecology risk assessment.

ENR has also led the development of the human health risk assessment for legacy...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank the Member for that question. I'm happy to tell the House the department is currently reviewing the 2003 environmental guidelines for contaminated sites remediation. This work is being done with new information on remediation criteria from the Canada Council of Ministers of the Environment as well a new data that has come on arsenic in the Yellowknife area.

ENR recognizes that the 2003 guidelines is dated, and the updating environmental guidance is standard practice as new data and scientific research is available. This work is nearly completed...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And, again, I thank the Member for these questions. They're very important, and they have an impact on residents of Yellowknife. Updating environmental guidance is a standard practice as new data and increased scientific research is available.

I can assure residents of Yellowknife that the previous guidelines completed in 2003 was protective of human health and the environment. ENR will ensure our guidelines continue to be protective of the human health and the environment while incorporating new science and data that becomes available to us. Thank you, Mr...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The GNWT arsenic soil quality guidelines are being developed using the Canada Council Ministers of Environment framework, which is specific to both health, human health, and the environmental health.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Mary Neyelle was March 22nd, 1934, at traditional Dene Camp at Fish Lake near Wrigley, Northwest Territories. She passed away on March 30th, 2021.

Mary was 86 years old. Mary and her late husband, Edward, had nine children together. They adopted Camille later in their lives. She had 16 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren. Mary had unconditional love for all her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

She was caring, passionate, loving, goodspirited, patient, great teacher, and an outstanding person and had a beautiful soul.

Mary...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize one of our translators here, Mary Jane Cazon, from Fort Simpson. She does a great job, and I thank her very much for being here today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Dylan Gabriel Boniface Cazon was a young man who blessed us with his kind spirit, generous heart, and his infectious smile. He was born on January 26, 1993, to loving parents, Gilbert and Mary Jane Cazon, and was the brother of Bianca, Shannon, and Chantel. He was known to his nieces and nephews as "Uncle Pickles." Dylan shared his birthday with his late cousin, Daniel Allaire Jr.

Dylan took pride in his family, whom he loved dearly, and cherished the friendships that he gained during his life. Dylan was a hunter, son, brother, uncle, nephew, cousin, friend, and...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document: "Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 641-19(2): Hunters and Trappers Disaster Compensation." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.