Shane Thompson

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, I would like to speak about the pressures of the COVID-19 pandemic, especially to the community of Fort Liard. As I've heard numerous times, now more than ever we need to come together to support each other. I am proud to say that the community of Fort Liard, local government and residents, the GNWT, and the residents across the NWT have done this with so much class. The response to the COVID crisis has made a positive impact within their community and shows the true spirit of all Northerners.

Being respectful of time and realizing that I cannot do justice to...

I can guarantee the Member will be knocking on my door, asking me more questions, so I greatly appreciate that as we try to educate each other and the public. ENR's hunters and trappers disaster compensation program can assist the traditional harvesters who suffer losses or damage to their equipment or assets because of natural disasters, including floods. The program is available to the NWT harvesters who possess a general hunting license and/or are a land claim beneficiary actively engaged in renewable resource harvesting activities and whose harvesting provides at least 25 percent of their...

The GNWT uses data from the hydrometric gauges operated by Water Survey of Canada. The Water Survey of Canada hydrometric stations are part of the national network of stations that have been operating following standardization methodology over their 100 years. Gauges in the Taltson River basin have been operating since 1962. ENR assessment includes an analysis of Water Survey of Canada data and data provided by NTPC.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would also like to recognize Eleese Scott, Chief Governance Officer, and Debbie Molloy, President and Chief Executive Officer for WSCC. I greatly appreciate the work that these ladies do. They're very responsive, and they do great work and so does WSCC. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like to highlight some of the work the Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission is doing to support employers and workers in the Northwest Territories during the COVID-19 global pandemic. The Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission acted swiftly to put in place financial relief measures for employers who were unable to make their assessment payments. These measures extended the deadline for the first instalment of 2020 assessment payments to August 1st and gave valuable time to employers to adjust their payroll estimates and to make their payments later...

Thank you, Madam Speaker. First and foremost, I appreciate all Members here speaking up and voicing their concerns and their opinions here. This is what our House is about: it's about working and hearing everybody's concerns. I'm going to speak about my concern that I had. I have staff that were from the Department of Lands and ENR that are working lots and lots of overtime. Other departments are in the same boat. When we talk about the safety of our individuals, we had people that were driving to borders, the Alberta border, again working 10, 12 hours, then coming back. I brought it to the...

I will wear my ENR hat here. Yes, I agree we need enforcement in there. We need to do it right, and that means we have to work with the federal government and Salt River First Nation to deal with this matter. I understand it's been since 2002. Again, we need to work with everybody in place so we do it right. I understand the Member, and I am hearing her. We have reached out, like I said, to EIA, Salt River First Nation to have this as a discussion, and we are working on it. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

As I have told the Member here in the House, we need to work with the federal government, and we need to respect the jurisdiction of both the federal government and the territorial government. We are trying to work with them. The Member has been very clear on some of the challenges that they face with ENR and with Lands, so we are trying to work with this. It is a process, and we need to be respectful of the process. Again, it involves EIA, as well.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Land is the foundation of the Northwest Territories, both figuratively and literally. Our government is responsible for managing 1.15 million square kilometres of it. Setting and enforcing clear rules and regulations for how public land is used is a critical part of ensuring that the Northwest Territories' land and resources are well-managed. Clear, well-communicated rules help the Government of the Northwest Territories make sure that everybody understands what can and cannot be done on public land. They also give the government a fair and consistent basis for taking...

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I wish to table to following document: "Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 368-19(2): Contracts to Northern Territories Businesses at Giant Mine Remediation Project." Thank you, Madam Speaker.