Shane Thompson

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, wildfires are an important part of the boreal forest, and naturally occurring fires are essential to ensuring forests remain healthy and sustainable. Allowing forest fires to burn where possible allows forests to regenerate and help to avoid larger and more dangerous fires later. All wildfires in the NWT are monitored and managed to ensure they do not pose a risk or threat to people, communities, infrastructure, or other assets.

Mr. Speaker, wildfire management starts before there is even a spark.

The Government of the Northwest Territories works with our...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document, Northwest Territories Surface Rights Board 2022/23 Budget, and the 2022/2024 Strategic Plan and Business Plan. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, no. There's no provision within the Disaster Assistance Policy to provide funding to those households who have taken in evacuees. Mr. Speaker, though, the outpour of support for evacuees has been amazing to see. And I know the residents of Hay River and K'atlodeeche First Nation will continue to support their neighbours, family and friends, during this very difficult time. And unfortunately this is the process, and we need to follow it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I understand this is a very challenging time for residents, as I've experienced that in the Nahendeh riding last year as well as residents from Fort Good Hope and as well as Little Buffalo. Disaster events are stressful and disruptive. And I understand that people just want to get things back to normal so that they can have a place where they can put their head. The reality is that things are not normal and that people have been displaced from their homes for anywhere from a week to several months, depending on what damages have been done to their homes. I...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in April, we lost an outstanding son, husband, father, officer, manager, mentor, and friend much too soon.

Adrian Lizotte was born in Fort McMurray on June 20th, 1979. He came to the NWT in 1990, late 1990s, and his appreciation for the beauty of the growth, northern growth. He loved to get out on the land, participate in traditional activities, and spent much of his time hunting, fishing, and camping with friends and family.

Adrian carried that love for the land with him into his work as well. He started his career with the GNWT as a corrections officer and...

In favour.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I said last week and with Trailblazer this morning, that the standardized list, item list will be posted out on the MACA website this week. We're hoping within the next couple of days. Along with information about what the list is about and how to use that to make claims for disaster assistance.

I need to tell the House and the Member and the public is that this list was developed last year during the flood. But we cannot use that same list. We need to when I say that, we need to make sure we update it. We've been working with the federal government. We...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories has four contractors to provide abatement services in the town of Hay River and K'atlodeeche First Nations. The contractors are Arctic Canada Construction, Commercial NDS, Wilf's Restoration Limited, and WINMAR. Three of the four contractors are NWT BIP registered companies, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I hear the concerns by my Member from Hay River South. I can tell you that as the Member that was with Nahendeh, I wasn't invited to those meetings as well. It's local EMO and the team that are doing the work. So I understand your frustrations about it, but it's the process, and that's how the work is done.

ENR hydrologists have worked close have close working relationships with their counterparts in Alberta, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, and Yukon. They receive information about snow accumulation each spring and other information of water levels as...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'll actually get the Minister of ENR to answer that question because it will be more of an ENR question.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has three dedicated hydrologists. During spring breakup, these three hydrologists assessed conditions and relay information on to Municipal and Community Affairs, communities, and residents regarding water levels and ice conditions and forecast weather. If required, they can reach out to other agencies and scientists such as Environment and Climate Change Canada and Natural Resources Canada to assess...