Marci cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I have questions for the Premier. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to say happy birthday to our Premier first.
Mr. Speaker, just about 19 years ago now there was a memorandum of understanding signed between Alberta and the Northwest Territories. Recently, the Premier announced that that was renewed; last week, in fact. I'd like to ask the Premier some questions on that: what positive impacts will this MOU have on small communities in the NWT, specifically small communities that are within Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. The Honourable Premier.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the honourable Member for his birthday present.
I believe, and it's been proven, that the renewal of the Alberta/NWT Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperation and Development has benefited all people in the North. Specifically the communities in that riding I think have benefited as well, because it sets out how our two jurisdictions will work together. It has quite a wide range of areas that we share information on; specifically I look at trade, transportation, tourism, health and social services, fire cooperation, education, training, resource development, energy and environment, and, of course, water.
This agreement/MOU serves as an umbrella for quite a wide-ranging area of intergovernmental agreements and it allows us to work more closely together if there are any problem areas that develop and also facilitate solutions. Detah Ndilo that's okay, Fort Resolution undoubtedly will benefit from this. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
My favourite topic is always employment/labour for small communities. Would the MOU support and provide a benefit to the small communities insofar as employment goes?
The basis for the agreement is that there's significant potential for community and economic development in the region and in those communities. Certainly the MOU identifies education, training, skills development, and regional and community development as a priority, and the MOU will reduce barriers to employment and also increase labour mobility between our jurisdictions. We've seen in the past, where there's been substantial development in Alberta and we've been able to have people in the North go and work there, and certainly we'll make sure that the credentials and so on will not be a barrier.
We have very high energy costs in many of our communities. I'd like to ask the Premier if there was any discussion about reducing energy costs as a result of this new memorandum of understanding or the renewed memorandum of understanding.
Energy and high energy costs is probably one of the biggest areas which we share, and there is a very high degree of cooperation. Both Alberta and the NWT are committed to reducing community reliance on expensive carbon-intensive diesel. Certainly one of the areas that we are all very interested in is hydro development, and we see opportunities certainly with possibly the expansion of Taltson. We think that Alberta, like ourselves, is participating in the western Canada review of the potential for hydroelectricity throughout western Canada. We think we can be part of the solution and work with Alberta where we can provide hydroelectricity, and we can use the benefits of that to invest in other areas. This is something that we are very interested in, and this is something that we expect there will be further discussion about, more specific to Alberta and the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, clean, safe drinking water is important to residents of the NWT. The Alberta oil sands are a great concern for people as the water flows through the Slave River, which provides most of the source for the Great Slave Lake. I was wondering if, as a result of this MOU, there would be an opportunity for individuals who are concerned about their safe drinking water as a result of Alberta's tar sands to speak to this government on this MOU concerning safe drinking water. Thank you.
I am very pleased to report that, under this MOU, we will continue to work together with Alberta to fully implement the Alberta-Northwest Territories Mackenzie River Basin Bilateral Water Management Agreement, which was signed on March 18, 2015. These trans-boundary water agreements are seen as the most comprehensive of their kind, not only in North America, but possibly in the world. This is an example of what can be achieved when our two jurisdictions work together. I think, with safe drinking water, 80 per cent of the water of the Mackenzie River Basin comes through Fort Smith, so it affects all of those communities that the Member is responsible for.
Also, I am very pleased to report that the Alberta-NWT Water Management Agreement was not only negotiated, but is also being implemented with the assistance of the Aboriginal Steering Committee, which includes representatives from the Akaitcho Territory Government, along with representation from every other region in the Northwest Territories. With the reduced production in the Fort McMurray area and the oil sands, obviously, this has had a positive impact on water quality. We will certainly continue to work with Alberta. Any issues or concerns that any of your constituents may have, they can bring them to our attention, and we can also follow up with the contacts that we have and also with the regular processes that have been established through the Alberta-NWT MOU. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.
