Oral Questions. Member for Frame Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. While we're on the subject of creating heat, I have some questions for the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources. In October of 2010 the Wek’eezhii Renewable Resources Board made recommendations to GNWT and Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada to develop best practises for avoiding impacts to caribou. The Board also asked for monitoring of landscape changes. Can the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources tell us whether GNWT has responded to those recommendations from six years ago and the status of this work? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Minister of Environment and Natural Resources.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. ENR has been engaged with Nunavut on issues of protection of caribou during calving and post-calving. GNWT and ENR is a registered participant in the Nunavut Planning Commission process for developing a Nunavut Land Use Plan. During the technical meetings up this point, the GNWT has put forward the position that in this industrial activity of any type including mineral exploration, production, construction of roads, pipelines, and other infrastructure should not be permitted on the calving areas. ENR staff participated in NPC technical meeting specifically on the subject of protection of caribou habitat in Nunavut including calving and post-calving ranges. The progress of the meetings was to build consensus on approaches for habitat and disturbance management through the combination of tools such as conservation areas as well as seasonal and locational restrictions on development activities. With respect to monitoring and landscape changes ENR has a number of initiatives underway to track and report on the status of Barren-ground caribou ranges in the NWT.
Since 2013, the NWT Cumulative Impact Monitoring Program and partners have developed a series of validated anthropogenic disturbance footprints for the different administrative regions for the NWT. These data sets will be updated twice a year to ensure the data remain current. The NWT State of the Environment Report reports on human activity and landscape disturbances on an annual basis by Echo Zone. The GNWT monitors all land use permits submitted on the ranges of the Barren-land caribou including within the Nunavut and provides expert comments and recommendations on all permits that may be negatively impacted caribou habitat especially with respect to sensitive habitat such as calving and post-calving grounds. ENR and Forest Management Division delineates the areas of forest impact by fire on an annual basis across the Northwest Territories.
This information is publicly available on ENR's data warehouse, ENR has contracted out to summarize the environmental trends from 1979 to 2014 for NWT Barren-ground caribou herds with the interpretation of herd specific trends and their implications on each herd. ENR expects those results this year and will make them available to interested parties as soon as possible as a report is available.
Masi. I believe that is a thorough, detailed answer.
---Laughter
If we can make it short and concise and clear for the question period and also for answering as well. Masi.
I want to talk a little bit here about caribou protection measures. The Minister mentioned that GNWT rightly opposed the mineral development in the calving grounds of the Bathurst caribou herd on the Nunavut side. Yet, there is still no caribou protection measures in place for the Bathurst caribou or any herd on the NWT side of the border. I would like to know from the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, what specific actions has GNWT taken to reduce the impacts of mining activities on the Bathurst caribou herd on our side of the border?
I don't know if I can make this too short or not. GNWT is working through several avenues to address the impact of mineral exploration and development on the Bathurst herd. Actions related to individual projects are typically addressed through EAA assessments, regulatory permitting process through the development, and implementation and review of wildlife management and monitoring plans for proposed and existing developments. Specifically ENR remains engaged in a review process of proposed developments within the Bathurst range, for example Gahcho Kue and J-Pipe extension associated with Ekati, to ensure possible effects on the Bathurst herd are duly considered and mitigated where possible for projects in NWT ENR's developing guidelines industry to support the development of wildlife management and monitoring plans which can now be required for operations that may cause significant disturbance to wildlife and wildlife habitat.
Appreciate the response from the Minister. Still didn't hear the words though, "caribou protection measures." I will try a different tactic here. Can the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources tell us what concrete actions have been taken in terms of habitat protection on the NWT side of the border in the interest of the Bathurst caribou herd?
In terms of the impact on the herd on the NWT side of the border, we acknowledge that the hardships have been taken on to the communities. We are working with the communities on a plan with the Bathurst herd. The Member knows that. This is a very serious matter.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Frame Lake.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Appreciate the answer from the Minister again. We have already taken steps on the harvest side. There is not going to be any harvesting on the Bathurst caribou herd by Aboriginal peoples, residents, outfitters, and so on. I am asking what are we going to do on the habitat side? Earlier, I mentioned how the Wek'eezhii Renewable Resources Board says that we need to take action now as managers. I have been involved in this range planning exercise myself in a previous life. When are we going to see some results? Is this government prepared to take some interim actions now as a manager, particularly on the habitat side for caribou protection measures? What are we going to do now? I don't think we can wait for this range plan. Thanks, Mr. Speaker.
As the Member is aware; we are working with all the people that are associated with this herd, from industry to NGOs to Aboriginal governments to boards. We are having consultation with these people ready to come up with a plan for this herd. As soon as we can come up with a schedule, how we are going to move forward with this -- the group is working on this, and we will share that with the Members and committee when possible. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife Centre.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for a Minister who is not present at the moment. Thank you.
Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, last week the Minister of Transportation did a Member's statement in this House and talked about the Inuvik-Tuk Highway. It was coming in on budget at $299 million. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister inform this House if the scope of the project changed to ensure it fell within the budget? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Minister of Transportation.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier in the life of this Assembly, we had to sit down with the contractor and review the progress made on the Tuk to Inuvik Highway, it remains on budget at $299 million. But we have had to change a partial scope of the work on a section of the highway to help assist with moving the project along. We have changed the height of the embankment in certain areas where engineering have said it is possible and just moved things around.
I thank the Minister for his answer. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister please confirm that this was a joint project through funding with the federal government and what was the GNWT's percentage of this project? Share of the project?
Yes, this was a joint endeavour with the GNWT and the federal government. I don't know the exact numbers of our participation. I would have to get back to the Member on what the exact figures were on that.
I thank the Minister for his commitment to get back to me on the exact percentage. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister confirm that this was a negotiated contract with two long-term, successful northern companies?
Yes. The answer is yes.
Masi. Member for Nahendeh.
I love that short, brief answer. It still gives us some more time for asking other questions. I thank the Minister for that great answer. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister please advise this House what parts of the negotiated contract policy was identified to proceed with these two northern companies that have been long-term companies in the North and have been doing a great job? What was the part of the negotiated contract policy that Cabinet and the Executive Council used to renew the negotiated contract? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
That was a decision that was made in the life of the 17th Assembly. That was before my time. I would have to look back and see what was the decision on that and get back to the Member.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife Centre.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Finance. I read this week that all of the provinces have signed on to a reform of the Canada Pension Plan which will supplement benefits for workers who don't have corporate pension plans. All have signed on, I heard, with the exception of Manitoba and Quebec. I would like the Minister to say what position the GNWT took on the reform of the Canada Pension Plan. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Minister of Finance.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Member is correct. There was, I think, eight of the ten jurisdictions that signed on to the enhancements to the Canada Pension Plan. One had to take it back to their government to have a conversation with them, and Quebec has their own Quebec Pension Plan. The Member's question is about what our position was. Unfortunately, we don't have a vote at the table. It is just the seven provinces. They allowed the ten provinces to have some input into this. I think it is two-thirds and the NWT, Nunavut, and Yukon don't have a vote at the table. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you to the Finance Minister for that information. Does the GNWT have a voice at the table where the Minister is able to speak about this pension plan reform?
Mr. Speaker, we do have a voice at the table. Unfortunately, they came to us after we had a bit of a break, and a lot of the decisions were already made. We brought that to their attention and the Chair recognized, and he apologized, that was his fault, that he should have included the three territories in the pre-discussion leading up to the break where a lot of conversations took place. They recognize that. We made our point. They gave us an opportunity to speak afterwards, but by then a lot of the decision had already been made. We brought it to their attention, and we intend in the future to make sure our voice is heard.
Thank you to the Minister for that answer. Can the Minister tell us what he said when he was called on to speak about this issue?
Mr. Speaker, I said how come you never let me speak before?
---Laughter
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife Centre.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the Minister for that. That is my last question. What do you think the impact is or have you had any research done on the impact of the pension reform on employees and businesses in the NWT? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, there has been some preliminary work done as to what it may cost employees and employers across the country. We will do some work on our part, and seeing that this is an important issue, once we get that work done, I would be more than happy to offer a briefing to committee. I have to say this is an issue that is across the country -- my e-mails were actually jammed with about 5,000 e-mails from across the country. Must be doing a mass e-mailing project. Most of the e-mails you could tell weren't from the Northwest Territories. But we will do our work. I will share any information I have with committee.
Mr. Speaker, I have a return to written question asked to the Honourable Wally Schumann, the Minister of Transportation, by Mr. Thompson on June 2, 2016, regarding maintenance contracts on Highway No. 1. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
What is the annual maintenance budget for each section of Highway No. 1, including the ice crossing?
Later today, at the appropriate time, I will table a document indicating the annual maintenance budget for sections of Highway No. 1, including the ice crossings.
What is the total amount spent on maintenance on Highway No. 1, since 2010-2011?
The Government of the Northwest Territories has invested $13,675,907.00 in contracted maintenance on Highway No. 1 since 2010-2011.
Which companies have been awarded maintenance contracts on Highway No. 1 since 2010-2011, and what was the rationale for selecting them?
Later today, at the appropriate time, I will table a document that includes the total amount spent on maintenance since 2010-2011 and indicates the companies that were awarded maintenance contracts since that time.
Contractors are selected in accordance with the policies and procedures established and as prescribed in the Government Contracts Regulations. The GNWT offers public access to an archive of contracting history that is readily available online at: http:contracts.fin.gov.nt.ca/.
How does the department review contracts or contractor and in-house maintenance work on Highway No.1?
The Department of Transportation uses the NWT Highway Maintenance Manual as its benchmark to evaluate the quality of contractor performance during routine inspections conducted by Highway Maintenance Supervisors to ensure DOT standards are being met. In-house work by the Department is only completed when geographic limitations, safety concerns, or equipment shortages are encountered by the contractor.
How does the department monitor and consider the impact of weather conditions on the maintenance work if performs on Highway No. 1?
Highway Maintenance Supervisors monitor surface conditions on NWT highways and, based upon the weather, will direct contractors when required to deliver additional maintenance work to improve conditions.
The Department has recently developed a historical log of weather information to be used for tracking climate trends. Maintenance efforts, such as grading and plowing, fluctuate based on weather conditions. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, further to my Return to Written Question 5-18(2), I wish to table the following document entitled "Maintenance Contracts on Highway No. 1." Also, Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document entitled "Environment and Natural Resources Strategic Plan 2015-2020." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Tabling of documents. Minister of Finance.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document entitled "Follow-up Letter to Oral Question 135-18(2): Impacts of GNWT Job Losses." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
