Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the Member knows, because we are both from the fishing community of Hay River, how important to get this file moving is. The department is working closely with Freshwater on trying to move this file along. As of the latest briefing that I've got, they were still in discussions with Freshwater Marketing Corporation on getting an MOU and business plan together, and like I say, on my latest briefing, I believe they're going to try to bring something forward here within the next week or so for us to consider. So that's where that's at.
It's good to hear that we're moving and it should be in within a week. If a deal can't be struck with Freshwater -- given their track record, I'm not sure one can be, but I'm still hopeful -- will the GNWT take the initiative and dip into that $1.4 million they've had set aside and build a fish processing plant in Hay River?
The important thing about the $1.4 million that's been carried over from last fiscal year to this fiscal year is for the Department of ITI to use that as leverage for the funding that we are putting forward to CanNor to give us the best potential to help build the plant in Hay River. That being said, the Member actually had two questions there, if we weren't able to make a deal with Freshwater on that moving forward, what could we potentially do with that money. Well, that would have to be a discussion along with myself and our colleagues in this House if we want to shift the priorities of the use of that money. Right now it's designated to use to leverage CanNor towards a position of potential completion of a fishing plant in Hay River.
I also mentioned that the Great Slave Lake has been neglected by DFO when it comes to the investment in harbors. You look at any lake in the south that's utilized by the commercial fishing industry, especially one of comparable size, you'll see just how bad our deficit is. This lack of access points combined with the outdated quota zones means that fish around the Great Slave Lake have to travel much farther than competitors in the south, it means their wages and the cost for equipment is much higher. It puts them at an immediate disadvantage. Because of the low-level engagement to address these issues, as in the Fishermen's Federation talking to bureaucrats at DFO hasn't been working, I'd like to know how the Minister is engaging the Department of Fisheries and Oceans so that we can move forward with this revitalization strategy in terms of harbor investment and rezoning?
I guess previously when I was on the Metis Government Council we have a seat at the board of GSLAC, and GSLAC is a governing board that puts advisory suggestions along with DFO on how we're going to use the lake, and this is one of the areas of discussions how we can re-divide up the lake and make better access points to be considered for the fisherman to access and make a little better living and be able to raise their quota on the lake. These discussions are ongoing. They recently had a meeting as early as last month, and there's discussions still going on. I can state in this House when we were in Ottawa and I met with the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans that this was a point that was brought up at a political level when we were there and we will continue to try to move this forward.
As MLA for Hay River North, I regularly attend GSLAC meetings, I meet privately with the NWT Fishermen's Federation president, I attend the NWT Fishermen's Federation meetings, I talk to fishermen in Hay River, and I know that these issues they brought to GSLAC. The issues with zoning aren't being addressed. When I went to my first GSLAC meeting, they brought up issues. We went to the second one, there were the same issues with absolutely no movement. If anything, there was a denial of doing anything. I've also hear, from the federation that when they talk to the bureaucrats they tell them, we need word coming down from the top to make these changes. We have a little bit of a constituency budget here, not much; it mostly goes to salary and running an office, but I would like to use that constituency budget if the Minister would help me set up a meeting with the Minister of DFO, I'll take him, I'll take the NWT Fisheries Federation president and myself and we'll go down there and we will meet with the Minister so we can start making progress on this.
If the Minister insists on flying business class, maybe I can just send him and the president. How does the Minister respond to that?
---Laughter
I thank the Member for his eagerness, but there is a process that we have in place here, and we're engaging Freshwater Fish Marketing Corp., we're engaged with the federal government at our level, we have our colleagues on the other side of the House through committee. There's a number of things that we need to do, and I think if time permitting let this process work its way through the system here for the next little bit. As I said, we're getting very close to coming to an agreement with Freshwater, with an MOU and a business plan that we start moving on. As he stated, we are both from Hay River and this is an important file to us and we need to keep it moving. I ask the Member for a little more patience and we will consider what we're doing moving forward.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Premier today, and they are with regard to land claims. Mr. Speaker, we're all aware that finalizing and implementing land and self-government agreements is a high priority for the 18th Assembly, and as the Premier is aware and the rest of Cabinet, myself we heard repeatedly from a number of key stakeholders while we were at Vancouver roundup the importance of settling our land claims in the North to build certainty and not only just for resource development but also for reasons around conservation and preservation as well. So it's important for everybody on a number of levels. So my question is, can the Premier provide this House and Northerners an update on the status of land claims with the Akaitcho, Dehcho, and Metis? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Honourable Premier.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm pleased to report that negotiations at all three tables with the Dehcho, Akaitcho and NWT Metis Nation are ongoing and by all accounts the negotiations are proceeding and we're making progress. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Earlier in the year we are aware that the federal government had some federal appointees, ministerial special representations that came to the territory to do some assessment on behalf of the federal government. Can the Premier provide us a little update on what the status of those assessments are and can we expect those reports to be coming soon?
The ministerial special representatives that were appointed by myself and the Minister of Indigenous Affairs for Canada have been working very hard in both the Deh Cho, MSR had met with all of the leadership and has gone to every community and I think has also had a final round of meetings. Similarly with the MSR for the South Slave has undertaken all of those discussions, and I fully expect that final reports will be brought forward within the next couple of weeks, certainly before the end of February and also I understand some initial drafts have been shared with some technical experts for some input as well. So I'm looking forward to receiving the reports of the ministerial special representatives.
I thank the Premier for his response and certainly looking forward to those reports in the next couple weeks. Mr. Speaker, what then on a path going forward would be the next steps after we receive the reports? How will the Premier be informing this government and Aboriginal leaders going forward after receiving the reports?
The way we see it working out is that federal Minister Bennett and myself will accept the reports and we'll meet and determine a path forward. On our part, I certainly expect that we will work with the Joint Cabinet and Standing Committee on Aboriginal Relations and that we would, at the appropriate time, share that document and discuss it and, certainly, on a similar basis with the Aboriginal governments. They've all written and asked for copies of the report, so we'll determine a path forward with the federal Minister and we'll discuss it, and, at the appropriate time, we'll share it with all of the Aboriginal governments.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you to the Premier for his reply. My final question is: does the Premier believe that, of course in collaboration with First Nations, that within the life of the 18th Assembly we still have the opportunity to finalize these agreements and bring them to implementation? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. At some point early on in the life of this government I made the point that we were hoping to settle all the land claims in the life of the 18th Assembly, and, certainly, my expectation is that we will make very good progress.
I strongly believe that the report of the ministerial special representatives will advance progress significantly. We had very good meetings with the grand chief of the Dehcho First Nation at roundup in Vancouver. We are both very optimistic, and we're all prepared to work very hard to move this file forward significantly. We've had discussions with the Akaitcho, and we think there are opportunities to move forward and, certainly, the head of the Metis Nation, there has been very strong movement, so I expect these reports will advance the files significantly, to the extent that we will be fairly certain of an outcome. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi, Mr. Speaker. I have two written questions.
The first one: GNWT participation in the Association for Mineral Exploration BC roundup, January 2017. My questions are for the Premier. The full Cabinet and a contingent of support staff travelled to Vancouver during the week of January 23, 2017 to attend to Association for Mineral Exploration BC Roundup.
Can the Premier provide a list of all NWT Ministers and staff who travelled to Vancouver for the meetings and,
total cost of travel including transportation, showing air travel by executive versus economy class; accommodations; expenses; and associated allowances;
any related contract costs for the trip, particularly costs of conference registration, exhibitor staffing, any fees for consulting services outside of those provided by public servants, any funding by the GNWT Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment of the costs of other NWT representatives attending;
a description of hospitality events, including costs and numbers and names of persons attending; and,
procedures in place to track and report on accomplishments resulting from trip activities.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Member for Frame Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My second written question is Cabinet's November trip to Ottawa. My questions are for the Premier. Members of Cabinet and their support staff travelled to Ottawa during the week of November 21, 2017 for intergovernmental meetings and parliamentary presentations.
Can the Premier provide a list of all GNWT Ministers and staff who travelled to Ottawa for the meetings and,
total costs of travel, including transportation showing air travel by executive versus economy class, accommodation expense and associated allowances;
any related contract costs for the trip, particularly costs of lobbyist support, including contracted services, organizational research, presentation preparation and writing services;
a description of hospitality events, including the costs and numbers and names of persons attending; and,
procedures in place to track and report on accomplishments resulting from trip activities.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I have a return to written question asked by Mr. O'Reilly on November 3, 2016, to the Honourable Bob McLeod, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations, regarding the status of vacancies on comanagement boards.
There are 14 co-management boards in the Northwest Territories with a combined total of 106 board positions. Of the 106 positions, 24 positions are currently vacant. Mr. Speaker, some of these positions have been vacant from as little as one month to as long as six and a half years. Of the 24 vacant positions, 14 have been vacant for less than one year, four have been vacant for more than one year but less than two years, two have been vacant for more than two years but less than five years, and four have been vacant for a period greater than five years.
Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories has no outstanding nominations for these co-management boards. Of the 24 vacancies, Canada is the nomination authority for 11 positions and the various Aboriginal governments are the nomination authorities for 12 positions. The nomination authority for the remaining one vacancy is from the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board. Mr. Speaker, each of the 14 co-management boards currently has sufficient membership to maintain a quorum.
Mr. Speaker, I have a return to written question asked by Mr. Kevin O'Reilly on November 3, 2016, to the Honourable Bob McLeod, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations, regarding filling vacancies on comanagement boards. The Government of the Northwest Territories has implemented several limitations to monitor upcoming vacancies and potential quorum issues for each of the 14 co-management boards in the Northwest Territories. The Department of Executive continues to send board vacancy reports to departments on a semi-annual basis. The report informs departments of all board vacancies and identifies potential quorum issues.
In order to make it consistent with the principles of open government, on November 30, 2016, the Department of Executive launched a revamped Public Board Appointment website. Using newer technology, the website now shows current and upcoming vacancies; the most recent appointments made, and improved reporting capabilities. The revised website is also accessible by any smartphone and the general public can continue to submit an expression of interest for a board position at any time using the Public Board Appointment website. All expressions of interest remain on file for two years and can be drawn upon when a vacancy occurs.
In addition, the Departments of Lands and Environment and Natural Resources actively monitor the Public Board Appointment website and will initiate the appointment or nomination process upwards of nine to twelve months prior to the board member’s term expiring, or as soon as possible when an unexpected vacancy occurs.
Recently, the Departments of Lands and Environment and Natural Resources combined efforts to advertise in NewsNorth and L’Acquilon seeking expressions of interest from the general public to serve on various boards in the Mackenzie Valley and Inuvialuit regions. Advertisements ran twice in each newspaper in late October and early November.
Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories is committed to an effective regulatory system in the Northwest Territories. The GNWT is only one party in the overall system of board appointments in the Mackenzie Valley and Inuvialuit Settlement Region. While the GNWT endeavours to make timely appointments or nominations, the completion of board appointments depend on several factors: timely nominations from claimant group organizations; the process required to undertake federal security checks; and the time needed by the federal Minister or Governor in Council to finalize appointments.
Mr. Speaker, the issue of improving the appointment process is one that I have raised on several occasions with both the Prime Minister and the Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs within the context of transitioning authorities under the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act (MVRMA) to the NWT. Canada and the GNWT agreed to review the provisions related to MVRMA in the Devolution Agreement. The agreement specified that this review would comments following the 5th anniversary of the transfer. The message that I have been delivering to Canada is that our government supports getting on with this work much sooner. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Finally, Mr. Speaker, I have a return to written question asked by Mr. O'Reilly on November 3, 2016, to the Honourable Louis Sebert, Minister of Lands, regarding Commissioner's Land Act security deposits.
Later today, at the appropriate time, I will table a list of commercial and industrial leases issued for Commissioner’s Land since February 15, 2011, including the amount and form of security posted. One lease was exempted from the requirement to post security under section 3.1(3) of the Commissioner’s Land Act as the calculated security does not exceed one thousand dollars. In addition, security is not required for one of the listed leases because the application for that lease was accepted prior to the February 2011 coming-into-force date of the security provisions of the Commissioner’s Land Act.
The amount of security required for commercial or industrial leases of Commissioner’s Land is calculated using a workshop which appears on the Commercial/Industrial Lease Application Form. This calculation applies set restoration rates to the total area of land to be developed, the number and type of structures to be placed on the land, the amount of land used for the storage of fuel and the presence or absence of spill mitigation features. Additional multiplies are applied based on the lessee’s previous performance and the potential for elevated environmental risk.
Commissioner’s land securities are received by the regional lands officer or headquarters staff, reviewed and taken to the Department of Finance as soon as they are deemed acceptable. Securities are tracked at headquarters. A lease’s security calculation is reviewed every five years to account for inflation and to ensure the amount of security held is still appropriate given the use of the land. There have been no instances where securities for commercial or industrial leases issued since February 15, 2011 have been returned. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following five documents entitled "Followup Letter to Oral Question 7218(2): Supporting Small Businesses with Government of the Northwest Territories Contracting Policies;" "Followup Letter to Oral Question 31918(2): Promotion and Protection of Traditional Lifestyles;" "Followup Letter to Oral Question 34918(2): Northern Transportation Company Limited Employee Pension Plan and Severance Payments;" "Followup Letter to Oral Question 42318(2): Programs to Support Traditional Economy;" and "Followup Letter to Oral Question 45518(2): Indigenous Natural Resource Guardians Program."
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Tabling of documents. Minister of Transportation.
Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following five documents entitled "Followup Letter to Oral Question 25518(2): Status of Mackenzie Valley Highway Business Case;" "Followup Letter to Oral Question 38618(2): Small Community Restricted Drivers' Licenses;" "Followup Letter to Oral Question 41918(2): Sahtu Winter Road Construction and Maintenance;" "Followup Letter to Oral Question 43018(2): Canol Trail Remediation Project;" and "Followup Letter to Oral Question 43218(2): Brush Cutting along the Dempster Highway."
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Tabling of documents. Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs.
That's me. My brain is gone. Excuse me. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to table to following document entitled "Followup Letter to Oral Question 36518(2): Tuktoyaktuk Shoreline Erosion Mitigation Project." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Tabling of documents. Minister of Health and Social Services.
