Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Climate change. Mr. Speaker, evidence of climate change is all around us and affects every aspect of the way we do business and everyday living standards. We are seeing animals and birds never seen in these parts before.
Mr. Speaker, resupplies to Fort Good Hope is a prime example, amongst others. The last barge destined for that community rarely makes it due to low water seasons and the challenges faced between Norman Wells and Fort Good Hope with two sets of rapids.
The impact of this is fuel, public and private goods and services destined for that community, building materials. If they do not make the destination, building projects are prolonged. They are delayed. Private groceries do not end up to resupply the community household until the following winter access road season, and fuel by this government destined for the community there is handled twice. It's then brought back to the community of Norman Wells, stored, and trucked over the winter road season. Our winter road seasons are experiencing shorter seasons and also warmer, mild temperatures.
Mr. Speaker, Northerners are resilient. We are now saying we need more allweather road infrastructures to connect our lacking 28 per cent non-community connected to the allweather road systems. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife Centre.
Member's Statement on
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in December 2015, world leaders gathered in Paris signed the historic agreement to fight climate change. They committed to ambitious targets for reducing greenhouse gas production and to halt the disastrous advance of global warming. Last year, the Mining Association of Canada endorsed the federal government's effort to establish a national price on carbon pollution.
In the months since the signing of the Paris Agreement, our federal government has announced its intention to introduce a carbon price. Ottawa has consulted with provinces and territories, asking them to develop a system for their jurisdiction, which honours minimum reductions. Our government has participated in these processes and I understand there is federal funding to offset costs.
Throughout this mandate, this government has missed no opportunity to condemn carbon pricing, without a mandate from the Assembly's committees for taking this position. Even while signing the national climate change framework in Ottawa last December, the Premier remained reluctant of pricing carbon, intoning fears of cost impact and skepticism at the significance of NWT greenhouse gas reductions.
As we know, the impacts of climate change are all the greater here in the NWT. If anything, these exaggerated impacts call us to make an even greater northern commitment and example as we call upon the world's governments and industrial leaders to ease the damage most felt here.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Nahendeh.
Member's Statement on
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I have been travelling across the NWT, the topic of caribou comes up with a lot of people. The more people I talked to, the more I became interested in what was happening in the Deh Cho in this area. After doing research, I found out the Department of Environment and Natural Resources is doing studies with boreal caribou in the Deh Cho.
Mr. Speaker, it was initiated in 2004 with the deployment of 10 satellite collars on adult female caribou at the request of, and after consultation with, Sambaa K'e Dene Band.
I am happy to say that there are extensive consultations in response to requests from other registered First Nations, and have increased the study area and number of First Nations partners in this study.
From looking at the Dehcho Boreal Caribou Study Progress Report, which was completed by April 2016, a total of 145 collars have been deployed on adult female boreal caribou.
Mr. Speaker, in the report, the department studies talk about the daily movement patterns of collared female caribou, which determines when and where a female boreal caribou calved or not. The great thing about using movement data is the department does not need to use the aerial survey, which helps reduce disturbance during the calving period.
Mr. Speaker, as seen from the high number of births and pregnancies from the collared females, this implies that capture and wearing a collar has not prevented females from becoming pregnant nor bearing calves. This is good to hear as they continue to study and monitor the caribou in the Deh Cho.
Mr. Speaker, I have to say the department and regional staff are doing a great job of studying the caribou in our region. It is very interesting to see the home range of the caribou in the Deh Cho.
Mr. Speaker, I was impressed that, in January 2016, the department was part of a cooperative inter-jurisdictional project that had the first aerial wolf survey conducted in the Deh Cho. This information is helping the department with their caribou study.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Nunakput.
Member's Statement on
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, water is life. The vision of the Inuvialuit Water Board is to have clean and plentiful water available today and into the future.
Mr. Speaker, the waters of the Mackenzie Basin eventually flow into the Delta and the Arctic Ocean. The Northwest Territories Water Board was established in 1972 and was renamed the lnuvialuit Water Board in March 2014. It provides for the conservation, development, and use of inland waters to benefit all Canadians and, in particular, the residents of the lnuvialuit Settlement Region.
Mr. Speaker, under the Waters Act, the lnuvialuit Water Board is responsible for licensing water use and waste disposal in the lnuvialuit Settlement Region of the Northwest Territories.
Mr. Speaker, those waters may be in a liquid or solid state, on or below the surface of land. Projects that require large amounts of water and produce waste that could potentially impact the quality of the environment are of concern to the board. The lnuvialuit Water Board also regulates waste that may enter waters and would alter water quality. The role and function of the lnuvialuit Water Board deals with municipal and industrial requests for water licences in the portion of the ISR in the NWT.
Mr. Speaker, the board consists of five members, currently appointed by the Minister for Environment and Natural Resources. Two members are nominated by the lnuvialuit Regional Corporation and one member by the federal Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development. The board maintains a website and produces an annual report.
Mr. Speaker, the lnuvialuit are ready to take on a more government-to-government approach to the Water Board. As we update the Waters Act to reflect our post-devolution context, we can expect changes in the area of appointments. It is important for the Government of Northwest Territories to make decisions independently.
