Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Any abstentions? The motion is carried. The report will be moved into the Committee of the Whole.
---Carried.
Reports of standing and special committees. Member for Nunakput.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Your Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment is pleased to provide its Report on the Government of the Northwest Territories Approach to the Mining Regime Fiscal Review and commends it to the House.
As part of the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) work to bring the Mineral Resources Act into force, as well as to further implement the devolution of the land resources management, the GNWT has commenced a review of the mining fiscal regime, including royalties paid.
The GNWT’s first step of the review was to produce a study that assessed the tax and royalty competitiveness of the mineral sector in the NWT. The Tax and Royalty Benchmarking Report released October 2020 was the GNWT’s first step of the process.
In the public release of this document the Minister notes, the reimagining of our government’s fiscal framework around royalties is one that deserves a comprehensive, collaborative, and multiphased approach." The committee was concerned about the scope of work for this benchmarking research and given the technical nature of this study, an independent review was undertaken for committee.
Mr. Speaker, I ask the Member from Frame Lake to conclude. Thank you.
Thank you, Member for Nunakput. Member for Frame Lake.
Merci, Monsieur le President.
Committee decided to seek proposals from resource economic consultants to provide an independent opinion on the following questions:
Is the GNWT maximizing benefits from resource extraction?
Does the GNWT fiscal and regulatory structure maximize value for Northwest Territories residents and future generations?
Is the proposed approach by the GNWT to review this fiscal and regulatory regime comprehensive?
Will the proposed approach accurately assess whether the benefits of resource wealth are being maximized for the GNWT, NWT residents, and future generations?
The majority of committee agreed to hire resources for development consulting for this independent review. One Member was not supportive of the direction committee was taking regarding an independent analysis on the GNWT’s benchmarking study. This Member’s position in opposition to the independent research commissioned by committee is provided in the dissenting opinion which is included as Appendix A.
Resources for development consulting was founded in 2011 with a mandate to assist governments and communities in securing a fair share of mineral and petroleum wealth. The company assists in the design of fiscal regimes; the negotiation and renegotiation of contracts; the forecasting of future government revenues; and the monitoring and auditing of production, sales, and project costs to secure government revenues in practice.
As part of the team undertaking this work for committee, additional expertise was secured, including an executive with over 30 years experience in the mining industry and another expert with almost 25 years of experience in the energy and natural resources sectors assisting over 20 countries.
On June 29, 2021, the consultant provided a public briefing for committee on the research findings. The meeting was recorded and posted on the Legislative Assembly Facebook and Youtube channels. The final research report, An Economic Analysis of the GNWT’s Approach to the Mining Regime Fiscal Review, as prepared by Resources for Development Consulting is attached as Appendix B.
Mr. Speaker, I'd like to turn it over now to the MLA for Yellowknife North. Merci.
Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Member for Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
While committee supports a review of the mining fiscal regime, there was not consensus how to approach this review to stimulate investment, maximize benefits and maintain competitiveness. Not all Members accepted the recommendations as presented in the report. Regardless committee submits the following recommendations to the GNWT for a response as suggested by Resources for Development Consulting.
The report's findings suggest that in determining how to improve the NWT’s mining fiscal regime, an analysis should be made publicly available that demonstrates how well the current fiscal regime has served the NWT since devolution.
Recommendations
The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories analyze the performance of the NWT mining fiscal regime since devolution and publish these results.
Committee agreed that fiscal transparency was a key aspect of any fiscal regime and should be included in the current fiscal regime review.
The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories implement governmentled revenue transparency.
Committee was concerned about the GNWT's share of revenue from the mineral resources sector. Committee recommends the review of the Mining fiscal regime focus on maximizing government revenue while not impeding competitiveness in the industry.
The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories conduct a fiscal regime review focused on maximizing government revenue.
Committee recognizes revenue analysis for the GNWT from the mineral sector is complex in addition to accounting for the Territorial formula financing arrangement.
To ensure the GNWT and Indigenous governments are maximizing revenue, committee recommends the mining fiscal regime focus on assessing net revenue benefits to the NWT. This focus should include an analysis on the overall mining sector in the NWT, including revenue payments from all mining operations.
I'll now turn it over to the Member for Frame Lake.
Thank you, Member for Yellowknife North. Member for Frame Lake.
Merci, Monsieur le President.
The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories analyse the net revenue benefits for the NWT.
The purpose of the Heritage Fund is to ensure that future generations of people of the Northwest Territories benefit from ongoing economic development, including the development of nonrenewable resources. Committee was concerned with the value of wealth that has been created through the Heritage Fund and recommends the Mining Fiscal Regime Review include an assessment of how to generate more wealth for future generations.
The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories generate greater mining revenues to benefit future generations.
As the GNWT can pursue wider government revenues from mining projects, those economic benefits will extend to Indigenous governments. Indigenous governments also have independent mechanisms to secure economic benefits directly from mining companies.
The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories expands Indigenous governments' economic benefit sharing.
Committee is not aware of any publicly available information on the steps, timelines, and opportunities for public engagement for the remainder of the review of the mining fiscal regime.
The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories make public, as soon as possible, information on the steps, timeline, and opportunities for public engagement for the review of the mining fiscal regime.
Mr. Speaker, I'd like to turn it over now to the MLA for Nunakput to conclude the committee report. Merci.
Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Member for Nunakput.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment recommends the Government provide a response to the recommendations contained in this report within 120 days.
Committee is committed to providing timely and constructive feedback during the review of the mining fiscal regime. Committee looks forward to a comprehensive, collaborative, and multiphased approach with meaningful opportunities for the public and Indigenous government engagement.
Mr. Speaker, I'd like to hand it over to the Member from Great Slave. Thank you.
Thank you, Member for Nunakput. Member for Great Slave.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Dissenting opinion of Katrina Nokleby, MLA for Great Slave.
The GNWT has committed to undertaking a review of its approach to the NWT’s mining fiscal regime. As a first step, the GNWT commissioned a study by international firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) to provide an analysis of tax and royalty benchmark mining in the Northwest Territories. Some Members of the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment (SCEDE) had concerns regarding the scope of work of this research and proceeded to hire an independent economic consultant to provide an opinion on the GNWT’s mineral benchmarking research.
This decision by SCEDE to question the GNWT’s approach does not reflect my concerns or opinions in this area.
SCEDE established the following terms of reference for Committee’s independent research:
Is the GNWT maximizing benefits from resource extraction?
Does the GNWT fiscal and regulatory structure maximize value for NWT residents and future generations?
Is the proposed approach by the GNWT to review this fiscal and regulatory regime comprehensive?
And will the proposed approach accurately assess whether the benefits of resource wealth are being maximized for the GNWT, NWT residents and future generations?
I disagree that these are the most important questions to be asking, particularly in a time when exploration is at an all-time low in the NWT. It is my opinion that this contravenes the mandate of the 19th Assembly which is to support our mineral resource industry. PwC’s research is relevant, sound, and is indeed a credible report in which to inform the Mining Fiscal Regime Review, comparing the climate in the NWT of relevant and relatable jurisdictions like Australia and South Africa. Contextually, based on my extensive professional experience, PwC has captured the situation in the NWT quite well and provides data to back up its conclusions.
I believe that the most relevant questions to be considering right now as the GNWT undertakes the Mining Fiscal Regime Review is:
How will the GNWT create a climate that attracts high quality investors?
How can the GNWT aid and incentivize the existing diamond mines to extend the life of their operations and develop new projects?
How can the GNWT promote the exploration sector to ensure successive mines are coming online to help the territory avoid economic recession?
How can the GNWT incentivize mining corporations to establish and keep head offices in the NWT?
How can the GNWT support residents and businesses to increase participation in the mineral sector?
What are the spinoff industries that could be developed?
How can the GNWT support the development of energy and transportation infrastructure to attract investment in the territory?
The NWT has always been a resourcebased economy. Mining jobs keep families housed and people fed. Mining is the largest private sector employer in the NWT with diamond mining at the foundation of our current economy. This was only driven home further as the pandemic has progressed. Without the support of the mining industry and its dollars, the NWT would have been in economic ruin by now. The mines sent vulnerable people home with pay and set up some of the safest work sites in the entire territory, meeting weekly with our officials to ensure a coordinated effort was made to keep people healthy.
Diamond mining represented 26.7 percent of the territorial GDP in 2019, and is currently forecasted to contribute 20.7 percent of the territorial GDP in 2020 even though the industry declined 30.3 percent over that time period. There is no other sector that can replace the value that the mineral sector has brought to the NWT, unfortunately the NWT's economic outlook is not encouraging and taking jabs at this sector now is only going to be the nail in its coffin.
The value of our mineral productions is decreasing. The territorial GDP declined 10.4 percent from 2019 to 2020, the largest drop in the country, and for the first time ever is being surpassed by Nunavut’s value of mineral production as predicted by the NWT and Nunvaut Chamber of Mines on July 29, 2021. The NWT and Nunavut are on opposing trends. Nunavut is surging up with the development of a new gold mine, and strong prices for iron and gold. While the NWT’s mining industry is suffering from the effects of COVID19; weak global diamond sales; and the shortterm closure of Dominion’s mine; and the slow rate of new mines coming online.
The value of exploration expenditures is also decreasing.
The NWT Mineral Development Strategy shows a similar trend exists for the NWT with respect to exploration expenditures. The total value of exploration expenditure in the NWT over the last five years has also declined to less than 3 percent of the Canadian total. In the meantime, Nunavut has attracted four times as much exploration investment as the NWT and about twice as much as the Yukon. Current NWT expenditures are mainly for advanced exploration projects and deposits with very few grassroots projects underway, something that is extremely worrisome for the long term prospects of a sector that employs a large portion of Northerners as well as accounts for so much of our GDP.
As Minister, I heard that the NWT is not viewed as a jurisdiction that is attractive to investment. The Fraser Institute Annual Survey of Mining Companies 2020 Investment Attractiveness Index ranked the NWT 46 out of 77 other jurisdictions. The NWT was among the very lowest ranked when compared to other Canadian jurisdictions, with Nova Scotia ranking the worst at 66 out of 77. Conversely Saskatchewan was at the top of attractive jurisdictions coming in at 3rd place, followed by Quebec in 6th, and Newfoundland and Labrador at 8.
While prospects don’t look great, there has been some extension to the life of the diamond mines as detailed in the 2019 Socio-Economic Agreement Report. Diavik Diamond Mine’s production life has been extended to 2025 due to the A-21 pit; Ekati’s production life has been extended to 2034; and Gahcho Kue production life is estimated to run until 2030 with the discovery of new kimberlite pipes in 2019. However, this is not enough to sustain our economy and the lack of upcoming projects to replace the diamond mines is worrisome. Coupled with little oil and gas development, the sunsetting of the diamond mines will likely cause the NWT to be in an extremely weak and limited economic environment in as short of a time as 13 years. Even if ongoing exploration work proves fruitful, metal mines have nowhere near the economic impact as a diamond mine and production values will be extremely limited comparatively.
Diversification is key to developing our economy, but diversification needs to happen quicker and on a much greater scale than it is currently happening to be relevant. In the meantime, we cannot afford to have a territory with no economy. Without successful exploration and subsequent mining projects coming online, we are destined to become a government or public service economy, with little population, little territorial budget, and little private services. With a lack of jobs there will be little incentive for our youth to remain in their home communities or even in the NWT, and our talent drain to the south will continue.
For all the reasons above, I believe the scope of work for the Tax and Royalty Benchmark Report, Mining in the Northwest Territories is an effective benchmark report to understand the NWT’s competitiveness in the mineral sector. I am disappointed that committee time and resources were spent on work that I see as largely irrelevant given the reputation of the authors of the original report as well as the current economic situation of the NWT. I encourage my colleagues to put our time and efforts towards improving the economic outlook of our territory instead. I support the work of the GNWT and ITI to advance the Mining Fiscal Regime Review expeditiously to enable the development of regulations and incentives that will ensure a prosperous future for the NWT and all residents. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Great Slave. To the report, Member for Nunakput.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the Honourable Member from Frame Lake, that Committee Report 2119(2): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report of the Government of the Northwest Territories Approach to the Mining Regime Fiscal Review, be received in the Assembly, moved into Committee of the Whole for further consideration. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Nunakput. Motion is in order. To the motion?
Question.
Question has been called. All those in favor? All those opposed? Any abstentions? The motion is carried. The report will be moved into Committee of the Whole.
--Carried
Reports of standing and special committees. Member for Nunakput.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Your Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment is pleased to provide the Report on Telecommunications and commends into the House.
Your Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment is concerned about the growing digital divide in the NWT and the overall accessibility to connectivity and quality of internet services across the NWT.
The pandemic continues to highlight a growing gap between these with affordable, highspeed, reliable connectivity and those without. The communities in the NWT, especially more than remote communities, are suffering the most. And as the residents cannot afford it, the NWT falls below the rates of connectivity across Canada and yet also pay the highest price for service in and the sporadic... [audio] The NWT witnessed over the course of the pandemic sporadic service in their community, limits accessibility for essential services.
The committee invited presentations from the Government of the Northwest Territories, (the GNWT), and the industry engagement informed committee submission. The Canadian Radio Telecommunications Commission 2020367 (Appendix A) has also informed committee's recommendations to the GNWT.
In the committee's view, the GNWT has not completed a comprehensive business plan including financial costs required to provide internet access in the NWT at a comparable level of service in southern Canada. Without a complete picture of the total costs delivering the service, the GNWT continues to fall short of federal partners in industry to achieve this at the end.
The following report provides summary of what the committee heard from stakeholders and submits recommendations to the GNWT to improve accessibility, reliability, affordability of the telecommunications services in the NWT.
The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment has provided nine recommendations for the GNWT.
The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment recommends the GNWT to continue into invest in publicly owned backbone internet infrastructure in the NWT. Specifically, the GNWT to prioritize the opportunity to create fibre redundancy to the NWT.
The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment recommends the GNWT ensure fibre optic into home made available make fibre optic make made available to the residents of Tuktoyaktuk completion InuvikTuk fibre line installation.
The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment recommends the GNWT all backbone internet infrastructure in communities accommodates open wholesale access to NWT business to colocate internet services a fair price in the NWT businesses.
The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment recommends the GNWT advocate to the Canadian Radio Telecommunications Commission to set aside funding under the broadband fund for smaller service providers in Indigenousowned businesses to help promote competition.
The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment recommends the GNWT ensure all public funded internet backbone infrastructure in the NWT provide wholesale highspeed thirdparty internet access.
The Standing Committee on Economic Development Environment recommends the GNWT address digital divide within the NWT by providing free access to basic internet packages through income assistance funding and NWT Housing Corporation for public housing units.
The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment recommends to GNWT to address the digital divide building partnerships that can make free WiFi services to all regional centres.
The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment recommends that the GNWT encourage competition in the market by procuring internet services by smaller pieces and that local internet providers can effectively bid on these opportunities.
The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment recommends a response and recommendations listed within 120 business days. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Nunakput. Member for for Nunakput.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the Honourable Member from Frame Lake, that Committee Report 2219(2): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment, Report on Telecommunications, be deemed read and printed in Hansard in its entirety. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Nunakput. Motion is in order. To the motion?
Question.
Question has been called. All those in favor? All those opposed? Any abstentions?
Agreed.
Carried
Editors Note: Committee Report 22-19(2) can be read here:
https://www.ntassembly.ca/sites/assembly/files/cr_22-192_scede_report_o…
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, these questions will be for the Minister of Finance/Human Resources.
Mr. Speaker, some of the GNWT departments will require employees to confirm they have been vaccinated prior to showing up for for work starting today. And others not vaccinated may be accommodated or turned away.
So, Mr. Speaker, will the Minister explain to this to this Assembly the timing and process employees will be will be required to follow to confirm their vaccination status and is privacy, as it relates to private health information, a consideration when sharing that information and is it consistent throughout all departments, including NTPC and NWT Housing Corporation? Thank you.
Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Minister responsible for Finance.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, let me just be clear first at the outset that it is, indeed everyone that has to be, at this point, providing a proof of vaccination or else they will be asked to comply with enhanced personal protective equipment and ultimately a testing regime.
In doing so, in asking our employees to comply with that policy, privacy absolutely was a top consideration, Mr. Speaker. The information that we are requesting, the records we are requesting, they are, indeed, going to be held on a needtoknow only basis at the Department of Human Department of Finance and Human Resources within the human resources information system. These folks are very accustomed to dealing with very sensitive information. It is secure, and it is private. I certainly would not let that to be a barrier to anyone complying with the policy to keep themselves and their families and their coworkers safe.
As for its application, Mr. Speaker, as I believe has been discussed this week, the Northwest Territories Power Corporation does have their own policy also in place. The Northwest Territories Housing Corporation does, however, fall within this one.
So, yes, Mr. Speaker, this is it's time this is time, it's now upon us, but, again, the information is going to be kept secure and confidential. So this if there's anyone out there who still hasn't provided their proof of vaccination, please, please get on the system and get that done today. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, knowing that departments or divisions have different vaccine policy requirements for employees to attend work, will the Minister confirm for those that are not vaccinated what process is in place to accommodate them when they show up for work tomorrow, and will they be required to provide any documentation as do those that are vaccinated; and if they do not have documentation, then what? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the vaccination requirements are not different are, again, asked please, first of all, please go get your vaccine. It's your best way to protect yourself and to then provide that.
What does change department or division by division is in fact the specific guidelines around personal protective equipment. That's to accommodate the fact that certain different workplaces will have different levels of need or different levels of potential exposure to members of the public or to one another, you know, an office environment versus a frontline environment. But all of the departmental guidelines are available on the MyHR website. So if someone wants to go through, read them individually, they certainly can do that now. They are available on the website, and individual employees also, if they still have questions, should speak to their direct supervisors. Between the information on the HR website, between the information of their supervisors, employees should now be, I believe, quite clear on the level of personal protective equipment required for their workplace and testing will be coming shortly and that, again, same efforts, Mr. Speaker, to the MyHR website or to a supervisor. I've not had too many inquiries so I am hoping that, indeed, that information has rolled out successfully and there's no other paperwork that's required. Just to, you know, again, Number 1 is to go get your vaccine. If you are choosing not to do that, then to make sure you're clear with your supervisor what you need to do to keep yourself safe tomorrow. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm concerned that some of the vaccinated employees may find that working with staff that are not vaccinated will deem the workplace to be an unsafe environment as set out in WSCC legislation.
Mr. Speaker, will the Minister confirm what is the process that must be followed by those employees who feel unsafe when working alongside employees who are unvaccinated? What options or accommodations are open to them if they refuse to go to work? Has this been made clear to them? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, again, the first point of contact for all employees is their direct supervisor. We've certainly have employees working with their supervisors throughout the pandemic to ensure that folks who may be immune compromised, for instance, can have access to to that to additional information so that their workplace remains a safe place for them. We've worked the Department of Finance has worked with the WSCC and Occupational Health and Safety. Again, throughout the pandemic, including on the current policy. Always, of course, is mindful not only of the provisions that I know the Member mentioned earlier, but other provisions in the work Workers Safety and Compensation Act. For instance, the ensuring of having an exposure control plan. So vaccines certainly as I think has been mentioned not only by this government, not only by our Chief public health officer, but across the country and the world, vaccines are your best form of protection, but they are not the only form of protection.
We really want to of course ensure that our workplaces are using every possible means of protection. So you have enhanced masking for those folks who are not providing proof of vaccine, still other masking orders still in place, other various exposure controls are in place. So we are trying to adapt the workplaces to a pandemic in the context of, of course, changing knowledge and information about that pandemic and as risks may continue to evolve and to vary, we are going to continue to do so. But if someone does have concerns, again, please have them speak to their supervisor so that their individual circumstances can be accommodated. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary, Member for Hay River South.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I had the opportunity to review the document titled Confirmation of Compliance with the GNWT COVID19 Vaccine Policy for Contractors, and discussed it with a number of contractors.
Mr. Speaker, would the Minister confirm how this information is being relayed to contractors and how or will it be monitored to ensure compliance? It appears to be a document based more on the honour system. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, our approach in terms of dealing with contractors is quite similar to the federal model and they too are applying their own policies more expansively and to include contractors. The goal, again, is to ensure that all of the public that's being served on behalf of the GNWT has the benefits of this policy and the benefits that we believe it brings as far as providing all the different tools to prevent transmission and exposure to COVID19.
I suppose it's an honor system in the sense that we are requiring at this point contractors who have existing contracts to sign to say they are adhering to the policy. I suppose that's an honor system or, really, it's a system that says "you now need to adhere and you need to tell us you're going to do so."
Going forward, contract templates are being modified so that it will actually then be built into the contract itself, that they will comply with the policy. And certainly where there's concern that contractors not adhering to the policies, they are saying that they are or that they will be contracted to do, there certainly are tools that the GNWT can have to deal with that.
I'm hoping, Mr. Speaker, that we don't get to that. I'm hoping again that contractors are just as keen to ensure that they're using all the tools available to keep their employees safe as we are. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Thebacha.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the other day the Infrastructure Minister was unable to answer a couple of my questions. So I'm going to try asking them again today.
Can the Minister tell us which other NWT airports, by name, were affected by similar actions experienced at the Fort Smith airport runway? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Thebacha. Minister responsible for Infrastructure.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. During the recent lighting projects involving James Gruben airport in Tuktoyaktuk and YZF in Yellowknife, the Aerodrome Standards and Guidelines were considered. The Tuktoyaktuk project saw changes to the physical characteristics and the lighting infrastructure. And the Yellowknife project saw changes to the lighting infrastructure to meet the current standards as well as aircraft currently serving the airport. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, in the Infrastructure budget that we looked at the other day, Fort Simpson is replacing the lighting on their airport runway just like what happened to Fort Smith's runway changes. Can the Minister tell us if the width or length of the Fort Simpson airport's runway was altered in any way? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Fort Simpson airport will see changes to the lighting infrastructure as a result of the new lighting project so it can meet the Aerodrome Standards and Guidelines, but there will be no changes to the physical characteristics because the aircraft because of the aircraft serving this airport.
The aircraft serving Fort Simpson, to meet the current and future needs, is the ATR turbo prop. This aircraft is part of a larger aircraft group number, than the aircraft serving Fort Smith. As with the Fort Smith airport, the level of service will not change at this airport and will still continue to meet federal regulations. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, can the Minister tell us if there are any plans to reduce the width of any other NWT airport runways? If so, can the Minister specify which airports those are. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That was two questions, and I'll answer them both. No, there are no plans at this time as there are no projects in the planning and design stage. During the plan and design process for all airport projects, the Aerodrome Standards and Guidelines are taken into consideration, along with the aircraft serving the community and the physical characteristics of that airport. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary, Member for Thebacha.
