Good afternoon, colleagues. Welcome back to the Legislative Assembly. With the easing of COVID19 restrictions, we have returned to our usual Chambers setup and operations. Our gallery is open to the public. We are able to increase the number of interpreters here. We will be providing interpretation into Chipewyan, Tlicho, North Slave, South Slave, Inuvialuktun, and French this sitting. Please join me in thanking our interpreters for their dedication and important work that they do in preserving, strengthening, and honouring our official languages.
Applause
Colleagues, we have removed the extra tables from the Chamber. You have returned to your normal seats, and I am pleased to welcome pages back to the chambers.
It is an honour to share this space with our youth. They are our future. Please join me in welcoming our pages back. Mahsi.
Applause
Not only are we welcoming youth into this Chambers as pages for this sitting, but we also recently hosted our 18th Youth Parliament. I know many of you have had the opportunity to meet our youth parliamentarians, many of you volunteered your time to serve as pages during our Youth Parliament session, or watched online or from the gallery.
It is wonderful to hear youth read their Members' and Ministers' statements and to move and debate motions on topics are for which they clearly had great interest and passion. It is also exciting to hear them speak our official languages.
Colleagues, I want to congratulate and thank Koby Elanik who represented the Mackenzie Delta and served as speaker for our Youth Parliament. He did a great job. It was an honour to have you take my chair.
The youth are our future and based on what we seen and heard during the 18th Youth Parliament, I am confident our future is in good hands.
Colleagues, as you know the territory has experienced flooding again this spring. I know many people have been affected by the flooding, especially in Sambaa K'e, K’atl’odeeche First Nation, West Point Nation, and Hay River. I also know that other communities, including Aklavik, are currently preparing for possible flooding. I want to thank the community leaders for the efforts they are making to prepare for and minimize the impacts of any flooding that may occur. We are resilient people who help each other during times of need. That's part of what makes the Northwest Territories such a wonderful place to call home.
Finally, I would like to thank the Prince of Wales and and Duchess of Cornwall for their recent visit to the Northwest Territories during their recent Canadian tour. I know that some of you had the opportunity to meet the Prince and Duchess while they were here, and I know that many people in Dettah and Yellowknife were honoured and excited to have had the opportunity to host such important guests.
Now colleagues it is my duty to advise the House that I have received the following message from the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories. It reads:
Dear Mr. Speaker. I wish to advise that I recommend to the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories the passage of Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 1, 20222023; and Supplementary Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures), No. 1, 20222023 during the second session of the 19th Legislative Assembly. Yours Truly, Margaret M. Thom, Commissioner.
Thank you, colleagues.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to begin by saying that I, along with several of my Cabinet colleagues, had the privilege of visiting both the town of Hay River, K’atl’odeeche First Nation, and West Point First Nation, earlier this week to observe the damage caused by this year’s flooding in the South Slave region. I want to thank Mayor Jameson and Chief Martel for inviting and hosting us on our tours around your communities. Thanks also to MLAs Bonnetrouge and both MLA Simpson for accompanying us and demonstrating leadership for your communities. It was eye opening to see the hundreds of homes, businesses, and other infrastructure that have been damaged and, in some cases, lost to the flood. For many residents, the cleanup work is just beginning, and from the conversations I had with many people on the ground, I know they understand that the full recovery will be a long and exhausting process.
I want residents to know that the Government of the Northwest Territories is here to assist you and your communities with this recovery work. Municipal and Community Affairs staff are already on the ground and meeting with residents to discuss their needs, provide support, and are working diligently to assess the damage to every home, business, building, and property.
Mr. Speaker, today I also want to speak about the collaborative action that was taken by hundreds of people over the past few weeks to help those affected by this flood. During these unimaginable difficult days, we have seen examples after examples of neighbors helping neighbors and communities helping communities From the absolutely heroic efforts of residents, who risked their own safety to rescue others from the flood waters, and to those who have gone above and beyond to provide care and comfort to evacuees. I want to recognize the contribution made by so many residents to help those in need.
I would also like to thank the communities of Enterprise, Fort Providence, Fort Resolution, Fort Smith, and Yellowknife for all their work in making a very difficult time a little bit easier for evacuees. I would also like to thank all the people, businesses, and organizations who made donations of time, goods, food, and money to the residents of the affected communities.
I visited the evacuation centre in Yellowknife several times and heard nothing but deep appreciation for the generous contribution, and I also know that this was the case in evacuation centres in other communities as well.
Mr. Speaker, communities are the frontline for emergency management. I want to acknowledge the quick and effective response of the Town of Hay River and the K’atl’odeeche First Nation. The leadership shown by the mayor and chief and their teams, as well as by their local emergency management organizations made a critical difference in responding to such a largescale disaster event.
Lessons learned from the 2021 flood season helped us to be more prepared this year. The Department of Municipal and Community Affairs launched a 'Be Ready' campaign before the start of spring breakup this year. This campaign provides residents and community governments with information on preparedness, flood risk, and disaster assistance. It included printable checklists, links to flood readiness videos, guidance about what to do when going home, and how to navigate disaster assistance.
The Disaster Assistance Policy was updated to better support those affected by disasters. Eligibility for disaster assistance has expanded to include nonprofit organizations, commercial hunters, trappers, and other harvesters of natural resources. The maximum amount of assistance has increased from 80 to 90 percent of eligible costs, and a total payable amount available to residents, small businesses, and nonprofit has increased from $100,000 to $240,000. Under the new policy, the maximum payable amount has been removed entirely for the community governments.
We are also in the process of enhancing our emergency management team. Having more staff in our regional offices and in headquarters to work closely with community governments and residents, helping everyone to prepare for and respond to and recover from natural disasters.
The recovery work required after a flood of this magnitude will take time, and we ask for your patience as our government continues to support the ongoing recovery efforts. To the residents in the affected communities, we know this has been an extraordinary difficult time for you and your family. I want you to know that our government will continue to work hard with your community governments to ensure that you remain safe and have the support you need. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Ministers' statements. Deputy Premier
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise the House that the Honourable Caroline Cochrane will be absent from the House for today and tomorrow to attend the Western Premier’s Conference in Saskatchewan. Quyananni, Mr. Speaker.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Colleagues, welcome back to the House.
Mr. Speaker, Wednesday, May 11th, 2022, will be a day many residents of K’atl’odeeche First Nation and the Town of Hay River will remember for a long time. The waters the Hay River had been consistently rising during the day and into the evening. Chief April Martel had posted a Facebook video showing the water levels creeping inland at the community arbor area. It had come in about a thousand feet inland from the arbor and the arbor is close to the riverbank. Water was affecting many homes near the riverbanks and was, in fact, moving some houses, many sheds, numerous items that were strewn throughout many yards. The KFN fire chief pulled the fire siren to warn of an immediate evacuation of all residents of KFN. This was at approximately 11 o'clock at night. Darkness was already setting in, and the Chief was the last to leave the reserve. Chief April Martel is a young woman leader and showed great resolve to ensure the safety of her membership. She's to be commended for her actions.
Chief April Martel, being modest, wishes to thank the many KFN residents who stepped up to assist in any way to ensure many of the residents, including the elderly, were out of harm's way; fire chief Michael Sunrise and assistant fire chief Derrick Fabian for sounding the alarm. This in fact was heard many on the new town side and warned them of impending danger.
The safety of the Dene Wellness Centre was compromised due to its proximity to the river and rising waters and rushing ice which were crashing and breaking the trees on the riverbank. Many of the residents with vehicles assisted to move everyone to safety at the Hamlet of Enterprise and to other communities. Many had not slept all night, including the Chief who was concerned for her membership's wellbeing. Many volunteers stayed to main a truck stop into the reserve where they had set up a couple of campers.
I, along with the Chief of the K’atl’odeeche First Nation, send sincere appreciation and many thanks to all surrounding communities who put up KFN Members and provided assistance and food.
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement, mahsi.
Unanimous consent granted
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker, and mahsi, colleagues.
Mahsi cho to the GNWT for the swift actions in securing accommodations and meals for many of the evacuees of this devastating flood. Mahsi Cho to Fort Resolution, Fort Smith, Enterprise, Fort Providence, Yellowknife, and Hay River. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Deh Cho. Members' statements. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.
Mr. Speaker, first of all, I want to say I am glad to be back in the House to be able to represent the constituents of Inuvik. I also want to give my condolences and my thoughts and prayers to all of those who are affected by the floods and, you know, thinking of the families in Aklavik that are watching the water now, as well.
As a resident of Inuvik for pretty much my entire life, the only way out by road is the Dempster Highway. This 740kilometer gravel highway from Inuvik to Dawson Corner is our lifeline for our basic needs like food, heating fuel, and building supplies. When the residents of the Northwest Territories drive this highway, from my community and from my region, it is not for leisure travel for the most part. It is used to harvest and to make the journey to Whitehorse or further south for supplies.
The NWT/Yukon border to Inuvik is 272 kilometers and over the past three decades, since I can remember driving up and down that road myself, the road to the border has continuously been worked on and widened.
When driving this highway beginning from the Yukon, you first cross a singlelane wooden bridge, which impacts what can come up this highway.
We are in a housing crisis and modular homes and manufactured homes are one way to try to alleviate this crisis but we can't even truck anything wider than 14 feet up that road, which are not common sizes for modulars any longer.
Over the last couple years, I have traveled this road especially when returning home from session. This is a threeday travel for myself and my husband when we do travel this. This road is at the end of its life once you hit the Dempster. It hasn't been widened until you hit the NWT/Yukon border.
The NWT has been advocating for funding from the feds over the years to widen the NWT section of the highway but it appears to me that this is not a Yukon priority to advocate for their side as it does not lead to any of their communities. So the road remains narrow with little or no gravel to cover the remainder of this 468 kilometers from the NWT border, which is if dire need of repair. And I am sure the Speaker and some Members in this House have traveled that road as well.
When I asked a previous Minister of Infrastructure about the Dempster Highway, she replied to me in this House on Friday, June 12th, 2020 "I have lots of conversations with my counterpart in the Yukon who is also very keen to see the Dempster rehabilitated and we have discussed that with the federal government." I sure hope that this Minister, who I know travels this road, as she too is from the Beaufort Delta, has continued to have these discussions with our Yukon neighbour to push the federal government for funds to repair and rehabilitate the 468 kilometer section through the Yukon and the singlelane bridge as well as other bridges that need repair.
I will have questions for the Minister responsible for Infrastructure on this. Thank you.
Thank you, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes. Members' statements. Member for Thebacha.
Thank you, Member for Thebacha. Members' statements. Member for Hay River South.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as you are aware, homes, businesses, and infrastructure in the Town of Hay River, K’atl’odeeche, West Point First Nation, along with a home in Enterprise and one at Riverwood’s subdivision, were severely impacted by flooding, with what may well be unprecedented levels of ice and water for the area.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to acknowledge the effort and action by the Hay River emergency measures organization for the work they did to ensure all residents were evacuated safely with no loss of life.
Mr. Speaker, in addition to the EMO, it is important to recognize the many individuals and businesses who provided financial support, food, clothing, equipment, fuel, accommodations, transportation and for that support I say thank you.
We must also recognize the Hamlet of Enterprise, Town of Fort Smith, Hamlet of Fort Providence, Hamlet of Fort Resolution, the City of Yellowknife, and others who opened up their communities and provided temporary accommodation, meals, and other support to the many evacuees, their families and pets during this stressful time.
Mr. Speaker, this event was the perfect storm. In addition to large amounts of ice and high water levels throughout the Hay River watershed, we had snow, freezing temperatures, and a nighttime evacuation, all which contributed to the making for a dangerous event. The devastation and extent of damage was not limited to ice and water but that of sewer backups, loss of access to potable water, and electricity.
Mr. Speaker, to really comprehend the extent of damage one had to see it in real time and, most importantly, listen to the stories of those who were impacted.
Mr. Speaker, the effects of this flood is just setting in as residents now have time to reflect on the aftermath. I have spoken to many residents who are appreciative of the quick deployment of pathfinders and assessors by Municipal and Community Affairs. However, those who have submitted applications under the Disaster Assistance Policy and had their property assessed are now asking what is next in the process.
For those that have completely lost their homes due to extensive flood damage are concerned that the changes to the policy, while a move in the right direction, is not indicative of real replacement costs of homes. In the past two years, the cost of labour and material has risen considerably.
Mr. Speaker, when it is costing this government well over half a million dollars to deliver new public housing units, the $240,000 is inadequate, deficient, and an insult to those who find themselves with limited negotiating power and now may well need a mortgage to rebuild.
Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Minister of MACA at the appropriate time.
Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Every once in a while, in this House, I like to plagiarize a statement from one of my former predecessors partly because, you know, a lot of the issues in this House require consistent advocacy, and sometimes you just can't say it better yourself. And today, Mr. Speaker, I'd like to deliver a statement from my predecessor Jaydence White of Youth Parliament, the Member for Yellowknife North, who did a great job in this House, and I believe that statement bears repeating.
Mr. Speaker, there is a climate crisis in the world. The Government of the Northwest Territories was one of the first in Canada to include climate change considerations in highlevel decisionmaking. Despite this, no considerable action has been made towards a solution. This is a subject that many worry about. Seasons are changing. Winters are becoming shorter, and summers are reaching temperature records. In August of 2021, Yellowknife hit its record for the highest temperature of 32.6 degrees Celsius.
Mr. Speaker, public image seems to be more important to those in power that rather than a healthy sustainable future. Former GNWT staff reported leaving their positions due to a lack of support and feeling burnt out from their hard efforts not making a difference. We need to look at the big picture. Prioritize and support staff that are passionate and qualified in climate change. More action is needed. This should be a top concern. We need to secure a viable future for everyone.
Mr. Speaker, there is no sugar coating this. Substantive action must be taken. This could be done through creating more bike lanes, creating incentive programs for residents to reduce vehicle traffic, and having more sources of renewable power. We need to save our earth before it's too late. We still have time to make a difference, but action must be taken now.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Jaydence White for her great advocacy in the Yellowknife North role, and I will have questions today for the Minister of Infrastructure as they relate to our work on climate change. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Yellowknife North. Members' statements. Member for Kam Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, growing up in the North, I was never interested in politics. My view was antiquated with visions of smoke filled back rooms full of white-haired men talking about things that didn't include me. But they did, and they do. The conversations in those rooms speaks to health, safety, dignity, and potential. And as I have aged, I realize that who is having the conversation is just as important as the conversation itself.
This May, the Legislative Assembly's Youth Parliament provided a week-long glimpse of territorial politics, the role of consensus government, and responsibility of representing a constituency. 19 NWT youth now have a much different view of politics than I once had.
My view today is centered on gratitude rooted in hope and inspired by vision for stronger communities and being prepared to do the work to get there. No one better embodies the honesty and integrity of politics than our youth. Our youth parliamentarians stood in this very room and called for housing solutions, treatment options, and an affordable and sustainable North.
Kam Lake was well respected by Ecole St. Patrick Student Isha Jha who spoke about the NWT's rising cost of living. The ideas and debates were entrenched in care with a 'get er' done attitude that doesn't see surmountable barriers. The NWT's youth parliamentarians pushed buzz and energy through the halls of the Legislative Assembly reminding us that our children are powerful.
In my school days, Angela Masongsong was the student voice for students against drinking and driving before the torch was passed to Candice Meadis. After, I think of LGBTQIPA+ rights champion Jacq Brasseur or more recently climate change advocate Ella Kokelj. These voices changed legislation, drove budgets and, yes, inspired a room of today's leaders.
Today I think of the youth voices that shared their living experience with the Standing Committee on Social Development as part of our child and family services review. Youth remind us the question is not if but how.
Our pleasure of standing in this room is short, Mr. Speaker. But our impact isn't, and we must never take that for granted.
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the NWT youth who share their voices in this House, in our communities, and in the work we do. We respect your courage, we value your input, and the opportunity to learn from you.
Mr. Speaker, I would also like to thank you and your staff who continue to provide this experience to our territory's youngest change makers. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Kam Lake. Members' statements. Member for Frame Lake.
Merci, Monsieur le President. I have to confess, I think there is some white hair up there somewhere, but.
On April 22, 2022, the public and Regular MLAs finally got to hear from the minister for mining and her staff about the development of mining regulations to implement the Mineral Resources Act. There were more than a few surprises, including the very short timeline for public engagement which was set for May to July of this year. Not much if anything has happened since that meeting. The public have a couple more months to weigh in on such hefty matters as how and when it might get notified of mineral staking and development, what benefits we might get and how enforceable they may be, whether we will capture more if not all the geoscience from exploration, and much more. It is right that industry has been engaged since at least January but others who have an interest should also be there.
For example, on royalties, the first item being discussed in those secret meetings with industry was transparency and confidentiality. Surely we can do better than that with GNWT engagement on the development of the mining regulations.
The minister has said that her department has done research to support the development of the mining regulations and that apparently includes a $24,000 contract to two former ITI employees on map staking finished in July 2021, a $100,000 contract to a law firm for dispute resolution expertise, and another contract for $200,000 to the University of Calgary for ongoing policy advice that began in March 2022. Advice on engagement was removed from the scope of the last contract for unknown reasons. Unfortunately, the Minister has yet to share any of this work with Regular MLAs let alone the public, despite the ever-decreasing window for input.
When committee met with the Minister, members of the Intergovernmental Council Secretariat were there but not part of the team making the presentation or answering questions. I think it would have been much more productive if they had been able to participate.
There is a commitment to publicly post at least five sets of draft mining regulations for some period of comment. But it is not clear whether there will be any response to issues or concerns raised. Of course the Minister or Cabinet is not required to carry out any public engagement for regulations but the Mineral Resources Act is only a shell and leaves all of the authority to regulations and the Executive.
I’ll have questions for the mining minister on the lessthanideal process for public and MLA engagement on the development of these important mining regulations. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Members' statements. Member for Great Slave.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as a Regular Member, I’ve repeatedly asked the Minister of Health about the state of our residents’ mental health and the supports available to them. And time and time again, the Minister has denied what is blatantly obvious to most residents of this territory that we are in a mental health crisis.
Mr. Speaker, the issues facing this territory and the deeply ingrained trauma experienced by our people is not going to go away by logging onto some app or calling a crisis line. People need real supports that include inperson counselling, culturallyappropriate programming, aftercare, and actual physical spaces in which people can detox from drugs or alcohol or flee from domestic violence situations.
Last session, the Minister’s response to my question, "I feel confident that we're not facing anything that we can't deal with," shows how out of touch with reality this Minister is. In fact, so much so, her comments prompted the Native Women’s Association of the NWT to write a letter calling out her "disconnect" and the harm created by her dismissive comments. They expressed that they were "appalled and dismayed;" and frankly, Mr. Speaker, I agree with them.
As the Native Women’s Association pointed out, and I have stated numerous times in this Chamber, COVID19 has compounded the mental health crisis in the North, with increasing rates of homelessness, addiction, suicide, violence, depression, and incarceration.
Intergenerational trauma and the pandemic have created a double burden that is overwhelming our people’s ability to deal with it. And although the Minister of Health and Social Services has yet to acknowledge that there is a mental health crisis occurring in the NWT, it is obvious to me that the first crucial step to addressing this crisis is adequate and safe housing.
There is an invisible homeless population in the territory of people who are couch surfing, staying in relationships of convenience, or remaining in places that are unsuitable or unsafe for themselves and their families, just to keep a roof over their heads. When I speak with these people, they always express a concern for their ability to stay sober while having nowhere to call home. For many, there is a loss of pride, a loss of connection to their culture and families, just from the inability to host them in their homes. Others struggle with health concerns and conditions only made worse by their lack of stable housing.
Mr. Speaker, acknowledging a problem is the first step to finding its solution. And since the Minister of Health refuses to acknowledge what is in front her eyes, I am going to take my questions to the Minister of Housing and urge her to help our vulnerable people.
Thank you, Member for Great Slave. Members' statements. Member for Monfwi.
Member’s Statement 1087-19(2):
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I'm going to do with permission, I am going to do eulogy for Dan Marion. Mr. Daniel Marion of Behchoko.
Mr. Speaker, Tlicho people have known Dan for many, many, many years. Dan was always there to give advice on any topic, such as business issues, employment issues, social, technical truck problems, and many more. Dan always had time for you and showed that he really cared about your welfare. When you shared a problem with Dan, his reply always pointed to a solution that was beneficial to all.
Dan was a great advocate for the aspirations of youth. He admired young people as store workers, truck drivers, gave out scholarships money for students that were going to be pursuing higher educations and other positions and important life lessons in the best way of providing the best service to customers and clients. He developed the capabilities of young people and gave them skills and attitudes that served them well in their future. Dan emphasized the good feeling a person gets with a job well done.
He was an astute businessman in operating Rick's Trucking and guiding the Tlicho Investment Corporation for the first critical years. His Facebook posts, these posts, few months showed great appreciation. These past few months showed great appreciation of family, friends, and importance of helping those in need. He talked about the meaning of life and profound grief of losing someone dear.
Dan enhanced many of our lives, and his example of life well lived will be felt well into the future. This is the Dan Marion that we knew, and we always knew him as a [no translation provided] store manager in our region, Tlicho region. Thank you.
Thank you, Member for Monfwi. Our thoughts and prayers are with the community at this time. Members' statements. Member for Nahendeh.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I have the honour of saying ‘thank you’ to a resident who is retiring. Mike Canney started working at the Fort Simpson warehouse on April 4th, 1986, with the federal government as a casual. The following year, he started work with the Department of Renewable Resources as a seasonal store person. In 1991, he was asked to fill in as the regional store person and eventually he was hired full time in that position. The position has been renamed as a material management officer.
He has always spoke highly of his employment with the department and how his supervisors treated him and his colleagues. When asked about what he thought was the biggest improvement since he began, he would say it was the safety and wellbeing of all employees. Safety is greatly improved, and the managers have made him feel that his efforts are appreciated and respected. When asked about his future goals he said it, with a smile, helping my real boss operate the Lady Slipper Lodge, formerly Mackenzie Rest Inn, and helping raise their granddaughter. If given the opportunity, he hopes to get out on their boat more often and maybe get a few rounds of golf in.
I would like to share a few words from his colleagues from the regional office.
Mike will be missed here at compound, yes, but not just for what the things he did related to the fire season but for all the little things. He's always made sure the compound is secure, locking the doors and the gates. Safety was his priority. You could see him shovel away the snow and remove the ice during the winter months. You could see him dig out the snow from the sliding gates early in the morning. He helped us purchase and maintain all their mobile equipment. He made sure the fuel supply was tested and ready for each fire season. Most importantly, he's a great guy with a lot of patience, practical knowledge and experience, and had a few funny stories to tell. Good luck and all the best in your retirement Mike, you will be sorely missed around the shop.
In closing, Mr. Speaker, I would like to say, use Mike's words: "It's been my pleasure to work for this organization for all these years and will miss the comradery and the challenge of the position. Thank you to the entire GNWT, for the opportunity to serve all those years. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I have a Return to Oral Question asked by the Member for Great Slave on March 30, 2022, regarding a contingency plan if the Department of Infrastructure and the contractor are not able to come to an agreement on the Inuvik Airport Runway Extension and Civil Improvements project.
The Department of Infrastructure abides by the GNWT's procurement policies when it comes to considering contractual approaches and making decisions on negotiating a contract.
Under the current 11.26 Negotiated Contracts Policy, contracts are not negotiated in the Legislative Assembly. Only the Executive Council can authorize the negotiation of contracts outside the competitive process and, upon authorization, this process takes place between an authorized eligible contractor and the technical team.
Mr. Speaker, the Executive Council reviews each request to negotiate a contract against the established criteria that's in our policy and aims to make decisions and recommendations that provide fair and broad distribution of training, employment, and business opportunities, while also ensuring value for money.
Requests to negotiate a contract for projects that receive federal funding may also need to be approved by the Government of Canada, depending on the terms of the funding agreement. This is the case with the Inuvik Airport Runway Extension and Civil Improvement Project. The procurement approach must be consistent with obligations that are under the internal and international trade agreements.
Both the joint venture and the GNWT’s technical teams have resumed negotiations to determine solutions to the funding gap. At this time, the technical team is focused on options with the objective of realizing a way forward to follow the process outlined in the Negotiated Contracts Policy.
Should those negotiations be successful, the project will proceed and should they not be successful, the GNWT will return to Canada and our Cabinet to be able to discuss potential next steps.
The Department of Infrastructure is continually striving to upgrade the infrastructure at the Inuvik Airport to meet changing operational demands and improve the airport’s resiliency to a changing climate.
While the federal government has committed to provide some additional funding for the project to be able to address inflation and supply chain costs, subject to due diligence the exact value and timelines are not yet known.
We expect this extension and civil improvements project to create economic opportunities for the region throughout construction. The Department of Infrastructure remains committed to making contracting decisions that will best maximize benefits to local, northern Indigenous businesses and residents within available budgets. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Returns to oral questions. Minister responsible for Infrastructure.
Mr. Speaker, I have a Return to Oral Question asked by the Member for Great Slave on March 31st, 2022, regarding my knowledge of a joint venture and an Indigenous government.
Mr. Speaker, yes, I am aware of the difference between a joint venture and an Indigenous government.
An Indigenous government is one that has negotiated or is in the process of negotiating a selfgovernment agreement with the GNWT and the Government of Canada whereas a joint venture is a corporate commercial enterprise undertaken jointly by two or more parties.
On the Inuvik Airport Runway Project, the Government of the Northwest Territories has received bids from a joint venture corporation entity, Number 13394883 Canada Incorporated.
The joint venture is an eligible contractor as defined under the Negotiated Contracts Policy, 11.26, and has the operational, financial, and management potential to undertake the work. Negotiations between the joint venture and the technical team resumed with the objective of realizing a way forward to construction to be able to ensure this project requirements, such as surety, is in place. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Colleagues, I would like to draw your attention to visitors in the gallery this afternoon.
I am pleased to recognize interns from the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. They are in Yellowknife to increase their knowledge of our consensus style of government. We have with us today, bear with me with the pronunciation, but Janine Alhadidi, Iqra Mahmood, Alex Horbal, Alessia Rao, Melody Greaves, Habon Ali, Sharika Khan, and Tori Llewellyn.
Mahsi for joining us today. I would like to recognize everyone else in the gallery. I know a couple people left. One just joined us. It's always a pleasure knowing there is much interest in our proceedings. Mahsi.
Applause
Member for Kam Lake
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it's always nice to have kids back in the gallery today and I would like to recognize the three pages that we have here in the gallery from Kam Lake who are Marianne Bumaat, Isha Jha, and Justin Quito. Thank you.
Applause
Merci, Monsieur le President. My questions are for the Minister of ITI who is responsible for mining.
In the presentation given to committee in April on the five sets of mining regulations being developed, it was said that the public engagement on this important work is to take place between May and July. May is almost over. Nothing has happened yet.
Can the Minister explain this very short timeline for public engagement and how the public can have any meaningful involvement? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Minister responsible for Industry, Tourism and Investment.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm glad that my title has been corrected. I do feel better standing up with the right name for the right Minister.
On this matter, Mr. Speaker, firstly, there are a number of different things happening in terms of what's happening with the Mineral Resources Act regulations.
Firstly, with respect to the royalties portion, as the Member's already mentioned, it's a complex thing that's being developed right now. That element was opened back in February. Comments are welcome until July the 29th for public engagement. That was extended from April the 22nd all the way through to the end of July.
With respect to other items, Mr. Speaker, I want to start by referencing the Intergovernmental Council protocol that was developed by and put in place by this government. That really has been the guiding focus of a lot of this work, to ensure that we were making regulations for the North and for the future of the northern mineral resources industry, we're doing that handinhand with Indigenous governments.
As I think was already mentioned during the Member's statement, typically regulations don't require the same level of engagement. We've often not have any engagement from the public so we're certainly making an effort to do something quite different here.
So in addition to the IGCS process, Mr. Speaker, there is a formal public engagement step expected to get started here shortly, run through until the summer, and in that regard the items will be posted online. They'll be going through the same typical process that other items do. There's a posting online, people can respond online. They can respond directly. There will be certainly those opportunities similar to any other public engagements that take place.
And Mr. Speaker, that said, these are very technical regulations. The folks that would potentially use them, benefit from them are in this space, operating in this space, know the people to contact. They are already being engaged. They know that this work is underway. And I'm certainly very confident that folks who have those interests have lots of avenues by which to be in touch with us. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Merci, Monsieur le President. I want to thank the Minister for that. Let's talk about that public engagement. The Minister committed in April to advising us what research has been done. I found contracts on map staking, legal expertise, on dispute resolution, and policy advice from the University of Calgary. Then there's the internal work that the department has already done apparently.
Can the Minister provide a public listing of the research reports completed and when those will be shared with Regular MLAs and the public as part of the engagement on these mining regulations? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
