Next, I have Member for Great Slave.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I am curious about the status of the negotiations for the excepted waste sites. Could we get an update on those sites. Thank you.
Minister for Environment and Climate Change.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I'll pass to deputy minister Jenkins. Thank you.
Deputy minister Jenkins.
Thank you, Madam Chair. So we're still in the negotiations on responsibility for the excepted waste sites, and these include Burwash, Crystal Run, Ptarmigan, *Rodson, and Tom mines. Most of these are -- sorry, all of these are located outside of Yellowknife. So we are receiving some funding from Canada to refine previous assessments and cost estimates, and we are looking at -- we're required to do sort of remedial action plans, and so those discussions are still underway. We do hope that next fiscal we're able to advance this towards a point of -- where we have some more clarity on the outcomes of those discussions and can sort of move forward on addressing some of the issues at these sites. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Member for Great Slave.
Thank you. And by next fiscal, do you mean 2026-2027? Thank you.
Minister for Environment and Climate Change.
Thank you, Madam Chair. We're looking to -- I'm hopeful that we'll have negotiations for these sites completed in the 2025-2026 fiscal year. Each site and the activities that are done will have to come out with specific timeframes. And we'll be looking at different things like, obviously risk at the sites and whatnot. But hopefully we will have negotiations on the excepted waste sites completed in the 2025-2026 fiscal year. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Member for Great Slave.
Thank you, Madam Chair. And Madam Chair, I realize I might not be getting a straightforward answer to this next question, and that's all right, but I just thought I'd ask it anyway. Can the Minister please estimate what the total cost of remediation for these sites will be. Thank you.
Minister of Environment and Climate Change.
Yes, thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, at this time it would be difficult to speculate on what that number could be as the work is ongoing. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Member for Great Slave.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I will take that as a substantive in a different way. I am curious, though, I know the department has worked in the past specifically on the Ptarmigan mine site to reduce dust. There's dust suppressant so that the contaminants don't blow around on the highway. Is that work still continuing? Thank you, Madam Chair.
Minister of Environment and Climate Change.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I'll pass it to deputy minister, please, thank you.
Deputy minister Jenkins.
Thank you, Madam Chair. We did do a dust suppression program back in the summer of 2023 to reduce the wind-blown tailings from the Ptarmigan mine site. This year we are looking at advancing some fencing work and some boulder placement to try to -- we've had some issues with people accessing the site, and so we're looking at addressing some safety concerns this year. And we're also sort of be looking at the need for and the timing, if it is needed, for an additional dust suppression program. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you. Member for Great Slave.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Yeah, I just -- I note that that is top of mind when folks are headed out on the Ingraham Trail, especially, I think most people who have lived here in the Yellowknife area for a long time have recognized that we have a lot more windy days in the warmer weather and note just would really love to get an update on that from the Minister when it's available. So can the Minister commit to updating committee on that work. Thank you
Minister of Environment and Climate Change.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes, happy to provide an update to the Member when the work has been assigned. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Member for Great Slave.
Thank you, Madam Chair. So, Madam Chair, turning to water management and stewardship, I believe that number has gone down since the revised estimates. Can I clarify if that is due to collective bargaining or another cost pressure. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Minister of Environment and Climate Change.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, the decrease was due to a sunset on the CCPN program. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Member for Great Slave.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Can we spell out the acronym, thank you.
Minister of Environment and Climate Change.
Thank you, Madam Chair. My apologies. Climate Change Preparedness in the North. Thank you.
Member for Great Slave.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, with all of the concern, I would say, in the last few years of Indigenous governments with the watershed coming in from Alberta, can the Minister elaborate if any further dollars are being expended with the Indigenous stewardship committee? I am sorry if I got that name wrong, but I think you'll know what I mean. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Minister for Environment and Climate Change.
Thank you, Madam Chair. No, there are no changes. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Member for Great Slave.
Thank you, Madam Chair. How often does the committee meet? Thank you, Madam Chair.
Minister of Environment and Climate Change.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I don't have that level of detail with me right now but happy to follow up with the Member. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Member for Great Slave.
Thank you, Madam Chair. And just one final higher-level question on that. Where are we at with the outstanding transboundary agreements that are not completed with external partners? Thank you, Madam Chair.
Minister for Environment and Climate Change.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I'll pass to the deputy minister. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Deputy minister Jenkins.
Thank you, Madam Chair. So a number of agreements were tied back to the Mackenzie River Basin board, and the only one through that piece that we still need to establish is the agreement with Saskatchewan. And we've had some discussions with them on an intention's document and some draft appendices, and work is underway there. We are also interested and have had conversations with Nunavut about the negotiation of a transboundary agreement. I would say that they are preliminary discussions at best. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you. Member for Great Slave.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Nothing further.
Okay, next, I have Member for the Sahtu.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Excuse me, two minds think alike here. I was going to ask a question on the NWT environmental audit, but the deputy minister beat me to that. I was simply going to ask how is the audit being utilized to leverage additional federal funding in preparation and adaptation in our NWT territory, but I'm satisfied with the answer given earlier by the deputy minister. I'm glad to see they're taking a proactive approach. They're using all the tools in the toolbox to leverage federal funding. I will save my next question for the appropriate activity. Mahsi.
