Caroline Wawzonek

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there is a situation of jurisdiction at hand and the federal government does have a jurisdiction. There's been challenges by other jurisdictions around carbon pricing and carbon tax systems. I certainly will commit to continuing the conversation. I want to make clear that there have been conversations between officials from the Department of Finance but as well as officials within other departments who are also taking a lead on climate change or climate change impacts here in the Northwest Territories. But Mr. Speaker, I most certainly will continue to...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So, Mr. Speaker, we are later well, I guess in 2023, facing a prospect of the federal government having changed the carbon tax system. As such, we are in a position having to amend our carbon tax system to be compliant. It is going to have an impact on residents in the North notwithstanding the fact that we are not wellplaced to respond to carbon tax changes and respond to the need to reduce GHG emissions as other jurisdictions in the south might be.

I am particularly cognizant, Mr. Speaker, ridings such as Nunakput, are especially going to be hard hit. They are already...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I can't necessarily speak to what might be happening mine by mine or project by project. Certainly what I can say, Mr. Speaker, is that indeed, yes, at the Nechalacho Project, Deton Cho are, indeed, the miners of that project. They are the ones running the contract and doing the mining. That is, I think, perhaps maybe a first in Canada; certainly a first in the Northwest Territories. And I can't agree more, this is the way of the future, and it is you know, I think it is something where we are starting to see access to equity change, access to whether it's...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, let me just quickly start by saying that I certainly haven't shut the door on the possibilities around the diamond mines, that there is still exploration happening. And while it looks likely that at least one of them will be on its closure date, the others are, you know, I'd like to say that let's just not shut that door just yet. My hope is a little more positive and optimistic.

But as for metal mining, Mr. Speaker, we do have a mineral development strategy. It does need to be updated but it is there. It was developed in conjunction with industry. It is...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, you know, that's a responsibility of all Ministers certainly to be engaging with our counterparts. We all have been engaging with our counterparts. I am more than happy to make the commitment to raise quite specifically, you know, what the Member from Nunakput has said around the impacts of climate change on the North and then the impacts of the carbon pricing system which is within the responsibility of the Department of Finance. So I'll certainly carry that message forward. Again, I'm not don't know how much of a response I will get. There have been a...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And, Mr. Speaker, again, much of a similar response in that I'm certainly happy to work with my colleague. Obviously, you know, we certainly do have responsibility under the carbon tax in the Department of Finance but then the subsidy rests with ECE. So I know that there's some work happening with the income assistance review, and so we will ensure that the two departments are speaking to one another about the perspective impacts of the carbon tax issue and then looking at how that might be addressed, if possible, under programs under another department. Thank you, Mr...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I mean, Mr. Chair, at this point I don't have I mean, this is, right now, the budget that we have here is already underway. So I can't say that I've received any particular money from the feds on this particular project. Now that said, you know, to the extent that there's yes yes, at this point, Mr. Chair, that's not where the funding is coming from. So thanks. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So right now, Mr. Chair, this current fiscal, there was, of course I shouldn't say of course. There was a design process underway. I believe that is on schedule in terms of the kitchen shelter and the cultural building. The next stage of it for the current capital plan would be actual construction. That's an amount that is proposed for $450,000. So obviously that one will be subject to whether or not there is a passing of this budget, whether or not that kitchen shelter is built or not in the coming here. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, that is, indeed, correct that that is part of what MARS will be doing, is creating the parameters by which there can be online map staking. It is also part of the platform that will allow for applications and submissions to occur online, for map viewing online, data analysis, a 24/7 availability. So it's more than just the online map staking. And it is tied, indeed, to the regulations. They're being built together so that those who are developing the platform know what it is that they are being asked to develop.

At this point, we're I'd like to suggest we if I...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just want to make sure I have the right park when I go to see which one this is. But the deputy minister might now offhand immediately which one it is so let me turn to her, please.