Caroline Wawzonek
Deputy Premier
Statements in Debates
Yes, thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, at the risk of repeating myself, I've had the opportunity to be on that highway and be in the community, and this is truly a gem for the Northwest Territories tourism industry. It should be I mean, it's a gem. And, you know, it would be such a wonderful opportunity to see it flooded with tourism but with the facilities there to properly receive the tourists and to maximize the opportunity for the community.
So my understanding is that the visitors centre, albeit small, is open. I agree there was no there wasn't quite the flash opening that any of us...
Thank you, Madam Chair. The federal money that was secured was intended to support work up to the point of an environmental assessment. And anticipating where this may well go, there, of course, is the regional strategic environmental assessment that is now also underway. That is not falling under the same pot of funding but that to the extent that there is I wouldn't say slippage but perhaps a delay in the work, as that work also needed to get done and needed to be considered. But, again, the funding is provided for the purpose of being ready to put forward the environment or to complete...
Thank you, Madam Chair. DFO, or the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans has the jurisdiction over waterways, so they control the access and control the that parcel of not land, but that area is under their authority and administration. Thank you.
Thank you, Madam Chair. So, I mean, this is right now in the 20242025 plan. So we are there's already crushing happening this year with significant expenditure for the 20242025 plan which, yes, is I mean, that's when it will begin. I don't know if the Member's looking for an exact month, I don't have that in front of me. If she'd like a month, I could see if ADM Brennan has that. Thank you.
To Mr. Martin, please.
I'll turn that to Mr. Heath, please.
Thank you, Madam Chair. There have been a few delays with some of the work happening in the North Arm Park. Madam Chair, this was one of the earlier projects that was going through under the Tlicho infrastructure the agreement that is with the Tlicho government with respect to procurement and work undertaken on Tlicho lands. So that process just took, therefore, a little bit longer to go through procurement because trying to work under a new program and to do so in a way that was respectful of maximizing that, it just took a bit longer in the first few goes. But it is for this particular...
Thank you, Madam Chair. Let me go to ADM Brennan. He'll know, I hope, of the exact numbers or the exact cost sharing ratio. Thank you.
No, Madam Chair, this is not new money to spend. This is the ability and the authority to borrow money to pay the bills that we already have. Thank you.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I can say we have departments of ITI, infrastructure, lands have all been involved, and the Stantec professional engineers out of Vancouver who do marine assessments are the ones that were involved. So I am hopeful that the information we get to the Member will allay his concerns. Thank you.