Daniel McNeely

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today marks the 18th year anniversary for the Bear River Bridge application from the Department of Transportation to the Sahtu Land and Water Board dated February the 22nd, 2006. It is a historic annual on the Sahtu determination. The milestones continue in collaboration between the Sahtu Secretariat Incorporated and the Government of the Northwest Territories on the $140 million infrastructure funding announcement dated June 2018.

Mr. Speaker, this determination continued by witnessing the April 2019 signing of the memorandum of understanding for both...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Further to my statement on holdover fires aka zombie fires, my first question to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, in preparation for the upcoming 2024 summer fire season what is the Department of ECC doing to assess holdover fires in our territory? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thanks to the Minister for that response.

Moving on to my next question, I'm glad to see that there is a monitoring assessment and an inventory of these holdover fires in the different locations across the territory. In particular, I've heard remarks made to me on several sites along the winter road south of Tulita, so if the Minister could put that on the radar for assessment.

My next question is is there communications underway with each community on the assessment and inventory catalog to the holdover fires close to the communities? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, holdover fires is inevitable in many parts of the Northwest Territories, a harsh reminder of last summer's wildfire disasters. NWT residents not only remember; they never forgot the devastation and most importantly losses. It is unimaginable the trauma that family displacements left with direct losses.

Mr. Speaker, these fires smolder through the winter only to return in the spring and are becoming a huge cause for concern amongst researchers and fire managers. Mr. Speaker, as of January the 1st, Alberta wildfires is reporting 51 active wildfires in the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My last question to the Minister on the subject here is I'm very glad that there's a working relationship, more importantly communication with the department and the communities so the community leaders could feel very comfortable and safe as we approach the summer months here.

My next question is, is the department working to upgrade the emergency response plans in each community? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thanks for the reply to the Minister. My next question there, Mr. Speaker, is looking at the structure and how to update that from 2016, will the Minister conduct a governance review of the TLC and regional wellness councils to review on recommendations for updating this current system? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, territorial and regional wellness councils, a new mandate to address today's changing society.

Mr. Speaker, the transition from territorial and regional health boards to territorial and regional wellness council happened August 2016. It created a new vision. However, society has changed dramatically.

The drugs and genocide of our communities and families has become a crisis throughout the Northwest Territories. Speaking only closer to home, it is a huge concern. Mr. Speaker, a quote from the August 2016 department press release: These changes have been made...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the Minister share that review with this side of the House here so we can see what work has been done and what policy recommendations, particularly the recommendations themselves, to the review? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier I had mentioned the review on regional territorial regional councils. My first question to the Minister of health is can the Minister explain the governing structure of the Territorial Leadership Council and the regional wellness councils? Mahsi.