Daniel McNeely

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question, following up on my Member's statement, is directed to the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment.

The Sahtu businesses have not only incurred additional expenses, extra transportation costs, loss of revenues, now let's explore the designing of a relief program.

My first question, Mr. Speaker, can the Minister initiate business funding grants that support Sahtu businesses to withstand all of these business pressures and disruptions for 2024-2025 fiscal year? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I got a couple questions on this activity here. The first one is I had the opportunity of touring the regional, at the time, ENR office here. It was during the summer months, and I was quite impressed with the monitoring global satellite technology that could be done sitting from a chair and watching what's going on out on the land. And with our experiences from the disasters of last year, what process or steps is in the decision-making for the initial attack decision to go or not to go to that particular fire? Like, what happens in that initial stage?

We keep hearing some...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the impacts on the residents for the cancellation of the 2024 barging season. As I spoke in the House previously, the business and residents of the Sahtu region are facing insurmountable challenges right now to get supplies delivered to the community.

Mr. Speaker, it is construction season. It's the time of year when roads, bridges, sheds, buildings, and other construction projects are advancing. It's a very short window but it's a critical season; businesses have projects, people are working, and money circulates throughout the community. When businesses do...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. And thanks to deputy minister Kelly there for providing that information. So it does exist. I'm just curious, I had the privilege of travelling on a scheduled flight from Deline and there was a student doing an ice monitoring survey in Deline on the Great Bear Lake ice situation and the movements and so on. So the study required her to stay there at length. Is there any initiatives underway with the department to work with the Laurier Institute, I think it is. They have an office here on the first floor of the Scotia Centre. That individual that I encountered or...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Is there any discussions going on to reactivate that sunset? Can the Minister explain. Thank you.

I've got nothing further. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm looking at page 89, the Mackenzie River Basin Board. I see there's continued allowance there of $40,000 for this activity. Could the Minister explain the roles and responsibilities or activities for this basin board. Thank you.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. That's a good positive starting point. I thank the Minister for the reply. Mahsi.

On page 15, more in the Office of the Clerk there. The summary, I'm looking at the House procedure and committees, and I see an increase in there, which is good. I just want some detail or clarification. Is it the Assembly committees that are getting this increase? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Here, my questions to the Minister in this chapter or activity is landfills. A landfill in one of the communities that I represent is actually terrible. It's at the point where it's probably a fire liability with the amount of debris that have compiled over the years. And there was some efforts to recycle. And is there any willingness there from the department with the programs that are identified in this activity, or on regional operations, to have a vehicle compressor station to compress these old relics and get them cubilized so they can get shipped out of the...