Daniel McNeely

Thank you, Mr. Chair. And thanks to the Minister for that response there. Safety is paramount in all operations, whether you're working in private sector or industry. Having worked in a number of sectors here, it was quite common that we have a fire drill in our camp. So this is just a process to bring awareness on our response plans for the job sites were in place, so everybody's familiar with the practices and where to go and where the muster points are. So this will all be similar in getting our community governments ready, having that dialogue, the regional office go to Tulita or Coville...

Mahsi cho to the reply of that. It's very encouraging to see that we are here to support our business community.

Mr. Speaker, my third question to the Minister, can the Minister immediately freeze loan payments owed to Prosper NWT from businesses in the Sahtu region without penalty for a period of time to weather this financial storm? Mahsi.

Yeah, thank you, Mr. Chair. It was more of a comment. I acknowledge -- I had the same questions as my colleague from the Deh Cho, and I'll use that, the Minister's replies to move on compensation for a similar trapper cabin owner we have in the Sahtu. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

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.