Denny Rodgers

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the committee wishes to consider Bill 11, An Act to Amend the Motor Vehicles Act, as well as Tabled Document 275-20(1), 2025-2026 Main Estimates, Executive and Indigenous Affairs. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Following up on my Member's statement, can the Minister of Infrastructure confirm that there is, indeed, a security and screening piece of infrastructure included with the new airport terminal build -- thank you -- in Inuvik.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you for that, and that's encouraging that we continue to meet with the SDL proponents in the Beaufort Delta.

The Premier mentioned the Indigenous governments, mentioned the Inuvialuit specifically, of course, because that is in the Inuvialuit settlement region. Can he maybe elaborate a little on what engagement has been, again, ongoing and have been going on with the Indigenous governments in the region as well as it pertains to the LNG development, particularly given that they are now the LNG developer in the Beaufort Delta.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you for that, for that information.

Just kind of flipping gears for a second, Mr. Speaker, I also spoke about the Mackenzie Delta LNG report that was tabled in this House. I believe it was 2022 but I could be incorrect; it could have been 2021. I guess, Mr. Speaker, my question is have we taken this report off the shelf and given it some dust off, and how are we continuing to promote this amazing opportunity in the Beaufort Delta? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, following up on my Member's statement and my comments around the energy strategy, my questions are for the Minister of Finance. Can the Minister give me an -- and I understand this will be more than one initiative and there's a lot of -- probably likely a lot of categories, but a ballpark kind of what our spending is on renewable energy -- our renewable energy initiatives, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I began the week with my reply to the Budget Address speaking about energy and economic development, and I'll continue today on energy security, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, non-renewables are still important to the Beaufort Delta, have been for quite some time and will be for quite some time. Given the potential shift in the federal government and their thinking around LNG development and, regardless of who forms the next government, Mr. Speaker, we heard in the Liberal leadership race, again, speaking about the importance of LNG production as we move forward...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I move the chair rise and report progress.

Thank you. And I appreciate that, Mr. Speaker. And I'm sure if I'd have given the Minister a little more time, he certainly would have got those numbers for me. But maybe he can speak in general, then, around the amount -- you know, that budget, the amount of that work that's done by consultants and/or contractors and particularly how much of that money is spent outside the territory, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank the Premier for that. And, again, as I mentioned earlier, what a great opportunity perhaps to look at a working group for this development and for ongoing developments.

But can the Premier speak, given what's happening federally, again, there may be some winds of change coming, we're not sure, and I think it doesn't preclude either of the potential new governments, has the Premier been engaging with industry at large, with -- I mean, obviously, preparing, I guess, to make sure that, hey, there's an opportunity could come here in the next, you know, 6 to 12...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, continuing on my thread of energy and, particularly, the LNG in the Beaufort Delta, I have questions for the Premier. Can the Premier kind of tell me how the Government of the Northwest Territories has engaged or has continued to engage with the significant discovery license holders in the Beaufort Delta. Thank you.