Richard Edjericon

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know that the GNWT's working closely with various Indigenous governments through engagement on the expansion. My question is about public consultation, particularly with elders, on the potential impacts for unmarked graves regarding the Taltson Hydro Expansion Project. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the ongoing discovery of unmarked graves throughout Canada only further highlights the atrocities of a colonial system which has negatively impacted Indigenous people since European contact. The community of Rocher River was abandoned in order to provide a clearer path for the Taltson Hydro Electric Dam. This is a sad tale that can be told across Canada where the scores of Indigenous nations forcibly evicted from their ancestral homelands to make way for industrial development to benefit incoming colonial settlers. The history of Rocher River is complex...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this fire that happened that impacted the residents of the Northwest Territories, including Yellowknife and the smaller communities, in particular Lutselk'e, Dettah, N'dilo, and Fort Resolution, you know, when this evacuation order went ahead, we had evacuees that came to Fort Resolution, that over 105 people there showed up to that community that came in from Fort Smith, Hay River Reserve, Fort Smith Reserve as well, and Yellowknife. So, Mr. Speaker, we the communities of Fort Resolution have incurred costs as a result of the additional people coming into...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I just want to recognize the drummers that were here earlier at the beginning of the session. And I'd like to recognize Cody Drygeese, Lerory Betsina, Cody Liske, Daniel Liske, Randy Bellageron, Ethan Sundberg. I also want to recognize my CA Shirley Tsetta, and all the translators; it's good to see you all back again. And GNWT staff and the ledge staff. And also Pascal Erasmus who was here a little earlier. And Kieron Testart, former MLA for the Yellowknife area. Mahsi.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Speaking to the bill, I also too won't be supporting the bill. You know, as it is already we have a regulatory process that we all have to go through when the mining industry comes up here. I know for sure in my community, N'dilo and the community of Lutselk'e and Fort Resolution, we do benefit from the mining industry from employment to IBAs. Some of these IBAs were just paid out to help put out from this evacuation that just happened and, you know, it's a concern that we're that we're doing that but at the end of the day, there's got to be a different way to do this...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The $40,000 grants is just not going to be enough. For our community of Fort Resolution, you know, that community council and the Metis council paid out monies to their evacuees, some that all from are all scattered across Canada. And also in YKDFN, they spent a lot of money out of their IBAs that they want to see back, and also the community of Lutselk'e. Not including the work that they have done to fire smart the community as the fire would start to happen. They incurred a lot of costs to date. And, Mr. Speaker, they want to see some kind of monies back to their...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, communities are dealing with the unprecedented wildfire crisis gave a lot to the efforts to save their homes, residents, and municipalities, and property. Mr. Speaker, my questions are going to be the Minister Shane Thompson, Environment and Climate Change.

Mr. Speaker, what has been done to recognize the sacrifices made by the communities under evacuation order and the frontline workers who stayed to fight the fire? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Northwest Territories has been through hard times since the Assembly began four years ago. The pandemic, floods, fire, even war, have darkened our days and brought our people nothing but stress and uncertainty. It has also tested the resolve of this government to steer the territory through the worst of times. We are in the thick of it, Mr. Speaker. Even today, session is on an emergency basis and I think that it is important that we recognize the people who have been working hard to protect our communities while their friends and families have been forced to...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I've reached out to the Indigenous governments and Dettah and N'dilo, Lutselk'e, and Fort Resolution. I've asked them to provide a letter to me on the costs that they incurred as a result of this fire evacuation that happened. And once I get that information, I will forward it to the Minister to let them know that what we incurred in the communities as a result of the trigger being pulled in this evacuation here in the Northwest Territories.

Having said that, Mr. Speaker, also, you know, the emergency plans for the communities need to happen. Right now, I've...

In favour.