Shauna Morgan

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So as I understand it, the role of the GNWT-employed scientists is to give their input and expertise internally before that gets fed into the process. Does the GNWT employ any traditional knowledge experts that the GNWT's scientists can engage internally with to have that dialogue? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I want to speak today about environmental assessment as a way to make projects better and how it makes projects better.

Sometimes we talk about environmental assessment as if it's just an obstacle, as if it's some GNWT employee sitting in an office tower gatekeeping, checking off some boxes, and could they please just get it done faster because we have mines to develop and roads to build and jobs to create. But it's not that at all.

Environmental assessment is central to our co-management systems. It's enshrined in modern treaties. It brings Indigenous governments and the federal...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Thursday, March 13th, 2025, I will move the following motion:

Now therefore I move, seconded by the Member for Monfwi, that the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly undertake a comprehensive review of healthcare management practices, bargaining structures and labour policies, in consultation with nurses, labour unions, independent professional associations, frontline healthcare workers, and other key stakeholders to identify and implement measures that:

reinforce workplace protections for nurses and healthcare workers, including...

Okay. Can the Minister confirm whether the sobering centre restricts access to intoxicated individuals if they already have a room allocated to them, for example, at the women's centre or the Salvation Army? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I suppose I'll assume, unless directed otherwise, that the government is not employing traditional knowledge experts directly to have that internal dialogue.

But the final question is while I understand that government-employed scientists are still allowed to participate in responding to information requests, are those scientists allowed to collaborate with any other parties in issuing information requests as part of the environmental assessment process? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So following up on my Member's statement, my questions are for the Minister of Environment and Climate Change.

So even for those projects we may have decided are necessary, like roads, we need environmental assessments with full and open participation by scientists and traditional knowledge experts in order to make them the best they can be. So on a project like the Mackenzie Valley Highway, once the GNWT's already submitted its developer's assessment report, as the government did in 2023, are there any further opportunities within the environmental assessment process...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have to be really quick.

Okay, so I see in the revenue summary under minerals, oil and gas royalties, you know, last year we ended up getting $1.6 million and this coming year we're expecting $1.7 million. But then I look at how much we're spending under minerals and petroleum resources on diamonds, royalties and financial analysis, and that's $4.3 million. I do understand from ITI's previous information that we have a diamond valuator contract to valuate the diamonds that has been increasing this year and we're up to $2.7 million just for the valuator contract this year...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So my final question, for Prosper NWT I understand that we are transferring $1.5 million aroundabouts to them, but I also see that in their, you know, statement as information item, they're carrying an accumulative surplus each year of over $35 million. And so I wonder if the Minister can explain why they're not -- why they need to maintain a surplus of $35 million and why they can't use some of the surplus to fund, you know, what the GNWT is currently funding, you know, each year to the tune of $1.5 million. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So I guess the question is so for this coming here, we're still predicting $1.2 million in revenues which was sort of what it was before. I understand there was many disruptions last year and the year before. Are we predicting, though, that revenues will increase or are we actively taking steps to try to make it increase, you know, barring further disasters and evacuations and plagues and all the rest? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So first I just wanted to say that I am actually quite pleased overall with the ITI budget, and I find that in this budget there are some of the more hopeful and shining lights of us making concerted new efforts to achieve the priorities in our mandate. You know, one example of course, being the increases to the film industry rebate program. So I just wanted to commend the Minister and her staff for that.

One question I wanted to ask first, and this is based on page 24 of the business plan. So one of the goals that the department has set for itself is to promote and...