Vince McKay

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document: Northwest Territories and Nunavut Advisory Official 2025 Annual Report. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Yeah, thank you, Mr. Speaker. You know, all our airports are utilizing medivac aircrafts across the territory, so it would never shut down due to the fact that you have trained personnel in the community that provide emergency response. So the airport would remain open. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So this work is not about importing the southern building practices in the North. It's about strengthening the public safety and by formally adopting a nationally recognized code and standards the way they work in the North and reflect in the North. To be clear, we're not developing a standalone NWT-specific building code. Instead, the focus is adopting the National Building Code, which is developed collaboratively by provinces and territories to reflect the diverse conditions of the North. Importantly, jurisdictions have the flexibility in how they could adopt and...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So the Departments of Infrastructure, Municipal and Community Affairs, and Housing are working together to advance a coordinated approach to building standards for the Northwest Territories. This includes research, policy development, and assessing the implications of broader approach of the national building standards across the country and the territory. The working group is actively engaging with partners and stakeholders, including community governments, to understand the potential impacts, identify areas of concern, and ensure that northern realities are reflected...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am not aware of that one. I'd have to ask the department if there ever was one. I mean, you would probably know as a resident. But if there is the ability to put one there or at least get it on our capital plan or anything like that, so I will work with the department to find out what the plan is for that area. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So, yeah, airports are different across territories, depending on the length of the runway and what instruments are available at the runway. The actual certification for the Fort Providence runway, I am not aware of, but, however, they do -- they are capable of handling essential aircraft like the medivac plane and stuff like that, so. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

So the working group is currently reviewing the existing regulatory framework and continuing the engagement with local stakeholders. Based on this work, recommendations to be established in the NWT building standards framework will be advanced in 2026. The goal is to bring forward a legislative proposal, if needed, before the end of the current Assembly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to recognize a few people in the gallery today. I'd like to recognize, also like you, Debbie DeLancey, who when she was the deputy minister of MACA, I was a town councillor in Hay River and used to complain about the lack of funding for our community. So I'd like to welcome her. I'd also like to welcome a few Gwich'in elders here today, good friends of mine. Sue Look, Bella Husky, Alice Charley, Annie Rose McNabb, and Esther Semmler. Thank you for visiting us here today.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, second by the Honourable Member from Hay River North, that Bill 50, Transportation Corporation Act, be read for the second time. The proposed Marine Transportation Act will transition marine transportation services from a public service to a newly created Crown Corporation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following two documents: Plain Language Summary for Bill 50, Marine Transportation Corporation Act. And the Statement of Consistency for Bill 50, Marine Transportation Corporation Act. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.