Vince McKay

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thanks for the question. Although the Ministers have changed, the work is still continued, and we're going to continue on with the line of work that's been completed for developing and working on the national building codes for the structures. So that being said, I know we don't have the full implementation yet. However, we do have it in had our projects. When we send anything out to RFP or anything like that, it is to develop to the national building codes. So right now, we're utilizing the 2020 National Building Codes and the 2020 National Fire Codes under the...

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak to the second reading of Bill 29, First Responders Workers' Compensation Amendment Act, introduced by the Member for Range Lake.

On the onset, I want to express my deep respect and appreciation for the work of our first responders and firefighters. I know firsthand what this job entails and that these individuals -- and what these individuals face in traumatic events, dangerous conditions in their service and in our communities. After all, this is something I've done for 30 years.

Bill 29 proposes important amendments to the Workers' Compensation Act to...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, would also like to acknowledge the visitors in the gallery from the Yellowknife fire department, first responders, RCMP, and also Mr. Testart up there who is also a MACA employee at times. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I will commit to that, and as soon as we have it done and ready, we will share that with the Member. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document: Workers’ Advisors Office Northwest Territories and Nunavut 2024 Annual Report. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The goal is to have the -- all the policies developed by next summer. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document: Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Motion 47-20(1), State of Emergency for Humanitarian Reasons for Norman Wells. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Back in the day, pre-cell phones and phones and everything else, we used smoke signals. No, we would have to go back, honestly, and look and find out from the other agencies, like in Alberta, what they do and how they layer their systems in order to have backups in their systems. So I'll ask the department to see what other jurisdictional scans we can do to see how we can backup our systems when our main telecommunications system is out. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I feel you stole my list. I want to echo the recognition of visitors in the gallery, same people there, but I would also like to add the YK city councillor Tom McLennan. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to provide an update on marine transportation service operation for the 2025 sailing season. Every spring, residents and businesses across the territory are eager to plan shipments for their essential goods and equipment by our barges along the Mackenzie River, Great Slave Lake, and all the communities in the Western Arctic.

As people are aware, in 2024 marine transportation services operations were affected by record low water levels. This created unnavigable conditions along the Mackenzie River and presented a challenge to the Canadian Coast Guard, who were unable to...