Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources. “Collaborate with First Nations government” seems to be the mantra that this Cabinet has put forward, and there’s also a need for jobs, so of course obviously a need to work with industries as well. Can the Minister explain how our concerns over the wood pellet mill and the woodland caribou population within the K’aagee Tu protected area are being addressed? Mahsi.
Masi. Minister of Environment and Natural Resources.
Thank you, Ms. Speaker. The department is working on the Conservation Net Reduction Plan to bring forward towards this House here during this session. Hopefully we’re going to bring forward our new strategy and Conservation Action Plan. These two questions that he’s proposed to me are both related to the conservation area that he’s referring to. The woodland caribou has a strategy that we’re developing right now with our Aboriginal partners and collaboratively with all people, user groups, and that. I’m glad to say that the working group has worked on a plan and we’re expecting to release that by the end of 2016 for the Deh Cho region. As the Member is well aware, the Conservation Action Plan will protect areas for the habitat of boreal caribou. That’s something that’ll be in the long-range plans for that region and also for the territory-wide one that we will be introducing on boreal caribou. As for the question for the pellet mill and its effect on conservation areas, there’s two things, I guess, related to the pellet mill: one is the boreal strategy that also would be affected by the FMA holders in their wood lots. Those things were addressed through the land use permitting of those FMA holders. I believe that the total area for both FMA holders in boreal caribou would have a minimum impact as low as point-two-five per cent of the range plan for boreal caribou. Yes, we are trying to work with all groups in this and move this forward, so thank you for that, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Negotiations can take time; however, I believe the department and this government could consider mechanisms including fast tracking negotiations or putting interim measures in place. What is required to move candidate area from its current evaluation stage to the next step in the process? Mahsi.
Thank you, Ms. Speaker. As I’ve said, we are moving forward with the conservation network planning for the NWT. Hopefully within this session we’re going to be tabling Healthy Land, Healthy People NWT Conservation Area Action Plan 2015-2020. Within that strategy it’s going to have an engagement section and we want to get going on all these areas that were put forward as soon as we can once this is brought to the House. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
How does the Department of Environment and Natural Resources plan to support the processes here? You know, it’s moved from an initial concept of Protective Area Strategy, it’s kind of moving to this new conservation network initiative there. How would the department plan to support this process?
Once the plan is tabled in this House, we will be looking at seeking engaging our Aboriginal partners and advising a plan with the priority outcomes and that. We will continue with the process with all Aboriginal governments and private sector and user groups as we did previously. We will be looking to engage them in a meaningful way.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Deh Cho.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Are the two protected area linked to the Deh Cho land use plan and the overall land use plan for the Northwest Territories? Mahsi.
I would have to get back to the Member on that particular issue. I’m not quite certain how they’re linked together. In the land use plan there’s a Territorial Land Use Plan Strategy and the Deh Cho has their process for their protected areas as well. I’d have to get back to the Member on that.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife Centre.
