Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories has made a commitment in its mandate to develop and implement an agriculture strategy to increase domestic food production, improve distribution networks for NWT-produced foods, and to increase producer and supplier opportunities. The price of food is a significant driver of the Northwest Territories’ high cost of living in all of our communities, Mr. Speaker. Equally important in supporting and growing our vibrant communities is diversity in localized economies. Mr. Speaker, the need for an agricultural strategy to advance economic opportunities in the agriculture sector was first identified in the NWT Economic Opportunities Strategy. An agriculture strategy will also assist in lowering the cost of living by improving food security by encouraging local food production. Thanks to the investments and hard work of dedicated producers in all communities with the support of the federal government Growing Forward 2 agreement and departments across the Government of the Northwest Territories, the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment is now in a position to formalize an agriculture and food production strategy to address our commitments in these areas.
This strategy, Mr. Speaker, is built upon input received through community engagement events hosted during the summer of 2015. The Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment worked in partnership with the Territorial Farmers Association, Northern Farm Training Institute, and the NWT Association of Communities. These findings were collected and released in a “what we learned” report. The report identified five pillars that the strategy will be based on.
The first pillar is planning, which will encourage the proactive development of community-specific approaches to food production and government, both territorial and local, doing their part to ensure legislative and regulatory regimes are in place to support safe community food development. Knowledge, the second pillar, focuses on training and food production, developing an online public agriculture info base supporting mentorship and getting youth involved through experiential training. Leadership will include localized community committees to identify and support individuals with a strong interest in and commitment to food growing and gathering across the territory. Mr. Speaker, the marketing pillar will see the review and revision of policies surrounding food production in the Northwest Territories, investing opportunities to create incentives for local food production and consumption. Developing marketing channels and exploring opportunities to encourage greater value-added opportunities for food production in the Northwest Territories. Our strategy’s final pillar, enhancing access to resources, will include increasing the availability of soil, land, energy, heat and financial and food production infrastructure through strategic investments and incentives. We are preparing to share the draft strategy with standing committee, Mr. Speaker, with the recent groundswell of support for agriculture in the Northwest Territories, I look forward to discussing this plan with Members and to moving it forward so that we can begin delivering on these pillars for our citizens.
Mr. Speaker, I would be remiss if I were not to recognize the organizations who have worked tirelessly building our agriculture capacity to where it is today. The Northern Farm Training Institute has provided opportunities for mentorship and education and farming and agriculture to Northwest Territories’ residents for two successful years. We are confident their dedicated staff will continue to play an active role in the sector’s future. Our Northwest Territories Territorial Farmers Association has also worked in tandem with various organizations to deliver innovative programming to Northwest Territories’ communities over the years. We thank them for their efforts and look forward to working with them in the future. We are pleased to have partnered with CanNor to provide further funding for feasibility studies and for greenhouses in our communities. With the installation of greenhouses in communities on the Beaufort Sea we now have a food production sector stretching the length and breadth of our territory. To that end, the Inuvik Community Greenhouse also deserves recognition for supporting investments and initiatives to bring growing capacity to communities in the Beaufort Delta where there once was none. Finally, we must recognize the great work done by our largest commercial success story in Polar Egg. The company has been providing fresh high-quality eggs to our northern jurisdictions for many years. We salute these entrepreneurs who brought life to the Northwest Territories’ first commercial agricultural venture. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Ministers’ statements. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment provides many critical programs and services for some of the territory’s most vulnerable residents through its income security programs. Through our ongoing efforts to continually improve these programs, I’d like to share with you today a significant change to the way we will be supporting families with children. On March 22nd, the federal government announced a new Canada Child Benefit to come into effect in July 2016. This benefit combines a number of previous federal government benefits available to families with children. The new Canada Child Benefit will provide more money for low- and modest-income families with children. These changes have implications for our Income Assistance Program. Under the current system the Income Assistance Program considers some of the previous federal children’s benefits as income. We are revising our program so that none of the new Canada Child Benefit is considered as income, to ensure our residents receive the full benefit. This is extremely good news for our residents and the steps we are taking will help our most vulnerable residents immensely. Mr. Speaker, in addition to not counting the Canada Child Benefit and the NWT Child Benefit as income, as of August we will also no longer be considering any child support a parent may receive when calculating income assistance payments. While we continue to believe child support is an important component to ensure both parents contribute to the cost of raising a child, we are no longer requiring income assistance clients to pursue child support as part of the Income Assistance Program. I am also pleased to announce a joint initiative that is underway with our colleagues at the Department of Finance. The departments are working together to make enhancements to the NWT Child Benefit that will provide additional financial support to more low and modest income NWT residents with children, and not just those accessing income assistance. As we need to work with the federal government and make changes to the NWT Income Tax Act, we plan to implement these changes to the NWT Child Benefit in 2017. Mr. Speaker, this is significant. We believe that these improvements to the Income Assistance Program will help to raise children out of poverty and are an investment in the future of the North. For a family with two children that is receiving income assistance, these changes along with the new federal Canada Child Benefit could add up to $614 in increased monthly income. Mr. Speaker, I am proud of the work completed in support of NWT children and families. I look forward to updating Members as we continue to work to implement the changes across the Income Assistance Program. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Ministers’ statements. Minister of NWT Housing Corporation.
Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories has made a commitment it its mandate to work in partnership with other orders of government to address affordable housing requirements and to support Aboriginal local governments in their housing aspirations and initiatives to address homelessness. We are delivering on that commitment, and I am pleased to tell you today that a new partnership initiative between the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation and K’atlodeeche First Nation that will let us deliver housing services and programs on reserve land. The core housing need for the Hay River Reserve is nearly 40 per cent, Mr. Speaker, one of the highest rates in the territory. It was imperative that progress be made in this area. Delivery of social housing on reserve land presents unique challenges because of the requirement for secure land tenure. However, recognizing their members need housing programs and services, the K’atlodeeche First Nation went through the land designation process, allowing the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation to secure a land lease for property on the Hay River Reserve from the Government of Canada. The K’atlodeeche First Nation and the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation worked closely and diligently to achieve this result, assisted by the Department of Justice and the Department of Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada. As a result of this work, the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation has recently acquired 10 units on the land designated by the K’atlodeeche First Nation that will be rented to their residents under the Public Housing Program. We are also working to acquire six more properties. These are significant actions to bolster and stabilize rental housing on the reserve, which totals less than 90 households. Mr. Speaker, a collaboration of this kind with the K’atlodeeche First Nation, under such unique land and governance related circumstances, is an example of what we can accomplish when we come together to remove barriers and work on solutions across all levels of government to meet the needs of our community residents. We hope that the spirit of this partnership can act as a blueprint for future collaborations with other Aboriginal and local governments to overcome challenges they may be facing in meeting their housing aspirations. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Ministers’ statements. Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment.
Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories has made a commitment in its mandate to finalize and implement the Commercial Fishery Revitalization Strategy. I would like to share with Members of this Assembly, the work the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment is doing to revitalize the Northwest Territories’ commercial fishery and broaden the NWT’s economic horizons. I look forward to sharing and discussing the revitalization strategy with Members in detail but would like, today, to provide a high-level outline of how our collaborative approach aims to jumpstart commercial fishing in the Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker, this Strategy is built on four pillars: increasing lake production, building processing capacity, growing the Northwest Territories market, and accessing export markets. These will guide the tactics of industry and government stakeholders moving forward. Increasing lake production will focus on support for re-establishing the winter fishery and incentives to increase participation in the fishery. There will be collaboration among stakeholders to assess and implement the price structures necessary to attract and retain talent in the fishery across all seasons in the Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker, building processing capacity is also essential to success as local processors in Hay River and Yellowknife are already operating close to maximum-capacity and servicing only 15 per cent of the Northwest Territories’ potential market. We will focus on collaborating with our federal partners to fund a processing plant in Hay River with the capacity to process large custom orders, hold product for up to six-weeks, and meet Inspection Act requirements to appeal to large retailers. There will be consistent work with the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation to develop appropriate supply-chain measures to support the viability of processing operations in the territory. Growing our local market goes hand-in-hand with increasing processing and harvesting capacity. This strategy identifies a target of 230,000 kilograms for the Northwest Territories’ market, a target which current production capabilities cannot fulfill. The strategy outlines options for industry and government to achieve our ambitions. Mr. Speaker, accessing export markets will be essential to bringing our commercial fisheries to the next level. It will require all stakeholders to do their parts in optimizing and aligning processing and production cycles. Discussions between the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation and the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment to find the most feasible way forward in these pursuits have already begun. We will be working with fishing co-operatives already doing great work here to ensure their interests are well-represented in the process. With smart development, careful management, and strategic partnerships, our world-class fish stock has the potential to provide significant employment opportunities and revenues to entrepreneurs and individuals within our territory. We as a government have a duty to act on these kinds of opportunities. At a time where our constituents’ desire for a more diverse economy has seldom been stronger, the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment is pleased to be doing its part in making growth in this renewable resource-based industry a reality. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, solesource contracting is the buying of goods or services without competitive bidding. In February, the Finance Minister announced changes in the limits for granting of solesource contracts. The solesource contract limit for goods and non-professional services was increased from $5,000 to $25,000, for professional services from $25,000 to under $50,000, and for architectural and engineering professional services, to under $100,000. Solesource purchasing is governed by the procurement guidelines of the GNWT contract regulations. The procurement guidelines list a series of criteria, standards, and evaluation points which must be met. They allow purchases where delay would be “injurious to the public interest,” or “only one party is available or capable of doing the work.” Solesource purchasers must complete an authorization request explaining the circumstances which make sole sourcing necessary. The criteria would appear to make the practical exceptional. In reality, it is common place. The most recently published 201314 GNWT report of contracts over $5,000 shows that $41.6 million was spent on sole source. Sole-source appears to be a mechanism allowing middle to senior managers to conveniently make purchases without the delays or administrative burdens of bid contracting or price negotiation. Now, those levels of convenience are dramatically larger, raising large concerns. At the very least, routine use of sole-source purchasing can lead managers to resort too frequently to noncompetitive supply. Without reporting to the marketplace occasionally, purchasers may be unaware of product improvements, price shifts, and the availability of new sources of supply. Competitive bids which accrue savings of as little as $1,000 per contract could accumulate major savings across the volume of small contract purchasing. It is a fact that $25,000 to $100,000 is no longer a small purchase. Raising the ceiling on sole-source contracts will negatively impact many northern small businesses. It is the smaller contracts that northern businesses bid on because they are compatible with their capacity. While we may not like to speak of it, these higher levels raise the possibility of malfeasance and corruption in the spending of public funds. These elevated amounts increase the…
Member for Yellowknife Centre, your time has expired for Members’ statements.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement. Thank you.
---Unanimous consent granted
Thank you, colleagues. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. These elevated amounts increase the possibility of kickbacks and preferment. I’ll be looking for a much more rigorous oversight in this process, and I’ll have questions for the Minister. Thank you.
Masi. Members’ statements. Member for Nahendeh.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I stand in front of you and our fellow colleagues to speak about one of the communities I represent. Mr. Speaker, in 1796, the Northwest Company established a post on Trout River. However, it did not become an organized community until the late 1960s. Trout Lake is one of the most remote, beautiful, and traditional communities in the Northwest Territories. The residents are very proud of their culture and language. Approximately 70 per cent of the residents between the ages of 15 and 39, and 100 per cent of residents ages 40 and up speak their traditional language of Slavey. The community of Trout Lake is governed by Sambaa K’e Dene Band chief and council. As in the past, hunting, fishing, and trapping are still part of their daily lives. According to the 2015 NWT Bureau of Stats, approximately 85 per cent of the community still hunts and fishes, approximately 48 per cent of the population traps, and approximately 47 per cent of the population produces arts and crafts. As you can see by these numbers, these percentages, you can guess that consumption of country food would be high, and you’re right. Eighty-five per cent compared to NWT’s average of 26 per cent.
Mr. Speaker, for the past 23 years that I’ve worked with the community, now representing them, September is a time for the community fall hunt. Mr. Speaker, it’s amazing watching the community pack up and go out on the land for the number of weeks. It is about tradition, sharing knowledge, family, and community time. What I find amazing is this community has continued to grow in population since moving to the region. I witness the population grow from 70 residents to 110. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to say the community has done well, has done a good job increasing the territorial formula financing for the GNWT. Mr. Speaker, I’m proud to inform this House that the Executive Council has approved the change of the name of the geographical place and community named as Trout Lake. Mr. Speaker, the change in name from Trout Lake to Sambaa K’e will take effect on June 21, 2016. Mr. Speaker, Sambaa K’e means “place of trout” in Slavey. I’d like to congratulate the Sambaa K’e First Nation chief, council, and residents for doing all the hard work to request returning their traditional name to the community. As well, I’d like to thank the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment for his recommendation and Executive Council for approving this. Mr. Speaker, there is this first step of the community as they work to bring back our traditional names in the surrounding areas. In closing, Mr. Speaker, I’d like to give a big round of applause for the community soon to be named Sambaa K’e. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Members’ statements. Member for Mackenzie Delta.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The mandate for the Skills Canada National Competition is to encourage and support a coordinated Canadian approach to promoting skilled trades and technologies to youth. This is the only national multitrade and technology competition for students and apprentices in the country. Every year, more than 500 young people from all regions of Canada come together at nationals to participate in over 40 skilled trade and technology competitions. Students must compete at our local, regional, and territorial events to gain their place, to represent the Northwest Territories at the Skills Canada National Competition. I would like to congratulate one of my constituents, Gord Papik, who in fact is already in the House working as a Page representing the Mackenzie Delta. Gord competed and placed in regionals and territorials. He moved on to nationals in Moncton, New Brunswick where he demonstrated workplace safety. Upon returning home to Aklavik, Gord had one night’s sleep after which he boated to Inuvik to get on a plane to travel here to Yellowknife to work as a Page. Mr. Speaker, please join me in congratulating Gord.
Masi. That’s what you call dedication. Members’ statements. Member for Nunakput.
Quyanainni, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I just wanted to pay respects to one of the elders in Tuktoyaktuk. Lucy Dillon was born in 1951 in Kittigazuit in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region to Kelly and Rosie Ovayuak. Lucy was the fifth-oldest of 11 children. She attended the Anglican school in Aklavik, Stringer Hall in Inuvik, and Akaitcho Hall in Yellowknife. After moving back home to Tuktoyaktuk, she began a career working as an administrator. She worked at that for years before she embarked on a new direction in her career. She worked as a secretary for Mangilaluk School for several years. From there, she moved to the wellness side of community service, where she spent many years with the GNWT, Mr. Speaker. She eventually worked for the regional wellness division of the IRC at the community level. Lucy was common law to Eddie Dillon and they eventually married in 1972. They had five beautiful girls together and adopted a son. She was diagnosed with colon cancer and went through the treatments. She had a tumor removed after complications from cancer treatment. On June 14th at 1:00 a.m., Lucy peacefully passed away at home with family by her side. All five girls and her 16 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren gathered in Tuk. Rest in peace Lucy, as you are in a better place now. Quyanainni, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in almost every province and territory, organizations have been set up to provide essential legal information to the public at large. These nonprofit and nongovernmental groups believe that citizens cannot fully understand, much less exercise their legal rights unless they are informed and understand the laws that affect them. These groups differ from a lawyer’s office or a legal aid clinic by providing general information on the law rather than legal advice for specific problems. Mr. Speaker, I was curious about public legal information in the NWT, and through the Canadian Bar Association, I was directed to a defunct page of the Department of Justice here in the Northwest Territories. I would like to advise the Minister, if I may, that the department ought to address this before it’s more than just a curious MLA trying to find information. Luckily, Mr. Speaker, Google exists, and it directed me to the Northwest Territories Legal Services Board. Although it has no website, when I called their number, I was redirected to legal aid, which is by no means responsible or expected to provide public legal education. I wasn’t giving up so easily though, Mr. Speaker, and Google, rather than the information provided by the Department of Justice for the public, came through again. The Law Society of the Northwest Territories is the governing body for all lawyers in the Northwest Territories, and thankfully, also provides some resources for public legal education. All these dead ends shows that this territory lacks the public legal education provided in almost every other jurisdiction, but at least we have the law library, or not. Recently, the Department of Justice announced plans to close the territory’s only law library by the end of this fiscal year, and I quote from the Minister, “it is just not economically responsible to keep it open.”
Mr. Speaker, no library was ever opened to be economically advantageous. They exist as a resource for the public to expand its knowledge and awareness through having free and easily accessible sources of information. Libraries are important, a law library even more so, and if the government goes through with this policy, the NWT will be the only province or territory without a physical law library. Mr. Speaker, I want to ensure accessible, free, and public legal education and information is available to Northerners, and I will have questions later for the Minister of Justice. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, my statement is directed to the Minister of Lands in regards to the remedial cleanup opportunities along the shores of Bear Lake. As the public would know, there is a number of old mine sites that have taken a long time for their remedial cleanup, and as a part of devolution, I think these need to be concentrated on. The flip side or the other opposite side of the remedial cleanup opportunities is the economic wealth that it would generate. During the slow economic, idle times now, what better way than to review the environmental land management system and do an audit. If so, if maybe there is one underway that could be utilized and expedite this a little bit faster. Later on, I will have questions for the Minister. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Members’ statements. Member for Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address the need for the government to support our small businesses and entrepreneurs in the Northwest Territories. We have spoken at length in this Assembly about the need to diversify the economy, to support northern entrepreneurs, and to make sure our government’s spending supports our growing private sector. To that end, we have business incentive programs to support northern businesses which face higher costs, and we have policies and regulations that make sure that our businesses and entrepreneurs can compete fairly for government jobs and contracts. Similar to my colleague, I am concerned with some recent changes in the government’s policy on solesource. Mr. Speaker, in the interests of timing and efficiency, some contracts are allowed to be offered without tender or negotiation processes, in other words, solesourced. In the interests of fairness to all potential bidders, those contracts are limited and conditions are applied.
Mr. Speaker, the Financial Administration Manual sets conditions under which solesource contracts can be awarded. They are allowed only if delay in purchasing would be harmful to the public interest, or if only one supplier is available. Recently, Mr. Speaker, the Minister changed the conditions and brought in major increases in the allowable amounts for sole-source contracts. The maximum value of solesourced contracts for goods and nonprofessional services was increased from $5,000 to $25,000, the limit for professional services was increased from $25,000 to $50,000, and the limit for architectural and engineering professional services was increased from $25,000 to $100,000. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I received an email from a small business constituent who seems to have been directly affected by this change in policy. The company was awarded a contract with a value of $10,000 in 2012. This year, a similar contract was solesourced to another agency, which was not even a business. This change in solesource practice without consultation does not fit our commitment to transparency, Mr. Speaker. The awarding of such a contract does not fit with our support of the small business sector, and the sole source of a contract for which there is more than one local supplier does not seemingly meet with the conditions of the solesource policy. Mr. Speaker, it may already be time for change of the solesource policy. Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time, I’ll have questions for the Minister of MACA. Thank you.
Masi. Members’ statements. Member for Frame Lake.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. On May 10th, Canada finally removed its objector status to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and announced its unqualified support for the declaration. In ratifying its acceptance of the 46 articles of the declaration, Canada takes on responsibility to uphold and implement the wide variety of goals and actions itemized in the declaration. Canada’s action follows more than eight years after GNWT unanimously endorsed the declaration by resolution of this Assembly on February 19th, 2008. The federal announcement marks the beginning of a long process of harmonizing Canada’s laws with the standards set in the Declaration, and improving the country’s relationship with Indigenous peoples. The federal government has announced its priority commitment to a renewed process of reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. I’d like to draw Members’ attention to one of the declaration articles in particular, Article 19, which says: “States shall consult and cooperate in good faith with Indigenous peoples concerning through their own representative institutions in order to obtain their free, prior, and informed consent before adopting and implementing legislative or administrative measures that may affect them.” A recent Dene Nation media release says, “the challenge is to find a mechanism to include Indigenous peoples in the Northwest Territories and their governments to work jointly with GNWT to determine priorities for spending.” Very true. Mr. Speaker, last week, our Premier cochaired the inaugural FederalProvincial-Territorial-Indigenous Forum in Ottawa and was chair of its Aboriginal Affairs Working Group. Media reports indicate that the declaration was a major agenda item. I will have questions for the Premier on the substance and outcomes of those meetings. The declaration in its extraordinary new requirements for investigation and action creates obligations for our own government. GNWT was a leader in 2008 in embracing the declaration. We have a leadership seat at the national forum dedicated to achieving the aspirations of the declaration. This government is also turning its attention to things such as new postdevolution legislation and regulation for managing our natural resources. In developing new resource management systems, it is not clear how we will meet our own obligations under the declaration. I will have questions for the Premier later today. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Members’ statements. Member for Deh Cho.
Masi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this November will mark the 20th anniversary of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, or RCAP. After five years, public hearing and community visits, the commission issued 440 recommendations, including 66 directly to the federal government. If that process sounds familiar, Mr. Speaker, remember this month, we marked the anniversary of another commission, one with a very specific focus. It has been one year since the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada or the TRC, released its report on the devastating and intergenerational impacts of the Canadian Indian residential school system.
Mr. Speaker, both my parents attended residential school. My father was not allowed to speak his language when he attended residential school and he only spoke French when he left. Mr. Speaker, these effects are still unfolding and being felt today. The work of the RCAP and the TRC took place against a backdrop of continuing impacts of abuse experienced in residential schools across the country, as well as the social and political legacies of actions from the Oka crisis to Idle No More. Like the RCAP, the TRC made recommendations. Ninety-four calls to action addressing a wide range of subjects including child welfare, language and culture, health, and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People, or UNDRIP.
Mr. Speaker, have we made progress? In 2006 on the tenth anniversary of RCAP, the Assembly of First Nations graded the Government of Canada’s performance. Overall, the feds received a failing grade. They earned an A on only one item, to establish Aboriginal Day. That’s not to say the situation is entirely bleak. Real changes have been made including the federal inherent right to self-government policy and the work towards self-government here in the NWT. This government’s commitment to the Dehcho process, the Daniels decision made this year. Recently, the federal government even reversed the past decision and recognized the United Nations Declaration. When the Chair of the TRC commented on its one-year anniversary, he said “the message needs to be that the progress needs to be constant.” Mr. Speaker, all of us must read and understand the words of the TRC that our words must be backed up with actions and our actions must be funded. As Grand Chief Matthew Coon Come of the Cree Nation says, “First Nations should not be the administrator of their own poverty.” Statements of reconciliation and actions and plans have been made, but initiatives for individuals, families, and communities are needed to address the effects of residential school impacts. There is a need for healing and wellness at the community level. Twenty years from now, our successors must have cause to stand in this House reflecting on the fair level of Canada’s governments and people who heed the TRC’s calls to recommendation. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Members’ statements. Member for Hay River North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the summer of 1919, eight men made the six-week journey from Edmonton to Norman Wells in search of oil. They travelled by railway, riverboat and foot, bringing with them a drilling rig and an ox named Tommy to power it. Tommy and the crew worked tirelessly that summer, drilling a hundred feet into the permafrost before the cold of winter forced them to halt operations. During the winter, Tommy the Ox continued to serve the men, served to the men in stews and as steaks.
---Laughter
The next summer, the crew hit oil and the rest is history. I share this story to show people that even with our infrastructure challenges and our harsh environment, we can attract investment in the oil and gas sector. Six months ago, I might not have been saying that, but we hit the bottom of the commodity cycle and we are on our way back up. Oil is hovering at around $50 a barrel, up from its 13-year low in January. While there’s still uncertainty in the market, there’s a considerable amount of optimism as well. The potential is enormous. The NWT contains over a third of Canada’s marketable light crude and natural gas resources. Earlier this year it was confirmed that the Liard Basin contains 77 trillion cubic feet of marketable gas in the NWT. In the Bluefish and Canol fields alone, there’s a 190 billion barrels of oil. Industry proponents have said that oil needs to be at $75 to make these fields viable. But the Mackenzie Valley Highway extension could reduce exploration and development costs by up to 40 per cent. Suddenly, the territory is looking much more attractive to investors. Mining has been an economic driver in this territory for 75 years, but we can’t forget the benefits the petroleum industry has delivered and has the potential to deliver. Just think about Tuk in the 70s and 80s or look at the fact that the only community that rivals Yellowknife in terms of average income is Norman Wells. The opportunity to capitalize on our resources should be extended to all regions and that means investment in infrastructure, the settling of land claims and the development of an oil and gas strategy. Our failure to provide adequate social programs often dominates talk in this House. The simple fact is that the government needs more revenue to provide those programs. We can only do so much with what we have. We are blessed with world-class resource deposits and we have a duty to ensure that all citizens benefit from them. Not just those in Norman Wells, or Yellowknife or Tuk in the 70s. This Assembly inherited a government that for decades has failed to deliver the pipelines, highways and regulatory environment that we need to support our people. It is time we start delivering. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’d like to recognize my two Pages from the Mackenzie Delta, Taylor McLeod and Gordon Papik. Also in the gallery, I see we have Mr. Reid and Mr. Saturnino. Welcome to the House. Mahsi.
Recognition of visitors in the Gallery. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I too would like to recognize a couple of constituents of Inuvik Twin Lakes. Dave Reid, who’s a long-time educator in the Beaufort Delta and knows a lot of people about Sonny’s age and…
---Laughter
And Mr. Nick Saturnino who coached the junior girls curling team the last number of years and they’ve done very well in the national scene. Appreciate the work they do and welcome to the gallery.
Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Inuvik Boot Lake.
Thank you Mr. Speaker. I too would like to recognize Mr. Nick Saturnino for his commitment and his service in the public service area for the GNWT as well as his dedication and hard work to the junior girls curling team and all his success he had as their coach. Also to Mr. David Reid. I’d like to thank him for his contributions to the education system. He just retired. Wish him the best in his future endeavours and he’s also been a contributor to at least three MLAs that are sitting in the House today. Mahsi cho. Thank you.
Masi. Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery. Member for Hay River South.
