Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier I spoke about arctic fisheries, and my questions are for the Minister responsible for the Department of Aboriginal Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations. Mr. Speaker, my first question is: how is the GNWT monitoring the development of an agreement on the arctic fishery? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Honourable Premier.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm pleased to advise the Member from Nunakput that the Government of the Northwest Territories has been monitoring the development of an arctic fishery. We do this by our ongoing engagement on this file with our federal colleagues in Global Affairs Canada and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, and also we do so by being actively engaged in other forms, like the Arctic Council.
Any offshore fishing that takes place in that region can potentially affect fish stocks in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. My second question, Mr. Speaker, is how does the GNWT work with the Federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans in areas such as fishery where there is some overlap in the resources that we manage?
In the early days, we were involved, before the creation of Nunavut, with the Arctic fishery getting its early start. Since then, the Government of the Northwest Territories has a positive working relationship with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, and every GNWT department interacts with DFO in one way or another. For example, our officers of the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources, through an agreement with DFO, have enforcement and administrative responsibilities under the Fisheries Act. Also, we as a government have written to the Federal Fisheries Minister requesting devolution of Fisheries' responsibilities to the Government of the Northwest Territories.
The concerns around managing commercial fishing in the Arctic are ultimately linked to climate change. My question, Mr. Speaker, is how is the GNWT incorporating traditional knowledge into work being done to create the NWT Climate Change Strategic Framework?
The Department of ENR, as well the Government of the Northwest Territories, has been very active in seeking the input of MLAs, Aboriginal governments, stakeholders, and residents as part of its work on developing the Northwest Territories' Climate Change Strategic Framework. We have incorporated those comments and concerns into the Climate Change Framework. Traditional knowledge has an important role to play in both the development and implementation of the framework, and our work will reflect that once it can be released.
I should also point out that the Government of the Northwest Territories has had a Traditional Knowledge Policy for over 25 years now.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Mackenzie Delta.
