Debates of May 29, 2018 (day 31)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am following up on the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs' statement earlier on the Tuktoyaktuk shoreline relocation project. Mr. Speaker, could the Minister please go more into detail on the Tuktoyaktuk shoreline relocation? Mr. Speaker, my question is: can the Minister provide additional status on the work to address longstanding shoreline erosion challenges in Tuktoyaktuk in the short and long term? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. MACA did receive $250,000 through the Federal National Disaster Mitigation Program to complete a disaster mitigation plan for the community of Tuktoyaktuk. This effort was combined with a similar project involving the community of Aklavik. A request for proposal is complete, and a contractor will begin work with the hamlet this spring. The first stage of this project includes community consultations and finalizing a detailed work plan. This project is expected to be complete in the winter of 2018, and the plan will identify various adaptation measures that can be implemented to address the climate change issues that are impacting the community, including the shoreline erosion.

I appreciate the response. My second question: is there any work that can be completed while the community is waiting for this mitigation plan to be completed?

Yes. In early 2018, MACA did some work with ENR to obtain $800,000 through the federal Climate Change Preparedness Program. The goal is to implement adaptation measures identified through the mitigation plan to work in the community of Tuktoyaktuk, including relocation of private homes from areas most affected by the erosion.

I appreciate the response from the Minister and the updates. Mr. Speaker, my third question is: what is the status of the relocation project, and will the work be completed during this Assembly?

The department did meet with the Tuktoyaktuk Hamlet Council in April to start the project and to develop a project plan. Hamlet Council met with private homeowners to explain the projects, and ultimately, eligible homeowners will need to decide if they want to be part of that relocation plan as well.

Structural assessments on homes, as well as geotechnical investigations on the new lots, will be completed this summer, as well as fall of this year. Obtaining gravel, lot development, and the movement of houses will be scheduled based on the ideal time to get this work completed. We are hoping that will get done during this Legislative Assembly.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nunakput.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the response. Mr. Speaker, earlier in the statement, there were eight other communities mentioned with hazards related to climate change. Mr. Speaker, Sachs Harbour should be added to the list, as the infrastructure in the community is affected by erosion. Mr. Speaker, my final question to the Minister is: will funding be available in the future to complete additional mitigation work? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Currently, the Government of Canada has made disaster mitigation funding available for five years only. However, there remains great interest among the provinces and territories to continue extend it beyond that period. For the community of Sachs Harbour, we are willing to sit down and talk to the hamlet, as well as the leadership, to look at future projects in that area. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife Centre.