Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier I talked about the Forest Management Agreement. Recently, in October in Fort Providence, there was a very historic and momentous occasion and the Forest Management Agreement was signed between the GNWT and the community. I want to ask the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources if he could update this House in terms of dealing with Fort Providence and the next few steps we can expect. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Nadli. Mr. Miltenberger.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It was, indeed, a good news day. There have been resources provided to the community, both in Res and Providence, by the government to the tune of about $200,000 for each community to help give them the SEED money to hire a manager, and the big other critical piece is negotiations that have to take place between the community and the proponent for the business, Aurora Wood Pellets, to negotiate their economic arrangements, which is well underway, I understand, in both communities. Thank you.
The forest industry in Canada and the NWT is something that has a lot of potential based on the idea that the forest industry, if one would take the task and lead the initiative in creating a business opportunity that’s sustainable and renewable. Can the Department of ENR, Environment and Natural Resources, speak to whether other communities have expressed interest in establishing a forest management agreement? Thank you.
Jean Marie River, as well, has indicated an interest as well as Kakisa, I understand.
What is this government doing to facilitate future resource management agreements with local Aboriginal corporations? I understand there’s been movement to work with Kakisa and Jean Marie River. Are there other communities down the valley that have stated an interest, and what’s this department doing to help those communities? Mahsi.
We are breaking trail here and we’ve done a significant amount of work over the years to get the first two major signings between Fort Resolution and Fort Providence. We’ve had some additional expressions of interest which we are following up on with Kakisa and Jean Marie River, which are tied into the current project of Aurora Wood Pellets with Mr. Mapes. So we’re going to pay attention to those and make sure the ones we have signed are going to have done what they need to have done and be as supportive as possible in the areas we need to be as this business interest takes off as well as start those preliminary discussions with Kakisa and Jean Marie. If there are other interests of expression over time, we will get to those as we work our way through the next focus in line, which will be Kakisa and Jean Marie. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Mr. Dolynny.
I have no questions.
Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.
