Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my Member's statement today was on the federal government restrictions on extended year for the moratorium.
Mr. Speaker, where does my Premier stand and what is she doing to ensure that the offshore oil and gas moratorium gets lifted at this next and final I'm hoping the final deadline; where does she stand and this government stand? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Nunakput. Honourable Premier.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am going to try to keep this precise but I've got a lot to say on this. Where I stand personally? I have concerns about it. Where we stand professionally, basically we're really saying like you need to consult with us. That was a promise that was made. I do know that the natural gas and the light crude in the Beaufort Delta actually creates less pollution than many other major energy sources in the world. So we do have things to offer up there.
What have we done about it? There was a letter sent on June 22nd to Minister of northern affairs Daniel Vandal, from myself, expressing my disappointment in the unilateral decision.
I also met with the Northern Premiers from the three territories and raised my concerns. The three Northern Premiers also sent a letter on July 22nd or 2022 about the unilateral decision. I've had a personal/impersonal meetings with the Minister of northern affairs a couple of times and expressed my disappointment as well. I've had two meetings with the Prime Minister in May and December 2022, stating my disappointment in the unilateral decision. Officials, as well, have been meeting between September and December, just recently, with the officials federally and expressing their disappointment.
My understanding, Mr. Speaker, is that the federal government at first said it was their decision, they weren't willing to discuss it any further; however, they've made some movement. They have assured me that they will be bringing the sciencebased review on the offshore moratorium, that they will be engaging with the communities, and the Inuvialuit regional region, and we're looking forward to that engagement. They're also talking about releasing the results publicly. And hopefully they will be looking at working with the GNWT to build our economy because they can't take the major economy from the Beaufort Delta and not substitute it, Mr. Speaker. On that, I'll just stop. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I just want to remind everybody this is a settled land claim, which was done 39 years ago, and our federal government goes and shuts us down for our only way of living basically in regards to that, taking the I guess taking food off the table, giving us getting everybody on income support.
Mr. Speaker, what is the federal government giving the Government of the Northwest Territories to compensate the Beaufort Delta on not in taking away? What are they giving us? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I'm actually glad that the Member is bringing this issue in the House. I do know that the federal government does monitor our sessions, and I'm hoping they'll hear his words as well. These are the exact concerns that we have brought forward to the federal government. To this date, they haven't made; all they've said is they will work with us on reviewing the sciencebased review. They will support us in some of our building our economy, but they haven't given me a direct answer on that. And those are the questions that I would like answered from the federal government as well. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I brought up the moratorium and M18 project that's going to put people to work in my home community and the whole Beaufort Delta, in regards to the M18 project just outside of Tuk on 7(1)(a) lands, which is owned by the people of Tuk and under the Inuvialuit final agreement. 39 years ago it was signed again, Mr. Speaker. Again, the federal government goes and puts it under review.
Again, what are they giving us, Mr. Speaker? What are they going to give to the people of the Inuvialuit settlement region for the holdup for the M18 project? What's going to happen; what are they giving us? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think I'll take that more as a comment; it's a reiteration of what he said. What are they giving us, and that's the question I am asking as well what are they giving us? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Honourable Premier. Final supplementary. Member for Nunakput.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I just want to tell my Premier that please stand up for the people of my riding and the people of the Inuvialuit settlement region, and the whole Beaufort Delta, in regards to this moratorium. And we need help. Help us help you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Nunakput; more of a comment. Oral questions. Member for Frame Lake.
