This is page numbers 1255 - 1298 of the Hansard for the 14th Assembly, 6th Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was chairman.

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Supplementary To Question 391-14(6): Giant Mine Remediation Project
Question 391-14(6): Giant Mine Remediation Project
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1265

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we've already missed one year of the three-year program. Is the Minister confident that the decision on a preferred option will be transmitted to DIAND in time for us to make sure that we get some of the money for the second year of the three-year program?

Supplementary To Question 391-14(6): Giant Mine Remediation Project
Question 391-14(6): Giant Mine Remediation Project
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1265

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Dent. The honourable Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Antoine.

Further Return To Question 391-14(6): Giant Mine Remediation Project
Question 391-14(6): Giant Mine Remediation Project
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1265

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Yes, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, once the Cabinet reviews the recommendation of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development we will be making a decision on the preferred options of keeping it in the ground, either a frozen block or deep disposal. At this point in time it looks like the preferred option is probably deep disposal, but there are other processes that work, Mr. Speaker. I guess the funding is in place there. We should try to have access to it. However, we understand that once DIAND decides on a course of action for the underground arsenic, a project description would be submitted to the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board and that process would likely have to go through assessment and some sort of a review. We don't know how long that's going to take, whether we could obtain funding before the process kicks into place or do we have to wait until that process is complete? This is our understanding at this point in time on the process in regard to the arsenic underground. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 391-14(6): Giant Mine Remediation Project
Question 391-14(6): Giant Mine Remediation Project
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1265

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Antoine. Supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Supplementary To Question 391-14(6): Giant Mine Remediation Project
Question 391-14(6): Giant Mine Remediation Project
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1265

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I believe I heard the Minister say that the preferred option at this time was the deep disposal option. We've had two reports from the peer review panel that say that is not a good option. Has the Minister made himself aware of these two reports so that he is fully up to date when his department comes to him with recommendations?

Supplementary To Question 391-14(6): Giant Mine Remediation Project
Question 391-14(6): Giant Mine Remediation Project
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1265

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Dent. The honourable Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Antoine.

Further Return To Question 391-14(6): Giant Mine Remediation Project
Question 391-14(6): Giant Mine Remediation Project
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1265

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would just like to make some clarifications that the Cabinet position at this point in time was with the deep disposal option. We are aware of the recommendation of DIAND's review committee, which is recommending against it. We're reviewing that report and then we'll be making a decision according to that. It has to be a Cabinet decision to change that position. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 391-14(6): Giant Mine Remediation Project
Question 391-14(6): Giant Mine Remediation Project
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1265

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Antoine. Your final supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Supplementary To Question 391-14(6): Giant Mine Remediation Project
Question 391-14(6): Giant Mine Remediation Project
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1265

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Frame Lake

Mr. Speaker, the final report that came up from the peer review committee was on July 22nd, so I'm disappointed to hear that in October we still don't have a position. The Minister seems to have indicated that we may have to go through a full environmental review. Will the Minister advise Minister Nault that we need to get something started very quickly and, with the peer review that's taken place, we want to make sure we can start the action within the next year. Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 391-14(6): Giant Mine Remediation Project
Question 391-14(6): Giant Mine Remediation Project
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1265

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Dent. The honourable Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Antoine.

Further Return To Question 391-14(6): Giant Mine Remediation Project
Question 391-14(6): Giant Mine Remediation Project
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1265

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Yes, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this is a process that's handled by DIAND. We can only make recommendations and suggestions and we will do that. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 391-14(6): Giant Mine Remediation Project
Question 391-14(6): Giant Mine Remediation Project
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1266

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Antoine. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions today are for the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to ask the Minister where we're at with the transfer of Commissioner's land as proposed in the general plan submitted by the Town of Hay River. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Steen.

Return To Question 392-14(6): Development Of Commissioner's Land In Hay River
Question 392-14(6): Development Of Commissioner's Land In Hay River
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Vince Steen

Vince Steen Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. At the present time, Mr. Speaker, the town needs to identify the parcels of Commissioner's land that it wants transferred, and then MACA has developed as well an electronic mapping tool to assist the town to identify these parcels. Afterwards, the town will have to put in a formal application to MACA and request the transfer of this land. Because it's fee simple that they're asking for, they would then have to take the request to the aboriginal groups and see whether or not they agree with this. Assuming everything goes forward as planned and there is no objection from the aboriginal groups, the application for transfer of this land and fee simple title will be taken to Cabinet for their approval to waive the policy. Thank you.

Return To Question 392-14(6): Development Of Commissioner's Land In Hay River
Question 392-14(6): Development Of Commissioner's Land In Hay River
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1266

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Steen. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 392-14(6): Development Of Commissioner's Land In Hay River
Question 392-14(6): Development Of Commissioner's Land In Hay River
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1266

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So, Mr. Speaker, what the Minister is saying is that when the general plan was submitted for approval by him and signed off several months ago that the Commissioner's land that the Town of Hay River was interested in for expansion was not identified in the general plan. Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 392-14(6): Development Of Commissioner's Land In Hay River
Question 392-14(6): Development Of Commissioner's Land In Hay River
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1266

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Minister of MACA, Mr. Steen.

Further Return To Question 392-14(6): Development Of Commissioner's Land In Hay River
Question 392-14(6): Development Of Commissioner's Land In Hay River
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Vince Steen

Vince Steen Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the land that the town wanted transferred in the general plan was identified. However, it is not specific. It is not identified in the legal form so that we could take that to the aboriginal groups and to Cabinet. It has to be identified in legal form, not just in a general plan. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 392-14(6): Development Of Commissioner's Land In Hay River
Question 392-14(6): Development Of Commissioner's Land In Hay River
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1266

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Steen. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 392-14(6): Development Of Commissioner's Land In Hay River
Question 392-14(6): Development Of Commissioner's Land In Hay River
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1266

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, what is the Minister's department prepared to do to assist the Town of Hay River to identify these lands in legal form? I heard him talking about an electronic mapping system. This would be new infrastructure for the Town of Hay River. I'm sure they have never used it or seen it. It sounds like it's something new. What is the department prepared to do to assist the Town of Hay River to realize the acquisition of this land? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 392-14(6): Development Of Commissioner's Land In Hay River
Question 392-14(6): Development Of Commissioner's Land In Hay River
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1266

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Minister of MACA, Mr. Steen.

Further Return To Question 392-14(6): Development Of Commissioner's Land In Hay River
Question 392-14(6): Development Of Commissioner's Land In Hay River
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1266

Vince Steen

Vince Steen Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it's my understanding that my lands people are working with the town at this time already to explain to them how to use this equipment and assist them in using the equipment so that the blocks of Commissioner's land that the town is requiring and requesting will be identified in legal form.

Further Return To Question 392-14(6): Development Of Commissioner's Land In Hay River
Question 392-14(6): Development Of Commissioner's Land In Hay River
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1266

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Steen. Your final supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 392-14(6): Development Of Commissioner's Land In Hay River
Question 392-14(6): Development Of Commissioner's Land In Hay River
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1266

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Minister speaks of consultation that needs to take place about the transfer of this land with the First Nations affected parties. What about the consultation that's already taken place? What about the band council resolution from the Hay River Reserve and what about the conditional support of the West Point First Nation? What was the value of that consultation that was already done and who's going to take the lead on the consultation if that was not sufficient? Thank you.