This is page numbers 863 - 898 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.

Topics

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Welcome to all those folks who have come to see their Legislative Assembly at work. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Deh Cho, Mr. McLeod.

Michael McLeod

Michael McLeod Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister of RWED a question as a follow-up to my Member's statement. Mr. Speaker, a number of my communities historically have depended on Great Slave Lake for fishing and for the last couple of years, there is a lot of concern being raised regarding fish stocks and management of the lake and the level of involvement. Mr. Speaker, I am talking about the community of Hay River Reserve, Kakisa, Fort Providence and also West Point. I would like to ask the Minister if he can tell me what role RWED plays in the management of the commercial fishery, either alone or in cooperation of the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Minister of RWED, Mr. Antoine.

Return To Question 274-14(6): Management Of Commercial Fishery On Great Slave
Question 274-14(6): Management Of Commercial Fishery On Great Slave
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The fishery on Great Slave Lake is mainly under the control of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. The Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development tries to work along with DFO to make sure that the concerns of the people in the communities are heard, and that the long-term management plan for Great Slave Lake is really the responsibility of DFO. This is the responsibility of DFO, like I said, and it's also been a concern for us in the government, through RWED. There is also a Great Slave Lake Advisory Board which provides advice on the management of the fishery to DFO. There is representation from a number of different aboriginal groups. The Akaitcho have a person on there, the Tlicho, the Northwest Metis Nation, North Slave Metis Association, also the sport fishing lodges and commercial fishing have a role in that. As for who is responsible for consultation in communities, again it's DFO who is responsible for this and we try to encourage RWED to listen to people in these communities.

Return To Question 274-14(6): Management Of Commercial Fishery On Great Slave
Question 274-14(6): Management Of Commercial Fishery On Great Slave
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. McLeod.

Supplementary To Question 274-14(6): Management Of Commercial Fishery On Great Slave
Question 274-14(6): Management Of Commercial Fishery On Great Slave
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Michael McLeod

Michael McLeod Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Minister for his answer. I would like to ask the Minister then if he could explain what this government's policy is with respect to community and First Nations consultation when it comes to issues affecting the resource management when it requires consultation for Great Slave Lake? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary To Question 274-14(6): Management Of Commercial Fishery On Great Slave
Question 274-14(6): Management Of Commercial Fishery On Great Slave
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Minister of RWED, Mr. Antoine.

Further Return To Question 274-14(6): Management Of Commercial Fishery On Great Slave
Question 274-14(6): Management Of Commercial Fishery On Great Slave
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, with regard to the policy of the Government of the Northwest Territories, our concern there through the policy is even though it's under federal jurisdiction, we want to make sure we are heard and that we participate in a lot of discussions with DFO when it comes to dealing with Great Slave Lake and the fishing that takes place. There is the Great Slave Lake Advisory Board who we work with and through. There are opportunities for representation on that board, although Kakisa and Hay River Reserve are not involved in the advisory board. They must have their own reasons why they don't want to participate, but I think it's an opportunity for them to participate in that area. Getting back to the policy regarding resource management, we want to only encourage and advise DFO to work with the communities and that has basically been our role. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 274-14(6): Management Of Commercial Fishery On Great Slave
Question 274-14(6): Management Of Commercial Fishery On Great Slave
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. McLeod.

Supplementary To Question 274-14(6): Management Of Commercial Fishery On Great Slave
Question 274-14(6): Management Of Commercial Fishery On Great Slave
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Michael McLeod

Michael McLeod Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, one of the biggest concerns right now to the communities is that there is very little opportunity for input into the quota or actual involvement for commercial fisheries. I am being told by the communities, that they have had no input for the longest time and it's run totally by an advisory council. The concern is with the fish stocks; we don't really know how stable they are. The reports that come out from DFO and RWED seem not to be very consistent. I would like to ask the Minister if he could assure us, in writing, if there is sustainability of fish stocks in Great Slave Lake for commercial fishing. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary To Question 274-14(6): Management Of Commercial Fishery On Great Slave
Question 274-14(6): Management Of Commercial Fishery On Great Slave
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Minister of RWED, Mr. Antoine.

Further Return To Question 274-14(6): Management Of Commercial Fishery On Great Slave
Question 274-14(6): Management Of Commercial Fishery On Great Slave
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yes, I will reply to the Member in writing in more detail about exactly what's been going on and the state of consultation, including the type of work that goes on in trying to determine how the fish stocks are and how sustainable the Great Slave Lake fishery is. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 274-14(6): Management Of Commercial Fishery On Great Slave
Question 274-14(6): Management Of Commercial Fishery On Great Slave
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Final supplementary, Mr. McLeod.

Supplementary To Question 274-14(6): Management Of Commercial Fishery On Great Slave
Question 274-14(6): Management Of Commercial Fishery On Great Slave
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Michael McLeod

Michael McLeod Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the area of commercial fishing, especially in the deep area, for many years now since commercial fishing has begun, we no longer can catch trout. Historically we have always been able to catch trout there. Many of the communities are pointing the finger at the advisory council's desire to have open season year round. There are no closed seasons, not even during spawning. Why isn't there protection for the fish during spawning season? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary To Question 274-14(6): Management Of Commercial Fishery On Great Slave
Question 274-14(6): Management Of Commercial Fishery On Great Slave
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Minister of RWED, Mr. Antoine.

Supplementary To Question 274-14(6): Management Of Commercial Fishery On Great Slave
Question 274-14(6): Management Of Commercial Fishery On Great Slave
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I will have to take this question as notice. I need to talk to the department about that. Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 274-14(6): Management Of Commercial Fishery On Great Slave
Question 274-14(6): Management Of Commercial Fishery On Great Slave
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. The question has been taken as notice. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, Mr. Roland.

Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question will be directed to the Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development in line with my Member's statement on the regulatory regime for work done by this government to try to look at the processes and streamline them among the regulatory agencies out there. I would like to ask the Minister where that work stands now? Is it concluded or is there further work being done in that area?

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Roland. The honourable Minister of RWED, Mr. Antoine.

Return To Question 275-14(6): Streamlining The Regulatory Process
Question 275-14(6): Streamlining The Regulatory Process
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, with regard to the Member's question about the regulatory process, we all know it's been a very complex process for any major resource development to happen in the North because of the different agencies that exist out there. The chairs of the boards and agencies responsible for looking at and assessing development in the North today, have done some work on that. They released a cooperation plan very recently. Last year, they released a cooperation plan - sorry - for the environmental impact assessment of regulatory review mainly for the northern gas pipeline. They have done some work on it and will continue to do it, but at the present time, they've come out with a plan that they hope to follow. Thank you.

Return To Question 275-14(6): Streamlining The Regulatory Process
Question 275-14(6): Streamlining The Regulatory Process
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Roland.

Supplementary To Question 275-14(6): Streamlining The Regulatory Process
Question 275-14(6): Streamlining The Regulatory Process
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister inform us if there is further work going on? A plan has been put out, but has the department had a look at that? Has this government looked at that and responded to it? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 275-14(6): Streamlining The Regulatory Process
Question 275-14(6): Streamlining The Regulatory Process
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Roland. The honourable Minister of RWED, Mr. Antoine.

Further Return To Question 275-14(6): Streamlining The Regulatory Process
Question 275-14(6): Streamlining The Regulatory Process
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Yes, Mr. Speaker. There are three agreements that they had hoped to have completed as a result of this cooperation plan. One of them is between the Inuvialuit and the federal Minister of Environment. I understand that agreement has been completed and there is an agreement that's still being worked on with regard to the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board, the Inuvialuit and the federal Ministry of the Environment. Furthermore, they are trying to get an agreement on the regulatory agencies with public hearing functions and other regulations with permitting responsibilities for the project. So this is another complicated area that they have been working on and I understand they are nearing completion in that area.

Further Return To Question 275-14(6): Streamlining The Regulatory Process
Question 275-14(6): Streamlining The Regulatory Process
Item 6: Oral Questions

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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Roland.