This is page numbers 39 - 64 of the Hansard for the 16th Assembly, 1st 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 agreement.

Topics

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Thank you for your question. Mr. Yakeleya.

Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Minister of Transportation

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the concession agreement is still not finalized, so we are unable to have any type of discussion in terms of public relations. Mr. Speaker, there are many factors involved in this complex agreement with the many parties involved. Until we have the discussions, the Deh Cho Bridge Corporation and our government here, in terms of how we’re going to release that document, I am going to say that it’s confidential right now and there are other factors that need to be considered before I have any further discussion with any type of advancement of the concession agreement.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’m not a lawyer, but it would seem to me the first question that I would ask is why would a government sign a document with 12 outstanding issues? That’s foolhardy, Mr. Speaker. That’s why I think we need a public inquiry as to why that concession agreement was signed on the

28th of September. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the

Minister commit to a public inquiry? Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Yakeleya.

Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Minister of Transportation

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the concession agreement still needs to be finalized. Mr. Speaker, this department is still confident that this bridge is a good project and that this deal will be good for the Northwest Territories. I will still hold to our process with the Deh Cho Bridge Corporation in terms of finalizing the concession agreement before it can get released to the public. Again, I say, there are many factors involved in putting a complex project like this together and I will do so when I have the confidence of the Deh Cho Bridge Corporation to release the concession agreement.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Oral questions. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.

Kevin A. Menicoche

Kevin A. Menicoche Nahendeh

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I just want to follow up on my Member’s statement to the Minister of ENR. Like I mentioned in my Member’s statement, the buffalo issue in the community of Fort Liard, they’ve been trying to address it for some time now. I’d just like to ask the Minister, is he aware of any current or existing meetings or initiatives to address the buffalo issue in Fort Liard?

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The honourable Minister responsible for Environment and Natural Resources, Mr. Miltenberger.

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I understand that the department has indicated to me that they are working on the paperwork to increase the number of tags for Liard from one to six so that we can, if necessary, have animals taken down. DOT has indicated that they are looking at putting a heavy-duty fence around the airport to keep the animals out. As well, we’re working with ENR on a pilot basis with some electrified fencing to see if that will work. We are still committed, although it is late, in coming up with a broader plan that’s going to allow us to address this issue where it exists not only in Liard, in the Member’s constituency, but other areas as well. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger.

Supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Kevin A. Menicoche

Kevin A. Menicoche Nahendeh

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I know that the word bison management plan has been used before and the Minister didn’t really refer to that in his answer. Is there going to be a specific bison management plan for and around the community of Fort Liard?

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. Miltenberger.

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, that is the intention. The intention was to have it completed, as the Member indicated in his Member’s statement, by this fall. That timeline has now been advanced to winter. I will keep the Member fully apprised as we get a draft of that done that can be shared with him. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger.

Supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Kevin A. Menicoche

Kevin A. Menicoche Nahendeh

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Does this plan also include meeting with the community and/or having public meetings in the community? Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. Miltenberger.

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the community will be consulted both in the evolution and development and completion of this plan, but, as well, as we move to go from one tag to six, there’s also a consultation component required there to be worked through with the community and that will take place, as well. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Final supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Kevin A. Menicoche

Kevin A. Menicoche Nahendeh

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I would just like to…If the Minister can commit to advertising the meeting well in advance. There was a previous meeting last year but it wasn’t well attended because of last-minute notices. If they can plan the meeting much more in advance, Mr. Speaker. Thanks.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. Miltenberger.

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I acknowledge the Member’s good advice and will commit to make sure that the meetings are advertised with enough advance notice so that people have every opportunity to attend. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Oral questions. The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Jacobson.

Jackie Jacobson

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the question that I have is for the Minister of Justice for the community of Sachs Harbour. Can I have an update on the timeline of the arrival of the RCMP in the community? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Jacobson. The honourable Minister responsible for Justice, Mr. Lafferty.