This is page numbers 1859 – 1898 of the Hansard for the 17th Assembly, 4th 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 work.

Topics

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

We have one of the best deals on a per capita basis when you compare us to any other jurisdiction, with the possible exception of Nunavut, for how much we get from our relationship either through equalization or Territorial Formal Financing with any other jurisdiction in the country. We have a budget of $1.6 billion for 43,000 people. So we have a budget of $1.6 billion for 43,000 people.

I know we have a huge list of demands that outstrips the resources available. But we get well over $20,000 per person in this territory. So what we’re going to do is manage our finances.

We have one of the best run jurisdictions in the country. We are going to sign the Devolution Agreement. We are going to have resources flowing into the territory, both to us, the territorial government, and to the Aboriginal governments. We are going to take over the levers of control of resource development, land and water management and we’re going to do a better job than the federal government has ever done for us once we do that. If we look at the business plans and the priorities of this Assembly, I think the answers to Mr. Dolynny’s questions are clearly self-evident in the work and the direction this Assembly has set. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Colleagues, I’m going to call a 10-minute break.

---SHORT RECESS

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, colleagues. Mr. Yakeleya.

Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of ENR. I want to ask the Minister with regard to the recent news about Enbridge contaminated soil along the Mackenzie pipeline. Is the Minister aware about the incident and whether there’s further actions to check the integrity of the pipeline right from Norman Wells to the border of the Northwest Territories, if there are starting to be spots along the pipeline with contaminated soil. What is the Minister doing to ensure the whole line is being checked thoroughly?

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, Mr. Miltenberger.

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Minister of Environment and Natural Resources

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As with other similar instances, we are having our staff work with federal folks that are responsible and we’re encouraging, of course, Enbridge to do a thorough review and all the repairs necessary and not just wait for things to happen. Thank you.

Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

Is the Minister also checking on the land that is affected around the pipeline route to ensure the integrity of the environment is in place and Enbridge Pipelines is going to assure the people of the Northwest Territories that there are no more cracks and leaks along this 30-year-old pipeline?

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Minister of Environment and Natural Resources

We are working with all the appropriate authorities to ensure that those issues, as outlined by the Member, are being addressed. Thank you.

Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

This recent discovery of contaminated soil on the Enbridge pipeline, I am not sure if it was done accidentally or because of

the work that Enbridge is doing. Can the Minister inform me and the people along the route of this pipeline that the integrity of this pipeline is safe and that Enbridge will do all it can to assure the people that there isn’t going to be any more sudden surprises of contaminated soil or possible leaks in the line?

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Minister of Environment and Natural Resources

Mr. Speaker, Enbridge is a good corporate citizen. They’ve had their challenges with the aging pipeline. They are taking the steps necessary to protect the interest of Northerners and protect the pipeline route. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

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

Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Enbridge Pipelines Corporation is up for debate on the views of different people who deal with Enbridge. With regard to the contaminated soil that was found on the pipeline route, will the Enbridge Corporation come to this government to assure our people, through some type of meeting, that the line is safe and the integrity is there with the pipeline?

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Minister of Environment and Natural Resources

I would like to thank the Member for the questions. This type of situation triggers a very comprehensive response. The Member is well aware of some of the other challenges we’ve had with leaks, not only in the Northwest Territories but just south of the border.

I believe that the regulatory process that is in place right now is adequate enough. We know, through history, that Enbridge wants to make sure that things run well, as well. It’s bad for the corporate image, it’s bad for the environment, it’s bad in every sense of the word when we have circumstances that have happened, as the Member has been outlining. We have to be careful. We have to follow due process. We have to bring in the involved regulatory bodies. We have people on the ground as well. We’re going to work with community people and we want to make sure we identify where the contaminated soil came from, how it came to be there, was it an accident and what kind of circumstances led to that. We’re going to do all the steps in a careful, measured way to work with Enbridge, to work with Norman Wells and the folks along the pipeline route to ensure that the integrity of the pipeline is secure, and that in the days going forward that we’re able to speak with considerable comfort and assurance. I don’t need to reassure the Members of this House, but to make sure that we can have this and say the same things to the people of the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Item 9, written questions.

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek your consent to return to recognition of visitors in the gallery, item 6 on the Order Paper. Thank you.

---Unanimous consent granted

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery (Revision)
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery (Reversion)

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

Mr. Speaker, I’d like to recognize my lovely wife, Marianne Bromley, who is in the gallery today sitting beside my very faithful constituency assistant, Craig Yeo. Both are residents of Weledeh. Also, sitting behind them is Amanda Mallon, a resident of Weledeh. I believe there are some folks from the Dene Nation here: Camilla Zoe-Chocolate and her niece Lisa were here earlier. I think they’re still in the audience there. I can’t see anybody else behind me, but thanks for that opportunity. I appreciate their presence.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery (Revision)
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery (Reversion)

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Item 10, returns to written questions. Item 11, replies to opening address. Item 12, replies to the budget address, day six of seven. Item 13, petitions. Item 14, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 15, tabling of documents. Mr. Bromley.

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to table two documents today. The first one is from the students at Aurora College in the Business Administration Program, with a cover letter from Kari Williams, vice-president, Aurora College Business Administration Student Association, directed to Aurora College with an attached petition for extending the program to three years.

The second one is the Dene Nation support on federal changes to the environment motion that was issued on February 13th . Mahsi.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Mr. Lafferty.

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document, entitled Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission 2011 Annual Report. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Premier, Mr. McLeod.

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Premier

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document, entitled NWT Days Media Activity Report. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Item 16, notices of motion. Item 17, notices of motion for first reading of bills.

Bill 2: An Act To Amend The Territorial Parks Act
Notices of Motion for First Reading of Bills

David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Monday, February 18, 2013, I will move that Bill 2, An Act to Amend the Territorial Parks Act, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Bill 2: An Act To Amend The Territorial Parks Act
Notices of Motion for First Reading of Bills

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay, Item 18, motions. Mr. Yakeleya.