Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Before my questions, just in the event of support and a small glimmer of hope, today I wear my Canada Winter Games pin here, just so we know.

---Laughter

Mr. Speaker, through you, my questions today are for the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources. During campaigning, many residents raised the issue of the Thaidene Nene National Park. While most were supportive of this development, some were confused with the overall structure of the park. From what I have learned recently, part of the area will be a national park under federal control, with others being under territorial control. I'm wondering if the Minister can give us a little more detail on what is planned for this important and beautiful area of the NWT? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi. Minister of Environment and Natural Resources.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to thank the Member for the question. The Member is right: This is an important and extremely beautiful part of the Northwest Territories, truly an area worth protecting for the current and future generations of people of the Northwest Territories and Canada. The GNWT has worked collaboratively towards that goal of protection with Aboriginal governments, Parks Canada, and other stakeholders. Our aim was to develop the made-in-the-NWT solution that gave us the exposure and investment associated with the federal and national park, while at the same time allowing us to use our legislative and regulatory instruments, policies and strategies, et cetera -- for example, northern tools -- to achieve northern land management objectives. The concept of northern tools is not new. It comes from Land Use Sustainability Framework finalized during the 17th Assembly. That document outlined a vision for land use in the NWT, and I would invite all Members to review this important and well-crafted document. We’ve come a long way in a short time on our first rollout of northern tools, but much work remains. I will be looking for the support of the Assembly to continue that work and to help realize our goal in protecting this important area.

I thank the Minister for his reply. I have heard from numerous constituents that they are concerned about accessing the area after a park is created. Can the Minister provide us some details around access issues? I'm thinking specifically about whether there will be a fee for residents to access either federally or territorially controlled areas and/or if there will be other restrictions placed on residents entering the area once the park is created.

There may very be well a nominal fee for park access, but we are in the early days on this issue. I can say that we intend to work with Parks Canada to ensure that the experience for park users is seamless, so that people can move between the territorial and federal portions without really knowing that they are doing so.

We often say that the North is unique, and that is true in many respects, Mr. Speaker. For example, parks in the north are large, open and undisturbed areas where wildlife roams free in their natural habitat. As a result of our uniqueness, some of the rules used in national parks may not be appropriate for the NWT. Has that been taken into consideration by the department as this initiative has advanced and, if so, can the Minister elaborate?

Absolutely. These items have been and will continue to be taken into account as we move forward. A good example of this is we use the firearms for personal protection. We need to make sure we consider our unique northern context when we approach such issues. Our northern tools approach offers us that flexibility. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and

lastly, I asked earlier about what limitations this new park might have on residents. I'm wondering if the Minister can expand on his response and provide more detail on what limitations, if any, this new park will have on industry.

I want to be clear, there will be areas where industrial activities will not be permitted within the park. Our research, however, has helped to ensure that areas of high mineral potential have been excluded and it will allow some industrial activities to take place. This too is part of the balance approach offered by northern tools. Beyond this the possibility, more importantly, the creation of this area also allows us to diversify the economy by opening up an entirely new industry, the conservation economy, with focus on tourism and recreational activities.

Mahsi. Oral questions. Member for Nunakput.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. Shoreline erosion has been affecting the community of Tuktoyaktuk for some time. Mr. Speaker, my question is how long has the department been aware of this issue? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi. The Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Hamlet of Tuktoyaktuk completed a shoreline protection study in 1994 and they said at the time that their preferred recommendation was to relocate infrastructure currently on the peninsula. From 2007 to 2015, the Hamlet has had a shoreline erosion project on their capital plan. However, I understand in the 2016 capital plan they've removed the use of CPI funding for this and instead are seeking to try to obtain some federal funding or other forms of funding to help deal with the issue. Thank you.

My second question is what options are available to the Hamlet of Tuktoyaktuk to help them address the issues of shoreline erosion?

Community governments have the authority and the control to make decisions about infrastructure in their community. The Hamlet of Tuktoyaktuk is responsible for developing and implementing a multi-year capital development plan on how to fund capital projects. Through the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, we provide regular support to communities should they seek our advice on some of the projects that they have in mind.

In April 2015, Public Safety Canada launched the National Disaster Mitigation Program, and it does offer some cost sharing, funding, to support national disaster mitigation projects. We would have to work with them to see if this particular project falls under that program, and what the funding sources and funding levels are like. Like many of the programs with the federal government, there's a cost-sharing component to it, so we would have to work with the community of Tuktoyaktuk and the federal government to identify different types of funding that might be available to the community should they decide to pursue this.

Mahsi. Oral questions. Member for Nunakput.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, what other types of funding and support from the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs are available to support Tuktoyaktuk if they want to address shoreline erosion? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I spoke briefly to the National Disaster Mitigation Plan. Again, we will explore the options there. The Hamlet also receives $899,000 annually in funding through the Community Public Infrastructure Program from the department. As well, a project dealing with shoreline erosion would be considered eligible for one-time funding in the amount of $789,000 through the Building Canada Small Communities Fund. The hamlet has chosen to utilize its funding on another project in the community. Again, the support that they would get from the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs is that we'd be pleased to go in there at the community's request, work with them on planning for this and identifying any types of funding that are out there. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi. Oral questions. Member for Mackenzie Delta.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have a follow up to my Member's statement. I have questions for the Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation. I'd like to ask the Minister: How was the location for this new facility in Fort McPherson selected and was the community involved?

Mahsi. The Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation, Ms. Cochrane.