Mahsi. Members’ statements. Member for Nunakput.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to commend Mr. Moses on the function today, on anti-bullying. Today I'll talk about the Northwest Territories fur industry. Furs marketed under the Government of Northwest Territories Genuine Mackenzie Valley Fur Program fur label have shown strong returns to NWT trappers over the last three years. Northwest Territories wolverine, Arctic, cross and red fox furs have sold out at international auctions. At the most recent season opening sale of wild fur held in North Bay, Ontario, 93 and 96 per cent of Arctic fox and black bear furs were sold. Wolf pelts received the highest bids with an average of $353.90 per pelt, and a top price of $661.51. Wolverines averaged $311.35 per pelt, and a top price of $432. The government's Genuine Mackenzie Valley Fur Program provides one-window access to international markets for NWT trappers, and marketing and promotion of fur at international venues through the partnerships with other harvesting jurisdictions and private sector. More than $460,000 has been paid out in the form of advances to NWT trappers under the Genuine Mackenzie Valley Fur Program this season. Access to the Genuine Mackenzie Valley Fur Program fur label, which guarantees buyers a single source of quality, authentic NWT-harvested fur, benefits hunters and trappers across the North. The government estimates that 10,000 pelts have been delivered to auction by NWT trappers since November 1, 2015. On top, overall prices continue to be realized at auction for NWT mink, lynx, wolf, Arctic fox and red fox. The Genuine Mackenzie Valley Fur Program offers support under five sub-programs. The Fur Price Program provides production against sudden and unanticipated declines in market prices and pays all associated costs of selling furs at auction, including shipping and drumming. The Guaranteed Fur Advance provides trappers with fully-guaranteed interim funds to continue trapping while still awaiting the sale of furs at auction. The Trapper's Grubstake provides eligible trappers with funds to defray a portion of their start-up costs at the beginning of each trapping season. The Prime Fur Bonus Program provides funds based on…

Member for Nunakput, your time for Members’ statements has expired.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

Thank

you, Mr. Speaker. Going back to the Prime Fur Bonus Program, it provides funds based on successful market performance and provides an incentive to deliver high quality, well-handled fur pelts for sale. A Prime Fur Bonus is paid when the value of a fur sold at auction meets or exceeds the value of the advance. Lastly, the Hide and Fur Procurement Program supports traditional crafts, provides local artisans prime NWT harvested hides to produce high-quality traditional furs. The Genuine Mackenzie Valley Fur Program continues to provide an income for the world-renowned hunters and trappers across the Northwest Territories. At this time, I commend every hunter for their efforts displayed in our culture, which today is the best in the world. Today I'll have questions for the Minister of ITI. Thank you.

Mahsi. Members’ statements. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Marsi cho. Today I would like to talk about some unfortunate government spending which is 100 per cent preventable, but we are all humans and most likely, there will always be crime and incarcerations. Thank you. The cost of our corrections services is about $39.5 million per year. At any given time, the correction facilities are housing about 200 adult offenders. The daily cost of one person incarcerated in corrections is $252 per day, and that was a number from about six or seven years ago. My guess is that it has gone up considerably and it's around $100,000 per year per person. It is estimated that 85 per cent of the crimes in NWT are alcohol- and drug-related. In addition, Mr. Speaker, 90 per cent of inmates have additional issues. These issues include mental health problems, anger management issues, physical and behavioural limitations, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and other cognitive disorders, and low literacy and education levels. According to the Auditor General in 2015, most of the inmate population in NWT is Aboriginal. Eighteen per cent of the federally incarcerated population is Aboriginal, but only 2.8 per cent of the population in Canada is Aboriginal. All this tells me that work must be done to change the numbers and to turn individuals that are repeat offenders into productive members of society, as opposed to people who do not have the tools to stay out of jail.

Mahsi. Members’ statements. Member for Hay River North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As part of the New Building Canada Fund, the GNWT and the federal government have committed $292 million to highway improvement projects in the NWT over the next eight years. As far as I can tell, none of that money has yet been allocated for any improvements to the Mackenzie Highway from the border to Kilometre 186. Almost every day, I stand up here and talk about a vital component that we need to build our economy. Today is no different. If we're serious about diversifying and growing our economy, we need to make improvements to our primary corridor to the south. Anyone who has driven that stretch of road, particularly from the border to Enterprise, knows that while the road is relatively well maintained, it is in most places as narrow as a highway can possibly be, ending at the white lines, literally having no shoulders.

Yesterday, the Premier talked about expanding our tourism industry. South of the lake, our tourists don't fly in from overseas. They generally drive in from down south, usually with large RVs or fifth wheels. When you cross the NWT–Alberta border, you immediately notice the difference in the quality of the highways. We want to give tourists a great first impression, and they need to feel as though they are safe on our highways. We must also improve the highway to accommodate and attract industry to the North. The road to Fort McMurray has wide shoulders and is a high-load corridor, making it easier and safer to transport large equipment. We don't necessarily need to prepare for a McMurray-like boom, but we might was well dream big. Most equipment from mining, oil, and gas operations also comes up that highway, and there is a good chance we will see an increase in logging trucks as well. We need to be prepared for the increase of transport trucks on the highway and make sure it's safe for everyone, and we need to make sure we have the infrastructure to attract and accommodate industry. I’ll have questions for the Minister of Transportation during question time.

Mahsi. Members’ statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Item 6, acknowledgements. Item 7, oral questions. Member for Deh Cho.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources. Can the Minister explain what is included in Community Wildfire Protection Plans, and why it is so important for community members to participate in updating these plans? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi. Minister of Environment and Natural Resources.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Environment and Natural Resources has a program called FireSmart adopted in the Northwest Territories with risk management strategies, and it includes in these mitigating wildfire threats according to the following seven disciplines: fuel management, education, legislation, development, planning, and training. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I would like to thank the Minister for his very terse and brief reply.

---Laughter

The people of Enterprise are particularly concerned about the forest fire protection for their community. I understand that communities forecasted to have the highest impact from wildfires are given the highest priority. When will the Community Wildfire Protection Plan for Enterprise be updated?

ENR will be reviewing these plans coming beginning this April. Risk assessment and fieldwork will commence thereafter. The new plans will be redeveloped and based on existing plans and new data inputs. All plans will be completed by Environment and Natural Resources, and assistance of the affected communities and other departments will begin thereafter with the GNWT.

How does the Environment and Natural Resources department plan to engage the public in information and planning sessions for wildfire protection plans and other forest fire preparedness activities?

Environment and Natural Resources will assist in developing the project proposals for limited hazards and risk mitigation work for non-critical communities and areas, including the allocation of limited financial support depending on community priorities and available-to-ENR resources. We also do reach out to the general public and communities through our website and the

nwtfire.com Facebook page

Mahsi. Member for Deh Cho.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. What is Environment and Natural Resources doing to help the people, the Deh Cho, and the Northwest Territories FireSmart their homes and cabins for the coming season? Mahsi.

As I previously said, we will be updating our plan in April 2016 of this year and we will be talking to all communities and people in the Northwest Territories.

Mahsi. Oral questions. Member for Hay River North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to direct my question to the Minister of Transportation and ask: Why is Highway No. 1 from the border to Enterprise not on any of the existing and proposed Building Canada bundles?

Mahsi. Minister of Transportation.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Department of Transportation undertakes long-term functional planning to determine how to gain the best value of limited resources. Highway reconstruction requirements are also prioritized to ensure that highways are safe for the travelling public. When drafting the proposals for bundle one, the priority scope and work plan for Highway No. 1 was from Kilometres 187 to 690 and was based on functional planning outcomes. Priority will be given to the sections of the deteriorating highway between Kilometres 207 and 230, and between Kilometres 375 and 395, to address critical needs and ensure public safety. At present, no major improvement work is scheduled between Enterprise and the Alberta border. Reconstruction and widening work between the Kilometre 15 and Kilometre 18 was completed in 2013 under the previous Building Canada Plan. The department continues to deliver regular maintenance as required on that section of highway, and Highway No. 1 between Enterprise and Alberta is paved. The department will provide additional investment in the highway as rehabilitation requirements arise.

It's good to hear we got work on those three kilometres.

---Laughter

Is there anything else that might be included in bundles one or two that would include any work or benefit to Highway No. 1 at all?