Debates of June 8th, 2016

This is page numbers 455-492 of the Hansard for the 18th Assembly, 2nd 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 communities.

Topics

Oral Questions

Prayer

Minister’s Statements 41-18(2): Energy Initiatives Of Public Works And Services

Minister’s Statement 42-18(2): Update On The Northwest Territories Power Corporation

Minister’s Statement 43-18(2): Northwest Territories Climate Change Strategic Framework

Minister’s Statement 44-18(2): Development Of The NWT Energy Plan

Need For Suitable, Adequate And Affordable Housing

Impact Of Migration On Homelessness In Yellowknife

Community Housing Development Plans

Addressing The Need For Affordable Rental Units

Self-Government Initiatives In The Sahtu

Employment Opportunities Relating To Housing Construction

Territorial Housing Issues

Economic Solutions To Reduce Need For Subsidized Housing

Ulukhaktok Arena Closure

Congratulations To Echo Dene School Graduates

Midwifery Services In The Northwest Territories

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Construction Schedule For Charles Tetcho School In Trout Lake

Northwest Territories Housing Corporation Communications Strategy

Improvements To Housing Corporation

Supporting Housing First Clients

Implementing The Deline Community Self-Government Agreement

Reducing The Need For Emergency Shelter Services

Costs Associated With Modular Homes

Midwifery Services

Responsibilities Associated With First Nations Housing

Ulukhaktok Arena Remediation

Replies to Budget Address

Tabled Document 56-18(2): Report Of The Northwest Territories Judicial Remuneration Commission 2016

Tabled Document 57-18(2): Northwest Territories State Of The Environment Report Highlights 2016

Tabled Document 58-18(2): North Slave Resiliency Study Final Report

Consideration in Committee of the Whole on Bills and Other Matters

Motion 30‑18(2): Tabled Document 50‑18(2) Main Estimates 2016‑2017 Environment And Natural Resources, Corporate Management Operations Expenditures (Pg. 87) Reinstatement Of Funding For Public Education Coordinator In Field Support Unit

Report of Committee of the Whole

Orders of the Day

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Campbell. Mr. McNeely.

Daniel McNeely Sahtu

I'll ask again, which program is designated for firebreaks?

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Mr. Campbell.

Campbell

Thank you, Mr. Chair. If you want to go to program level, sorry, I misunderstood the question, in forest management division it will be the fire suppression program. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Campbell. Mr. McNeely, are you good?

Daniel McNeely Sahtu

Yes.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

All right. Comments and questions for page 96. Mr. Thompson again.

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Sorry. Just to clarify. It's in another section for firebreaks around the community? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Mr. Campbell.

Campbell

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, we have a number of programs in forest management division similar to other activities. For example, we have the suppression program, the pre-suppression. Pre-suppression is in preparation of fire events. So yes, that's the program. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Campbell. Mr. Thompson.

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So is this wildfire risk management plan, is that what we're talking about here, or is there another section within this department? Thank you.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Mr. Campbell.

Campbell

Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. Under page 95 under the programs, under forest management division there, yes, it would fall under the program management pre-suppression, that program, the Community Wildland Fire Protection Plans.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Campbell. Maybe we can discuss that when we turn back to page 95.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Would that be acceptable Mr. Thompson. Anything further on page 96? Nothing further? No? Mr. Nadli.

Michael Nadli Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just want to get a status report. I know we're on the cusp of enhancing the biomass industry by establishing an industry activity in the South Slave area. I just wanted to see if the Minister could provide us an update in terms of the progress towards establishing a wood pellet plant, in terms of his role in assisting communities to advance that proposed business initiative and how communities have been involved this far. Mahsi.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Nadli. Mr. Schumann. Or sorry, Mr. Campbell.

Campbell

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The forest industry initiative is at a point right now where we do have the forest management agreements in place with those communities. There's a number of steps there as well. At this point the community of Fort Providence, that business entity has a number of things in place. They've done a lot of the forest planning work to date. They've secured their land use permit. The proponents themselves have secured the land tenure for the site for the pellet plant and ENR is working with the community in attempting to assist the community and the proponent to reaching the establishment of a

fibre

agreement. Once the

fibre

agreement is in place then the other plans kick in, such as the harvesting, et cetera. We are planning on going into that community within the next two weeks to follow up at their request to meet with us. Again, the intent there is to continue to try to advance this file so that we end up in agreement between the community entity and the pellet mill operator there to come to that agreement with the fibre agreement. That's where it's currently at. Again, we're hoping that in the next short while there that these fibre agreements with not just Fort Providence, but with Fort Resolution here can be resolved. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Campbell. Mr. McNeely. Or sorry, Mr. Nadli.

Michael Nadli Deh Cho

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, thank you. I'd like to thank the deputy for providing an update. I know some communities have done some inventory analysis in terms of the potential for forest products within their territory, and whether the forest fires from the past two years have negated or significantly impacted their inventory in terms of, you know, working with the proponent and the community and whether that's become a factor or not. Thank you.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Nadli. Mr. Campbell.

Campbell

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Over the last few seasons, we've had quite severe fire seasons and it's burned a lot of the landscape. There has been impact to some of our inventoried areas. We have approximately one-sixth of our total forested landscape in the Northwest Territories inventoried, so yes, some of the fires impacted those inventories. For these two particular initiatives with the community of Fort Resolution and Fort Providence, those areas identified with the Forest Management Agreement so have not been impacted by forest fires. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Campbell. Mr. Nadli.

Michael Nadli Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just maybe my final point or question is what's next in terms of the department working along with the communities and the proponent to ensure that, you know, there's a timeliness and at the same time successful stage in terms of ensuring the reality of the wood pellet plant being in operation? Mahsi.

Debates of June 8th, 2016

Topics

Help us improve OpenNWT