Debates of March 1st, 2017

This is page numbers 2075 - 2114 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 work.

Topics

Oral Questions

Members Present

Prayer

Yellowknife Airport Evolution

Progress Statement - Education and Training

Canada's Outstanding Principals: Education, Culture and Employment Milestone Statement

Commitment to Action on Climate Change

Protection of the Bathurst Caribou Herd

Dead North Film Festival

Proposed Carbon Pricing Charette

Impacts of Climate Change on Transportation Systems in the Sahtu

Northern Carbon Pricing Regime

Deh Cho Boreal Caribou Study

Member's Statement on Inuvialuit Water Board

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Inuvialuit Water Board

Inclusive Schooling Funding

Northern Carbon Pricing Regime

Proposed Carbon Pricing Charette

Industrial Activity Green House Gas Emissions

Protection of the Bathurst Caribou Herd

Notification of Northern Carbon Pricing

Proposed Carbon Pricing Charette

Tabled Document 307-18(2): Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Committee Report 4-18(2): Report on the Review of the 2014-15 Public Accounts Tabled Document 308-18(2): Follow-Up Letter for Oral Question 505-18(2): PeopleSoft Public Service Human Resource Reports Tabled Document 309-18(2): Follow-Up Letter for Oral Question 606-18(2): Status of Transboundary Water Management Agreements

Tabled Document 310-18(2): We Can Do Better: Housing in Inuit Nunagut Report of the Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples, Senate of Canada, March 2017

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Tabled Document 261-18(2): Main Estimates 2017-2018, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Deferral of Corporate Management Activity

Tabled Document 261-18(2): Main Estimates 2017-2018, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Deferral of Environment Activity

Tabled Document 261-18(2): Main Estimates 2017-2018, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Deferral of Water Resources Activity

Tabled Document 261-18(2): Main Estimates 2017-2018, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Deferral of Further Consideration of the Estimates for Environment and Natural Resources

Report Of Committee Of The Whole

Orders Of The Day

Committee Motion 70-18(2): Tabled Document 261-18(2): Main Estimates 2017-2018, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Deferral of Corporate Management Activity, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 2100

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister McLeod. Mr. Thompson.

Page 2100

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I thank the Minister for that. Could the Minister advise where we find this other position? Is it in another department or division within this department? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Page 2100

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister McLeod.

Page 2100

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, it's a water resource officer that's within the region that is able to provide the same services. Thank you.

Page 2100

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister McLeod. Mr. Thompson.

Page 2100

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I thank the Minister for his answer. I'm a little concerned, though, how the reduction of this position seems to be able to be filled by another position within the department. Does the reduction of this position meet the mandate as set out by this government? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Page 2100

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Dr. Kelly.

Page 2100

Dr. Kelly

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We have water resource officers that are regionally- based positions. They work closely and are cross-appointed with Lands officers as well. Since devolution, the water resource officers have also been cross-appointed and we are working towards cross-appointing them in all of the regions to be environmental protection officers, wildlife officers, forest management officers, and recreational fisheries officers. For compliance, there will be officers there who are able to do multiple tasks. There are other regions where there are not environmental protection officers any longer because some of the other positions have been able to take on those responsibilities within those regions. It's our understanding that that can happen in the Deh Cho as well and that is why the reduction has occurred in that region. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Page 2100

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Dr. Kelly. Mr. Thompson.

Page 2100

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I thank Dr. Kelly for her answer. Again, if I look at the numbers, if you go to page 81, there seems to be more positions in the water resource management area than there is into this environmental area. Some regions have three positions, and they already have one in there. Was this part of the functional review that the department did when they decided to remove this position? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Page 2100

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Dr. Kelly.

Page 2100

Dr. Kelly

We have looked at ways across all regions to promote efficiency and effectiveness. That's one of the reasons that we've been doing the cross-appointments but also workload. In some regions, the environmental protection officer has not been required because others can do those duties. It's our understanding that that is the case in the Deh Cho region and that is why this position has been reduced. Thank you Mr. Chair.

Page 2100

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Dr. Kelly. Mr. Thompson.

Page 2101

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I thank Dr. Kelly for her answer. I'm just struggling with this whole process that there seems to be redundancies they say in the Deh Cho but in some of the other regions, there's more positions in there. I'm looking at one region where there are four positions combining these two or we'll have one. I'm struggling with how this works because you talked about water resources is that area. I'm looking at that page and this page here. There seems to be a large number in certain areas. That is a big concern for me.

It also really pushes my concern that it seems to be the smaller communities that are suffering these reductions here. I'm really, really concerned about that. It goes against what I feel is in the mandate and it also goes against the introduction that talks about the environment in our region. The environment is very important. It is very important for the DFN, and very important for the First Nations and for all municipal governments. By removing this position, it seems to be hindering this. Again, I don't understand the logic to it if the environment is this important and we're reducing it to only one position. It really doesn't say much for the Deh Cho. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Page 2101

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister McLeod.

Page 2101

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I can understand and I take the Member's point of his concern for the elimination of this position. However, the department is content enough that the water resource person that's in the region has the ability to do the same function. In Fort Smith, the position was vacant and the person has been eliminated. The North Slave position was also eliminated. The department is very confident that we have the capacity within our existing people in the regions to perform the same function. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Page 2101

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister McLeod. Mr. Thompson.

Page 2101

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

I have nothing further. I have kind of spoken my piece and the Minister unfortunately has a difference of opinion than I do. Very empowering or not, they get to make the final decision. Like I said, I respect his opinion and I understand where he's coming from, but he also has to understand where I'm coming from. I cannot accept this. Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

Page 2101

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Next we have Mr. Testart.

Page 2101

Kieron Testart Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just want to touch briefly on the science agenda and climate change efforts of the department. In my opening comments, I spoke about the excellent work that ENR has done, developing expertise and gathering knowledge on climate change. I wonder if the Minister can explain the relationship of any we have with the Natural Sciences and Engineer Council of Canada in regards to expanding our knowledge on climate change and being of assistance to developing this body of knowledge across Canada. Thank you.

Page 2101

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. Testart. Minister McLeod.

Page 2101

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

I'll defer to Dr. Kelly.

Page 2101

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister McLeod. Dr. Kelly.

Page 2101

Dr. Kelly

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The department has ongoing research relationships with faculty at several universities across Canada. Many of those studies are related to climate change specifically or indirectly through work we do on wildlife or forest management or water resources. Our relationship with NSERC, with the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, is generally through partnerships with academic institutions. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Page 2101

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Dr. Kelly. Mr. Testart.

Debates of March 1st, 2017

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