Thank you, Dr. Dragon. Mr. O'Reilly.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Before anybody tries to say that I do not think people are doing their job, that is not the case. These folks have to work very hard. The Minister knows that. He is even laughing when I am saying this because he is probably going to come back on me about it. Those guys have very difficult jobs because they have to deal with members of the public, members of industry, who do not always understand what they are trying to do. I guess, is it fair to say that the water inspectors have a different kind of training and perhaps even a higher level of training and responsibilities under the water licences than, say, the Lands inspectors do for the lands department? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Dr. Dragon.

Thank you, Dr. Dragon. Mr. O'Reilly.

[Microphone turned off] I think the deputy minister has confirmed my point there, that the water resource management officers do have a higher level of training than the Lands guys. That is not to say that the Lands guys are not important. They do their own thing. In any event, can I get a commitment out of the Minister that he will look at this issue of where the inspectors are parked and do their jobs, and they do it well, about maybe getting some efficiencies by reorganizing some of that and bringing the Lands folks into ENR? Can the Minister commit to come to committee with some ideas and options on this? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, as the deputy said before in response to your earlier questions, we haven't had the conversations at an officials' level. We haven't had it at a political yet. If they're looking at some different options, I'm sure they will bring them forward. The Member's quick question was: will I commit to bring this information to committee if they request it? I would be glad to do that. Let's gather some information, and then we will present to committee, and then we'll see the kind of feedback we get from committee. There's an opportunity that we still have a number of business plans coming up in the fall, so there will be opportunities there. I will provide some information. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister McLeod. Any further questions, committee? Seeing none, I will call the page. Water resources, operations expenditure summary, $11,450,000. Does committee agree?

Thank you. That takes us next to wildlife. Operations expenditure summary. $14,389,000. Committee, that's from pages 89 to 92. Any questions? Mr. Vanthuyne.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. This is an area I need to learn a little bit more about, and I recognize that the department is doing significant work as it relates to monitoring our caribou in the territory, and also recognizing the significance and the importance of our caribou herds and making sure they are protected. Also, as a government, we're making a commitment to some significant infrastructure as it relates to roadways that we're proposing. I spoke today in the House about the road into the Slave Geological Province. Of course, caribou migratory patterns and calving grounds are a significant concern when it comes to these types of discussions. Maybe if the department can explain to us a little bit about the work that they're doing with regard to caribou monitoring, but especially as it relates to these proposed infrastructure projects that we are proposing? Are we working with our other departments with regard to what effects a road might have on our caribou herds and our caribou calving grounds? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Vanthuyne. Dr. Dragon.

Thank you, Mr. Dragon. Mr. Vanthuyne.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you for the insight and the reply. I'm trying to determine maybe also a little bit more on how it is that we would come to a decision with regard to whether it's a go or no go to a project like a road to resources when it comes to the impacts that it may or may not have on wildlife, and in particular, in this instance, our caribou herds. Can the department explain a little bit more about wildlife, caribou monitoring, what is required in monitoring caribou as it relates to putting a roadway, specifically a road like the road to resources, sorry, the Slave route geological road. I drive Highway 3 all the time going south, and we all are very well aware of the bison that live along the roadway. The Porcupine caribou is a thriving herd. They're having to cross the Dempster on a regular basis. I'm trying to understand: is this an undertaking that can really kind of have drastic effects on our caribou? What are we doing to really know whether we can or cannot go forward with an investment such as this? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Vanthuyne. Dr. Dragon.

Thank you, Mr. Dragon. Mr. Vanthuyne.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. This is all good information. That is sort of where my underlying concern is, too. We are making every effort as a government to try to finalize a route for this road going into this Slave geological area and, of course, those ever-changing migratory patterns of caribou and other wildlife, most certainly. I'm trying to get an understanding of when we determine, how we determine what the actual route is going to end up being when the patterns in which wildlife behave are changing rapidly, especially with climate change now. It's changed the traditional behaviours, or the migratory patterns of these animals. I guess it's just a comment. I don't know if the department has anything more to add to that just to try to help build some certainty. This remains, of course, still an underlying concern. This is, in my view, a significant piece of infrastructure that I feel needs to go forward, but I also recognize the incredible importance of our caribou herds and all of our wildlife and the impacts that it has on, and in particular, on Indigenous people. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Vanthuyne. Minister McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, we all share the Member's concern with the state of the caribou herd in the Northwest Territories. Again, this is another area where traditional knowledge would play an important factor, because who knows the caribou better than the people who have been living off them for hundreds of years?

There had been an opportunity there, and I think it's one of the reasons that as we do caribou surveys and Deputy Dragon spoke to before, the Boots on the Ground program. Again, that's taking advantage and using a lot of traditional knowledge, and good caribou management practices, too, once you do have the infrastructure in place.

You mentioned the Porcupine caribou herd and how that herd is one of the only ones that have been able to thrive. They have a good Porcupine Caribou Management Board, and then there's a lot of respect for the caribou, as well. There are opportunities where the caribou are close to the highway, but they have a great caribou management, and as well there's a lot we can learn from that, and traditional knowledge.

Once they determine the route to road is going to go, I'm sure they work with all the appropriate parties to see how best they can do without having too much of an effect on wildlife. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister McLeod. Mr. Vanthuyne. Oh, sorry. Time's up. Next, we have Mr. McNeely.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mine is more of an observation contribution or notice here. Having considered some of the previous studies that I was involved in and seeing industry on monitoring and mitigating the impacts of wildlife habitat and the community as a stakeholders to this government contributing their efforts through self-management initiatives, in the community of Deline several years ago leadership got together and had a public meeting and set an understanding to the people that there would be no harvesting until further notice.

The whole community got together and really accepted that. I was really surprised at the extent they would go in preserving their herd and working with the department at the region office in Norman Wells to participate in the caribou survey.

Some of the applications that I've seen with industry, the industry had wildlife habitation movement monitored by in-field cameras. That data was collected and shared with the region's Renewable Resources Councils. It gives me confidence that large impacts would be analyzed prior to everybody's approval and prior to the initiating of the project itself. These studies and these movements on habitat would be included in the application.

The recent application we've just seen is the Canyon Creek all-weather road. The volumes of data that was collected right from vegetation to wildlife species of different sources. I kind of take that into account when we move forward to discuss, let's take, for example, the Whati. I'm quite certain there would be a lot of supporting data to the habitat of the chosen waterway for that particular infrastructure. I just share that with committee. Thank you, Mr. Chair.