This is page numbers 4243 - 4266 of the Hansard for the 18th Assembly, 3rd 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 community.

Topics

Capital Needs in Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh
Members' Statements

Page 4250

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Mackenzie Delta.

Extending Length of Ferry Services
Members' Statements

Page 4250

Frederick Blake Jr.

Frederick Blake Jr. Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to bring to your attention the high cost of living in the Mackenzie Delta and Beaufort-Delta region. My constituents work very hard to keep their homes warm in the winter, to feed their families, and to maintain their vehicles.

Mr. Speaker, these costs, the costs of the normal business of daily life, add up very quickly. Imagine living in the Mackenzie Delta in 1978, where we waited on the banks for barges to come in to deliver food and supplies. I can't imagine the costs related to all the supplies or the amounts of trapping that had to be done in order to pay for food and supplies. When the Dempster Highway opened in 1979, it opened the rest of Canada to the North, and, when the truckloads of food and supplies came down that highway, our people were happy; costs were cut tremendously.

Mr. Speaker, it's been 40 years since then. Today, we have more people unemployed, and, with jobs scarce, money is hard to come by. Food and other supplies that we need to live are increasingly out of reach. Many times, local families suffer because they can't buy healthy food or keep their homes heated. What about the fuel supply itself? Last winter, Fort McPherson ran out of gas and groceries altogether.

When shoulder season ferry services were cut, Mr. Speaker, these are the very outcomes I feared: sky-high costs, bare shelves, and gas pumps run dry.

Instead, it would make so much sense to keep the Louis Cardinal and Abraham Francis ferries open until the ice bridge is built. Extending the length of the season would benefit communities and prevent air transportation price mark-ups. Improved access also makes the Mackenzie Delta more enticing to potential tourists.

Earlier in this Assembly, Mr. Speaker, ferry services were cut to save money. Any savings, though, have gone to the Department of Infrastructure, not to the people making their homes in our small communities.

I would like to see action on this file, Mr. Speaker. I will have questions at the appropriate time. Thank you.

Extending Length of Ferry Services
Members' Statements

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The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Members' statements. Member for Nunakput.

Support for Tourism in Tuktoyaktuk
Members' Statements

Page 4251

Herbert Nakimayak

Herbert Nakimayak Nunakput

Quyanainni, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, one of our biggest challenges this summer was trying to accommodate the big boom of tourism in Tuktoyaktuk. However, the community has stepped up with whatever capacity they had to work with. The GNWT did offer some support with small pots of funding, but the community is looking for something bigger, like an RV park and a campground within or close to the community.

Mr. Speaker, both the federal and territorial governments have marketed the new highway to Tuktoyaktuk, connecting three oceans from sea to sea to sea. This marketing has caused a mad rush to Tuktoyaktuk. There has even been a huge promotion from GMC and Chevrolet, launching their new 2019 Silverado with the slogan "Finding New Roads."

We have seen some very good reviews on TripAdvisor, which guides web surfers to Tuktoyaktuk's new visitors' centre and other attractions. Mr. Speaker, the visitors' center needs to be a larger building that community members and visitors can sit, talk and learn from each other.

Mr. Speaker, this promotion has brought a lot of media coverage, helping Tuktoyaktuk become advertised around the world. Mr. Speaker, this is good news, but it may bring an influx of tourism that could overwhelm the community.

It is also very important that Tuktoyaktuk has the means to ensure that tourists' experiences are good ones that they will tell their friends about, rave about on Facebook, and review on internet web travel sites. To do that, the community needs both services and infrastructure and a plan to develop them.

Mr. Speaker, Tuktoyaktuk tourism has great potential if we do it right. Mr. Speaker, later I'll have questions for the Minister of ITI. Quyanainni.

Support for Tourism in Tuktoyaktuk
Members' Statements

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The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Members' statement. Member for Deh Cho.

Edehzhie Conservation Initiative
Members' Statements

Page 4251

Michael Nadli

Michael Nadli Deh Cho

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. First, I would like to welcome my colleagues back to the House. I'm glad to be back myself, and Mr. Speaker, I'm also keen to share some very exciting news for conservation, reconciliation, and the future of our territory.

[English translation not provided.]

Also known as the Horn Plateau, Edehzhie has been called "the jewel" and "the breadbasket" of the Dehcho, the place where Dene have turned for generations. Edehzhie means "source waters" as it hosts the source waters for the Willowlake, Horn, and Rabbitskin Rivers, and at 14,200 square kilometers, it's bigger than both the Banff and Jasper National Parks. In fact, it's bigger than about 40 countries, including the Bahamas and Lebanon.

Edehzhie's designation as a protected area, the first Indigenous protected area in Canada, is a monumental achievement, the triumph of a process begun 20 years ago, and I want to congratulate all involved.

As part of this agreement, both the Dehcho First Nations and the Government of Canada have agreed to protect the area from industrial development. Canada has also committed to establishing a national wildlife area by 2020. Future management decisions will be made by consensus through the Edehzhie Management Board, with the Dehcho K'ehodi Guardians responsible for stewardship and taking care of the Deh Cho.

The work doesn't stop here, Mr. Speaker. I know my colleagues are aware of the recent United Nations' report warning of climate change crisis as early as 2040. Governments must meaningfully act on issues of conservation, land protection, and carbon emissions. This agreement to protect Edehzhie is one example of walking that walk.

Dene law tells us that the survival of the whole group - our families and our communities - is more important than the accumulation of individual wealth or status. Not to put too fine a point on it, Mr. Speaker, but if we are to survive, and if the land that we come from is to survive, we must act on what Dene law has described as our collective responsibility to protect the land and resources for our children and grandchildren.

I thank First Nations for continuing to lead in protecting the land, waters, and animals, and I look forward with hope to the work to come. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Edehzhie Conservation Initiative
Members' Statements

Page 4252

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Kam Lake.

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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Kieron Testart

Kieron Testart Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to recognize my parents, Terry Testart and Maureen Marshall, and my aunt Lillian Testart. Everything I've learned about good public service I owe to my parents, whose excellence and dedication in their careers made them the most important role models in my life. Thank you for being here today, and thank you for always being there for me. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Yellowknife North.

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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Cory Vanthuyne

Cory Vanthuyne Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker Mr. Speaker, today I'd like to recognize Lois Little. Lois Little is a resident of Yellowknife North, she is a consultant and owner of Lutra Associates, and she is also the co-chair of the NWT chapter of the Council of Canadians. Welcome. Also, we're all familiar with Craig Yeo, the CA to a couple of our Members, and he's also a Yellowknife North resident. Welcome to the House. Thank you.

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 4252

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Nunakput.

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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Herbert Nakimayak

Herbert Nakimayak Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would also like to recognize Mr. Terry Testart as well. He was in a senior administrator office in Tuktoyaktuk for many years. So, welcome, Terry. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Frame Lake.

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Merci, Monsieur le President. I'd like to recognize Ms. Wendy Holmes. She's an award-winning Canadian agrologist, columnist, author, and speaker. She's here from British Columbia, visiting and helping people in the Northwest Territories, particularly Fort Smith and Fort Resolution, where she visited to better understand the impacts of the Site C dam in British Columbia. Also, I'd like to recognize Lois Little, who is the co-chair of the Northwest Territories chapter of the Council of Canadians, who is assisting with her visit. Masi, Mr. Speaker.

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 4252

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. If we're missing anyone in the gallery, welcome to our Chambers. It's always great to have an audience as part of our proceedings. Masi. Item 6, acknowledgments. Item 7, oral questions. Member for Nahendeh.

Question 367-18(3): Early Closure of Liard Ferry Service
Oral Questions

October 12th, 2018

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Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, with weather changing, the drop of water levels, we are seeing the Merv Hardie Ferry on 24-hour notice. It is at least 23 days earlier than the 15-year average. I want to recognize and thank the marine staff. They've done a great job of keeping the ferry operational as long as we can and for doing it in a safe manner. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Infrastructure. Can the Minister please advise the House how the department is getting the message out to the residents and non-residents that the ferry is going to be shut down earlier than normal? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Minister of Infrastructure.

Wally Schumann

Wally Schumann Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and we want to take this opportunity to reach out to the greater Northwest Territories to update the general public on the situation that's happening at the Liard ferry. As most people know, this time of year, the rivers drop off sharply. In the case of the Liard River, generally this time of year when it does drop down, it actually comes back up after a couple of days, but that hasn't happened in the last three days. It's actually at its lowest level, and we're probably operating our ferry presently at the lowest level that that ferry has operated; it's at 1.65 meters as of today.

To the Member's point of thanking the marine staff, they've reduced the fuel storage on the boat, and they've gone to lighter loads to off-set a premature shutdown of this ferry to help the residents of his riding. We are monitoring this on a day-to-day basis, but one thing that has come to light here, in the last 24 hours or so, it looks like the river levels in Watson Lake have actually come up a little bit, so we're going to continue to monitor this. The weather's supposed to actually warm up a little bit in his region, so that's going to help us with that, as well, but we continue to use all our means of getting the message out there. We have our electric board at Enterprise, we have the electric board at the Yellowknife Junction there, to inform Members, we have our Twitter account, we have our webpage, and we have our 1-800 number, and, as well, our staff on the ferries who are continually updating the passengers as they cross the river system.

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

I thank the Minister for that information. Yes, they're operating the ferries at a level that's even unprecedented, so I'd like to thank again the staff there. Because of the water level dropping in the channel, it needs to be dredged. When you sit there and you look at it and you talk to the ferry and you talk to residents, it needs to be dredged. Is the Minister able to advise if the department has looked into the process of dredging this section of the river?

Wally Schumann

Wally Schumann Hay River South

I looked into this matter, and I was informed by the department that 20 years ago we contracted Cooper's Barging with an excavator to have a look at doing this, and it was very unsuccessful and it wasn't able to be done. Another attempt to dredge this channel would need to involve a number of things, now, in light of the new regulatory system that's out there. We would have to do environmental studies on it, approval from multiple organizations, we'd have to go to the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board, the DFO, and of course, there's always going to be a funding issue. So, at this point right now, that's where it was on the dredging issue, but, if we were to ever consider this, that's the lay of the land that we'd have to consider.

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

I thank the Minister for that answer. So, I guess the question is from our riding, and a lot of people use this ferry, so will the department start looking at this option or other options to see it again? Because we're talking 20 years ago, and, with modern technology now and equipment, will the Minister advise this House if the department's looking at that?

Wally Schumann

Wally Schumann Hay River South

There is no feasible option at this time besides dredging, so, if we were to consider this, we'd have to go back and go through all the process that I just laid out in the previous question.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh.

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I'd hope they actually would start looking into that and start planning for the future because the water levels keep on dropping and regularly. Yes, we're seeing Watson Lake go up and warming up, but we're still seeing the challenge. With the water levels dropping, and it's occurring on a regular basis, has the department looked at ways to help reduce the cost of living during the ferry shutdown and ice road being built?

Wally Schumann

Wally Schumann Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We continually communicate with all the residents of the Northwest Territories and residents and businesses with these annual shut-downs of these ferries. We know it's interruptive, and we will continue to communicate with them. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.