This is page numbers 4361 - 4398 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 going.

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Louis Sebert

Louis Sebert Thebacha

[Microphone turned off] ...aware of the specific program in Whitehorse, but I do know that the RCMP will continue to explore alternate options for victims to report sexual assault, such as third party reporting.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

I would like to remind Members to wait before you speak. The light usually goes on, and then you can speak after. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Julie Green

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, according to Article 6 of the Territorial Police Agreement, the Minister will set priorities, objectives, and goals for the police. Will the Minister commit to developing a more robust relationship with women, with tools such as third-party reporting with the police rather than just leaving it up to them? Mahsi.

Louis Sebert

Louis Sebert Thebacha

I know that regular members are completing a consent law on common sexual assault myths course that was specifically set up to address issues identified in the RCMP Sexual Assault Review and Victim Support Action Plan. Regular members will be required to have completed this course by the end of the fiscal year.

The police are moving ahead as a result of the report that was prepared, that came out in December 2017, but I will continue to explore with the RCMP the possibilities of third-party reporting. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh.

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, a couple of weeks ago, I talked about ferry operation and the problems that were happening in Fort Simpson. I have to commend the Department of Infrastructure again and their staff from Fort Simpson. They have been able to get the ferry operating from 9:00 to 6:00, and I greatly appreciate that. However, with water levels, that is a big concern. Has the department done any analysis of possible solutions to alleviate this type of problem in the future? 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. I want to thank the Member. Yes, we have worked with industry to extend the hours there, in Simpson, for an extra couple of hours during the summer. I think that has worked out great.

The department is always looking at ways to improve partnership and innovation or efficiencies on our ferries. These are challenging times these days, with the climate change and water levels that are happening.

The department has this coming capital plan on his specific ferry for his region. In the capital acquisition plan that was tabled earlier in this session, we are going to have new engines there that are going to increase the horsepower and lower fuel consumption on that ferry.

We are continuing to monitor the water levels on a regular basis. We continue to communicate with the communities, all communities, residents in the Northwest Territories, and the travelling public as early as possible to get the message out there of these conditions changing on a daily basis.

The Liard ferry normally closes on November 3rd, and I think, with the adjustments that we have made and operate on a daylight hours, we are going to continue to operate as long as possible. It's looking very positive that we might meet that same date.

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

I greatly appreciate that answer from the Minister. Yes, they are doing some really good work, trying to get the ferry operational and extending as possible.

In my previous conversations with the Minister, I spoke about the idea of moving the ferry landing to the Enbridge road and having the other landing relocated to the town dock. Has the Minister and the department looked at this option and have they done a cost analysis?

Wally Schumann

Wally Schumann Hay River South

Yes, we have done some preliminary investigation regarding the potential alternate landing site that the Member is talking about. It could extend the ferry service up to a month, depending on the weather and the water levels. There are some challenges still with this option. I think we have talked about this in the House before.

The ferry crossing would be 11 kilometres along the Mackenzie Valley River and take an hour-and-a-half compared to the seven-minute crossing at the present site, where it's located right now, on the Liard River.

Of course, with that, if we are going to do 11-kilometre and a one-and-a-half-hour ferry ride, there are additional costs of operating these things. The initial number that I have, looking at doing this, the preliminary cost would be a $16-million ask to do that, not counting ongoing operational costs. That would be more for the longer ferry service and the additional maintenance of the highway.

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

I thank the Minister for that answer. I appreciate the department looking at that.

In our other conversations, we also talked about moving the landing upstream, which is, you know, a kilometre up, which would access deeper water and ensure better service to the residents from Fort Simpson. Has the Minister and the department looked at this option and done a cost analysis, as well?

Wally Schumann

Wally Schumann Hay River South

Yes, we have looked at this option, as well. The ferry most often shuts down during this season, like at the end of the year, I guess, is what I'm trying to say. It's due to heavy ice flow or low water. It's usually heavy ice flow. Moving it up river I don't think is going to be able to extend the season. It's not likely.

We also did a preliminary cost structure on this, too, and that is going to cost an extra $3.2 million if we were to look at that option. The other thing that we would have look at if we actually did that option would be land acquisition, land use permits, potential water licensing, and landing construction. Moving it upstream, I think, for something that would benefit the mid-season is not really a benefit. I don't think that would be a viable option, as well.

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

I thank the Minister for that answer. It actually comes down to the million-dollar question: has the department looked at actually building a bridge across the Liard River? We are talking about Mackenzie Valley Highway. We are doing a bridge up at the Great Bear River. Has the department looked at building a bridge or a floating bridge, similar to what there is in BC, using the two islands in the river? Have they done a cost analysis of that?

Wally Schumann

Wally Schumann Hay River South

A bridge could possibly be a priority across the Liard River, but not at this point. As all Members know, we are pushing the envelope here on infrastructure funding to try to complete the Mackenzie Valley Highway. I believe that is our priority right now. Based on our mandate, that is what we are working on.

There would be some challenges, though, with having a floating bridge, I think, because of the fluctuation of the water that we see, particularly on the Liard because it is tied to the BC mountains. We can certainly have a look at that sometime, but, right now, that is not a priority of this government. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Deh Cho.

Michael Nadli

Michael Nadli Deh Cho

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think everybody has a dream of owning their own home and building a home, but a house needs a critical aspect of making a long-term home, and that is land. My question is to the Minister of Lands. What steps has the Minister of Lands taken to identify and make land available for residents of the Northwest Territories? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Minister of Lands.

Louis Sebert

Louis Sebert Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The department does encourage community governments to apply for and obtain land within the communities where there is a demonstrated need to support future expansion and development of their communities.

Now, much of this land is unsurveyed, so, once we recognize a need for the land, we would have to in many cases have it surveyed. There is a way in which community governments in particular can apply to the government and obtain land within the community.

Michael Nadli

Michael Nadli Deh Cho

Once again, having a home of course is the biggest investment that a person will undertake in their lives. At the same time, it is also an investment in the community, but, in some communities, there is no land.

Can the Minister commit to working closely with communities to open up larger areas of land for development, in an effort to step away from piecemeal development and towards a more holistic approach?

Louis Sebert

Louis Sebert Thebacha

As I mentioned, we do encourage community governments to apply for and gain title to lands, and often the proven needs or the needs of the community are identified through community plans. Communities need to develop community plans, and then applications can be made, of course, to Lands. That would be the process to obtain more land within the communities that would be available to the general population.

I know that, under section 9 of the Commissioner's Land Regulations, "No interest in Commissioner's land shall be sold, leased, or otherwise disposed of unless the deputy Minister is satisfied that the applicant for the land has discharged the obligations and performed the covenants and agreements that are required of him or her before the sale, lease, or other disposal; the land is no larger in area than is reasonable for the purpose for which the land is required; and the sale or lease is fair and equitable in accordance with the public interest."

There is no general policy to turn over all Commissioner's land within the communities to the communities, but certainly we would be interested in working with the communities and in receiving applications.

Michael Nadli

Michael Nadli Deh Cho

The Minister stated two interesting streams of a process that communities would undertake: one, for the purposes of residential interest, people could apply for land; and, also, the other process is a commercial interest in communities. What is the difference between the two processes, and are they basically the same?

Louis Sebert

Louis Sebert Thebacha

As mentioned earlier, the proven need for land must be established, first of all. As to whether the process is different for commercial, industrial, or residential land, I will have to look into that and get back to the Member.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Deh Cho.

Michael Nadli

Michael Nadli Deh Cho

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister commit to working with MACA to review community plans and zoning bylaws together to ensure smoother land transfer to communities by eliminating additional process layers? Mahsi.

Louis Sebert

Louis Sebert Thebacha

Yes, of course, we would be very pleased to work with MACA to make this process move more smoothly, and, certainly, we do recognize that there is a need for land in the communities. I have heard that, not only from the Member who has asked the question but from another Member opposite. Thank you.