This is page numbers 4521 - 4570 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 work.

Topics

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Mujcin

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Any carryovers from the 2018-2019 fiscal year will be reflected through a supplementary appropriation in 2019-2020. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

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The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Ms. Mujcin. Mr. Simpson.

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R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Thank you. Okay. We have $3.1 million this year, $3.5 from last year. That is $6.6 million worth of work. Is it all going to get done in 2019-2020? How can we be sure that we are not going to have another big carryover like this? Can we be sure it is going to get done? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

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The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. Simpson. Ms. Mujcin.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Mujcin

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just to clarify, the carryovers that are reflected under the 2018-2019 revised estimates are for our carryover projects from 2017-2018. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Ms. Mujcin. Mr. Simpson.

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R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

No further questions.

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The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. Simpson. Next on the list, we have Mr. McNeely.

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Daniel McNeely

Daniel McNeely Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Chair. My question is related to the proposed new park, which is incorporated into the Sahtu land claim, to turn the Canol Heritage Trail into a trail and transferred over to this government. I know in the past, there have been a number of discussions going back and forth, studies with the SSI group and the Tulita District Land Corporation. Within those studies, a large investment cost incurred by the federal government to assess, site-by-site, and in particular, there are two different companies here, Franz Environmental and SENES Environmental that did the study to identify the scope of liability assessments, including barrels and whatnot.

It is a two-year cleanup, which, in my understanding, only includes removal of asbestos in the buildings, some bridges to provide the ongoing fisheries in those crossings, and removal of some barrels. It is very minimal to the overall studies on the cleanup. My question is: is this department engaging with the federal government for additional work after this coming summer's Phase II clean-up season? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

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The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. McNeely. Minister Schumann.

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Wally Schumann

Wally Schumann Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Chair. At a regional level, we are always working with the federal government to promote using regional assets to continue the work that is ongoing. You know, this has been a long, ongoing file with the federal government, and it is a federal process that we are dealing with. We will continue to work with the federal government. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

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The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister Schumann. Mr. McNeely.

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Daniel McNeely

Daniel McNeely Sahtu

Mr. Chair, on that thought, moving forward, would the Minister consider or has the department considered doing the assessment, how much it would cost in getting the funding from the feds to do the cost on their behalf in collaboration with the Sahtu group as per the land claim chapter? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

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The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. McNeely. Minister Schumann.

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Wally Schumann

Wally Schumann Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Chair. This has been an ongoing issue any time that I have had a discussion with the people in the Sahtu around the cleanup of this park and the federal procurement rules that are tied to federal process. I am well aware that, you know, the federal government has their process that they follow and their due diligence. They are working closely with SSI on how they can maybe look at changing some of those processes.

We have even had our MP with us at meetings around procurement, how we can change these types of things. At the end of the day, we still have to respect the federal process and what they want to do. We can continue to work with them and engage with them on how we can figure out a way to have this money spent in the Northwest Territories without going to a public RFP. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

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The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister Schumann. Mr. McNeely.

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Daniel McNeely

Daniel McNeely Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Chair. It seems that there are ongoing discussions there. I am satisfied with those discussions in hopes that it might materialize with a possible transfer of capital funds from the federal to the territorial government to initiate a continuous cleanup as per the studies that already have been done, knowing the fact that our procurement policies are a little bit more flexible than the federal one. I see it as a win-win situation for both this government and the recipients of the land claim. Thank you.

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The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. McNeely. Minister Schumann.

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Wally Schumann

Wally Schumann Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, we will continue to work with the federal government. Once we are satisfied that the land is cleaned up, it will be transferred to the GNWT to be the future Doito Territorial Park. In the meantime, I would like to update the House that we will continue working to establish some needed infrastructure along that trail, including the construction of two hiking shelters that are scheduled to be completed this summer. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

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The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister Schumann. Mr. McNeely.

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Daniel McNeely

Daniel McNeely Sahtu

Mr. Chair, thank you. Thank the Minister for the reply.

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The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you. Next on the list, we have Mr. Vanthuyne.

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Cory Vanthuyne

Cory Vanthuyne Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Ingraham Trail, of course, is in the riding of Yellowknife North. I think I would be remiss if I didn't take this opportunity to commend the Minister and his department for the significant efforts and improvements that they have put into the many parks that line the Ingraham Trail, as the Minister referred to earlier: the new loop out at Prelude; there has been a lot of new signage with regard to the parks; we continue to see investments here with regard to the Prelude Lake Park Kitchen Shelter as well as the long overdue Prosperous Lake boat launch. I am rather pleased to see those.

As the Minister is aware, we have had some discussions in the past with regard to opening the parks up for aurora viewing. I know this is a little bit more in the operational context, but we might not have that discussion now long after the aurora season is done. I just want to see if the Minister can share some comments around what the department might be doing with regard to trying to make more space available within our parks for the booming aurora-viewing tourism opportunities. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

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The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. Vanthuyne. Minister Schumann.

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Wally Schumann

Wally Schumann Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The department has been working very close, particularly with our aurora operators, for this winter use of our parks. Those discussions have been going very well. We have been looking at opening up more of our parks along Ingraham Trail for aurora viewing in the wintertime. Thank you, Mr. Chair.