This is page numbers 4935 - 4980 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. View the webstream of the day's session.

Topics

Tom Beaulieu

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to talk about the benefits of small-scale mining and value-added processing. Small-scale mining developments are increasingly being seen as the best way to develop new technology materials and specialty material deposits, such as those found in the NWT's rare earths and lithium resources.

Mr. Speaker, new demand for clean technology is creating new uses for traditionally un-mined materials. Investors in spin-off industries are very intrigued by the potential opportunities that are associated with unlocking new rare earth minerals. However, in order to secure long-term funding commitments with high-tech investors, resource samples will be needed to confirm product compatibility and consumer confidence.

Mr. Speaker, some advantages to small-scale mining include much smaller capital expenditure requirements compared to a larger-scale mining operations. The cost differential amounts to tens of millions of dollars versus hundreds, or millions, or even billions of dollars for large-scale mines.

In addition, Mr. Speaker, the smaller the scale, the smaller the environmental footprint. Small-scale development allows for progressive remediation strategies to be implemented right from the start-up. This enables the site to be fully rehabilitated upon mine closure. Furthermore, local Indigenous businesses can be equity partners in development due to the nature of capital requirements for small-scale operations.

Mr. Speaker, the known subsurface resources at Nechalacho are highly suitable for this type of small-scale development approach. This technology does not require the use of water or hazardous chemicals in extracting the minerals for economic interest.

Mr. Speaker, this sustainable development approach, particularly in partnership with Indigenous groups, represents the future of the mineral industry. At this time, the NWT holds a great opportunity to demonstrate this new model and become a North American leader in the sustainable production of clean technology materials. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker R.J. Simpson

Members' statements. Member for Mackenzie Delta.

Government Services in Tsiigehtchic
Members' Statements

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Frederick Blake Jr.

Frederick Blake Jr. Mackenzie Delta

Good afternoon, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the community of Tsiigehtchic, we lack many essential government services. During our January tour of the Mackenzie Delta, voices were echoed regarding the lack of services that we have in our community.

Please be patient with me as, once again, I bring up the need for a full-time nurse. I believe that every community, for various safety reasons, for life and death matters, everyone needs a nurse in each community. We appreciate the regular visits that we have received; however, it is just not enough. This, I strongly believe, has to change.

Mr. Speaker, I also want to point out policing services in Tsiigehtchic. Although we have regular patrols in the community, residents feel the need to have a police officer stationed right in the community, again, Mr. Speaker, for safety reasons and to make the community feel more comfortable knowing that the RCMP is situated right down the street. The outcome, we believe, is less crime, less alcohol, and less domestic violence, to name a few.

These are just two of the services the community is requesting. We also would like to know about hiring an income support worker, probation officer, and all the other services that are offered in larger centres. Tsiigehtchic wants to be a community that offers all essential services to the community members.

Mr. Speaker, our ministerial tour of the Mackenzie Delta has brought forward many more concerns, but I'll only touch on these for now. I'll have questions later today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Government Services in Tsiigehtchic
Members' Statements

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The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker R.J. Simpson

Members' statements. Item 3, returns to oral questions. Item 4, 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 a couple of constituents from the riding of Yellowknife North; Mr. Frank Walsh, who is the president of Local 11 and a Yellowknife North resident, and also Mr. David Connolly, who does a lot of community relations with Avalon, Advanced Metals Inc., and TerraX Minerals. I'd like to welcome you to the House. Thank you for being here.

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

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The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker R.J. Simpson

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Nunakput.

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Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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Herbert Nakimayak

Herbert Nakimayak Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to recognize my cousin, Ann Peters, who is also your CA. Welcome to the House, Ann. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

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The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker R.J. Simpson

Thank you. I did not know the Member was going to do that. I apologize. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

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

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Julie Green

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to say that I have four Pages here in this session, Jeremy Beauchamp, Gordon Kwon, Ehxea Antoine, and Desiree Pitt. I'd like to thank them for all their service to us in this session. Thank you.

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

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The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker R.J. Simpson

Thank you. Thank you to all the Pages. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Thank you to everyone who has joined us today, and thank you to everyone watching around the world on social media and on satellite television. We always appreciate people engaging with our democracy. Item 5, acknowledgements. Member for Yellowknife North.

Cory Vanthuyne

Cory Vanthuyne Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to acknowledge former Yellowknife North resident Alex Czarnecki, who passed away recently.

Alex came to Yellowknife in 1972 to become a teacher at St. Pat's School. He became a well-known member of Yellowknife's artistic community, a frequently performing musician, a director of more than 40 local theatre productions, and a producer of films about the North in cultural transition.

Alex Czarnecki passed away early in January this year. Members, please join me in offering condolences to his friends and family, and applauding his life and contributions to the North. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker R.J. Simpson

Our condolences are with the family. Acknowledgements. Item 6, oral questions. Member for Frame Lake.

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Merci, Monsieur le President. Earlier today I reviewed how the Minister of Finance did not provide the information requested in my written questions on resource royalties from October 31, 2018. Can the Minister explain why the information requested, a breakdown of resource royalties from 1999 to 2017 by commodity type, was not provided in his response? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker R.J. Simpson

Thank you. Minister of Finance.

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The resource royalties for the period from 1999 to 2013 by commodity type were not provided because the information that is available combines the Northwest Territories information with data from the other three territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks to the Minister for that. So that explains some of the reasons, that the federal government combines it, and so on, but last week I tabled extracts from a privately published book by a former deputy minister and devolution negotiator that clearly showed the resource royalties paid to the federal government from 1980 to 2009. Can the Minister explain how such information was published, and yet he could not provide it in response to a written question from a Member of this House?

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

The excerpts from the book that the Member refers to are from the public accounts of Canada. The data represents the three territories combined until 2003, when Yukon went through their devolution, and combined the Northwest Territories and Nunavut as of 2003 until 2014, when the Northwest Territories went through devolution. The Member has requested Northwest Territories royalties only. We can provide this table to 2017, but it will not match the production value table, because the data is an aggregate for the three territories over the same years.

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks to the Minister for that. I spoke earlier today of the world-wide movement toward more transparent and open public reporting of government revenues from non-renewable resources. Even most of the diamond mining companies operating in the NWT support the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative. Can the Minister of Finance tell us whether he and his staff have studied the standard developed by the initiative, and when we can expect it to be adopted or implemented by this government?

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

The Department of Finance, we are aware of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative standard for reporting. To date, the government has reported aggregate royalties rather than royalties by mine to respect the confidentiality of financial information of individual mines, as required per the Northwest Territories Lands Act.

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker R.J. Simpson

Oral questions. Member for Frame Lake.

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Merci, Monsieur le President. Now we get that it's restricted because of wording in the Lands Act, so I look forward to that being changed. Canada is a supporter of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative and has provided funding to a variety of countries, such as Peru, Indonesia, Tanzania, and even Mongolia to fix up how they report revenues. This country has adopted the standard through the Extractive Sector Transparency Measures Act, so can the Minister tell us when our government will get on board and begin to report royalties paid by commodity type, or even by individual companies? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

I understand that the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment is reviewing the Mining Regulations and transparency and accountability principles, and that all will be taken into consideration as we move forward. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker R.J. Simpson

Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh.

Question 584-18(3): Seniors' Home Heating Subsidy
Oral Questions

February 21st, 2019

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Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier today I talked about fuel subsidy for seniors, and I talked about, in Fort Simpson, that $2,700, which works out to about 2,143 litres. Typically, when a fuel tank is filled to between 80 and 90 percent, that works out to be about 960 to 1,080 litres, or two tanks. Can the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment please advise why those changes were made to this program? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker R.J. Simpson

Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.