Debates of Aug. 13th, 2019
This is page numbers 5945 - 5992 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 public.
Topics
- Oral Questions
- Members Present
- Prayer
- Minister's Statement 213-18(3): Minister Absent from the House
- Minister's Statement 214-18(3): Income Security Programs Update
- Minister's Statement 215-18(3): Environmental Monitoring and Research Projects Funded
- Minister's Statement 216-18(3): Improving Programs for Inmates in NWT Correctional Facilities
- Minister's Statement 217-18(3): Diversifying the NWT's Economy
- Grizzly Bears in Aklavik
- Disruptions to Digital Connectivity
- Relationship between Kakisa and the Government of the Northwest Territories
- Yellowknives Dene First Nation and City of Yellowknife Land Transfer
- Premiers' Letter to Prime Minister Trudeau regarding Bill C-68 and Bill C-48
- Access to Education in Communities
- Status of Services for Seniors In Yellowknife
- Prevention of Alcohol Bootlegging
- Highway Infrastructure Projects
- Salmon in the Arctic
- Committee Report 25-18(3): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Review of Bill 36: An Act to Amend the Petroleum Resources Act and Bill 37: An Act to Amend the Oil and Gas Operations Act
- Motion to Receive Committee Report 25-18(3) and Move into Committee of the Whole, Carried
- Committee Report 26-18(3): Report on the Review of the Carbon Tax Bills: Bill 42: An Act to Amend the Petroleum Products Tax Act and Bill 43: An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act
- Motion to Receive Committee Report 26-18(3) and Move into Committee of the Whole, Carried
- Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
- Question 792-18(3): Effects of Salmon in the Canadian Arctic
- Question 793-18(3): Fibre Optic Infrastructure
- Question 795-18(3): Grizzly Bears in Aklavik
- Question 795-18(3): New Housing Units for Seniors
- Question 796-18(3): Letter to Prime Minister Co-signed with Conservative Premiers
- Question 797-18(3): Education in the Sahtu Region
- Question 798-18(3): Relationship between Ka'a'gee Tu First Nation/Kakisa and the Government of the Northwest Territories
- Question 799-18(3): Highway Infrastructure Projects and Application of Business Incentive Policy
- Question 800-18(3): Alcohol Sales and Reduction of Bootlegging
- Question 801-18(3): Yellowknives Dene First Nation / City of Yellowknife Boundary Changes
- Tabled Document 483-18(3): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 766-18(3): Aboriginal Sports Circle Funding
- Tabled Document 486-18(3): Northern Employee Benefits Services (NEBS) Pension Plan Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2018 and including updated information to June 2019 Tabled Document 487-18(3): The Natural Resources Conservation Trust Fund Financial Statements for the year ended March 31, 2019
- Tabled Document 488-18(3): Community Futures Program 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 Annual Reports
- Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
- Committee Motion 163-18(3): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Review of Bill 36: An Act to Amend the Petroleum Resources Act and Bill 37: An Act to Amend the Oil and Gas Operations Act - Bills Requiring Federal Concurrence, Carried
- Committee Motion 164-18(3): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Review of Bill 36: An Act to Amend the Petroleum Resources Act and Bill 37: An Act to Amend the Oil and Gas Operations Act - Potential Liabilities Arising from Oil and Gas Operations, carried
- Committee Motion 165-18(3): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Review of Bill 36: An Act to Amend the Petroleum Resources Act and Bill 37: An Act to Amend the Oil and Gas Operations Act - Comprehensive Review to Increase Cap for Absolute Liability, Carried
- Committee Motion 166-18(3): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Review of Bill 36: An Act to Amend the Petroleum Resources Act and Bill 37: An Act to Amend the Oil and Gas Operations Act - Significant Discovery Licenses
- Committee Motion 167-18(3): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Review of Bill 36: An Act to Amend the Petroleum Resources Act and Bill 37: An Act to Amend the Oil and Gas Operations Act - Government Response to Recommendations, Carried
- Report Of Committee Of The Whole
- Bill 40: Smoking Control and Reduction Act
- Recorded Vote
- Bill 41: Tobacco and Vapour Products Control Act
- Recorded Vote
- Bill 54: Standard Interest Rates Statutes Amendment Act
- Recorded Vote
- Bill 57: An Act to Amend the Employment Standards Act
- Recorded Vote
- Bill 58: Justice Administration Statutes Amendment Act
- Recorded Vote
- Orders Of The Day
Motion to Receive Committee Report 26-18(3) and Move into Committee of the Whole, Carried
Reports Of Standing And Special Committees
Page 5965

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty
Masi. The motion is in order. The motion is non-debatable. All those in favour? All those opposed?
---Carried
Committee Report 26-18(3): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the Carbon Tax Bills, Bill 42: An Act to Amend the Petroleum Products Tax Act and Bill 43: An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act is now received by Assembly, is now moved to Committee of the Whole for further consideration. Masi. Reports of standing and special committees. Item 5, returns to oral questions. Item 6, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Yellowknife North.
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
August 13th, 2019
Page 5966

Cory Vanthuyne Yellowknife North
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to take the opportunity to recognize Fernanda Martins, the executive director of the NWT chapter for the Canadian Cancer Society and a Yellowknife North resident. Welcome.
I would also like to take this opportunity to recognize four Pages from the riding of Yellowknife North; Zefer Jordison, Lea Schwarz, Jaylen Base-Smith, and Quinton Base-Smith. Thank you all for the tremendous work you do for us here in the Assembly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Page 5966

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty
Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. If we missed anyone in the gallery, thanks for being here with us. It is always nice to have an audience as part of our proceedings. Masi. Item 7, acknowledgements. Colleagues, at this point in time, we are going to call for a short break.
---SHORT RECESS
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Page 5966

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty
Colleagues, we left off at item 7, acknowledgements. Now we are on to item 8, oral questions. Member for Nunakput.
Question 792-18(3): Effects of Salmon in the Canadian Arctic
Oral Questions
Page 5966

Herbert Nakimayak Nunakput
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier on, I spoke about the amount of salmon being caught in fish nets across Nunakput, and my questions are for the Minister of ENR. Mr. Speaker, my first question is: has the department responded to communities who are experiencing higher than normal salmon catches this season? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 792-18(3): Effects of Salmon in the Canadian Arctic
Oral Questions
Page 5966
Question 792-18(3): Effects of Salmon in the Canadian Arctic
Oral Questions
Page 5966

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There is currently a University of Manitoba Department of Fisheries and Oceans Salmon Research Project addressing the issue of salmon being captured in the Canadian Arctic in more places and in seemingly higher numbers than ever before.
Locally, in our office, there is an assistance program, CIMP, with community members taking any salmon that local residents wish to provide to the research program. The project actually is to see why there is starting to be large numbers of salmon in the Canadian Arctic. There are year-to-year changes in the harvest levels which are likely related to changing environmental conditions in the salmon population. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 792-18(3): Effects of Salmon in the Canadian Arctic
Oral Questions
Page 5966

Herbert Nakimayak Nunakput
Earlier on, the Minister made a statement about funding for community-based projects, and this sounds like a project that can increase capacity in the region. Mr. Speaker, this increase has salmon has been occurring for a few seasons in higher numbers, but this year has been quite noticeable. My question to the Minister is, will ENR partner with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, hunters and trappers committees in the Northwest Territories in tracking these invasive species?
Question 792-18(3): Effects of Salmon in the Canadian Arctic
Oral Questions
Page 5966

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes
We work with a DFO researcher who leads the Arctic salmon research project in partnership with the local and resource boards to track salmon in the Arctic. The Member is absolutely correct. The NWT CIMP that I announced before actually supports the project and has promoted research through its regular, northern research bulletins.
Question 792-18(3): Effects of Salmon in the Canadian Arctic
Oral Questions
Page 5966

Herbert Nakimayak Nunakput
I appreciate the response from the Minister. What about the Arctic char, the coney, the whitefish and the herring, and other fish species that we rely on in the Arctic? They make up a high percentage of food and nutrients for Nunakput residents. This can be looked at as a threat to our food security, not just in Nunakput, but all communities across the territories. My question is: what will the department do to ensure the planning for community-based monitoring of these species, as well as other type of species that are now entering our waters, for the fall season as the ice will set in and the nets are put under the ice in the communities across the Northwest Territories?
Question 792-18(3): Effects of Salmon in the Canadian Arctic
Oral Questions
Page 5966

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes
As the Member mentioned before, there are a lot of changes that are going on, and we have heard that about a lot of species that we have seen in some places that they are not used to being seen there. The Arctic Salmon Research Project is actually looking into what the appearance of salmon means to the native fish species. The lead researcher regularly reports back to the community, and my understanding is the project does rely on some of the salmon that is turned in by community fishers, and my understanding, again, there are a couple of different value gift cards that are available to community members who turn in a full salmon or a salmon head. I think there is more information that could be obtained as to what that consist of and, if the Member wants or if the community doesn't have access to that information, I will be sure that they get it.
Question 792-18(3): Effects of Salmon in the Canadian Arctic
Oral Questions
Page 5966
Question 793-18(3): Fibre Optic Infrastructure
Oral Questions
Page 5967

Kieron Testart Kam Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have questions for the honourable Minister of Finance on the state of our fibre optic telecommunications infrastructure. Has the government done any planning to investigate improving our redundancy, so when a fibre line is cut, in particular to my community of Yellowknife, but when a fibre line is cut, it doesn't knock everything out of there? Are there more options to keep the systems going so that they don't cause that massive interruption to businesses and households? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 793-18(3): Fibre Optic Infrastructure
Oral Questions
Page 5967
Question 793-18(3): Fibre Optic Infrastructure
Oral Questions
Page 5967

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have raised concerns both with redundancy, with the provider Northwestel and with CRTC, and we continue to work actively with industry partners to explore viable and affordable redundancy measures. I think, with some money that has been made available by the federal government in improving northern broadband, I think one of the industry partners, Northwestel, has accessed on that money to possibly run a redundancy line down the Dempster Highway to serve that area. I take the Member's point that there needs to be redundancy looked at for this part of the Northwest Territories, and we will continue to work with our industry partners to ensure that that work is ongoing.
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