Debates of Aug. 23rd, 2019
This is page numbers 6413 - 6444 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 assembly.
Topics
- Oral Questions
- Members Present
- Prayer
- Minister's Statement 244-18(3): Land Titles Office New Online Services
- Minister's Statement 245-18(3): Campaign School for Women
- Minister's Statement 246-18(3): Achievements of the 18th Assembly
- Reflections on the 18th Assembly
- Encouraging Voters in the Territorial Election
- Women in Leadership
- French First-Language Education
- Reflections on the 18th Assembly
- Return to Oral Question 822-18(3): Food Establishment Safety Regulations
- Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
- Question 850-18(3): Bison in Nahendeh Communities
- Question 851-18(3): French First-Language Education Admissions
- Question 852-18(3): Small-Scale Hydroelectricity for Communities
- Petition 3-18(3): Child and Youth Advocate
- Question 853-18(3): Naming of Government Buildings
- Mr. O'Reilly's Reply
- Tabled Document 542-18(3): Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Committee Report 16-18(3): Report on the Review of Bill 29: An Act to Amend the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act Tabled Document 543-18(3): Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Committee Report 34-18(3): Report on the Review of Bill 45: Corrections Act Tabled Document 544-18(3): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 818-18(3): Sexual Assault Reporting Tabled Document 545-18(3): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 838-18(3): South Mackenzie Correctional Centre Therapeutic Model
- Tabled Document 546-18(3): NWT Mineral Development Strategy Progress Report 2016-2019
- Tabled Document 547-18(3): Follow-up Letter to Oral Question 786-18(3): Nursing Services in Tsiigehtchic Tabled Document 548-18(3): Follow-up Letter to Oral Question 787-18(3): New Services in Downtown Yellowknife
- Tabled Document 549-18(3): Focus for the Future: A Strategic Response to the Challenge of Community Government Funding, Municipal and Community Affairs, August 2019
- Tabled Document 550-18(3): Email dated August 23, 2019, from Pentti Sjoman regarding Whati - 1,200kW Nailii Hydro Project
- Tabled Document 551-18(3): Summary of Members' Absences for the Period December 7, 2015, to August 22, 2019 Tabled Document 552-18(3): 2018-2019 Annual Report of the Equal Pay Commissioner for the Northwest Territories
- Motion 41-18(3): Adoption of Code of Conduct for Members of the Legislative Assembly, Carried
- Recorded Vote
- Motion 42-18(3): Repeal and Replace the Rules of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories, Carried
- Motion 43-18(3): Extended Adjournment of the House to October 24, 2019, Carried
- Motion 44-18(3): Dissolution of the 18th Legislative Assembly, Carried
- Recorded Vote
- Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery (reversion)
- Bill 61: Appropriations Act (Infrastructure Expenditures) 2020-2021
- Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
- Report Of Committee Of The Whole
- Bill 61: Appropriations Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), 2020-2021
- Recorded Vote
- Assent To Bills
- Orders Of The Day
Question 850-18(3): Bison in Nahendeh Communities
Oral Questions
Page 6430

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes
We have worked with both communities to develop a Nahanni bison management plan. That was completed in August of this year, and I believe I may have tabled that a couple of days ago. That includes approaches to reduce bison-human conflicts. We've also provided a range of public information to promote awareness of wood bison in ways to avoid conflict.
Question 850-18(3): Bison in Nahendeh Communities
Oral Questions
Page 6430

Shane Thompson Nahendeh
When I've been talking to the residents in both those communities, they talked about the opportunity to maybe increase the number of tags for outside the region, not just the community. Has the department looked at that potential opportunity?
Question 850-18(3): Bison in Nahendeh Communities
Oral Questions
Page 6430

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes
There are a number of options that our department needs to look at. I think we've heard from the Member from Mackenzie Delta about their programs with grizzly bears, and if we would consider the number of tags that are used or allocated. It is something else we would have to look at. In this particular area, we would have to look at it, the bear problem in the Beau-Del, as well. We need to take all these factors into consideration as we try and help alleviate the problem of animal-human conflict.
Question 850-18(3): Bison in Nahendeh Communities
Oral Questions
Page 6430
Speaker
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh.
Question 850-18(3): Bison in Nahendeh Communities
Oral Questions
Page 6430

Shane Thompson Nahendeh
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I appreciate the Minister's answers. I have to give a big shout-out to his department, especially in Fort Liard and Fort Simpson. They do manage these areas here, and they're doing a great job, and they're communicating with the residents, and they're trying to address this issue locally, as well. Can the Minister advise if the department has reached out to the Department of Infrastructure to look at bordering the airports, putting fences around them, similar to what is done in Fort Providence?
Question 850-18(3): Bison in Nahendeh Communities
Oral Questions
Page 6430

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes
We have worked with communities and MACA to fence off some key areas to keep bison out. I think one of the examples is in Fort Liard, and we will continue to work with the community of Nahanni Butte to explore options for fencing the Nahanni Butte airstrip again. Our departments will work closely with each other to try and find ways to help alleviate some of the problems that they're facing in the Nahendeh region with regard to bison, so we will continue to work on that and ensure that the public safety of the people is our first priority. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 850-18(3): Bison in Nahendeh Communities
Oral Questions
Page 6430
Speaker
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Frame Lake.
Question 851-18(3): French First-Language Education Admissions
Oral Questions
Page 6430

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake
Merci, Monsieur le President. My questions are for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. In my statement earlier today I mentioned the difficult relations between our government and the NWT francophone community over education. Can the Minister tell me how many applications for admissions by non-rights holders she has received under the 2016 directive, and how many were approved? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Question 851-18(3): French First-Language Education Admissions
Oral Questions
Page 6430
Speaker
Masi. The Honourable Premier.
Question 851-18(3): French First-Language Education Admissions
Oral Questions
Page 6430

Bob McLeod Yellowknife South
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will have to take that question as notice. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 851-18(3): French First-Language Education Admissions
Oral Questions
Page 6430
Speaker
Masi. The question has been taken as notice. Oral questions. Member for Frame Lake.
Question 852-18(3): Small-Scale Hydroelectricity for Communities
Oral Questions
Page 6431

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake
Merci, Monsieur le President. Later today I will table information on costs of mini-hydro projects for the Tlicho communities of Whati, Gameti, and Wekweeti. I shared this information with the Minister of Infrastructure earlier today. These projects would allow each community to meet its energy needs, offset diesel for electricity, and could displace home heating oil while significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions and the cost of living. Is the Minister aware of these mini-hydro studies, and can he tell us whether the cost of these mini-hydro projects is comparable to the proposed Whati transmission line?
Question 852-18(3): Small-Scale Hydroelectricity for Communities
Oral Questions
Page 6431
Speaker
Masi. Minister of Infrastructure.
Question 852-18(3): Small-Scale Hydroelectricity for Communities
Oral Questions
Page 6431

Wally Schumann Hay River South
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I'm well aware of these projects. These were led by the Tlicho Government. Costing goes back as far as 2009, and these things would have to be re-costed to present-day costs to compare it to what the present line that we are proposing in our energy strategy to connect Whati, which we haven't defined, as we discussed in this House yesterday. I can't compare the costs.
Question 852-18(3): Small-Scale Hydroelectricity for Communities
Oral Questions
Page 6431

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake
I want to thank the Minister for that response. It's my understanding that the costs for some of those projects may actually go down with an all-weather road providing easier transportation. Can the Minister tell us whether there has been a comprehensive evaluation of energy options for the Tlicho communities that include mini-hydro, transmission lines from various sources, greenhouse gas reductions, and most importantly, perhaps, value for money?
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