Debates of March 10th, 2020

This is page numbers 557 - 606 of the Hansard for the 19th Assembly, 2nd 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 thanks.

Topics

Oral Questions
Members Present
Prayer
Speaker's Ruling
Value of Tourism
Addiction Treatment Services
Agricultural Strategy
Delivered in Tlicho - Interpretation Not Available
International Women's Day
Fort Providence Health Centre Concerns
North Slave Correctional Centre Assault
Rental Adjustment for Aging Public Housing Units in Nunakput
Daylight Savings Time
Food Security in the Northwest Territories
Housing and Income Security
Virtual Care
Addictions Treatment Options
Agricultural Strategy
Rent Scale for Public Housing Units
Food Security in the Northwest Territories
Fort Providence Health Centre
Income Assistance
Daylight Savings Time
North Slave Correctional Complex Assault
Medical Travel
Municipal Land Transfer
Home and Community Care Review
North Slave Correctional Complex Assault
Written Question 7-19(2): Virtual Healthcare
Return to Written Question 4-19(2): Action Plan on Core Housing Needs
Tabled Document 53-19(2): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 88-19(2): Alcohol Strategy Tabled Document 54-19(2): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 105-19(2): Medical Travel Claim Forms
Tabled Document 55-19(2): Virtual Care: Recommendations for Scaling Up Virtual Medical Services - Report of the Virtual Care Task Force, February 2020
Tabled Document 56-19(2): Department of Justice Corrections Service Investigation Report
Bill 3: An Act to Amend the Public Highways Act
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Tabled Document 30-19(2): Main Estimates 2020-2021 - Environment and Natural Resources - Deferral of Further Consideration of the Estimates for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Report Of Committee Of The Whole
Orders Of The Day

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member for Yellowknife North. Minister of ENR.

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Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

For that type of detail, I'm going to have to ask the deputy minister to provide that information.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Deputy Minister, Ms. Kelly.

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Kelly

Thank you, Madam Chair. The way that the securities are set up right now is due to the delegated authority from the federal government. Land-related liabilities have been delegated to the Minister of Lands due to the Lands Act, and water-related liabilities have been delegated to the Minister of ENR because the Waters Act sits under the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources. Thank you, Madam Chair.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Deputy Minister. Member for Yellowknife North.

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Rylund Johnson

Rylund Johnson Yellowknife North

I guess what I'm getting at, this is the same kind of issue with contaminated sites, is that they lie within ENR, Lands, and then a bit with EIA, as well. I guess what I'm looking for is, you know, this is largely a political discussion, but whether the Minister is willing to look into if there is any benefit to keeping all of our securities expertise spread out in different departments, along with contaminated sites. I recognize OROGO has to be separate, and I recognize EIA has to have theirs, and I know no one ever wants to talk about corporate restructuring, but I was hoping the Minister could look into whether there is any benefit to keeping both contaminated sites and securities separate in ENR and Lands. I recognize we would have to, then, change the delegated authority or move some people around the departments, but I'm asking if the Minister is willing to begin that conversation.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member for Yellowknife North. Minister of ENR.

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Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you. Right now, getting down into the nitty-gritty or into the deep of this, we have regulations that the Minister of Lands gets to deal with, and then those that the Minister of ENR gets to deal with, so we have those regulations there. The departments work together closely to address this, more so now than before, but for further detail so that hopefully we can get people to understand, I'll ask the deputy minister to further answer the question. Thank you, Madam Chair.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Deputy minister, Ms. Kelly.

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Kelly

Thank you, Madam Chair. I think it's important to recognize that there are things that the Waters Act is responsible for, other than securities, that make sense at ENR, and there are things that the Lands Act does, other than securities, that make sense at the Department of Lands, which is why those pieces of legislation are in those two departments. There definitely is a close working relationship on securities between the two departments.

Following back to the contaminated sites part of the question, ENR is the lead on some of the work on environmental site assessments and other pieces of that, but many departments work on contaminated sites. MACA, Infrastructure, all departments have an interest in contaminated sites. These files are things that the government is working to make sure that we are collaborating effectively on. We understand the importance of both contaminated sites and, of course, securities and why there are concerns related to that, so there are special groups that have been set up within the government to work on these at multiple levels, the director level and the assistant deputy minister level, as well as the deputy level. Thank you, Madam Chair.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, deputy minister. Are there any further questions for this section? If there are no further questions, please turn to page 73. Environment and Natural Resources, environmental protection and waste management, operations expenditure summary, 2020-2021 Main Estimates, $4,473,000. Does committee agree?

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. We will now turn to environmental stewardship and climate change, beginning on page 75, with information items on page 78. Questions? Are there any questions on environmental stewardship? Member for Frame Lake.

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Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Madam Chair. I would like to start on page 76, top item, climate change and air quality. Can I have an explanation as to why it's being reduced from last year? Thanks, Madam Chair.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. Minister of ENR.

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Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Madam Chair. It was a sunset. Thank you, Madam Chair.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. Member for Frame Lake.

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Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Madam Chair. Sunset of what, our funding or federal funding? Can I get an explanation? Thanks, Madam Chair.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. Minister of ENR.

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Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Madam Chair. It was GNWT funding, and it was for very specific actions that we needed to do. Thank you, Madam Chair.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. Member Frame Lake.

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Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Madam Chair. I am not sure what those very specific actions were, but I think I will have to move on. The contract services here on this page has increased significantly. Can I get an explanation? Thanks, Madam Chair.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Minister of ENR.

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Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Madam Chair. Nature fund. Thank you, Madam Chair.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. Member for Frame Lake.