This is page numbers 887 - 916 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 going.

Rocky Simpson

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I apologize. Today, I am recycling one of my earlier statements on the NWT commercial fishing industry. On September 21, 2018, the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard announced the establishment of a ministerial advisory panel to examine alternate governance and ownership models for the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation which better reflect the environment and market conditions in today's industry. The panel was directed to explore models that support collaboration and cooperation amongst fishers and involve them in decision making.

Mr. Speaker, the report also stressed a change in governance of FFMC by, and I quote, "Increase fisher participation in FFMC by drawing board members from fishers and fisher organizations. Fisher board members should be chosen to reflect the regional geographic diversity of FFMC operations and the demographic pattern of Indigenous participation in the fishery."

Mr. Speaker, after our government received this document, and I am assuming it was never read as the decision was made to do the exact opposite, this government removed the representative who was a fisher and replaced him with a GNWT bureaucrat. We need a fisher from the NWT sitting on the board of FFMC, and when I say "NWT" I do not mean transient Alberta fishers.

Mr. Speaker, this government talks about building relationships and working in partnership with our home-grown industries. In actuality, what is happening is that we are dictating to them and saying that we know better. We do know better when it comes to slowing a process down or not providing timely decisions or delivery of projects. That is an area we excel. When it comes to the industry itself, it is the fishers that know best. It is the fishers who are putting their lives on the line.

Mr. Speaker, I need to know and the fishers need to know that the approximately $9 million to be spent on a fish plant in Hay River is based on sound and factual data. If we ever expect to maximize financial returns to the fishers for their product they deliver, we need their support and their participation at all levels of the business case. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Members' statements. Member for Nahendeh.

Eulogy for Mrs. Adele Hardisty
Members' Statements

Page 894

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I raise in the House today the passing of Adele Hardisty, aka George Hardisty's wife. She was born April 15, 1925, to her loving parents, Marie and Jean Baptiste Antseti. Adele was raised near and around Fish Lake, living a nomadic life. Adele had three beautiful sisters and brother who passed at a young age.

Adele and George Hardisty were married down by the river on a mission boat that was passing through going up North. Together, they raised eight beautiful children: Gabe, Henry, Ethel, Nellie Jane, Violet, Shirley, Walter, Troy, and lost two children at a very young age. Adele and George raised two of their grandchildren, Melissa and Mical.

Adele was very involved in Fort Simpson and throughout the Deh Cho. She sat on the Wrigley Band Council and participated in various native women's meetings. She was a resourceful person for workshops on native language for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment. People remember when she did the community reports for the CBC Radio in South Slavey.

Adele was an excellent bread maker and jam maker. She always had the best goods available when you went to visit her. Her door was always open, and she always welcomed you with a great big smile. She would invite you to sit at her table and would make sure that you were well fed. If you did not find her sitting at her table, you would find her in the backyard, working on her hides. She was known to have the best system set up for tanning hides, and her son, Henry, would always say that she always had the best-smelling perfume.

Adele was blessed with 21 grandchildren and one great, great-grandchild. She always had a way of making each grandchild feel special by giving them a nickname and a song. Adele made sure she prepared the family for her passing. The family wanted her to know that they will be all right. She raised an amazing, crazy family. We will all miss her immensely. For now, rest in peace. We are sure George is happy to have his amazing wife with him.

The Hardisty family would like to thank everybody for their loving support and prayers during their time of sorrow. As well, they would like to thank all the staff at the Fort Simpson Long Term Care Facility for all the support and love they offered Adele during her stay. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Eulogy for Mrs. Adele Hardisty
Members' Statements

Page 894

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Nahendeh. Members' statements. Item 4, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Item 5, returns to oral questions. Item 6, acknowledgements. Item 7, oral questions. Member for Nunakput.

Jackie Jacobson

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My Member's statement today was for the Minister of Infrastructure regarding safety of my constituents in Sachs Harbour and the runway and making sure that they are getting service for their food and mail. Mr. Speaker, the maintenance plan work for Sachs Harbour was in 2018, and then this February, it was announced again. Is this additional work? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Nunakput. Minister of Infrastructure.

Katrina Nokleby

Katrina Nokleby Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We are currently working on the drainage issue on the runway in Sachs Harbour. The snow is being removed to clear the packed snow from the edges of the runway. We did experience some maintenance issues and have sent a mechanic and parts to resolve the situation. I am not sure at this time if this work is part of the original plan for the airport or the runway. However, I would say, if this is causing the problem that it's causing right now, it's a good chance that this has been an ongoing issue for years; it would not have just started at this point. I would hope that it is in the plan to be addressed in Sachs Harbour. I will commit, Mr. Speaker, to get back to the Member and confirm that it is in the plan, and if it is not in the plan, it will be added to the plan. Thank you.

Jackie Jacobson

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput

Thank you, Madam Minister, for that reply. I really look forward to that because the safety of my constituents is a priority. Like I said earlier in my statement, we cannot land a King Air 350 for the medevac plane. That is what they use in the delta. They are using a Twin Otter, which is being brought in. Safety is the biggest thing for myself and making sure the service is being provided. Mr. Speaker, that being said, the work was not done in 2018. I know that was not the Minister of the day, but what is the cause of the delay?

Katrina Nokleby

Katrina Nokleby Great Slave

Without having been the Minister in 2018, I am not sure what the cause has been for the delay. I agree wholeheartedly with the Member that the safety and well-being of the people of Sachs Harbour is of critical importance. I commit to looking into it after we get out of session today, that we are currently in now, looking into whether or not the situation with the medevacs has been impeded. It is my understanding that we are working with my colleagues at Health and Social Services to ensure that we do have that reply and the medevac services maintained. It's my understanding we may be using a more expensive aircraft as a result, so obviously, as a good fiscal planner, I would like to see that rectified as soon as possible.

Jackie Jacobson

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput

I thank you, again, Madam Minister, for that. I just want to make sure that if and when the work is scheduled to take place this summer or as soon as possible for the drainage of both sides of the runway, to make sure that we get that done this summer for a priority, in putting Sachs Harbour as a priority on the Minister's table, to get it done this summer.

Katrina Nokleby

Katrina Nokleby Great Slave

Yes, the plan is to do the work on the runway this summer. I have not been made aware of any issues regarding COVID-19 impacts to delay this project, so my department will be planning to do so. We have sent a GNWT charter with a mechanic there at this point and parts to fix the issue that we have been having. We are sending the excavator there to fix the issue at this point, to get it so that it's working for now, and then we will take care of the permanent solutions this summer.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Nunakput.

Jackie Jacobson

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just again, the Minister's assurance she will keep me informed so I can keep my constituents and my leadership in Sachs Harbour informed on what's the plan when they do come up with one, to make sure it's sent to me and my local leadership. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Katrina Nokleby

Katrina Nokleby Great Slave

Yes, I commit to keeping the Member informed, and I am sure the Member will let me know if I am not. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you. Oral questions. Member for Thebacha.

Frieda Martselos

Frieda Martselos Thebacha

Mr. Speaker, the COVID-19 global pandemic has created a lot of uncertainty and delays for much of our daily life. My question is: does the Department of Infrastructure still consider this project as a priority for the 19th Assembly, the Taltson expansion? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Thebacha. Minister of Infrastructure.

Katrina Nokleby

Katrina Nokleby Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, the Taltson energy expansion project does remain a priority of not only Infrastructure but of the 19th Legislative Assembly as decided upon by all of us in October last year. The GNWT has been successful in obtaining $18 million in grant funding from Canada and continues to pursue the advancement of the project in terms of examining options for the commercial structure, defining our Indigenous partnerships, and completing technical design and environmental baseline work in order to prepare for a regulatory application.

Frieda Martselos

Frieda Martselos Thebacha

Given the economic fallout that the COVID-19 has created for our economy, this type of project is more important than ever to help spur economic growth. Can the Minister tell us whether any aspect of this project has been changed or has been delayed since the start of the 19th Legislative Assembly?

Katrina Nokleby

Katrina Nokleby Great Slave

All work on this important project does continue. The COVID-19 situation may impact the nature of engagement around the project, and that is something that we are going to have to figure out as a government as a whole: how do we do engagement at a time when we cannot necessarily meet in person and, if not, we would be in violation of the CPHO? We are just currently working on establishing the appropriate safety protocols and measures so that we can continue with the Indigenous engagement and the stakeholder engagement that we have promised to do. I just wanted to reiterate that I will be creating a unit within the Department of Infrastructure to take on the engagement process better.

Frieda Martselos

Frieda Martselos Thebacha

Can the Minister explain what the current stage that the Taltson hydro expansion is in and what comes next?

Katrina Nokleby

Katrina Nokleby Great Slave

Currently, we are in the feasibility stage of the project, so our focus remains on examining the potential commercial structures, signing an MOU with our Indigenous partners, and working closely with the Canadian infrastructure bank to build a preliminary business case for this project. Technical work is focused on transmission-line routing options and costs. Strong Indigenous partnerships are imperative to the success of this project. I recently met with the YKDFN leadership to hear their thoughts on how they would like to be involved in this project. I look forward to meeting with other Indigenous partners who will be involved in this project. I have heard not directly from the band but that Lutselk'e is also very concerned about engagement on this project, so I commit to doing that better. I am also currently working with, like I said before, my deputy minister on the establishment of an Indigenous engagement community relations unit within the Department of Infrastructure to ensure that we do have strong relationships with our partners going forward, so that we have the right people around the table when we're talking about Taltson.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary, Member for Thebacha.

Question 255-19(2): Taltson Project
Oral Questions

May 29th, 2020

Page 896

Frieda Martselos

Frieda Martselos Thebacha

Mr. Speaker, can the Minister provide a timeline for when the people of the NWT can expect this project to be built and operational? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Katrina Nokleby

Katrina Nokleby Great Slave

This is a long-term project with many steps ahead of us. Our current focus is to establish the partnership relationships and agreements, finalize the preferred route for the project, and then prepare the regulatory applications. We have the federal funding in support of all of that work. Regulatory applications could be ready as early as next year, pending a complete field season this summer, so there potentially could be some impacts there if we can't get the engagement part done before the summer work starts. Following completion of an environmental assessment and regulatory permitting process, construction of the project will take about four or five years. We do think that operations at the facility could start as early at 2030. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.