This is page numbers 1197 - 1220 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 work.

Topics

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, very much to the Premier for that. According to the Government of Canada webpage, it says that Edehzhie will be established as a national park area under the Canada Wildlife Act in 2020. That's this year. I think the permanent withdrawal is helpful, but what we really need is the transfer of the lands back to the federal government, or perhaps some other arrangement to prevent this from being undone in the future. Can the Premier tell us whether we're still on schedule for the establishment as Edehzhie as a National Wildlife Area, and what role this government intends to play?

Caroline Cochrane

Caroline Cochrane Range Lake

Environment and Climate Change Canada will begin the consultation process to establish it as a National Wildlife Area. However, due to COVID-19 and the amount of work that the federal government is doing, there might be a little delay with that, although we are trying to get this moved forward as fast as possible. They know it's important to all of us, so we've stressed that as we go forward. Hopefully, the GNWT's currently in discussions with the Dehcho First Nations, and is interested in playing a role in the management of the park as we go forward. Like I said, we're at the table. We're all working together. Canada is interested in moving this forward, the Dehcho First Nations and the GNWT. This is a very successful achievement that we've made so early in our government.

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

I want to thank the Premier again. I just would like to get a better understanding of why the establishment of Edehzhie is contingent upon the Dehcho Land Use Plan.

Caroline Cochrane

Caroline Cochrane Range Lake

What I can say is that, when I first became the Premier and the Minister of Executive and Indigenous Affairs, I flew in, back in those days when we could actually fly, and had a meeting with the Grand Chief and her council and talked about it. At that point, I had realized that this park was taken off the table as kind of a negotiating thing, was my understanding. I didn't feel that was fair, so they asked me to put it back on, and I agreed.

I feel that it's important, if we're going to build a relationship, Mr. Speaker, we need to be willing to give something, and at that point, I said, "Yes, we will work with you," and then, in future talks, they've agreed to work with us on a land use plan. It's the start of a positive relationship. It is time for change. Everyone is saying that, and we are doing our best. We will have arguments; it is not going to be easy, but we are doing our best to work to settle all of the outstanding issues between the GNWT and the Indigenous governments.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Honourable Premier. Final supplementary, Member for Frame Lake.

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Merci, Monsieur le President. I want to thank the Premier again. I think this is a very significant step forward. Part of my concern here is that the Dehcho Land Use Plan has been in development for 19, count them, 19 years, and at first, the obstacle was the federal government because they owned the land, and the GNWT was at the table, but now the obstacle is our government. We own the land, and our government is the obstacle. I have heard this from people involved in the process. The concern is too much land being protected and so on. You have to give the communities the right to decide what they are going to do with that land. Eventually, if they wanted it used for different purposes, that's their decision to make.

My question to the Premier is: can you tell us why this has taken 19 years to get the Dehcho Land Use Plan to the point it is, and will our government get out of the way and finally approve this plan so that we can move forward? Thanks, Mr. Speaker.

Caroline Cochrane

Caroline Cochrane Range Lake

I can't say why it's taken 19 years. It wasn't my file before, I certainly haven't been in this House for 19 years, and I don't want to make assumptions. What I do know is that, when I assumed this portfolio, I was told by the Dehcho First Nations that there were issues with the relationship. We are trying to mend those relationships.

It would be easy for me, Mr. Speaker, to say, "I will stand back and let you do what you want." However, there is a public interest as well, and the Dehcho First Nations recognizes that. We are going into this as partners in this, and we will do our best to make sure that this is dealt with in the committed three years. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Honourable Premier. Oral questions. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.

Lesa Semmler

Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Infrastructure. Would the Minister commit to looking into whether it is possible to adjust the Dempster Highway widening plans to include starting the widening on the Inuvik side? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you. Minister of Infrastructure.

Katrina Nokleby

Katrina Nokleby Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Department of Infrastructure has recently been considering this approach based on conversations with community members. I recognize that the highway, due to its proximity to Inuvik and associated recreational areas, is one of the most heavily travelled areas of Highway No. 8. I have lots of conversations with my counterpart in the Yukon, who is also very keen to see the Dempster rehabilitated, and we have discussed that with the federal government. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Lesa Semmler

Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes

Would the Minister commit to widening the Dempster Highway from Inuvik this year?

Katrina Nokleby

Katrina Nokleby Great Slave

Infrastructure has approved $4.5 million in the 2020-2020 capital plan for Highway No. 8 reconstruction using federal funding under the Building Canada plan, bundle number 3, for ongoing Highway No. 8 widening and rehabilitation. Planned work for this year includes 3.3 kilometres of embankment widening, brushing, culvert and guardrail installation for kilometres 146.6 to 149.6. The Building Canada plan fund started in 2019-2020 and is a $4.5 million per year for the next five years.

I will commit to having the department examine our plans for this summer and beyond to align the work with the needs of the region. I cannot commit that this will happen this construction season, as we will have to look into timing, planning, and permitting issues, but I would be pleased to update you on our review and share our plans moving forward.

I would also like to mention that the Department of Infrastructure, through a combination of its own forces and contracted services, operates and maintains close to 2,500 kilometres of all-weather road and constructs over 1,400 kilometres of winter roads annually. We do this through the use of a 20-year strategic plan that addresses our transportation needs to ensure the safety of all Northwest Territories residents. I would have to go in and look at that plan and whether there needs to be adjustments.

Lesa Semmler

Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes

Well, since she won't commit to it this year, would she commit to separating and starting from both ends this year?

Katrina Nokleby

Katrina Nokleby Great Slave

I will commit to having a look at this and trying to incorporate the Member's wishes.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.

Lesa Semmler

Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the Minister commit that she will continue to fight for more money so that our highway can be done from Inuvik to Tsiigehtchic? We have the nurse who goes out there. Sometimes we have RCMP. We have medical buses that travel down that road. We need more money, and we need to have that road done before 30 years. Can the Minister commit that she is going to go out and look for more money to get working on this highway, starting on the Inuvik side? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Katrina Nokleby

Katrina Nokleby Great Slave

I think anyone who knows me knows that I speak my mind, and I do so at my federal table. Yes, I commit to the Member that I will continue to advocate strongly for the Dempster fix-up and rehabilitation with the federal government. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

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

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Masi, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] Mr. Speaker, about the new road to Whati, I would like to ask questions to the ITI Minister [translation ends].

I have additional questions for the Minister of Infrastructure. Some questions may be for more detailed information, which the Minister may not have at hand, but this is coming directly from my constituents. It's their words, Mr. Speaker. What is the current status on the Tlicho All-Season Road project? More specifically, to the northern, southern, and Tlicho hires. Last time I asked the Minister, southern hires were 50-percent-plus. Masi, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Monfwi. Minister of Infrastructure.

Katrina Nokleby

Katrina Nokleby Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As of June 2, 2020, 77 people were employed with the project. Of the 77 workers employed, 24 were from the Tlicho region or the Northwest Territories, and 53 were from the South. There have been 6,573 hours of Tlicho citizen training resulting out of the project to date. The number of employees is anticipated to increase up to 120 by the end of June. We remain committed to ensuring that local and northern benefits on the project are maintained. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

I am glad that the Minister is committed to monitoring the progress that is happening there. That's my next line of questions here. We are fortunate to be living in the North. It's small enough that we run into our constituents, or people, who actually work at the TASR site, Tlicho All-Season Road. I was yet again, Mr. Speaker, informed by one of the current workers yesterday that southern hires keep increasing, and friends and relatives of Southerners get on heavy equipment faster than my own Tlicho people working there. Even those guys, my Tlicho workers, have been waiting for a number of weeks now.

Mr. Speaker, I have questions for the Minister: what is the number of recent southern hires, new hires, the positions that they were hired for, and also advancements at the TASR construction site for southern hires?

Katrina Nokleby

Katrina Nokleby Great Slave

I will have to come back to the Member with those details.

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

I'd like to thank the Minister for her follow-up on this, because, again, this is coming from my constituents, so there are more detailed questions being asked of me to the Minister. My Tlicho workers, who are approximately, as the Minister indicated, 24 out of 70, or according to the workers there it's around a hundred or coming to a hundred, so it's a small number that we have there, who have years of experience as heavy equipment operators through their diamond mines experience, but they are not given the same treatment as Southerners wishing to advance. Could I have the Minister's commitment to provide in detail, as she may not have that in hand, as indicated earlier, the number of Tlicho workers who cite any advancements since the start of construction in October 2019; in addition, southern workers who cite less advancement?