Frieda Martselos Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the Infrastructure budget that we looked at yesterday, Fort Simpson is also replacing lighting on the runway. Has the width or length been altered on this particular airport. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don't know that in front of me right now. If I were perhaps given a heads up, I could prepare something. I can commit to the Member when I give her the names to provide that information as well. Thank you.

[Audio]

MR. SPEAKER: Member for Frame Lake.

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Merci Monsieur le President. My question's for the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources. I want to follow up on some important facets for the proposed regional study for the Slave Geological Province.

In June of this year, his department carried out extensive aerial surveys of caribou herds including the Bathurst herd, and of course those surveys were delayed by a year. Can the Minister describe results of those surveys and, more specifically, the results for the Bathurst herd. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

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

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I thank the Member for the question. This summer ENR completed surveys to obtain updated population estimates for the five barren-ground caribou herds: the Tuk Peninsula herd, Cape Bathurst herd, the Bluenose-East herd, and the Bluenose-West herd, and the Bathurst herd. Calving ground photo surveys were successfully completed in June for the Bathurst and the Bluenose-East herd, and a composition survey was done in October. The 2021 estimates for these two herds will be released shortly to all co-management partners and committee. In December, we are planning to meet with the Bathurst Caribou Advisory Committee and all interested Indigenous governments and organizations to discuss the new establishments and moving forwards.

Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, I can't share it. We needed to follow our process and in the process work with our Indigenous partners first then -- and committee and then make it public. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Merci, Monsieur le President. I don't fault the Minister in wanting to follow due process, but of course the Bathurst caribou herd is at a critically low point but our government continues to steamroll ahead with plans for an all-weather road that would inevitably cause irreversible harm to the Bathurst herd.

So can the Minister tell us whether or government is prepared to stop or pause the work on the Slave Geological Corridor until a regional study is completed. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I explained in this House the GNWT can't try to influence decisions. Regional studies fall -- unfortunately fall under the federal government's authority under the MVRMA, I believe that's what it is -- too many acronyms some days. The GNWT has not developed a position on the regional study. Cabinet will seek input from regular Members on potential positions once input has been received from Indigenous governments. So we're more than willing to work together collaboratively with our Indigenous partners to come up with a position. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Merci, Monsieur le President. I want to thank the Minister for that. I'll try to give him a real gift here, all he has to say is 'yes'.

So with regard, though, to the Slave Geological Province regional study, you know, participant funding is going to be a central issue. And in the last Assembly, my friend, the Honourable R. C. McLeod said, on March 2nd, 2016, We recognize the value of having our NWT residents participate in a lot of these processes and will continue to the Member that I will continue to raise these issues with our federal counterparts.

So my question to this Minister is does government actually support the concept of participant funding and is it prepared to push for participant funding as part of a regional study. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

I can tell you that the GNWT is working -- talking to our Indigenous governments, to the Nunavut government and the federal government, in order to understand relevant views and interests about the GNWT's -- or the government's request, the Tlicho's governments request. Any GNWT position will take in account the views of all parties and stakeholders, including MLAs. The GNWT has encouraged the federal government to consider federal funding opportunities recognizing there should be a regional study moved forward with significant federal finance support would be required, including participants funding. And you heard me yesterday, this area should be the federal government's responsibility because they are responsible for this very act. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Frame Lake.

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Merci, Monsieur le President. I want to thank the Minister for that. I guess I will take it one step back. Does this government actually support the concept of participant funding in general for environmental assessment, and I'm hoping the Minister's actually going to say, 'yes'. Thanks, Mr. Speaker.

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the only person that can speak for the Government of the Northwest Territories is the Premier. What I can say, though, from ENR's perspective, yes, we want to work with our Indigenous governments. We need their input to move forward. It's very much about engaging and consultation with our Indigenous governments. So if he wants an government overall approach, he needs to ask that question to the Premier. But from ENR's perspective, we think participants need to work together -- we need to get money to work for it to address our issues. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions, Minister for Yellowknife North.