Deputy Minister.
Debates of March 9th, 2021
This is page numbers 2383 - 2438 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
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Kelly
Thank you, Madam Chair. We provided a draft agreement for review to Saskatchewan a couple of years ago, and we just recently had a meeting with them. They had some capacity challenges, and to be honest, on their priority list, it's not the same as our priority list because it's a very small portion of Saskatchewan. They have reviewed it now, and they are at the table with us. We are hopeful that we'll be able to come to an agreement with Saskatchewan in the near future. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Kelly
Oh, my apologies, Madam Chair.
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Steve Norn Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh
Thank you, Madam Chair. I know I've said this before. The water systems, they don't see borders. With all our water systems, everything is all connected, and I bet you, if we had any major environmental concerns here on our side and something was flowing into another jurisdiction, they would be all over us. I think there needs to be that mutual respect. I think that's really important. I just thought I'd make that as a comment. I'm going to move on to the NWT water strategy. Can the Minister just explain exactly the contributions, how this works, and what exactly this line item is? Thank you.
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Shane Thompson Nahendeh
My understanding is: it's funding for the University of Guelph to initiate groundwater monitoring in the Fort Liard area, but it has been delayed due to COVID. It's for projects like that, but for other details, I'll turn to the deputy minister. Thank you.
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Kelly
Thank you, Madam Chair. This can be for contributions with communities to work on community projects, or it can be to work on research projects, as the Minister has put forward. It's any sort of contribution agreements that we have or work that we do to implement the Water Stewardship Strategy Action Plan, so there are many, many things that fall under that category. Thank you, Madam Chair.
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Steve Norn Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh
Thank you, Madam Chair. That's good to know. This other last item here, this other contribution for the Mackenzie River Basin Board. Can the Minister explain what that is, as well?
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Kelly
Thank you, Madam Chair. There is an agreement that was signed in 1997 among all of the jurisdictions that are part of the Mackenzie River Basin and Canada, and that agreement, the way that it's implemented is through meetings of the Mackenzie River Basin Board. The NWT is a member, and we have an Indigenous member who participates on the Mackenzie River Basin Board, as do the other jurisdictions that are in the Mackenzie River Basin. This is a contribution towards this that we make every year so that the board can continue. Thank you, Madam Chair.
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Steve Norn Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh
No. That's good to know. I wasn't too sure I understood that because, in the actuals, it didn't exist. Now, that's earmarked for that, so at least I know what that's for. At this time, I don't have any other questions, Madam Chair.
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Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake
Thanks, Madam Chair. The number for water regulatory and assessment on page 88 is just kind of like in a flat line. I'm just wondering why it hasn't gone up or down. Thanks, Madam Chair.
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Kelly
Thank you, Madam Chair. That's the amount that is allotted for water regulatory, and we are able to work within that budget. If you can see from the actuals, we actually came in under the budget in 2019-2020, so we've had discussions with the regulatory group and this funding is adequate for the work that the need to do. Thank you, Madam Chair.
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