So this is application based. So the communities actually apply for it. When we have more applications, we try to find the money within. But for how we do the processing and how we do the budgeting, I will turn to the deputy minister to get her to explain the process to the Member. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Debates of Feb. 23rd, 2022
This is page numbers 3441 - 3480 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
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Kelly
Thank you, Mr. Chair. We do, as the Minister said, on a regular basis. In this instance, it's because through the supplementary funding that we got related to fighting fires in a COVID situation, there was some extra money to do some FireSmarting work with communities, and that's why you can see this difference on that line item. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
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Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake
Thanks, Mr. Chair. Yeah, I think the risk of fires is only going to increase with the climate crisis. So if there's more applications for funding, the department will find the money to get the work done; is that what I'm hearing the Minister say? Thanks, Mr. Chair.
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Shane Thompson Nahendeh
So when we get the applications, we try to find and be able to work with the existing resources that we have presently, and we try to do that. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
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Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake
Okay, thanks. Well, I guess if I hear that communities are not getting the money, I'll come back to the Minister to raise that.
But the other question I have is I had a constituent raise with me the issue of being able to cut wood along the Tlicho All-Season Road and apparently was not able to get a wood cutting permit. What is going on with wood cutting along the road and why wasn't that sorted out before the road was opened? Thanks, Mr. Chair.
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Shane Thompson Nahendeh
Thank you. So the road project got done quicker. We have zero to 12 when we're working with the Tlicho government. We are trying to work with the Tlicho government to set up a plan. We're in a process of working with them, and so we are working with the Tlicho government. They've identified issues and concerns. And so right now, we have zero to 12 and that's what we're working with the Tlicho government. For the people to get the permits, they go through with that process.
The other part of the road, and I don't know the exact mileage of it, but it's from 13 to the end of the road, we are working with the Tlicho government. They have concerns. And we're going through a process with their community and our staff moving forward. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
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Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake
Yeah, okay, thanks. This is all coming as news to me. So just so I can get this clarified, so the first -- from the junction to kilometre 12, ENR is issuing wood cutting permits to anybody, any residents? And then beyond kilometre 12, that's still under negotiation with the Tlicho government? Is that what I hear the Minister say? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
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Shane Thompson Nahendeh
Just to get clarity, I'm going to turn to the deputy minister. But it's 0 to 12 is where the cutting permits existed prior to the road. That's where the people were able do it. But to get clarity on it -- and it's not negotiations. I want to get it clear, we are working with the Tlicho government on their traditional territory and public lands. We are working with them. It's not negotiating. I need to stress we are working with them together collaboratively to come up with a process that's respectful of them in their Indigenous area. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With your permission, I'll turn to the deputy minister to give clarity on the permits and stuff like that. Thank you.
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Kelly
Thank you, Mr. Chair. So ENR has been meeting with the Tlicho government to discuss the concerns, as the Minister mentioned. And what we're trying to do is come up with an interim plan while we work with the Tlicho government on a forest management plan for the area.
What we're interested in, and working on right now, is what will happen for those -- for kilometre 0 to 5 and 8 to 12, which previously there were permits in that area. And my understanding is we're almost -- we're almost there with those discussions. So at this time, they're still ongoing. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
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Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake
Yeah, thanks, Mr. Chair. So I guess I'll make a couple suggestions.
Can I get a commitment, then, out of the Minister to give us a briefing note on this? Because I've heard different ranges of kilometres. And if that briefing note could clarify land ownership and who's responsible for forest resources along the corridor of the road. The last thing I want to do is interfere with the Tlicho agreement in any way and their rights. But -- so can I get that commitment out of the Minister? And secondly, can he commit to actually communicate this with the public? Because it's been radio silence with the public in terms of what's going on. Thanks, Mr. Chair.
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Shane Thompson Nahendeh
We can give a commitment to what the process is and how we're doing it. But for communications, before I make that commitment, I would like to get the deputy minister to explain what's going on. It hasn't been radio silence from my point of view. Maybe there is some -- been some challenges and maybe it's just the information that I've been receiving, and maybe it's because I've been talking with the Tlicho government on this very topic. So with your permission, I'll go to the deputy minister. Thank you.
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The Chair Ronald Bonnetrouge
Mahsi. I think he asked for clarification also on the permitting process too. Deputy minister.
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St. Arnaud
Thank you, Mr. Chair. There is no harvesting along the road at this point, and we're working with the Tlicho government to come up with the plan. Once we have the plan, we will communicate it out. But that's what we're working on getting at this point.
There is a structure -- there's a cabin on -- between 5 and 8, and the reason the numbers were different, it is -- we are looking at 0 to 12 but there would be a buffer around that cabin, and that's what we're looking at. That's why I said 0 to 5 and 8 to 12. So this is still under discussion and we'll -- we will definitely communicate it out once the plan is in place and once we've finalized our discussions with the Tlicho government. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
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