Debates of March 11th, 2022

This is page numbers 4017 - 4060 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 know.

Topics

Oral Questions
Members Present
Prayer
Airport Capital Assistance Program
Recreational Land Leases
Capital Budget Transparency
Message of Support for Town of Fort Smith
Medical Travel
Waste Management
Firefighter Aid for Ukraine
Appreciation for Interpreters and Safety in Communities
Inflation and Gas Tax Relief
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Capital Budget Transparency
Ukrainian Immigration and Aid
Community-based Addictions Programming and Funding
Medical Travel Policies
Recreational Land Leases
Inflation and Gas Tax Relief
Waste Management
Waste Management
Tabled Document 594-19(2): Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Committee Report 20-19(2): Report on Bill 30: An Act to Amend the Aurora College Act
Tabled Document 595-19(2): What We Heard: NWT Liquor Legislation Review March, 2022
Tabled Document 596-19(2): Oral Question 918-19(2): Mental Health
Tabled Document 597-19(2): Government of Canada, Travel: Proof of Vaccination for Indigenous Peoples and Northerners in Remote Communities at February 28, 2022
Extended Adjournment of the House to March 28, 2022
Bill 47: Arbitration Act
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Committee Report 24-19(2): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Statutory Review of the Species at Risk (NWT) Act and Wildlife Act - Discussions under Section 12 of the Wildlife Act
Committee Report 24-19(2): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Statutory Review of the Species at Risk (NWT) Act and Wildlife Act - Section 14 and 21 Under the Species At Risk (NWT) Act
Committee Report 24-19(2): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Statutory Review of the Species at Risk (NWT) Act and Wildlife Act - Increase Funding Support for Community Harvester Assistance Program
Committee Report 24-19(2): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Statutory Review of the Species at Risk (NWT) Act and Wildlife Act - Increase Funding Support for Community Harvester Assistance Program
Committee Report 24-19(2): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Statutory Review of the Species at Risk (NWT) Act and Wildlife Act - Hunter Education in Education Curriculum
Committee Report 24-19(2): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Statutory Review of the Species at Risk (NWT) Act and Wildlife Act -Community Conservation Plans and Harvest Allocations
Committee Report 24-19(2): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Statutory Review of the Species at Risk (NWT) Act and Wildlife Act - Processes for Enforcement Using Alternative Measures Carried
Committee Report 24-19(2): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Statutory Review of the Species at Risk (NWT) Act and Wildlife Act - Legislated Role for Indigenous Guardians
Committee Report 24-19(2): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Statutory Review of the Species at Risk (NWT) Act and Wildlife Act - Funding for Indigenous Guardian Programs
Committee Report 24-19(2): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Statutory Review of the Species at Risk (NWT) Act and Wildlife Act - Sharing Wild Meat
Committee Report 24-19(2): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Statutory Review of the Species at Risk (NWT) Act and Wildlife Act - Nomination of Conservation Areas
Committee Report 24-19(2): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Statutory Review of the Species at Risk (NWT) Act and Wildlife Act - Public Availability of Section 15 of Wildlife Act Meeting Results
Committee Report 24-19(2): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Statutory Review of the Species at Risk (NWT) Act and Wildlife Act - Statutory Review Period Carried
Committee Report 24-19(2): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Statutory Review of the Species at Risk (NWT) Act and Wildlife Act - Government Response to Recommendations Carried
Tabled Document 578-19(2): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2021-2022 Carried
Tabled Document 579-19(2): Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 2021-2022
Report Of Committee Of The Whole
Orders Of The Day

Committee Motion 216-19(2): Committee Report 24-19(2): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Statutory Review of the Species at Risk (NWT) Act and Wildlife Act - Government Response to Recommendations Carried
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 4030

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Madam Chair. Yeah, and that's precisely what I'm trying to do, is to hold this government to account in explaining what this is for and why it's necessary.

So I guess there was a Standing Committee on Government Operations. When they looked at the recent public accounts, they had noticed that the amount for litigation contingencies that's set aside by our government, or recorded in the public accounts in some way, has grown -- I think it's probably fair to say exponentially over the last while. Would this amount here be part of that figure that we would expect to see in a public -- in at least that set of past public accounts? Thanks, Madam Chair.

Committee Motion 216-19(2): Committee Report 24-19(2): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Statutory Review of the Species at Risk (NWT) Act and Wildlife Act - Government Response to Recommendations Carried
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 4030

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Minister of Finance.

Committee Motion 216-19(2): Committee Report 24-19(2): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Statutory Review of the Species at Risk (NWT) Act and Wildlife Act - Government Response to Recommendations Carried
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 4030

Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes, this would have appeared under -- this is an example of exactly that, of something that would have appeared under those contingencies and now this -- the amount that had previously been set aside, anticipated for the manage -- or to resolve in this litigation will come out of the future public accounts. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Committee Motion 216-19(2): Committee Report 24-19(2): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Statutory Review of the Species at Risk (NWT) Act and Wildlife Act - Government Response to Recommendations Carried
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 4030

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Member for Frame Lake.

Committee Motion 216-19(2): Committee Report 24-19(2): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Statutory Review of the Species at Risk (NWT) Act and Wildlife Act - Government Response to Recommendations Carried
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 4030

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Madam Chair. So I guess my last point here is a comment more than anything else.

I've always expressed concerns with the increasing number and amount of infrastructure projects that this government is casting about as P3s, public-private partnerships, and I this is a reflection of the difficulty of some of these arrangements in that they tend to be very complex matters that sometimes end up in litigation and settlements like this rather than a conventional sort of we save the money, we build the project, finance it somehow. Getting involved with third parties, I think this shows that P3s have their own sets of risks that are not always properly accounted for or reflected in the way that we proceed with infrastructure projects. Thanks, Madam Chair.

Committee Motion 216-19(2): Committee Report 24-19(2): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Statutory Review of the Species at Risk (NWT) Act and Wildlife Act - Government Response to Recommendations Carried
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 4030

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Minister of Finance.

Committee Motion 216-19(2): Committee Report 24-19(2): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Statutory Review of the Species at Risk (NWT) Act and Wildlife Act - Government Response to Recommendations Carried
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 4030

Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, again, respectfully, there's a lot of litigation that happens in large infrastructure projects, whether it's a P3 or otherwise. That is not uncommon that as large projects go, that they will often wind up in some sorts of disputes between the parties that are involved and if the GNWT is one of those parties, then we will at times be subject to those litigation disputes. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Committee Motion 216-19(2): Committee Report 24-19(2): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Statutory Review of the Species at Risk (NWT) Act and Wildlife Act - Government Response to Recommendations Carried
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 4030

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Member for Frame Lake.

Committee Motion 216-19(2): Committee Report 24-19(2): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Statutory Review of the Species at Risk (NWT) Act and Wildlife Act - Government Response to Recommendations Carried
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 4030

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Nothing further other than I'm very wary of further P3s, and I think that's where this government is going. Thanks, Madam Chair.

Committee Motion 216-19(2): Committee Report 24-19(2): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Statutory Review of the Species at Risk (NWT) Act and Wildlife Act - Government Response to Recommendations Carried
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 4030

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Member for Great Slave.

Committee Motion 216-19(2): Committee Report 24-19(2): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Statutory Review of the Species at Risk (NWT) Act and Wildlife Act - Government Response to Recommendations Carried
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 4030

Katrina Nokleby

Katrina Nokleby Great Slave

Thank you, Madam Chair. I'm going to start with the Redknife River Crossing money. Is it -- I'm just trying to understand here, and I'm a little mixed up by something. So we're putting up the $750,000 but in return we'll have a $9.5 million investment from De Beers to work on this infrastructure? Thank you, Madam Chair.

Committee Motion 216-19(2): Committee Report 24-19(2): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Statutory Review of the Species at Risk (NWT) Act and Wildlife Act - Government Response to Recommendations Carried
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 4030

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Minister of Finance.

Committee Motion 216-19(2): Committee Report 24-19(2): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Statutory Review of the Species at Risk (NWT) Act and Wildlife Act - Government Response to Recommendations Carried
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 4030

Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

Thank you, Madam Chair. So Madam Chair, I should -- I believe that this is actually -- yeah, it's largely funded by De Beers and, yes, partially funded by the GNWT, so there. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Committee Motion 216-19(2): Committee Report 24-19(2): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Statutory Review of the Species at Risk (NWT) Act and Wildlife Act - Government Response to Recommendations Carried
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 4030

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Member for Great Slave.

Committee Motion 216-19(2): Committee Report 24-19(2): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Statutory Review of the Species at Risk (NWT) Act and Wildlife Act - Government Response to Recommendations Carried
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 4030

Katrina Nokleby

Katrina Nokleby Great Slave

Thank you, Madam Chair. And I -- without getting too much off the Minister's expertise, is it her understanding that this bridge is already there and the need for the work is that the culverts are impeding fish access? Thank you, Madam Chair.

Committee Motion 216-19(2): Committee Report 24-19(2): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Statutory Review of the Species at Risk (NWT) Act and Wildlife Act - Government Response to Recommendations Carried
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 4030

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Minister of Finance.

Committee Motion 216-19(2): Committee Report 24-19(2): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Statutory Review of the Species at Risk (NWT) Act and Wildlife Act - Government Response to Recommendations Carried
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

Thank you, Madam Chair. And Madam Chair, first -- sorry, I ought to have turned the page a little faster. This $750,000 is actually a portion that is fully funded by De Beers. The total project costs will be 32 percent GNWT the end. But for the moment, where we're at right in the project, this portion will ultimately be offset.

And yes, so what's happened is that what's been determined is that the bridge culverts that are currently in place or not in place are, indeed, presenting a challenge to migratory fish passage and that was the discussion, as I gather, that had to take place between De Beers and Department of Fisheries and Oceans, is to find where within the region -- where within the Northwest Territories they could provide some supports and assistance in terms of our fisheries, and this was the project that was landed on. Thank you.

Committee Motion 216-19(2): Committee Report 24-19(2): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Statutory Review of the Species at Risk (NWT) Act and Wildlife Act - Government Response to Recommendations Carried
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 4030

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Member for Great Slave.

Committee Motion 216-19(2): Committee Report 24-19(2): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Statutory Review of the Species at Risk (NWT) Act and Wildlife Act - Government Response to Recommendations Carried
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Katrina Nokleby

Katrina Nokleby Great Slave

Thank you, Madam Chair. With the Minister of Finance's ITI hat on, is she aware of the -- is this a normal process for industry and operating mines to do restoration and habitat work in compensation elsewhere in order to -- to compensate for the impacts of the mine? Is this a regular process that's seen in our government and others? Thank you.

Committee Motion 216-19(2): Committee Report 24-19(2): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Statutory Review of the Species at Risk (NWT) Act and Wildlife Act - Government Response to Recommendations Carried
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 4030

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Minister of Finance.

Committee Motion 216-19(2): Committee Report 24-19(2): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Statutory Review of the Species at Risk (NWT) Act and Wildlife Act - Government Response to Recommendations Carried
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I'm inclined to keep my Finance hat on and just say that -- that certainly this is the first of this nature that I've seen in this role. But yes, of course, you know, there's always going to be opportunities for -- you know, there has to be opportunities to ensure that when the regulatory process is underway, that all levels of government are in discussions to meet whatever those regulatory processes require.

So in this case, the GNWT does happen to be the beneficiary of a regulatory arrangement between the Department of Fisheries and Gahcho Kue Mine. And, yeah, as we say, I think someone said earlier, happy to take the money but it's also happy to be working collaboratively to figure out where to best spend that money. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Committee Motion 216-19(2): Committee Report 24-19(2): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Statutory Review of the Species at Risk (NWT) Act and Wildlife Act - Government Response to Recommendations Carried
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 4030

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Member for Great Slave.

Committee Motion 216-19(2): Committee Report 24-19(2): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Statutory Review of the Species at Risk (NWT) Act and Wildlife Act - Government Response to Recommendations Carried
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

March 11th, 2022

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Katrina Nokleby

Katrina Nokleby Great Slave

Thank you, Madam Chair. I'll answer my own question: Yes, it is really common for mines and industry to provide other projects elsewhere in offset of their work.

My next comment around this, then, is -- sorry -- around the P3 situations and such, can the Minister explain whether or not if we did not engage into P3 agreements, would we have the expertise in house in the North to do the projects that we want to do? Thank you.

Committee Motion 216-19(2): Committee Report 24-19(2): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Statutory Review of the Species at Risk (NWT) Act and Wildlife Act - Government Response to Recommendations Carried
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 4030

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Minister of Finance.

Committee Motion 216-19(2): Committee Report 24-19(2): Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Statutory Review of the Species at Risk (NWT) Act and Wildlife Act - Government Response to Recommendations Carried
Consideration Of Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

Thank you, Madam Chair. And Madam Chair -- first of all, I would be very happy to provide a general P3 briefing to committee and perhaps even make it a public one if that's of committee's will. P3s have evolved significantly in the last several years and allow the government to undertake a scale, a size of project that we wouldn't otherwise be able to undertake on our own. It is something that we need to consider the risks on. It's something we need to better understand, and I'd be very happy to have that opportunity. Thank you, Madam Chair.