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.
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 4029
The Chair Lesa Semmler
Committee, we will now turn to page 9.
Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2021-2022, Department of Infrastructure, capital investment expenditures, asset management not previously authorized, $3,500,000. Does committee agree? 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
March 11th, 2022
Page 4029
Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake
Thanks, Madam Chair. Yeah, I've got some questions on each of the two items that's listed here.
The first one is for a bridge culvert replacement on the Redknife River. The note here says that it's partially offset by revenues received from a third party. Can someone tell me what this is all about? 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 4029
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 4029
Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South
Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, supplementary estimates aren't always very interesting. This one is a little bit interesting.
What's happening here is that DBCI, or the De Beers Canada Incorporated, will be contributing a sum of $9.5 million towards the design and construction of a bridge to replace the existing bridge culverts over -- at the Redknife River. And this stems from an obligation that De Beers has arising out of their Gahcho Kue fisheries authorization from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans to help provide fish habitat compensation. And when they're doing so, they entered into discussions with the Department of Infrastructure for several years to determine how to best meet the needs of the Department of Infrastructure as well as, at the same time, ensuring that they have fully discharged their obligations to DFO, and this is the project that they have landed on. 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 4029
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 4029
Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake
Thanks, Madam Chair. So do we have written confirmation from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans that this meets their fisheries authorization requirements and -- yeah, I'll start with that. 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 4029
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 4029
Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South
Thank you, Madam Chair. I don't have that in front of me, Madam Chair. But given the length of the conversations between the Department of Infrastructure and De Beers, I was able to confirm that they -- they are satisfied that this does meet -- "they" being the department, are satisfied that this does meet obligations. And certainly, I'm -- you know, would expect that a company that's sophisticated to this level will not be doing anything that would put their regulatory process in jeopardy. 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 4029
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 4029
Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake
Thanks, Madam Chair. So I guess I -- the Minister used the word "they". Is the Minister referring to the department or, Department of Fisheries and Oceans or De Beers or who? I just want to get some assurance that fisheries and oceans has actually agreed to this arrangement. 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 4029
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 4029
Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South
Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes, so the department -- or the GNWT has confirmed with the federal government that the Department of Fisheries and Oceans is in agreement with this. 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 4029
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 4029
Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake
Okay, thanks for that. Yeah, and I've been involved in looking at some diamond mine stuff in my previous life where fisheries authorizations were required, and it's just -- this one, I find really interesting in that, you know, Gahcho Kue's drained a lake in a completely different watershed, completely different ecosystem, probably even different species of fish that might frequent those waters, and has allowed De Beers now to make a contribution for a bridge culvert replacement close -- I guess between Fort Providence and Fort Simpson, completely different watershed, probably different kinds of fish. I just find this really astounding that DFO would actually authorize this. But that's not our concern here I guess, if we're willing to take free money from De Beers, but I just find this very -- actually quite troubling that DFO would authorize this, but yeah.
I want to move on to the next item, which is some sort of a dispute over a letter of credit replacement fund for $2.75 million. Can I get some explanation as to what this amount is for and whose getting it and so on? 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 Lesa Semmler
Sorry, can you repeat the question -- no, his mic was on. Sorry, yeah. 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 Yellowknife South
Thank you, Madam Chair. So this is the resolution of a matter that arises out of some litigation pertaining to the Deh Cho Bridge construction, and it's the conclusion thereof. Some of the details of that, Madam Chair, will be subject to confidentiality provisions under the settlement agreement. But it does fully resolve the matter. 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
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 Frame Lake
Okay. Well, while respecting that this was the result of some sort of settlement, whose actually getting this money? 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
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
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
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 Frame Lake
Yeah, trying to find some ways to ask some questions of this because, you know, this is costing the taxpayers of the Northwest Territories $2.75 million for a P3 that seems to have gone off the rails somehow. So can the Minister provide any further details? 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
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 Yellowknife South
Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, it wasn't so much anything to do with the P3 agreement or not. It was at the stage of construction that there were disputes that arose between the contractor from New Brunswick and the GNWT, and then the two got into discussions about what to do to resolve that matter over the course of quite some time, long before I think anyone in this room were here. That matter did now finally and fully resolve and it resolved at the number that is before you of $2.75 million.
And as I said, there are challenges in terms of whenever there's been a legal matter that gets resolved insofar as there have to be -- there's -- one of the things that entices any party to settle a dispute is to be assured that they can be provided some confidentiality rather than having to go through a fully public litigated process. So, again, it's matters that arose quite some time ago related to that construction, and I have provided a fair bit more information to committee on a confidential basis so that they can be assured in their role as being those who hold us to account as to what transpired and why. 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
Please only include contact information if you would like to hear back.
