The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you. If we have missed anyone in the gallery today, welcome to the Chamber and I hope you are enjoying the proceedings. It is always nice to have an audience with us.

Oh sorry, Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. Actually, I got this note here. I'll just read it out. Actually I know most of them are recognized, but we have a group from the Northern Indigenous Counselling Initiative here today.

19 Indigenous counselling students began their educational journey in September 2020. 16 of these students graduated from the program and are beginning their practicums. Congratulations.

The Northern Indigenous Counselling Program is co-sponsored and run by Rhodes Wellness College, a counselling college with over 25 years of experience in Canada, and by Dene Wellness Warriors.

Dene Wellness Warriors is a professional counselling organization based in Yellowknife that focuses on helping Indigenous people throughout the NWT. It is 100 percent Indigenous owned and operated by Jean and Roy Erasmus.

The owner with us today is Jean Erasmus, here with the students. Cody Erasmus is also here.

Leanne Joss. Melissa Lennie. Louisa Elanik. Louise Lennie. Johnny Ongahak -- I hope I pronounced that right.

With us, we also have students that are not here with us and one was mentioned by the Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, Mr. Billy Archie from Aklavik. Lena Koe Peterson, also from my riding. Rita Green. Bernice Mandeville. Lorena Pierrot. Vanessa Sangris. Michelle Bourke. Lindsay Auger. Tiffany Wedawin. Lenny Fabian. And Shawn Marshall. Congratulations, everyone, and I wish you all the best in your future. Mahsi.

If we have missed anyone else in the gallery, welcome to the Chamber and I hope that you're enjoying the proceedings. It is always nice to have an audience with us. Mahsi.

Acknowledgements. Oral questions. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.

Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As one of the MLAs from the Beaufort Delta that is present here today on our last sitting day and is able to ask questions to the Minister in this House, I will continue my questions to the Minister of Infrastructure as this project is one of the most important infrastructure projects that's happening in our regions.

Can the Minister update this House on the decision her department has with regard to the Inuvik Airport Runway Extension Project and if the time sensitive part of the project will occur this year as this employs a local contractor and this Cabinet has said that it supports economic recovery for our northern contractors. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes. Minister responsible for Infrastructure.

Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There was a trilateral meeting that was held yesterday with department and National Defence, the GNWT, as well as representatives from the joint venture that will be doing work on the Inuvik runway extension.

The meeting confirmed several things for us and also highlighted the need for the GNWT and the joint venture to be able to work collaboratively and come up with a path forward. That's where we're at with the project right now, Mr. Speaker.

Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So my question is this time-sensitive work that needs to be done this spring, will the Minister provide me with an answer that this work will be issued, like approved, so that we can get the lift done?

Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, at the meeting, the meeting confirmed that the Department of Defence expects there to be due diligence applied to the project, and that's important for the bid and scope of the work to match available funding. So we know that it is time sensitive but it is a five-year project, Mr. Speaker, so there are four phases, and we are -- four work packages. So we are currently on schedule with some of the work that's proceeding. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I understand that this is a five-year project, but this is a time-sensitive section that needs to be done so that other layers can be put on later on. What is holding up this section of the project to put the lift down so that we're protecting the permafrost? Why can't we go ahead with this?

Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it's funding that's holding this project down. You've seen in Cabin Radio that, you know, they had an article on the over-costs of this project. The department -- the GNWT is working closely with Canada to be able to secure that funding. So that's what's slowing the process down. We are continuously having conversations, almost on a daily basis, with Canada and the joint venture to be able to look at ways to proceed with this project on budget on time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.

Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question for the Minister is will she direct her department to complete this vital part of the project? This is going to provide local contractors with work. Right now, the only work that's in the region has been given to Alberta residents. So I'm just wondering if this Minister is going to support our local contractors as the Minister of Infrastructure. Thank you.

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Monfwi.