The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Ministers' statements. Minister responsible for Environment and Natural Resources.

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, caribou have sustained Northerners and communities across the Northwest Territories for generations. Today, caribou herds face pressure from a wide range of natural factors and human activities throughout their range, including the impact of climate change. We all want to see healthy caribou herds that can sustain harvest and cultural traditions for generations to come. With the winter's harvest underway and weather getting warmer, I would like to speak today on respectful harvesting, why it is important, and what our government is doing to encourage safe, legal, and respectful harvesting.

Mr. Speaker, we are working with our co-management partners to strengthen awareness and support for the conservation of caribou. Our focus on promoting respectful harvesting is meant to remind everyone that their individual choices make an important difference. To that end, our government has worked with Indigenous governments, Indigenous organizations, and respected harvesters to build a communications campaign based on traditional values. The campaign will focus on key messages grounded on what we have heard working with co-management partners and respected harvesters:

• Harvest respectfully, guided by traditional practices of take only what you need;
• Don't leave anything behind;
• Share what you have when you get back; and, learn from your elders.

Mr. Speaker, this is timeless advice and the good news is that almost everyone out there is following it. Unfortunately, there are still those hunting illegally in the Bathurst mobile zone, which was put in place through legislation to protect the herd based on agreements between co-management partners. There are still caribou being wounded, wasted, and left behind. We heard from elders and respected harvesters that some people are hunting without respect for the caribou or the people and communities that rely on them.

Mr. Speaker, the stakes are high. Indigenous leaders, elders, and respected harvesters continue to tell us that they are concerned for the future of caribou in the NWT. That message is being shared for good reason. The Bathurst herd has declined nearly 99 percent in number since 1986. Despite this drastic decline and increasingly urgent messages from leaders, we are still seeing some cases of illegal harvesting of this critically low herd. That is why today the herd is protected by our own territorial collaboratively developed laws, herd management plans, and local community caribou stewardship plans that all reflect an agreement to not harvest from the Bathurst herd.

Mr. Speaker, in January 2022 I met with Indigenous leaders from communities on the Bathurst herd range to discuss the recommendations of a respected harvesters meeting. We all agreed that harvest needs being done in a safe, legal, and respectful manner, and in a way that supports our shared conservation goals. These goals are undermined by illegal harvesting and wastage and are not consistent with traditional and cultural harvesting practices. Every time people take more than they need, they put more strain on the herds that are already under pressure. We applaud the vast majority of hunters that are harvesting in a safe, legal, and respectful way, and support all of our co-management partners in protecting caribou. We call on everyone to follow these examples and act now. Harvest with respect today so that there will be healthy caribou herds supporting our communities tomorrow. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Ministers' statements. Minister responsible for Justice.

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Mr. Speaker, families encounter the family law system in some of life's most difficult moments, and the Government of the Northwest Territories is committed to improving our family law processes to ensure we support families through these hard times. Today I am pleased to announce the launch of the NWT Child Support Recalculation Service.

This new service can, in eligible circumstances, recalculate child support amounts on an annual basis based on the parent's income without having to go through the courts. This service is intended to reduce the time, expense, and stress that can result from parents relying upon the court process when the amount of child support needs to be changed due to a change in income.

The Child Support Recalculation Service aims to ensure fairness to both the payer and recipient at no charge. Instead of returning to court when a parent's income changes, this service will allow for the automatic recalculation of child support amounts on an annual basis for eligible orders and agreements that have been registered with the service.

In order to be eligible, child support orders and agreements must meet the requirements as per the territorial Children's Law Act or the federal Divorce Act. Once enrolled, the service automatically recalculates support amounts using the child support guidelines and a person's latest assessment from the Canada Revenue Agency.

Mr. Speaker, the establishment of the Child Support Recalculation Service required legislative changes to the territorial Children's Law Act and the development of subsequent regulations as well as the establishment of an agreement with the federal government to allow for the recalculation of orders made under the federal Divorce Act.

In the spring of 2022, the GNWT invited residents, experts, and stakeholders to share their thoughts and suggestions with respect to the proposed regulations for the Child Support Recalculation Service. This public engagement process took place between June 6th and July 5th and provided insightful feedback that helped shape the regulations.

The department is communicating information about the new service to parents through legal aid offices, maintenance enforcement case workers, the Law Society of the NWT, and other appropriate channels. Information is currently available on the Department of Justice website. Parties to any new orders will now receive information about the program along with their court order. This new service is provided to NWT families through the Department of Justice and has been established with financial support from the federal Canadian Family Justice Fund.

Mr. Speaker, going through a separation or divorce is difficult for families. Providing this service will relieve some of the pressure on parents by alleviating the need to return to court and allowing them to focus more on the well-being of their children and themselves. It is also expected to ease some demand on our court resources.

Mr. Speaker, the GNWT is committed to helping Northerners navigate the family law system. The new Child Support Recalculation Service helps families with child support orders and agreements ensure that a fair level of support is maintained for their children. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Ministers' statements. Minister responsible for Industry, Tourism and Investment.

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

Mr. Speaker, it is a sure sign that spring is just around the corner. The draw for extended-stay campsites at the Prelude and Reid Lake campgrounds will be held this Sunday in Yellowknife. These popular campgrounds, Mr. Speaker, are just two of the 17 facilities that are managed and maintained by the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment across our territory. For summer visitors, the Northwest Territories camping experience is a key element of our competitive tourism product. Northwest Territories parks offer a spectacular staging point from which to enjoy our unique natural environment as well as our communities, events, celebrations and activities.

Last summer, with the easing of travel restrictions, Canadians and international travellers flocked to Northwest Territories parks in large numbers. Seven of the Northwest Territories' 17 parks recorded all-time visitation highs in the 2022 season. For example, the number of overnight visitors in the Beaufort Delta region was four times higher than it had been in 2021. Overall, more than 17,000 overnight visits were registered by individuals from outside of the Northwest Territories, representing a full rebound to pre-pandemic levels.

Mr. Speaker, in the face of this demand, the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment will invest close to $2 million this summer in the ongoing maintenance and improvements of our territory's parks and campgrounds.

In the Inuvik region, a new deck and performance area is being constructed at Gwich'in Park that will feature tiered seating. Meanwhile, at Happy Valley Park, ITI will be increasing the capacity of the park's shower and washroom facilities. The Fort Providence campground will be getting a new adventure themed playground this year while the Sambaa Deh Falls Territorial Park will be getting an upgrade to the shower building with new mechanical infrastructure and improving its wheelchair accessibility. A new change room and concession are slated for construction at the beach at the Hay River Territorial Park. Shower buildings and laundry facilities are being added to NWT Parks facilities at the 60th Parallel and Little Buffalo River Crossing. A manager's residence is being constructed at the Queen Elizabeth Park in Fort Smith and the visitor information centre at Blackstone Park is being renovated to better display the centre's interpretive components and cultural displays.

Mr. Speaker, as ITI prepares for the upcoming parks season, amendments to the territorial parks regulations made last year are also coming into force. And, Mr. Speaker, this year, the GNWT's online reservation site will open the week of April 4th for the 2023 season and campgrounds across the territory open their gates beginning May 15th. As residents and visitors alike enjoy Northwest Territories parks and campgrounds this summer, the Department of ITI will be working to keep those parks running safely and smoothly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Ministers' statements. Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife North.

Rylund Johnson Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a dream that one day I can leave this place, maybe go into the woods, build a little cabin, live there, and not think about politics. Perhaps I could run a little tourism business on the side, maybe have a garden, and if I'm lucky enough maybe one day pass that home on to my children and just generally be left alone, Mr. Speaker. But Mr. Speaker, the Department of Lands has killed my dream and the dreams of so many others because, first, in order to build that cabin you got to win a lottery, Mr. Speaker. And even if you win the long-shot bet on that lottery, they won't let you legally live there full-time, Mr. Speaker. And even if you skirt that rule, they certainly won't let you run any sort of business out of that home. And then one day Mr. Speaker, a lands inspector is going to show up and tell you that your greenhouse is too close to your tool shed and that your lease is going to be out of compliance so you can't transfer it to anyone, you can't get a mortgage, can't leave it in your will. And so I am going to have questions for the Minister of Lands on when are we going to review these policies and make some changes. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Yellowknife North. Members' statements. Member for Thebacha.

Frieda Martselos Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, next weekend from March 9th to 12th, Fort Smith will be hosting the annual winter carnival, Wood Buffalo Frolics. This year will mark the first time since 2019 that Fort Smith's beloved carnival will be taking place. It was cancelled twice because of the pandemic and once more due to organizer and volunteer fatigue. Fortunately, this year has many volunteers who stepped up to help with planning and will help with all of the events over the next weekend.

Mr. Speaker, this year's Wood Buffalo Frolics weekend will coincide with sled dog races from the Thebacha Dog Mushers Association, as well as a snowboarding event hosted by the Slide Zone Shredders. Among the other events that will take place includes northern games, a bingo tournament, the Mad Trappers Ball, and a talent show. A hockey tournament and the Frolics Prince and Princess Pageant.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the constituents of Thebacha, I would like to thank all the volunteers and organizers who came forward to help make the Wood Buffalo Frolics possible this year.

I would like to give a special thank you to Dana Ferguson who has been leading the organizing this year, along with Jenny Shaeffer Cumming for helping with the cultural events. I hope all residents will take the opportunity to go out and have some fun in next week's festivities.

With that, I would like to thank the amazing constituents of Thebacha along with my husband Peter, my sons Mickey and Jerry and my dog Rambo. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Thebacha. Members' statements. Member for Kam Lake.

Caitlin Cleveland Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Rambo may very well be the most famous dog in this House.

Mr. Speaker, last year the projected cost of the Giant Mine cleanup jumped from 1 to $4.38 billion. While this project is being overseen by the federal government, the GNWT is still a co-proponent. It is still in our back yard and it still carries with it high expectations for NWT benefit retention.

Remediating the mine involves things like building a water treatment plant, filling pits, taking down buildings, and containing arsenic dust underground. Accomplishing this will put high demand on industries like waste disposal, construction, mining services, mientific services, transportation logistics, accommodation and food services, and medical services; industries that, to some extent, exist here in the NWT already. But today the demand on these industries is already high so for large contracts, local companies need time to prepare.

The Giant Mine Remediation Project reports that Northerners work roughly 45 percent of the total labour hours worked and Indigenous employees work 21 percent. This is shy of 55 to 70 percent for targeted work hours for Northerners and the 25 to 30 percent for Indigenous workers.

Mr. Speaker, these targets aren't high enough, but we aren't even meeting them to begin with. This project needs ambitious goals, paired with proactive benefit retention and this doesn't require big dollar investments - maybe just a little more effort and certainty.

The oversight board estimates the remediation project will spend around $240 million annually in the next 15 years. That's a huge investment into our economy, and northern businesses need information to be ready to bid on this work. Currently, the project's annual budgets provide an idea of work categories and timing, but this information isn't detailed enough to determine the size, scale, and scope of work potentially being tendered. This month is a great example.

Right now, the federal government is accepting bids on a water treatment plant that was originally intended to be tendered next year. Once the bid came out, it became clear the size and scope of the project was much larger than expected by some proponents. The uncertainty in details and change in timing means local proponents may not be able to prepare and participate.

Building the capacity for benefit retention needs certainty and that certainty comes from information sharing between governments and the industry that it ultimately wants to participate.

Mr. Speaker, we only get one shot at benefit retention from Giant Mine remediation. We can't afford to fail. We need jobs, we need apprenticeships, and as a mineral-rich territory we need to grow our remediation economy but the key to this is information. Thank you.

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Kam Lake. Members' statements. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.