This is page numbers 6089 - 6140 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

Question 1505-19(2): Hay River Area Flood Mitigation Measures
Oral Questions

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Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I appreciate the Minister giving me a little more time here. And, you know, when I talk about putting those houses up, but these are properties primarily where there's agriculture going on, where this government has supported them through ITI and all of a sudden they're going to have to move, or something's going to have to happen. They've got greenhouses. And I don't expect those greenhouses to be 10 feet in the air. And so it's a bit of a different -- different than just putting somebody's House in the air. So I think that that's got to be given some consideration.

The area is mitigation. You know, what happened last year was an anomaly I guess, because I never thought it was going to happen and I've lived there for my whole life, 32 years -- oh sorry, 66. So anyways, like mitigation, we've got to look at doing something. And so I'd ask the Minister what mitigation measures are we looking at that will be supported by the federal government? Thank you.

Question 1505-19(2): Hay River Area Flood Mitigation Measures
Oral Questions

Page 6099

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I live down the street from the Member so I guess I've been there for 32 years too. So I appreciate that.

Mr. Speaker, we've been working with the federal government to come up with what mitigations are available. The Member needs to understand, and as I said this previously in conversations with other residents, and Pathfinders have talked to residents, if it's not impacted, the disaster did not impact them, ie the roads and stuff like that, the disaster assistance policy doesn't work for that. So as for the mitigation, we've reached out to them. We've had conversations. And each individual has a different situation. So they work on that. When he talks about agricultural land, we have in -- coming in April, ITI and Municipal and Community Affairs staff will be reaching out to those impacted so we need to work with them on that. The other challenges that we need to understand, though, is in Hay River and on the reserve, we don't have as much land available. We have, the KFN and the Metis trying to get their land in negotiations, so withdrawn lands. We have that impact. So we are working with them. The mitigation part is -- again, it's very specific to each individual. So we need to work with each individual to have that opportunity to help them move forward on that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 1505-19(2): Hay River Area Flood Mitigation Measures
Oral Questions

Page 6099

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And, Mr. Speaker, I understand, you know, what's required for mitigation in Hay River. And it's a very -- variety of things. For instance in one area, which is known as Cranberry Crescent, they -- there's houses there, and they're pretty expensive houses and they've all got basements. And they got flooded. Yet, there's no way they're going to lose their basements and raise their houses up. So what they need is a berm and raising the road. So in that sense, what is the government doing to ensure that's done? Thank you.

Question 1505-19(2): Hay River Area Flood Mitigation Measures
Oral Questions

Page 6099

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, when we talk about Cranberry Crescent, so when we talk about mitigation, sometimes it's not about the berms; sometimes it's about the ability to move the furnace or the boiler up on to the next floor there on that. So we're working on that.

In regards to the question that the Member has asked, because the road wasn't impacted by the flood, we are now working with the community. We are actually doing a survey on that road and seeing how we can work with the federal government on other programs that are available. If we're able to access that funding, then we're going to be able to work on that road. It's not -- we're not going to be building a berm. We're going to be looking at enhancing that road, making it bigger, taller, whatever, wider, whichever you want. And it's going to be a little bit longer because right now people are heard saying it's only needs it for, you know, a kilometre. It actually -- if you look at it, it actually goes down to the pump House station. So it goes that far so we need to look at building that road. And we're working with the Infrastructure on this to get this job done. So, again, it's a collaborative approach. We are working with -- our staff are working with the Town of Hay River. But we're also working with Infrastructure because that's the department that's working on that road there so we are working with them on that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 1505-19(2): Hay River Area Flood Mitigation Measures
Oral Questions

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The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Final supplementary. Member for Hay River South.

Question 1505-19(2): Hay River Area Flood Mitigation Measures
Oral Questions

Page 6099

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, again, mitigation. Like, you know I understand that there's -- you know, for private homes, raising the furnace, okay, that's fine, that's easy enough to do. And, you know, there's some other things they can do. It's mitigation for places like Cranberry, like the road. That's great. But we're coming into a season where breakup's going to happen here at the end of next month and we have done limited work within the town. If the same thing happened, people who had fixed up their houses are going to be in the same -- basically, you know, in the same position. So, you know, what is the timing to actually look at kind of an overall mitigation plan for Hay River? And I know you've got to work with the town, and you've got to work with K'atlodeeche as well, and I think it's important that, you know, it's got to be collaborative. But, you know, we need some type of timeline because we don't really hear -- get the information back. So can you provide that. Thank you.

Question 1505-19(2): Hay River Area Flood Mitigation Measures
Oral Questions

Page 6099

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we been working with the Town of Hay River and K'atlodeeche First Nation on things moving forward. In regards to mitigation, as long as there's a plan in place, then we're able to use our disaster assistance policy if the situation happens. The old adage is prepare for the worst and hope for the best. So we are working on that. The timeline, we're working with the town and the reserve, and it's with them. We have to be able to work with them to come up with a timeline. That's on their speed. We're not going to rush and do it wrong. As the Member said, we're getting close to breakup, but we are working on it, and I've had the opportunity to be in Hay River as they're prepared for their flood preparation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 1505-19(2): Hay River Area Flood Mitigation Measures
Oral Questions

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The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Colleagues, our time for oral questions has expired. Written questions. Honourable Premier.

Question 1505-19(2): Hay River Area Flood Mitigation Measures
Oral Questions

Page 6099

Caroline Cochrane Range Lake

Mr. Speaker, I'm going to try one more time. I seek unanimous consent to return to item number 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery with unanimous consent. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 1505-19(2): Hay River Area Flood Mitigation Measures
Oral Questions

Page 6099

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Madam Premier. The Premier's seeking unanimous consent to return to item 5. Are there any nays? There are no nays.

Madam Premier.

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery(reversion)
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery(reversion)

March 30th, 2023

Page 6099

Caroline Cochrane Range Lake

That was a long wait, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I want to start by recognizing one of my favourite federal ministers. It's true. It is true. Minister Dan Vandal is the Minister of Northern Affairs. He's the Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency and the Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development in Canada. Minister Vandal is not from the Northwest Territories but he's an Indigenous man, and he, like grand chief once told me, he not only listens, he hears our needs. And so he's always welcome to the Northwest Territories, and we'd love for you to move here if -- any time you want. We need the income from the capita.

I also want to recognize some of the staff that came with him, the director of communications, Mr. Ryan Potter, excuse me if I say that wrong. Senior policy advisor Anna Bodnar. And the MLA who nayed me I believe, this guest here is not from -- I don't think he lives here but he owns a house in the MLA's riding, Mr. Matt Spence, the regional director general, is with us today.

I made a commitment, I believe it was yesterday or the day before, that I would bring to the attention that MLAs did want to meet with ministers. I followed through with that commitment this morning. I did ask him after what he just experienced being nayed in the House and being slaughtered -- I'm not sure if he'll take them up on it anymore, but I did fulfill my commitment. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you for coming to the Northwest Territories.

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery(reversion)
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery(reversion)

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The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Madam Premier. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Welcome, federal minister, Mr. Vandal. It's always good to have ministers -- federal ministers in the House. It's probably the first time I think in our Assembly here. So welcome, and I hope you're enjoying your visit to Yellowknife and you're welcome any time.

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery(reversion)
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery(reversion)

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Richard Edjericon Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also want to say the same thing as the Premier, welcome everybody from the -- the Minister and all his colleagues and staff here to the House. And I'm glad that they were able to listen to what we have to say in our riding. And it's very important. Also I just want to say that, you know, you come out to Dettah this coming weekend and enjoy your time out there. Mahsi.

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery(reversion)
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery(reversion)

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The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Thebacha.

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery(reversion)
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery(reversion)

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Frieda Martselos Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I too would like to recognize Minister Vandal to the House. And just to acknowledge that the two oldest federal day schools that are left standing in the Northwest Territories are both from my riding. One is 64 years old and the other one is 60 years old. And they were connected to the residential school situation. But just for acknowledgement that, you know, we talk about all these things, but I always do it through process. You know, I want to -- there's processes that we have to follow here, and I adhere to that, and I want to just thank him for coming to visit Yellowknife and the Northwest Territories. Thank you so much.