Debates of June 7th, 2024

This Hansard is the unedited transcript and will be replaced by the final copy soon (generally within 5 business days). In the meantime, direct quotes should not be used, when the final is published it will seamlessly replace this unedited copy and any existing links should still work.

This is from the 20th Assembly, 1st 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 community.

Topics

Barge Cancellation Impacts to Businesses

Members' Statement 262-20(1): Economic Development in Communities

Recreational Land Leasing

Elders' Homes

Waste Reduction

Long Shadow Music Festival

Culture Sites at Taltson

Indigenous Child Welfare Settlement

Impacts of Day Shelter

Village of Fort Simpson - Canadian Biomass Community Project of the Year Award Recipient

1995 Fort Norman Wildfires

Cannabis Producers

Waste Diversion

Recreational Land Leasing

Day Shelter Impacts

Elders' Home Inspections

Economic Development in Communities

Burial Sites in Taltson River Area

Barge Cancellations Impacts to Businesses

Indigenous Child Welfare Settlement

Waste Resource Management Strategy

Non-Governmental Organizations and the 2024-2025 Budget

Tabled Document 113-20(1): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 187-20(1): Costs to Access Land Titles and Red-Tape Reduction Tabled Document 114-20(1): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 203-20(1): RCMP Response to Addictions Related Calls

Increasing RCMP Response in Hay River

Recorded Vote

Bill 7: Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act 2024

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Tabled Document 93-20(1): 2024-2025 Main Estimates - Legislative Assembly - Deferral of Legislative Assembly

Tabled Document 93-20(1): 2024-2025 Main Estimates - Environment and Climate Change - Deferral of Department of Environment and Climate Change

Tabled Document 93-20(1): 2024-2025 Main Estimates - Municipal and Community Affairs - Deferral of Department of Municipal and Community Affairs

Report Of Committee Of The Whole

Bill 2: Missing Persons Act

Recorded Vote

Orders Of The Day

Committee Motion 27-20(1): Tabled Document 93-20(1): 2024-2025 Main Estimates - Legislative Assembly - Deferral of Legislative Assembly, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

The Chair Richard Edjericon

Thank you. I'll go to the Minister.

Jay MacDonald Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'll pass to deputy minister Kelly for that one. Thank you.

The Chair Richard Edjericon

Thank you. I'm going to go to the deputy minister.

Dr. Erin Kelly

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Mackenzie River Basin Board is under a master agreement that includes Canada, Yukon, Northwest Territories, Alberta, BC, and Saskatchewan within the Mackenzie River basin. And this is the board that manages activities for that agreement. There's a traditional knowledge group as well as some technical groups that inform the board members. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair Richard Edjericon

Thank you. I'll go to the Member for the Sahtu.

Daniel McNeely Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Chair. And thanks, Dr. Kelly, for that explanation.

My next question is there any plans for this group or this organization to expose themselves or give the public exposure and have meetings, say, in the Sahtu that we're the greatest region in the whole 650-kilometer watershed impacted by the low waters of Mackenzie. So is there any planned meetings for this board in the Sahtu? Thank you.

The Chair Richard Edjericon

Thank you. I'll go to the Minister.

Jay MacDonald Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, no there are no current meetings planned. They do have a website, and they meet under the water strategy, and this is what brings the input to the board. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair Richard Edjericon

Thank you. I'm going to go to the Member from the Sahtu.

Daniel McNeely Sahtu

I've got nothing further. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair Richard Edjericon

No further questions. I'm going to go to the Member from Great Slave.

Kate Reid Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Can the Minister please explain the increase in the line item in 2024-2025 from the main to revised estimates and now here in the main estimates in 2024-2025 for the line item of environmental protection and waste management, what caused us to go so far over and is there continuing cost pressures? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair Richard Edjericon

Thank you. I'll go to the Minister.

Jay MacDonald Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the variance of the $542,000 between 2023 Actuals and the 2023 Main Estimates is due to an increase related to expenses related to contaminated sites that were not covered by the environmental liabilities fund. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair Richard Edjericon

Thank you. I'll go to the Member from Great Slave.

Kate Reid Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Chair. And I guess my assumption, then, is that's been contemplated for these main estimates? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair Richard Edjericon

Thank you. I'll go to the Minister.

Jay MacDonald Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes.

The Chair Richard Edjericon

I'll go to the Member from Great Slave.

Okay, I'm going to go to the Member from the Deh Cho.

Sheryl Yakeleya Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The question I have is looking at the Mackenzie River Basin Board, and the Minister or the -- one of his witnesses did mention that this is the place where they work with the regions and the territories and the provinces. They also have traditional knowledge people that they work with with the board. And my colleague asked about whether or not they were doing any kind of work with the people. Given that we had such a low water level this year, is there any work that's going to be done with the elders, bringing the elders and scientists together to talk about what is going on with the climate with the low water levels in the Mackenzie River? Thank you.

The Chair Richard Edjericon

Thank you. I'll go to the Minister.

June 7th, 2024

Jay MacDonald Thebacha

Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the department provides regular information to the community members as well as the Indigenous and other governments across the Northwest Territories on water levels in the Mackenzie basin as well the tributaries. The annual water stewardship strategy workshop is the actual mechanism that brings those folks together to have those discussions. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair Richard Edjericon

Thank you. I'll go to the Member from the Deh Cho.

Sheryl Yakeleya Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have no further questions. Thank you.

The Chair Richard Edjericon

Next on my list I've got the Member from Frame Lake.

Debates of June 7th, 2024

Topics

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