Debates of Feb. 13th, 2026

Thank you, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Final supplementary. Member from Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the Minister commit to bring forward a supplementary appropriation ask in the May-June session if we have not heard by then about the federal government's commitment to restore Jordan's Principle funding? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, what I can commit to the Member is making sure that I am working with my Cabinet colleagues through processes on this side of the House, and I can confirm with the Member that I have the support of my colleagues to make sure that we're having conversations around education and doing what we can to support Northerners. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Oral questions. Member from Great Slave.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, for those of the public who follow along with Committee in the Whole, they may have recognized that we had some confusion around the airport revolving fund the other night, Mr. Speaker, and so my questions are for the Minister of Infrastructure.

With the proposed incoming investment to the Yellowknife airport and the, admittedly, likely large pressures that will put on the airport and our planning, does the Minister have anything he's willing to share at this point around what we can expect to see for proactive planning to set the airport up for success for our DND partners. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Great Salute. Minister of Infrastructure.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A lot of work is being done on the Yellowknife airport strategic plan. There's been lots of public engagement, lots of work going on in the background. The department's been working with the Department of National Defence on use of the area and what they can expect, so a lot of that's been working hand-in-hand. So yeah, just in general, I guess there's a lot of work being done in the background to prepare the Yellowknife airport for what potentially could happen there with potential growth and work being done by the Department of National Defence. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So in the spirit of collaboration, would the Minister be willing to come and give committee a public briefing on all of the good work that's happening and so to give the public an understanding of what to expect in timelines? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, so after our Committee of the Whole meeting, I think it would be important that we sit down and have a good discussion on what's going on at the airport in Yellowknife and talk about the proposed developments and the plans and also a little bit more information and dialogue regarding the revolving fund. I am more than interested in doing that, and we can let the department know when we get the invite. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister of Infrastructure. Oral questions. Oral questions. Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question would be to the Premier.

Mr. Speaker, the federal government is streamlining environmental assessments under the single review policy. Has the Minister met with the federal counterparts to ensure federal regulations continue to protect our waters here in the Northeast Territories given that if regulations are up to Alberta alone it may not safeguard our rights to clean water for the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. Mr. Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to hand that over to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Premier. Minister of Environment and Climate Change.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So this has been an ongoing issue that we have certainly addressed at the federal level through conversations with the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, as well as the provincial level with Alberta, and we have also put out two written statements that clearly define our position when it comes to treat and release that we don't believe that under current conditions the science supports that as an approach. We've also encouraged both the federal and Alberta government to look at alternatives to treat and release as a potential solution for this issue. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister of Environment and Climate Change. Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Okay, thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess my next question will be back to the Minister of ECE if that's okay. Okay, thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, Alberta has signed a memorandum of understanding with the federal Government of Canada to expand the oil sands development and, currently, it is anticipated Alberta will negotiate with the Coastal First Nation, BC. Does the Minister of ECE agree that the NWT and its Indigenous governments deserve a seat at that table to ensure downstream communities and ecosystems are protected? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. Minister of Environment and Climate Change.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, certainly from the Department of Environment and Climate Change perspective, we have always worked with our Indigenous partners, our Indigenous governments, and our Indigenous organizations, and we have many boards and representatives that participate in these activities, and we are constantly sharing information in both directions. So we certainly believe that that is the case. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister of Environment and Climate Change. Final supplementary. Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, if the court strikes down Alberta Bill 7 for violating Indigenous rights on transboundary protections, how will the Minister of ECC ensure Alberta complies and that Northerners' waters and communities are safeguarded? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this question is really a hypothetical question. There has been no decision made, so we would have to wait until the decision is completed in order to respond. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister of Environment and Climate Change. Oral questions. Member from Range Lake.