Daniel McNeely

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MLA for Sahtu

Won his last election, in 2023, with 46% of the vote.

Statements in the House

Member's Statement 134-20(1): Northwest Territories Economic Future February 28th, 2024

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Predicted economic concerns and notices there. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The NWT economic is on the trajectory that will see its mining, oil and gas sector diminish to a small fraction of what it is today. It will leave the territory's economy almost entirely dependent on Canadian taxpayers to fund its very existence. This may sound farfetched, alarmist, and perhaps even controversial.

The purpose of this paper is not to frighten or stoke the controversy. It is fact that the NWT diamond mines will close, and the oil production in Norman Wells will come to an end. It is also fact that minerals, oil and gas, make up the lion's share of the territory's total exports equivalent to 66 percent. Mr. Speaker, when these products are no longer available for sale, the territory will lose an important resource, a source of income, that find the its way through the economy affecting businesses, labour, government revenues. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, it seems reasonable to look at the pending loss of mineral, oil and gas production with concern and to learn what we can do about the implications of a diminished resource sector.

Mr. Speaker, what will economic life look like after when the resource sector is no longer a dominant part of the territory's economic landscape?

The Northwest Territories economy has endless potential transitioning to a low carbon stability as a global imperative one. Our region is ripe with strategic metals fundamental to the EV industry and, collectively, we must institute measures to make capital investments, such as that in our natural resources. Natural resources are put to a sustainable development stage. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement today.

---Unanimous consent granted

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. Mr. Speaker, the purpose of this addendum to the working paper Eyes Wide Open is to start a second conversation regarding to the risk of becoming a welfare state and why the territory might want to avoid its possibility. The discussion points are just the starting point for a deeper conversation and many conversations but, more importantly, to start having them now. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters February 28th, 2024

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

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters February 28th, 2024

Thank you, Mr. Chair. My other question is there -- is there a G-division agreement outside of this policing servicing? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters February 28th, 2024

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We all know there's an increasing drug crisis out in our communities and therefore requires more and more policing services and collaboration with concerned citizens and leaders. Is there further funding coming -- as you had mentioned there's four positions. Is there more funding in the area of joint Indigenous governments collaboration for policing strategy developments? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters February 27th, 2024

Thank you, Mr. Chair. This is more of a comment than a question. Having experience and I realize I could realize this amount here for the simple fact that there's many challenges that we've seen and probably will see in the future. Just to give you an idea here, we were expecting freight, but it didn't arrive. Everybody got evacuated out. The point of contact was -- on behalf of MTS ended up down south. So anyways, operations carried on. And to give you an idea of the many challenges facing this company here, similar challenges are faced by the other barge carrier operating out of Fort Nelson with an office there in Fort Simpson. So having sent -- sent some freight and picked up some freight from Cooper Barging, we finally seen that company arrive in the Sahtu in August only to find out that they had forced an 82-year-old captain with the proper certifications to take out a retirement in Manitoba to operate the boat so they're in compliance with the regulations. So that's just some information as to the challenge in the past, and we're probably going to see more challenges in the future. So I can realize the deficit in this amount there. Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters February 27th, 2024

Thank you, Mr. Chair. And thanks to my colleague there from Yellowknife North for asking the same questions here. I'm living downstream so I'm a little bit behind. So I'm glad my colleague's raising the same questions. I am concern is very important to the sailing seasons coming up. And I'm extremely glad that there's a multiyear program in place here to continue dredging and restoration of the harbour. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters February 27th, 2024

Thank you, Mr. Chair. My colleague,

Yellowknife North, asked the question of how many contracts there for out of the territory treatment services. If I can get that information as well. That was my only question there. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters February 27th, 2024

Thank you. No further questions there, Mr. Chair.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters February 27th, 2024

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I wanted to ask the Minister the questions on the cross-border water monitoring. I see later on in the department requests that we're going to be dealing with the marine training society -- or the Marine Transportation Services on additional funds. This is a result of the low waters that we're probably running into a deficit with that MTS service.

Is there discussions as part of the bilateral on the monitoring of the Mackenzie River Water Basin and making it known during these bilateral discussions that your management of the water levels, particularly in the site C Bennett Dam area on the release of water is really affecting the downstream services of this government and communities? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Question 119-20(1): Closure and Remediation of the Norman Wells Oil Field February 27th, 2024

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My last question -- thank you to the opportunity -- has the department explored partnerships with training institutions like MTS, Mine Training Society, Aurora College, or the Olds College in Olds, Alberta, to provide labour force development in the Sahtu? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.