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Track Kieron

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In the Legislative Assembly

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Crucial Fact

  • His favourite word is public.

MLA for Range Lake

Won his last election, in 2023, with 55% of the vote.

Statements in the House

Question 115-20(1): Support for Mineral Exploration and Extraction February 27th, 2024

Thank you. And thank you to the Minister. Very good answers today, all positive; I like that.

Mr. Speaker, finally, we have an infrastructure deficit. Mines need clean energy. We can't get it to them. What's the Minister's plan? Thank you.

Question 115-20(1): Support for Mineral Exploration and Extraction February 27th, 2024

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That's good news. I'd like to ask the Minister if she'll join my mission to MARS and get online map staking done by 2026 or earlier? Thank you.

Question 115-20(1): Support for Mineral Exploration and Extraction February 27th, 2024

Thank you. I don't want to put a price on our mining industry but it's fundamental to our economy.

Mr. Speaker, another thing that we've heard is there's too much red tape. It's a very difficult regulatory process. Will the Minister commit to making regulatory improvements that will take small scale exploration projects out of the equation and create their own rules around it so we can get these projects off the ground sooner and they don't have to deal with as much regulatory red tape? Thank you.

Question 115-20(1): Support for Mineral Exploration and Extraction February 27th, 2024

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my Member's statement, I talked about the serious need for us to reinvest in our mining economy and open it up to new degrees of exploration. So I'd like to ask the Minister responsible for Industry, Tourism and Investment will she ask -- or will she bring forward an FMB submission to double the Mining Incentive Program? Thank you.

Member's Statement 121-20(1): Economic Impacts of Upcoming Closure of Northwest Territories Mines February 27th, 2024

Mr. Speaker, it is often said that history has a way of repeating itself and, surely, we can agree that's the case with our territory's mining industry. Just as we did 30 years ago when the gold industry began to wrap up, we are facing another round of mine closures.Today our diamond mines have at least past the halfway point to their operations with Diavik slated to close in 2026. It's not just our diamond industry either. Norman Wells is due to cease operations in 2026 as well. Those are two big hits to our economy that are just 24 months away.

The NWT and Nunavut Chamber of Mines recently published work analyzing the impact these closures will have on the territory. And it's frightening, to say the least. They see a leaner future ahead with thousands of jobs and therefore a government without millions of revenues. This will affect across our economy with far-reaching consequences as the demand for goods and services related to the mining sector disappear as does the disposable incomes made possible by good mining wages. The best in the world I might add, Mr. Speaker.

A future without mining is a future of fewer business, poorer services, and less Northerners as many will be forced to look elsewhere for opportunity. This is a future we do not accept, Mr. Speaker. Here in the Northwest Territories we move forwards, not backwards. The government must be up to the challenges posed by these closures and work with the mining industry to look beyond oil and diamonds. The pivotal aspect of this challenge is not the lack of resources. We know we have many exciting new opportunities to pursue with minerals such as cobalt, nickel, lithium, and rare earths. This challenge, instead, rests on how we make stronger partnerships with new industries and build the economic environment these partnerships can thrive in.

This work needs to start now, Mr. Speaker, and a good place to start is exploration. The government can retool our regulatory system to match regulatory needs, the size and the risks of projects, and stop holding early-stage exploration to the standards of advanced projects. A much-needed boost to exploration could be achieved by doubling the Mining Incentive Program and building new infrastructure to fuel clean energy at mine sites. These are just a few key suggestions, Mr. Speaker, but it's up to this new government to come up with a concrete plan to reinvigorating and restarting our mining sector for future generations. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister's Statement 26-20(1): Government of the Northwest Territories Health, Safety and Wellness Policy February 27th, 2024

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, that the Minister of Health and Social Services' Minister's statement, Health Human Resources Recruitment and Retention, be referred to Committee of the Whole for consideration. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Motion 2-20(1): Concurrence Motion - Tabled Document 28-20(1): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2023-2024, Carried February 26th, 2024

Thank you. So -- sorry, just to confirm, so that -- the staffing funding, 100K for staffing, that is a public service position? Thank you.

Motion 2-20(1): Concurrence Motion - Tabled Document 28-20(1): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2023-2024, Carried February 26th, 2024

Thank you. Sorry, thank you to the Minister. So the position that -- the coordinator position that it's funding that will sit within the Department of Education, Culture and Employment? Thank you.