Bob Bromley

The Minister, obviously, isn’t addressing the questions here. There has certainly been debate for many, many years. The public has had a hard time and eventually got these hearings and made their views known. Now, as a government, we should be recognizing those. This statement doesn’t.

Again, I’ve made the point in past statements that it would, almost certainly, if it was a new mine, be governed by a legally binding environmental management agreement such as we see for the diamond mines, transboundary water agreements, and so on. The Giant Mine Project is far from new. It’s a toxic legacy of...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also would like to recognize the students taking the course on Canadian Social Welfare Policy, Kelly and Jacq. I would also like to recognize the instructor Susan Fitzpatrick, a resident of Weledeh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to table a letter to Mr. Richard Edjericon, chairperson of the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board, from Ms. Joanna Ankersmit, AANDC; and Ray Case, GNWT; on the Giant Mine remediation project closing comments. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just by way of example here, I’ve just got an e-mail here today, mentioning a home ownership unit in Enterprise that sat empty for three years. It has frozen at least twice and has mould in the basement. A person visited Providence recently and the night watchman device was shining brightly, meaning again there was no heat in the unit and it was probably frozen up. Apparently, Fort Resolution has 16 home ownership units vacant. We know about my situation in Detah. Obviously, we need that flexibility in policies.

Can the Minister assure me that we will be not just reading...

Thanks to the remarks from the Minister there. When we talk about getting people into housing, we’re often talking about getting them out of homelessness. The Housing First Movement I’ve referred to in the past points out the dramatic decrease in government’s other service costs. When we meet the lower costs of providing housing, you avoid emergency issues and so on. We need to look at the big picture.

Can the Minister say how the Housing Corporation includes in its analysis of policy, for example, such as we’re discussing the financial benefits of reduced costs of other services when people...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to return to oral questions.

---Unanimous consent granted

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, I see no evidence of the active involvement that the Minister speaks of, or to being a voice for the people of the Northwest Territories. That is the very point that the Members are raising today in this House. The co-proponent’s closing comments letter contains no commitment to the preparation of a fully-funded perpetual care plan. Even though site liability supposedly remains with the federal government after devolution, site management will continue forever or until technology is found to eliminate the arsenic. Will the GNWT include the requirement for a fully...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I said in my statement, my questions are today for the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources. As I said in my statement today, I’m amazed at how few of the concerns, so clearly expressed at the hearings, have been reflected in the proponent’s closing letter to the environment board. The commentary persists in the delusion that this is a remediation rather than a stabilization. Its silence on major concerns almost amounts to contempt towards the input of organizations and individuals. This government signed the letter, so I ask, given the passion and details...

Thank you, Madam Chair. I wanted to just first maybe get an update on what the situation is with the renovations to the museum. I know there have been a few kerfuffles lately, and I know that the work is being done by Public Works and Services perhaps, or they’re involved. I know there were some toxic materials found and I think the situation there is now under control, but I don’t see it in this budget. So I think the hope is that we’re going to get that addressed this fiscal year. So could I just get that confirmed?

I know a lot of people would like to see the museum fully functional again...

Thanks for the Minister’s remarks again. I know the Minister is aware of the situation and has been supporting getting it resolved, but the standard does obviously need to be prepared, and to ensure accountability and sensitivity to client needs there has to be some transparency in its development.

I’m wondering if the Minister knows, or perhaps could assure me that the standard as it’s being developed examines other jurisdictions’ policies, seeks independent medical advice, and how the policy development will include the input of clients who will be affected by the standard ultimately...