Katrina Nokleby

Thank you, Madam Chair. There would be travel around to do different types of maintenance, I would imagine, between communities if we have people in regional centres that need to go out to something specific in a smaller community. However, I think that I would like to pass this to Dr. Dragon to just explain more fulsomely why we are travelling so much in the Department of Infrastructure. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Within the department we are always looking to better optimise our services. I know that the opening of the Arctic Ocean, the Arctic passage is a relatively new thing. There are concerns about shipping through the Arctic, as well. It's definitely something that I know we'll be looking at going forward, and we note the Member's comments. As well, with my other hat on, it's not that department, but ITI is exploring LNG and such within the Beaufort-Delta. My hope is, one day, we will not be sending fuel up the Mackenzie to the Beaufort-Delta. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I commit to the Member to have that conversation with each of my regional offices, to re-emphasize the direction I have given to the deputy minister to maximize and utilize northern and Indigenous businesses more. As well, we will have that procurement review and input from you on that so that we can make these changes and make sure we are doing better. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Madam Chair. The airport plan was originally to be finalized this winter. However, this has not happened as a result of the department and others being on other projects, including on dealing with COVID. It is our hope that, early in this Assembly, we will be starting to move on the airport improvements. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you to the Member for the question. The department of fisheries and oceans is reviewing the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation and how harvesters will have more of an equity stake. The role of FFMC is critical to the Northwest Territories and how this transition to a federated cooperative will impact fishers across Great Slave Lake. It is quite possible that the FFMC becomes a cooperative entity and that the current board would dissolve. The new federated cooperative entity would be represented by fishers; however, in the meantime, until that happens, I do commit to the Member at...

This is a long-term project with many steps ahead of us. Our current focus is to establish the partnership relationships and agreements, finalize the preferred route for the project, and then prepare the regulatory applications. We have the federal funding in support of all of that work. Regulatory applications could be ready as early as next year, pending a complete field season this summer, so there potentially could be some impacts there if we can't get the engagement part done before the summer work starts. Following completion of an environmental assessment and regulatory permitting...

All work on this important project does continue. The COVID-19 situation may impact the nature of engagement around the project, and that is something that we are going to have to figure out as a government as a whole: how do we do engagement at a time when we cannot necessarily meet in person and, if not, we would be in violation of the CPHO? We are just currently working on establishing the appropriate safety protocols and measures so that we can continue with the Indigenous engagement and the stakeholder engagement that we have promised to do. I just wanted to reiterate that I will be...

Yes, I commit to keeping the Member informed, and I am sure the Member will let me know if I am not. Thank you.

Without having been the Minister in 2018, I am not sure what the cause has been for the delay. I agree wholeheartedly with the Member that the safety and well-being of the people of Sachs Harbour is of critical importance. I commit to looking into it after we get out of session today, that we are currently in now, looking into whether or not the situation with the medevacs has been impeded. It is my understanding that we are working with my colleagues at Health and Social Services to ensure that we do have that reply and the medevac services maintained. It's my understanding we may be using a...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document: "Annual Report to the Legislative Assembly under the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act 2019." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.