Kevin O'Reilly

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Earlier today I spoke of a most disturbing decision by the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources to not accept a decision by the Wek'eezhii Land and Water Board on a water license amendment and to send it back for reconsideration.

I would like to ask the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources whether this has happened before under water legislation for the Northwest Territories, where a Minister has refused to accept a decision and sent the matter back for reconsideration? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Merci, Monsieur le President. Water management in the Mackenzie Valley region of the Northwest Territories is done differently than elsewhere in Canada. We have a public co-management system that is constitutionally entrenched through land rights agreements with Indigenous governments.

Water management in the Northwest Territories underwent a very significant change as of April 1, 2014, when our government was delegated authority over inland waters from the federal government. Devolution over resources had been discussed and negotiated over more than 25 years.

NWT residents wanted more control...

A large new hotel complex has just opened up on the other side of the highway. We can expect to see a really significant flow of pedestrian traffic across to the Northern Frontier Visitors Centre. Can the Minister explain what type of improvements are being made now and planned in the future to this stretch of highway in the interest of public safety?

Merci, Monsieur le President. I would like to call this statement, "What I Did for My Summer Holidays," if I may. Right after last session ended, the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment held a strategic planning session that I participated in and dealt with the legislative proposal. I'll have more on that legislative proposal a little later in this session.

Rules and Procedures Committee met in July to continue work on a midterm review, code of conduct review, and improving public engagement of standing committees. In August, my wife and I travelled to Labrador's southern...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have four documents I'd like to table. First is a news release that reads, "Northern Premiers confirm united stance against carbon price" that's dated July 21, 2016. The next item, Mr. Speaker, is a news story from the CJCD website, "MLAs surprised by reported talks to save Robertson Headframe."

Third item, Mr. Speaker, is another news story, "Feds stall Mackenzie Valley Highway" from News North dated September 26, 2016. The last item is taken from the CBC website, Mr. Speaker. It is "Yellowknife airport improvement fees could fund more parking, new terminal." Thank...

I'm wondering if the Minister of Finance, then, can tell me, can we still achieve our fiscal responsibility policy without $150 million reduction targets?

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I think what we're seeing here today with the fiscal update is the beginning of the great budget battle for 2017-2018. When I heard the fiscal update, I just want to ask the Minister of Finance, if I may, does he recognize that the $150 million reduction target was actually taken out of the mandate? I just want to know if he recognizes that and how that might play out into fiscal planning for the next budget?

I'm glad to hear there are some meetings going on. I'm worried about what's going to happen when those tourists start to cross the highway to go to the Visitors Centre. While we're on the subject of the Visitors Centre, there's still no signage for the Visitors Centre along the highway beyond the small sign near the intersection with 49th Street, and there's nothing here at the turnoff that comes into the Legislative Assembly. Can the Minister tell this House when new signage for the Visitors Centre will finally be installed?

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. There's been some serious construction all summer outside of this Assembly on the highway. Can the Minister of Transportation explain what is happening and when it will be completed? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I think everybody recognizes the importance of the fiscal responsibility policy, but I don't think I really got an answer to my question, so I might try again. Can we actually achieve or comply with that policy without cutting $150 million of programs and services? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.