Michael Nadli

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I am extremely proud to rise and stand in the House this morning and recognize a constituent. Lois Phillipp has worked in Deh Gah Elementary and Secondary School since 2005. Later this evening, in Toronto, Lois Phillipp will be receiving an lndspire Award. lndspire Award for Leadership states, "First Nation, Inuit or Metis person who consistently takes on a leadership role in the educational community that fosters achievement amongst K-12 students."

Mr. Speaker, Lois Phillipp has been a principal at the Deh Gah Elementary and High School for 11 years. Her colleague, Margaret...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that this Assembly recommends that the Minister of Finance work with the Minister responsible for Public Engagement and Transparency to develop plain language materials that report on the public accounts in a manner that is understandable for an interested, non-professional reader. Mahsi, Mr. Chair.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to extend best wishes to Xavier Bonnetrouge and Marie Bonnetrouge who celebrated their 60th anniversary this year. They were married in Fort Providence, August 27, 1956. Louie Bonnetrouge and Rosa Bonnetrouge were witnesses at their wedding. Xavier and Marie have 11 children, 33 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I move that this Assembly recommends that, in addition to reporting on a consolidated basis on the performance measures specified in the fiscal responsibility policy, the Government of the Northwest Territories report on a non-consolidated basis on the performance measures related to the policy provisions on infrastructure financing and affordable debt. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Minister has indicated that there is some cooperation between his department and ENR in terms of trying to advance this business initiative forward. What role does ITI have within the forest management agreement that was reached between the project proponent plus the community in terms of ensuring this business initiative is realized?

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier I made my statement regarding the wood pellet progress towards establishing an operation in my riding plus the South Slave region. Recently the community of Fort Providence and Aurora Pellets renewed their discussions and negotiations, so my questions are to the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment. My question is: what level of commitment does the GNWT have in terms of ensuring that the biomass industry has a role in the NWT economy? Mahsi.

Masi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the biomass industry presents a great opportunity for the Northwest Territories. In May of this year, Aurora Wood Pellets got a legal title to 2.2 hectares of land in the Deh Cho, near Enterprise. Mr. Speaker, I've been a major supporter of biomass initiatives. Land tenure was a huge step towards developing a wood pellet plant in our region.

Mr. Speaker, a wood pellet plant would create much-needed jobs and help develop the local and regional workforce. The pellet mill is expected to produce at least 150,000 cubic metres of pellets each year and create 45 to 50...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mahsi to the seconder of the motion, the MLA for Yellowknife Centre, Ms. Julie Green. I also thank my colleagues for support of this motion. I also acknowledge the presence of the staff at the New Day Program and the leaders of the Tree of Peace Friendship Centre who are in the public gallery.

A New Day Program has helped me. I made a wrong choice and sought help to understand myself and how abuse affects our families and our communities. The Dzene K'oonii Program offers an immediate circle of support that enables one to review the things in slow motion to reflect upon one's...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My final question is maybe hinging on the Department of ENR, but ITI obviously has the lead on this. Could the Minister indicate perhaps a timeline in terms of how it is that the Forest Management Act would be updated, and whether that should be a precursor before the Aurora Pellets is established? Mahsi.

Could the Minister maybe explain in terms of the progress at this point, from the perspective of the department in terms of the advances towards finally establishing a business that could be in operation? What is the latest progress in terms of an update?