Michael Nadli

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think we’ve experienced a forest fire over the past two years. It’s really affected communities along the highways. So we have, in some places, fallen trees and burnt out areas. In some cases they are close to communities.

Would the Minister commit his department to work with communities that are interested in salvaging the burnt wood that is closely situated to their community or along the highway? Mahsi.

My question is: How can the Minister ensure we have more biomass-related business initiatives in the NWT? Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. In the past I’ve stood up in the House to celebrate the hardworking town of Enterprise, our gateway to the NWT. Even though it’s a small town with a population of just over 100 people, Enterprise is home to great enthusiasm and a lot of exciting ideas for economic development.

I’ve also spoken before to support biomass opportunities in the Deh Cho and South Slave regions. Today in Enterprise, residents look forward to the possibility of a new wood pellet plant to bring jobs to the region.

I support this project. This month the hamlet council passed an agreement-in-principle...

The Minister has indicated that his department is playing a role in terms of assisting communities, more so for communities that are directly impacted by a project of this nature, whether it’s going to be positive or negative.

Could the Minister outline in terms of the availability of programs for funding that are available for communities that could perhaps access funding and research and discuss locally in terms of strategies in terms of mitigating a project of this nature? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just a few comments, nothing in particular, just mostly some internal thoughts. For the most part, I think going forward a lot of the projects that have been identified in some respects have materialized over the course of the last couple of years and I think it’s clear that lacking major natural resource development projects, aside from the mines that we have, this government has to try in some way to invigorate the economy and that’s in investments and infrastructure. So, with that, at the community level there have been some efforts in terms of trying to empower local...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] It is a sad occasion when I rise in this House to mark the passing of one of our esteemed elders. It is my privilege today to honour the late elder Mary Rose Sabourin, who passed away on September 16, 2015. She was 94 years old.

Mary Rose Sabourin was a valued elder of K’atlodeeche First Nation reserve who was loved by many people. Mary Rose took great pleasure in her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. I want to send my heartfelt condolences to her family at this difficult time and thank them for giving me permission to honour their mother today.

Mary Rose...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that this committee recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories provide a comprehensive response to this report within 120 days. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that this committee recommends that the Department of Finance require all public agencies to include a management discussion analysis in their year-end report. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think it’s fair that in this circle we work in consensus. Looking at this issue of hydraulic fracking, right across Canada there is no consensus. There are jurisdictions in parts of Canada that have put a moratorium on this very matter. This is at the national level. Perhaps looking at the NWT there is indeed no consensus as well. We have some regions that are prepared and want to do fracking. There are some regions that are against it. But at the same time, there are communities that don’t have consensus on this matter.

Clearly, the best thing we can do is to try to...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister has stated that a wellness council will be established to ensure that the community has input into the department in terms of those regional operations.

What kinds of improvements can the community expect in terms of the community to regional reporting relationship in light of the move to centralized regional boards? Mahsi.