Robert C. McLeod

Mr. Speaker, the decision was actually not made by our government. We were prepared to sign an agreement with Canada; however, because of the concerns of the Aboriginal governments the agreement was not signed.

In December of 2016, there was a joint letter that was sent to the environmental agreement signatories and parties to inform them that the GNWT and INAC recommended that Canada remain a signatory to these agreements but with limited responsibilities.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we recognize what they're trying to say and there is a correlation between that and some potential development down the road, and we will continue to work on how we can mitigate and find a balance between the two. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, as far as the capacity goes, we can look into that but I take the Member’s point though about the – I mean we have a lot that we can share with the rest of the country. We should be leading that as far as climate change and that goes. I mean I will commit to the Members that we will do what we can to ensure that we take a leadership role in this and build our capacity where we’re able to do host these type of events. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, we would look internally. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, we will provide that information to committee and I will also encourage committee that there is the Mackenzie data stream site that is up and running now where a lot of samples are taken and posted on the site and we just did the launch in Fort Smith, I believe a little while ago, and then we did another launch in Ottawa, so there is a lot of useful information that is on that site. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

We’re very early in the process, and our exemptions could be one approach. We’ll also be looking at rebates or tax credits as approaches to mitigate the impact of cost of living, but we are early in the process. I do realize we had a briefing committee, but I would like to, once we do a bit more of the work. I would like to come forward and have an opportunity to meet with committee, give them some of our early findings, and get some feedback from committee as we continue to move forward. At our earliest opportunity, we will make the offer to committee to have a sit-down with them and have a...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I can understand and I take the Member’s point of his concern for the elimination of this position. However, the department is content enough that the water resource person that’s in the region has the ability to do the same function. In Fort Smith, the position was vacant and the person has been eliminated. The North Slave position was also eliminated. The department is very confident that we have the capacity within our existing people in the regions to perform the same function. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Right now, the correct number is 26, from 30 to 26; and as Ms. Craig said, once we do the work and functional review, then we may come back again, but for the purpose of this exercise, the number is 26. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Yes, the Member is correct, Mr. Chair. It is. Thank you.

Thank you. We have been having discussions with the federal government. We have agreed to work together to better understand the impact of their proposed carbon pricing in the Northwest Territories and, in our meetings we had down there, they understand the unique situation of the North and how it is going to have a wider affect up here than, I think, they expected. So we’re continuing to have those discussions and I will update committee as those progressions progress. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.