Robert C. McLeod

We would ask for updates from the proponents, and we have our own people monitoring these, and if we feel that there's a need for additional information we will seek that, but I can assure all Members that for the projects we enter into, we will have oversight, because these are public dollars that we are speaking about.

There should be no impact, but I will follow up with their proponent and confirm that.

I am committed not only to the development of our athletes across the Northwest Territories, which I think has been clearly demonstrated in my time as the Minister responsible for sport in the Northwest Territories, and I remain committed to that. I would like to see not only to the athletes, but to the health and wellbeing and the physical activity of all our children across the Northwest Territories, all of our athletes across the Northwest Territories, and I will continue to do what I can on my part to see that level of commitment carried on. Again, as I said before, no decisions have been...

We were quite disappointed that the 2023 Canada Winter Games were not bid on by the capital city. I think it would have been a fantastic opportunity for not only the athletes in the Northwest Territories, but all the people involved in sport across the Northwest Territories, so we were quite disappointed. The $25 million that the Member spoke of, that was a commitment that was made to help facilitate the games and provide an athletes' village, and then be used for some much-needed housing afterwards. We have a very strong, robust support system for our athletes and our youth across the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I will take the Member up on his offer to work with myself on advancing some of these issues, again recognizing the fact that we're early in devolution and we're trying to work our way through the process and make sure we have a very strong regulatory system in the Northwest Territories. If that means funding some of the participants to make their cases to the respective boards, then it's something that we will continue to work on. Again, I will take the Member up on his offer.

The reason I dropped my earpiece before was I have had feedback that I do tend to snap my earpiece a lot. I just realized I was doing it, so I dropped it, so I picked up the pencil and now I'll break it.

---Laughter

The GNWT continues to press the Government of Canada to address this issue. Officials from the Department of Lands raised the issue in early 2015 in a meeting with INAC senior officials. Obviously, the GNWT supports decision-making in the environmental assessment process but we will continue to work with our counterparts in Ottawa to see if there's ways that we can address the issue...

Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise Members that the Honourable Bob McLeod will be absent from the House today and tomorrow to attend the First Ministers meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Thank you, Mr.

Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River South, that Bill 4, Interim Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures), 2016-2017 be read for the third time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River South, that Bill 4, Interim Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures), 2016-2017 be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, this interim budget is business as usual. We have the process of the business planning review and the main estimates budget that's going to be tabled in May/June. But for the exercise we're going through today it is business as usual. Thank you.