Rylund Johnson

Thank you, Madam Chair. I guess I would like to start on the general, and if the Minister could provide an update in regards to the new Mineral Resources Act, and when we can expect that to come into force and a timeline given COVID, whether any of the timelines in the mandate have changed in regards to the regulations under that? Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I guess I want to start a little more high level. We're looking at $16 million for tourism and parks. In the wake of COVID, we're not going to see the same industry at all that we've seen in this fiscal year. Can the Minister speak to: are we going to spend all this money? A lot of these programs just simply don't work in the current reality, and I very much think we need to see an increase in this section, but it needs to be framed as a tourism bail-out. I think a lot of the current programs are designed for a world that is not the current one. If the Minister could...

My concern here is that, every time a language speaker passes, if they are not passing on that language, then we are losing this battle. I know there is work being done. I know ECE is trying, but I think absent having the number of speakers we are losing and the number of speakers we are gaining in the yearly data, then I don't believe we actually have a fair picture of what is occurring. Will the Minister commit to getting data that shows the amount of speakers we are losing and the amount of new fluent speakers we are creating each year?

Thank you, Madam Chair. I get there is a bit of a politicization of oil and gas. My concern is that the strategy is based on one market reality that has significantly changed. Perhaps I will try again. Can I get a sense of whether we have specific positions and how many work on petroleum versus minerals? Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Our NWT Aboriginal Framework states that the alarming reality is that all of our Aboriginal languages are in decline, and, furthermore, our Action Plan 2018-2022 commits to updating the language indicators collected in the NWT Bureau of Statistics community survey. I have looked at multiple sources, and the only language indicators and clear data I could find is census data, so my question for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment is: what data do we have that tracks Indigenous languages? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

One of the concerns here is that, before the Department of Lands divests itself of lands, there needs to be section 35 consultation. I recognize that there are going to be multiple meetings and there are a number of processes here involving EIA. Can the Minister of Lands commit that they are doing the section 35 consultation, or is that work the responsibility of the city? I'm trying to figure out which party is actually responsible for the Section 35 consultation here.

Thank you, Madam Chair. A couple of points there; I would like to begin with the languages. The intention here is that we will put forward, if we use this technology, we will use software that allows simultaneous translation. All of the other rules that apply to the Legislative Assembly still apply to the Members, the point of privilege, and the rules and procedures committee, as they have rules related to translation would apply in this case. It is completely the intention to allow simultaneous translation if and when we use this.

In regard to defining exceptional circumstances in the act, I...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. One of my concerns is that, as Aurora College kind of sits in this limbo, we don't seem to be investing in new programming because we want to wait to get the strategic plan in. I get that, but I'm a little concerned that we're not building the programming we have as we grow into a polytechnic. Can the Minister update us of whether there's any plans to introduce new programming into Aurora College, whether due to COVID-19 and the inability to have classes in the fall, will any programming be cut; how the programming looks due to the situation we're currently in. Thank...

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes. To the one point, the legislation permits both teleconference by telephone and videoconference appearances. I suspect, if a Member was in the middle of a key vote and cut out, we would do very much what we've been doing in committee meetings, which is to make attempts to reconnect with them. Then, at which point, if we were unable to connect, it would become a matter of privilege, subject to the Speaker's discretion, how to proceed. As stated before, we will bring this to the rules and procedures committee and work out the details for those types of scenarios, to...

I think one of the most important conversations we're going to have regarding a polytechnic is whether there is a flagship programming; what new programs will come out of it? I understand this is the work that will be done as part of the strategic plan that I hope to see soon. I recognize two months' delay is understandable during COVID. Can the Minister update us on any decisions that have been made in regards to new programming for the polytechnic university?