Tom Beaulieu

Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. [English translation not provided.] I would like to recognize Chief Eddie Sangris, YK Dene First Nation. Thank you.

Does the Minister know if that company has any discussions or any engagements at all with the Aboriginal groups, Indigenous groups in the area, specifically I think maybe Lutselk'e, YK Dene, and Fort Resolution?

Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to talk about a resource development project that has been in the works for the last several years within the riding of Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. The project that I am referring to is the Nechalacho Rare Earth Elements Project, which is located 100 kilometres southeast of Yellowknife at Thor Lake.

Mr. Speaker, this project is a unique economic opportunity for not only the NWT, but for our country and our global allies. I say this because currently there are no such resource development projects that exist anywhere in North America. That is...

Has the Minister at any point during his discussions gotten into what might make that project viable and what might get that project started with the company?

Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Today I made a Member's statement on Avalon rare earth resources. I have questions for the Minister of ITI. I would like to ask the Minister if the Minister has been engaged in any discussion with the mining company that is hoping to continue or start operations at Thor Lake? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister if during his discussion there was any feel for whether or not they will go beyond this small-scale mining operation that they are planning now? They must be doing it because of the current situation with rare earths right across the globe. I am wondering if the Minister had any indication whether or not the company wants to move beyond a small-scale mining operation?

I realize that there have been adjustments to the BIP policy. I would like to ask the Minister if there would be any consideration to increasing that lower threshold. Right now, my understanding is that at about $1 million, you could have a 15 percent advantage, 20 percent advantage, but, once you get over that, then I think the preference is minor. The presence may be 3 percent, 2 percent, or a very low percentage at the end of the day. I would like to ask the Minister if he would consider again looking at that to increase that amount to try to ensure that the money stays in the North. Right...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to ask the Minister if the government would look at subsidies based on the remoteness of the communities, or maybe based on income, or maybe based on the fact that individuals are hunting for elders and so on, if there would be any subsidies at all involved in this whole carbon tax scheme? Thank you.

I would like to ask the Minister if there will be tax rebates. I notice that all of the jurisdictions that didn't do their own carbon tax system, the federal carbon tax system was imposed upon them, but there were tax exemptions. I want to ask the Minister: will there be tax exemptions for the people of the territories, as well?

Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, [Translation] they are talking about the carbon tax today, so I am going to ask the Minister: the tanks that are getting delivered into the communities, we are talking about it. They are saying that it was not to be taxed the way they are working. I don't understand exactly what is going on. The people who deliver the fuel within a community or the boats that are delivering it, maybe they are the ones who are paying the tax. The heating fuel is not supposed to be taxed for the people that are hunting and living on the land. [Translation ends]

[Microphone not...