Wally Schumann

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I'm well aware of these projects. These were led by the Tlicho Government. Costing goes back as far as 2009, and these things would have to be re-costed to present-day costs to compare it to what the present line that we are proposing in our energy strategy to connect Whati, which we haven't defined, as we discussed in this House yesterday. I can't compare the costs.

Clearly, what we have laid out in our 2030 Energy Strategy is how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions for the Northwest Territories. Part of that strategy is a T-line to Whati, no different than the T-line from Hay River to Fort Providence and Kakisa.

We will have to continue to look at ways to grow our economy in the Northwest Territories and, at the same time, honour our commitment to the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth. This is what we have come forward with. We went out and reached out to all of the communities when we did our Energy Strategy, and this is one of our plans going...

I don't have that detail in front of me, but what I can tell you about this project is that, if we connect the transmission line to Whati, we're going to eliminate 475,000 litres of diesel fuel annually. We have to look at this situation. Maybe the Member is not well aware, but what he's not thinking about in the short term is joining this transmission line to the community of Whati. The long-term goal, if the Tlicho Government and the Government of the Northwest Territories decide to go ahead with the Lac La Martre project, which I would assume would be at some point for future growth and...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize today in the House Marny Twigge and Heather Coakwell for their continued work with NWT Elections and the coming up elections. I would like to welcome Mrs. Trentor to the House today, as well. Nice to see you, Mrs. Trentor.

I didn't do any closing Minister's or Member's statement, but I want to take one second to thank everybody for the last four years. I think, most importantly for me, I want to thank the Premier. This has been a tough four years, and he's been a mentor to me, and he's done us an honour serving us for the Northwest Territories...

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document entitled "NWT Mineral Development Strategy Progress Report 2016-2019." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I think I have to clarify here. Maybe the department has done it; I just said that I don't have that level of detail in front of me. We can certainly have a look and check with the department if they have done that cost analysis. As I have said, we believe in the short term to join the Whati to the Snare system through our transmission line, and once potential growth in the region and industrial development happens, the Whati would certainly feed into that growth and help stabilize the North Slave grid.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The scope of work that is proposed for this project is installation of a series of rock-filled bench drains underneath the existing runway embankment, control site drainage, and stabilize problematic areas. This will require excavation of the runway embankment to natural ground installation of bench drains and backfill and compacting the excavation materials to finish grade. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The capacity of the power line? Wow, you are asking for some serious detail, here. What I will read out here is what I have. The design and construction of the new transmission line from the Snare hydro system to the community of Whati, the transmission line starts from the Snare port substation and spans 60 kilometres to bring hydroelectricity to Whati, where generation is currently supplied from diesel. In 2021, $5 million work was for the pre-feasibility work to include ground-proofing and transmission-line routing, environmental baseline studies, engineering, and regional engagement and...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We have committed some cap funding and worked with the community on what they are doing with their access road, particularly around that Nun Hill situation and the burn area that was rough for a number farmers. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm just trying to find it here. Community access road.