Daniel McNeely

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. 2024 graduation. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge and celebrate the accomplishments of the Sahtu region's high school graduates. These young adults have reached an important milestone in their lives, completing their secondary education and preparing to embark on their further new education journeys.

Mr. Speaker, education is the key to unlocking a brighter future, and these graduates have certainly demonstrated their commitment to personal growth and development. They have acquired valuable knowledge and skills that will serve them well into the future...

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I just provide some comments or some advice here. The proposed school location, not the portables, the proposed school location is -- I'm going to take a guess -- probably 40 yards away from the health centre. And the health centre is sitting on foundation, a piling foundation, and that's being proposed for the new school. And I'm told that the engineers are possibly using that to cancel that particular site. So if you say, well, your if neighbour's on piles, why shouldn't this project be on piles? So it would be a good follow-up question there as we move ahead for the site...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I too will be supporting the motion. As my colleague from the Monfwi had mentioned, the small communities outside of Norman Wells really are feeling the impacts of its costs, costs, costs. Everything we do in that region is either shipped in during barge, if there is one, and then wait another six months until the big trucks start rolling in. So it's a very costly operating area, and without government we have no industry. Those are just a few of the number of reasons why I'll be supporting this motion. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thanks to the Minister for that information. Moving on, I'm glad to hear that this Minister is making comments or statements to the previous Minister on Friday that we're taking an all-of-government approach. It really is a collective one to address this issue, and a major one. Can the Minister provide a subsidy to ensure the air cargo rate does not exceed above 60 cents per pound as proposed by the air barge. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are to the Minister of Infrastructure to my statement earlier. After MTS barge cancellations in 2018 and 2022, the GNWT organized an airlift for affected communities. My first question there, Mr. Speaker, has the Minister looked into this option for the Sahtu region? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Cancelled barging 2024 season impacts to the Sahtu businesses. On May the 23rd, the Government of the Northwest Territories announced that due to the low water levels, there would be no barging between Hay River, Tulita, and Norman Wells.

Mr. Speaker, while the Government of the Northwest Territories cannot change the low water levels throughout the Mackenzie basin, we can change how we respond to the impacted businesses. Making businesses wait 6 to 12 months to ship supplies is not an option as they can't go without work during the construction season and still maintain...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Is there a willingness in the near future on this department to issue a rights issuance for oil and gas in the territories? Thank you.

I have got nothing further. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. My next question is further on down the list at $1.2 million there, you have the Colville Lake portables in brackets of three. Is there two or three of these portables? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thanks to the Minister for providing some of the information in her previous statement which answers my question about the Colville Lake school. And I was looking at the original tendered price and now some more money going towards that, and it's going towards the site preparations, is my understanding. So that explains over and above why the additional funds are being requested. Thanks, Mr. Chair.