Denny Rodgers

Thank you, Madam Chair. My colleagues have done a fine job on asking most of the questions in this section, but I do have just a couple of high-level.

Just on the funding itself and I believe -- and correct me if I'm wrong -- that the Minister stated that in the climate change accumulative impacts and knowledge, the $8.3 million, $2.6 million of that is for the climate action plan. I guess my first question, and again, how much of that is federally funded and how much of that comes out of our coffers, Madam Chair?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I thank the Minister for that. I don't think I got a specific piece of legislation in there, and I'd note that now is not the time to negotiate; now is the time, again, to respect the legislation and the rules and the Indigenous agreements that are in place.

With that, Mr. Speaker, would the Minister once again commit to pausing all invoicing and all collections until this issue is finally resolved? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, following up on my Member's statement, and Mr. Speaker, I know the Minister's live to this issue, I know the Minister cares about this issue. My first question is what are we doing and when are we finally going to resolve this issue of cabin leases in settled land claim areas? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Yes, and I appreciate that. And I appreciate it's different in every region. I appreciate some areas have settled land claims, some don't. Allocations have been made and some -- most in some areas, and some areas they haven't. So I know there are other complications but certainly happy to hear that they're working towards it. And, again, for the larger municipalities, to me it seems there should be a much easier process to at least get that portion done and focused then on the smaller ones as well. But no further -- no question there, Madam Chair, no further comments on the section. Thank you...

Thank you for that. Yeah, I mean, obviously it's difficult. Land is -- you know, in the smaller communities, and specifically in the coastal communities, you know, there's not a lot of lots there, and as we're aware of, the Indigenous governments, certainly in my region, have received a significant amount of funding to put housing in these communities, as well as the larger centres of course, but in the smaller communities as well. So it's so important that they get as streamlined as possible working with the department to ensure that they can get -- acquire some of that land that obviously is...

Thank you. Yeah, and I appreciate that, and I know the department does follow the business incentive policy; however, the business has to be here and be able to do this kind of work in order for them to qualify for that and if we don't have that expertise in our territory, obviously are we going outside to get it, and if we are, how much of that money we're spending outside. So I appreciate the Minister's response and look forward to getting that update at a later date. Other than that, Madam Chair, I have no further questions in this section. Thank you.

Thank you. And the total $8.3 million climate change accumulative impacts and knowledge, is that also, then, the entire budget is GNWT funding?

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, the committee wishes to consider Tabled Document 275-20(1), 2025-2026 Main Estimates, the Department of Environment and Climate Change. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, you know, we must commit to respecting the IFA, certainly in the Inuvialuit settlement area, and our obligations under this implementation. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister speak to any specific legislation that would have to be changed to make this happen? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in June 2023, the Member from Inuvik Twin Lakes provided a Member's statement which was following up on a motion she brought forward to the House in relation to Indigenous peoples having cabins for rights-based purposes and how they should be exempt from lease payments for those rates-based camps and cabins, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, in the NWT Lands Act in section 19(d), it states: To set apart and appropriate such areas or territorial lands as may be necessary to enable the GNWT to fulfill its obligations under land claim agreements in the Northwest...