Kieron Testart

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, wish to join the Premier in welcoming Grand Chief Jackson Lafferty here to the chamber. I had the honour of serving with him in the 18th Legislative Assembly, and I consider him a very good friend. So thanks for being here today, Grand Chief.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So 2027 is the plan. Is the Minister able to work with partners because it's very important that we do; it's part of the devolution agreement; it's part of our co-management system. But is the Minister able to work with partners to expedite this process to indicate the dire state of our exploration? Exploration's dropped by 50 percent since 2018. That's a huge decline. Can the Minister bring those concerns to that table and expedite this process? Because we desperately need reform now. We don't say red alert idly. Will the Minister act and expedite this process so we...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier today we called for a -- some of us called for a red alert into mining because the situation is dire. We have aging legacy mines that are closing, no new mines on the horizon. Can the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment speak to why the MRA was passed at the end of the 18th Assembly. It's been ten years before it's come into force, and we do not see a clear path forward. Can the Minister speak to the status of the Mineral Resources Act regulations? Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, in 2017, Premier Bob McLeod raised a red alert over oil and gas development in the Beaufort Sea after Prime Minister -- then Prime Minister Trudeau declared a moratorium without consulting the Northwest Territories. At the time, I was fairly critical of that. I was focused on other aspects of the economy, particularly mining, but now I owe him an apology because I see the real value of that red alert in sending a clear signal across the country and the world that the NWT was open for business and fighting to preserve the opportunity to develop its own resources.

Mr. Speaker, today...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Pursuant to section 77(1) of the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, I'm informing the House of a conflict of interest in this motion as my wife is a chair of the board of Avens, the community for seniors. I shall withdraw from the proceedings accordingly to avoid this conflict. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That's great news. I'm glad that this hasn't fallen off the agenda. But I'd like to know is the Council of Leaders behind the tax credit as well and can we marshall or combine that combined leadership caucus, get everyone on the same page in calling for this important economic tool to grow our economy and restore our mining decline? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, does the Minister believe this program -- sorry, does the Minister believe this program should be expanded at a time when mining is in decline, at a time when exploration has dropped by 50 percent when we need more people out there looking; does the Minister believe this program should be expanded? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, one of the requests to correct the decline in mining is financial incentives that will help support the industry, lower costs with very high cost jurisdictions. We hear that all the time. So can the Minister inform us of the mineral incentive program, how -- what its uptake was or is currently and what the economic benefits have been to our communities as a result. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Policy intentions are great, but they don't result in new regulations or a Mining Act that's in force. So when will the -- let's just focus on the outdated 19th century tenure system. When will the tenure system be modernized, computerized, and online map staking available to bring the Northwest Territories in to 2025 like other jurisdictions that are doing far better than we are? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I too want to recognize the former Member for Range Lake, Daryl Dolynny. He's a good friend and is a tireless advocate for seniors in our community. I also want to recognize his team and the Avens board who have come here to join us today. Thank you very much for being here.