Robert Hawkins

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, colleagues.

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Frame Lake, that committee -- I can take it back -- strike it from the record. I'll start again, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the Member for Frame Lake, that the Committee Report 23-20(1), Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Review of Land Use Permitting and Water Licensing Regulatory Framework in the Northwest Territories, be received and adopted by this Assembly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, your Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment is pleased to provide its Report on the Review of Land Use Permitting and Water Licensing Regulatory Framework in the Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker, I'll read the executive summary. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment’s, (the committee) interest in undertaking a targeted review of the Mackenzie Valley Resources Management Act’s (MVRMA) regulatory framework began in the Spring of 2024. This review was largely prompted by committee being...

Mr. Speaker, I have to do everything in my power to contain myself because now I'm really upset, because if we follow the process of the archaeological sites, Alma is designated a thing. And if she is a thing, she becomes a property of the state. And if she becomes a property of the state, what symbolism does that represent that Indigenous people are a property of the state because we have to follow that process? I think it's so important that the opportunity -- the path forward that's being asked by this side of the House is let the Coroner's Act proceed. Because this is a very emotional...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to follow up on the questions my good colleague from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh had brought up with respect to the Minister of ECE and the concerns about bringing Alma home.

Mr. Speaker, the Minister had pointed out that the Archaeological Sites Act is being considered or used because of an unmarked grave. First of all, I want to stress that designation forces Alma to be defined as a thing. And Alma is a person. She has family. She was somebody's daughter. She has a resting place. It's marked in a grave in a coordinated site. The family wants her home. The community wants...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the spirit of collaboration, that was the nicest no I've heard all week.

Mr. Speaker, the Premier yesterday -- I'm not going to quote him in specifics because I don't have it in front of me, but he said it's the time to do things. So less talk, a lot more engagement and walk.

Mr. Speaker, would the government be supportive if a Private Member, such as myself, brought forward a Private Member's bill noting that most of these examples, whether they're Alberta and Nova Scotia, Manitoba, BC, are less than six pages? Would the government be open to a proposal from a private...

No trespassing, Mr. Speaker. I'm referring to a no trespassing Act. Mr. Speaker, it's almost impossible to remove someone who is unwanted on a particular property, business, or even in a private situation.

Mr. Speaker, individuals can hold property owners hostage on their own property because they are exercising their rights to be there. Where is the fairness in this, Mr. Speaker? Where is the rule of law? Where is the basic reason of understanding, Mr. Speaker? Mr. Speaker, where is the fairness when you empower an encampment to be on your property? Where is the process to ban them, to make...

And thank you, Mr. Speaker. The last one.

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Frame Lake, that pursuant to Rule 9.4(5)(a) that the Government of the Northwest Territories table a comprehensive response to this report, including all its recommendations, within 120 days or at the earliest opportunity subsequent to the passage of 120 days. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate you letting me add that little extra, but it's important.

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the Member for Frame Lake, that the remainder of the Committee Report 23-20(1), the Standing Committee on economic environment -- sorry, Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Review of the Land Use Permitting and Water Licensing Regulatory Framework in the Northwest Territories be deemed read and printed in Hansard in its entirety. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

INTRODUCTION

The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment’s...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I seek the House's unanimous consent to return to number 8, oral questions. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I was on the conference call on the weekend. I was listening to the Alma working group. They have experts from the Kamloops experience. That should be considered the gold standard of how to do these things.

Mr. Speaker, I don't know if another meeting is required. I'm going to say I don't think it is. Mr. Speaker, we need a ministerial directive waiving interest under the Archaeological Sites Act so the Coroner's Act can be done and assess and remove Alma from her current place to exactly where the community and family want her.

Would the Minister agree to this House that she will...