Shane Thompson

The GNWT has not, I repeat has not, invoked the dispute resolution provisions of the agreement. Instead, NWT interests on prioritizing transboundary monitoring has been communicated at technical ADM, DM, and ministerial levels directly and through the Bilateral Management Committee. The agreement provides for either government to implement urgent activities that are necessary to protect public health or public safety without delay. The agreement requires that data and information be shared and consultation commences as soon as possible. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Both Environment and Climate Change Canada and Alberta Environment and Parks temporarily suspended long-term quality monitoring across the province as a result of public health and safety concerns related to COVID-19. The suspension includes long-term monitoring on the Slave, Athabasca, and Peace Rivers. It also includes sites on the Athabasca River and its tributaries, which are part of the Oil Sands Monitoring Program. All compliance monitoring is still occurring.

On June 3rd, Alberta Environment and Parks indicated that it has been requiring PPE and developing a protocol to resume routine...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to begin today by commending the courage and resolve of our front-line staff responding to this unprecedented public health emergency. From medical personnel, to the folks stocking shelves and keeping the grocery stores open, to the water and fuel delivery staff and the officers in our communities and at the borders, I am grateful to you all for this selfless work. It is because you are at work that others, in fact, much of the Government of the Northwest Territories workforce, have been able to work remotely through this crisis.

Mr. Speaker, it has indeed...

We continue to work with the Giant Mine Remediation Project to find ways to develop new skills and provide access to jobs related to the cleanup of Giant Mine. Conversations between Giant Mine Remediation Project and contaminated sites staff are taking place this week to continue to explore linkages and promote economic opportunity for Northerners. In addition, the department continues to work with other GNWT departments to secure federal funding to support remediation of contaminated sites to support economic recovery efforts in the NWT. The department is continuing to work in partnership...

The Member did give me a heads-up on this, so I'm going to read from my notes so I can give him exact information. The Giant Mine Remediation Project has developed a socio-economic strategy, which is currently in place to maximize benefits for Indigenous and Northern businesses. An implementation plan is currently being finalized for the strategy. ENR, ITI, ECE participates on the senior socio-economic advisory body at the senior deputy minister's level with CIRNAC, the City of Yellowknife, the DFN, North Slave Metis Association, and Alternatives North. In 2018-2019, total dollars spent by the...

The GNWT, through the Department of ENR, is a co-component of the Giant Mine Remediation Project. I have and will continue to advocate and promote northern benefits for this project.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Right here, and I have another copy right here. Yes, we did receive it. It was brought to the front desk here. We have looked at it. So the Member is aware, the department and the project team are currently in the process of viewing the Giant Mine oversight body 2019 annual report, and the GNWT and CIRNAC will be responding to the report publicly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Member will be very happy to hear that, yes, we agree it is important. What we're doing is we're looking to find the funding, because we have a whole bunch of priorities in this government of the Northwest Territories and there are a lot of competing needs within our infrastructure needs, but we are working outside the government, as well, to see if we can find that funding to help get this facility upgraded to its needed state that the Member has been advocating for. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Every year, our department works with our firefighters to get there, but I think maybe the Member is talking about the facility itself. With the facility itself, there was a planning study done and a design in place, and a new facility has been identified, where the land is going to be, so there are drawings and there is a plan in place right now.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. The wildfire season this year is off to a slow start thanks to cooler temperatures in May, right across the territory. It has only been in the last week or so that things are finally starting to warm up. Hot weather is predicted through June and July, with temperatures well above normal. These are prime conditions for wildfires.

As of this week, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources has responded to one wildfire in the Northwest Territories. This fire is suspected to be human-caused and is under investigation. Mr. Speaker, it is critical that residents...