Shane Thompson

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, when we did put a Minister in there, I did contact the MLA and explain that we would be doing this. Mr. Speaker, the first thing that the Minister had to do was find out about the deficit. Right now, we're at $2.5 million, and we're still looking into the situation. So that there is part of the situation. The other part of the situation is this past summer, we've had, you know, fires, evacuations. The South Slave staff has been pretty busy dealing with that, but we now have them back in and we will be working with them on that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The GNWT is aware of the waterrelated concerns of Athabasca, Chipewyan, and the Mikisew Cree First Nation and Fort Chip Metis Nation. The GNWT has collaborated with members from these First Nations through the PeaceAthabasca Delta Ecological Monitoring Program as well as the fish monitoring camps and watering sample. The GNWT regularly communicates with NWT Indigenous governments to share information about the transboundary water, including Kearl spill and seepage through direct contact as well as through regular dialogue with the Indigenous steering committee with the...

Thank you, Madam Chair. I do not support this motion. We already talked about, you know, land use plans. In addition to bylaws to this section, it attempts to fix a problem that doesn't exist presently. And we reduce the opportunity of input at the community municipal level. Forest management regulations currently outline process to work with municipalities before licenses are issued. These processes do not strictly use or rely on bylaws but the direct input of municipalities. The Member just talking about, you know, zoning bylaws, we feel that this can be looked in at regulations but, most...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, GNWT recently completed a broad public engagement on emissions and targets. One possible scenario discussed was net zero emissions. There is a need to balance healthy economy with climate change mitigation in the NWT. The NWT approach needs to be achievable given our remoteness and cold climate. Any change to the approach to emission targets in the NWT will be part of the renewed climate change action plan and energy strategy in 2025.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I do not support this motion. The GNWT has already agreed to previous standing committee amendments that add mandatory provision to report annually on forest management activities. The amendment adds any research activity to the annual report requirements. This addition is vague and considerable effort would be needed to track everything that the forest superintendent may research over the period of the year. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the GNWT continues to acknowledge the profound affect climate change is having in the NWT right now and the importance of building resiliency and addressing our emissions. Climate change has been a key part of this government's mandate. We've moved climate action in the territories forward through our climate change strategic framework and energy strategy. We're listening to Indigenous government partners through the NWT Climate Change Council, and we've advocated for the NWT perspective and funding at the federal and internationally level. We all agree...

Thank you, Madam Chair. Annual reports will provide summary data; i.e., inspections and that. So it is being provided in the annual report. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, these people that were impacted by the fires there, their accommodations we're relooking at it in January. But as we work on it, it might be extended until we get them actually back into their home or a replacement home as we work through that process. So right now, we got it in January and then we will be as we move forward, we'll be looking at each individual case by case. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Chair. It's going to be a little bit of a longwinded answer, and I apologize for that.

The Department of Environment and Climate Change has conducted research on the different technologies to provide further services in the downtown core. Yellowknife does not have enough population and beverage containers to make two additional or two traditional deposit locations feasible. ECC looked at reverse vending machines as a potential solution but our research has shown that we would not be a good fit for the NWT beverage container program. While reverse vending machines have worked...

Yes, thank you. With your permission, I'd ask Mr. Wheler to provide something from the technical working committee too. Thank you.