Shane Thompson

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I can't give you that number because we don't know what that number is. We're getting the assessments in. We're looking at what I can tell you, last year, from the flood with Little Buffalo, Jean Marie, Fort Simpson, and Fort Good Hope, and Aklavik, we came up and it cost us just under 40 million. I think it was 37.5 million. That's what that disaster had cost us.

We also adapted or changed the Disaster Assistance Policy from a $100,000 to $240,000. We also changed what people are eligible from 80 percent to 90 percent. So we have these additional costs.

I...

Thank you. As I explained to the Member here, the process is to make sure they register first. Once they register first, our pathfinders will be working with them. We also then have assessors. Once the assessors are looking at their residence, how it's impacted, they do a report. Then we get the report. We bring it forth to the resident. That's the pathfinder's, that's a responsibility. Then we explain the process to them. From there, if the resident wishes to ask for an advance because they can't afford it, then it's seven to ten days from the time we put it in to assess them. The Department...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I've stated previously, we receive additional information about the knowledge gap and Alberta's plan to develop regulations, I will share with the MLAs.

To be clear, no discharge of the tailing waters allowed from the oil sands at this time and no decision has been made by the Government of Alberta pursuant to regulations to release oil sands tailing water.

The GNWT understands and shares the concerns with Indigenous governments, Indigenous organizations, NWT residents, and MLAs on the potential release of oil sand tailing waters and continue to bring...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to begin by saying that I, along with several of my Cabinet colleagues, had the privilege of visiting both the town of Hay River, K’atl’odeeche First Nation, and West Point First Nation, earlier this week to observe the damage caused by this year’s flooding in the South Slave region. I want to thank Mayor Jameson and Chief Martel for inviting and hosting us on our tours around your communities. Thanks also to MLAs Bonnetrouge and both MLA Simpson for accompanying us and demonstrating leadership for your communities. It was eye opening to see...

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in regards to that question there, the process is that the assessments will come in; they will do the assessment of the damage. Then the pathfinders will reach out to the impacted homeowner or businessowner and explain what the assessment is. Then we'll also have that conversation about do they need an advance, do they need this here.

Then through the process, it's basically seven to ten days once we process the advance.

So, again, it's about asking people to be a little bit patient right now as we go through the process. Once we have the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, our pathfinders are supposed to be there until we finish dealing with this crisis that's happening in Hay River and the reserve. So we are looking at trying to find some local pathfinders, because right now we have pathfinders that are outside the community. They are working there. So we're working to try to find local pathfinders to help that there.

I also have to say thank you to the MLA from Hay River North and Hay River South and to the Deh Cho MLA. They are willing to help out, and they had the conversations. We've given them the information. So I also...

Again, thank you to the Member for the question. We are fairly early into the process. So again, we need to identify the level of damages for all the homes. Damage assessments are currently underway, and this information will be utilized to make decisions by the homeowners related to the next steps in the process.

I can tell the Member that our pathfinder was in the community of K’atl’odeeche on Wednesday, and they were going door to door with the staff there. So we are working on that. Once that is done, we will make sure they're registered. Then the assessors will be in there.

We have seven...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, MACA does connect with the flood risk communities throughout the risk season. We have those communications, and we have, you know, partnership working with them to address these things. We also have the NWT alert system in place.

In regards to wearing my other hat as ENR minister, we also published an NWT water monitoring bulletin on a regular basis throughout the flood season. We also make sure that the information's available to the leadership in the communities.

This approach, though, is again we have to all please understand, it's a team approach. And...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I have the honour of saying ‘thank you’ to a resident who is retiring. Mike Canney started working at the Fort Simpson warehouse on April 4th, 1986, with the federal government as a casual. The following year, he started work with the Department of Renewable Resources as a seasonal store person. In 1991, he was asked to fill in as the regional store person and eventually he was hired full time in that position. The position has been renamed as a material management officer.

He has always spoke highly of his employment with the department and how his...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, last year my constituents were going through this as well as Little Buffalo and Fort Good Hope. So I just need to make sure people are aware there are multiple steps. Many of them are occurring at the same time. You know, the GNWT needs to see the results of the detailed damage assessments to better understand the nature and extent of the flood damage. Some houses are impacted more than others and same with businesses. Many people have already started their cleanup and repair work, and they've been in touch with their insurance providers.

And again, we...