Agreed.
Okay, Thank you. Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses into the chambers.
Okay, thank you. Would the Minister please introduce the witnesses.
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, on my left I have Pamela Strand, deputy minister of industry, tourism and investment. And on my right, I have Nina Salvador who is the director of finance and administration for industry, tourism and investment. Thank you.
Okay, thank you. Committee has agreed to forego general comments. Does the committee agree to proceed to the details contained in the tabled document? Committee, agreed?
Agreed.
Commitee, the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment begins on page 47. We will defer the department totals and review the estimates by activity summary beginning on page 49, petroleum resources with information items on page 50. Are there any questions? I'll go to the Member from Range Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. So I'd like to ask questions about the replacement of the mineral resource information system. Is this project currently on budget and on schedule? Thank you.
Thank you. I'll go to the Minister.
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. So, Mr. Chair, our goal this term is to see this project get done. We are resourcing it as we need and as we go. For specifically for the mineral administration and registry system, we're working closely with the Department of Finance because it requires us to migrate first a piece of software called the LTOS, which is the Land Tenure Optimization System. And then from there, we're able to work on the Mineral Administration and Registry System. It's important to note, Mr. Chair, that we're unable to program this system until our regulations are done. And so it's imperative that we get that done as a step one so that we can then program this piece of software for people to be able to use it to do their applications, for example for their mineral staking, and then from there be able to do things like online map staking.
I also would like to add that we're working with the technical working group to try and put together an aggressive schedule to make sure that this work gets done because we know how important it is. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. I'll go to the Member from Range Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Well, I appreciate the sentiments that the work is important and needs to get done quickly, but the estimate completion is still 2027-2028 which puts us into the very end of the term. And, you know, call me a skeptic, but the last time we had a major -- you know, transformative mineral -- or mining initiative was the MRA that we put in in the 18th Assembly in the final year, and still not in force, which is what we're -- why the regulatory piece is still required. So I would be much more comfortable seeing this online map staking and the technology required for it to be put in while we're still sitting as an Assembly, so I know with confidence that these things are going to go on. And, furthermore, this thing's already well past the time we need to implement it. We're falling well behind other jurisdictions in competitiveness and costs. So when the Minister says that the department is going to work with the technical working group to expedite things, what does that actually mean in real terms? I mean, is it just going to the next meeting and saying, hey, we'd really like this to move forward or is it actually having an aggressive schedule, getting -- building consensus around that schedule and getting buy-in from Indigenous leaders from the technical working group experts? Like, I would -- I need to know more detail than just we're going to do our best efforts. Because we've been doing our best efforts, and it has been moving at a snail's pace. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. I'll go to the Minister.
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. So, Mr. Chair, within the Intergovernmental Council, we have a protocol that we follow in how we work together and how we co-develop legislation. And so we are using that protocol to make sure that we're doing this legislation with the best integrity. And while we will be the last jurisdiction to have online map staking, we will be leaders as far as how we go about doing mineral claims in the future and our expectation on both industry and residents. And so while on one hand we're catching up, on the other hand we are leading the way.
In regards to the Member's question, you know, yes, this project is on budget; yes, we are being aggressive but it is an aggressive approach to it that is needed, and so we are developing a schedule that puts us with our regulations being done this term and with the online map staking and MARS being done this term. But we need to make sure that we have buy-in, like the Member says, from our partners in this aggressive schedule and making sure that we are streamlining our process for efficiency to make sure that we are working together and that we're agreeing on how we're going to go about doing this and getting it done. In addition to that, we have to make sure that the entire team is properly resourced and supported to accommodate an accelerated schedule because this is something that is important to me. I share the Member's ambition and share the Member's desire to see this done in the life of this Assembly. And putting together a schedule and a recipe for success is how we get there. So thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. I am going to go to the Member from Range Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Well, just to be clear, I don't want to see it just done this term; I want to see it done next year. We need to move this project up. I mean, if we're talking about getting it done this term, it's still too far off. We are able to move very quickly if we put our collective willpower behind it. And, you know, with the MRA, for example, I mean, that development didn't have buy-in at first and then buy-in was developed and then it moved very quickly after that was -- after that took place. So with the inclusion of benefit agreements and a few other pieces like that, they were contentious at the time, but we were able to smooth things out and work through them. So in many ways, the extended regulatory period makes sense because there were some major flaws in the first piece of legislation, which is why we're talking about MARS because it stems from that. So whatever schedule that comes forward, I am eager to see it. Even if it's a notional schedule of what the department thinks is possible, that would be great.
So could I see -- could I ask the Minister -- I guess I can but I don't know if I'll get the answer I'm looking for but I will nonetheless do so -- that the department develop a notional schedule to move as quickly as it possibly could notwithstanding IGCS protocols that, you know, if they could just move as fast as they possibly could with the resources they have at hand. Let's see what that looks like, and then we can work forward from there. And I will be the first one to support the Minister in finding ways we can work with Indigenous partners, devolution partners, through the protocol, through the working group to get there. But right now, we need to see some urgency, we need to see the cobwebs of complacency being shaken off by some very aggressive timelines on this thing. Because if we don't replace the engine of our economy, we won't have one, and it's going to be a long time for us to recover from that mining shock. Thank you.
Thank you. I'll go to the Minister, please.
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. So, Mr. Chair, the aggressive deliverables that we are putting together in order to get this done and to get it done in collaboration with our partners and making sure that it's done with integrity and respectfully puts our deliverables into 2027. And so I need to ensure that we're going back to our partners and that we all agree on the schedule and all agree to the terms. And I know that I'm asking a lot of everybody, but I share the Member's passion, and I share the Member's ambition to get this work done and to make sure that we are reporting certainty to industry.
So, Mr. Chair, if you will indulge me, I want to reassure the public and the Member that there are no cobwebs on this work, that the policy intentions documents are going out for public review. Some of them are out right now, and those can be found on ITI's website, and the remainder of the other two documents will be out in the coming weeks here so that people can take it off in bite-sized chunks and be able to provide their responses.
Once their responses are received, Mr. Chair, those responses then will go back to the technical working group, they will have policy directions, and those policy directions will be provided to the Department of Justice in order to turn around and draft those regulations. There are a few other steps that we need to make sure happen, Mr. Chair, that are incredibly important to this process. One is section 35 consultations. The other one is step G of the Intergovernmental Council protocol. And those need to make sure that they get done. And then we go out and we do public posting of the regulations so that the public also has a chance to review the language and provide comments on it. And this is an incredibly important part of the step and an incredibly important part of making sure that residents are involved in the steps right along the way. And so I hear the Member. I want to see this work get done, and I am absolutely committed to it. Thank you.
Thank you. I'll go back to the Member from Range Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. So I see that the engagement notice has gone out as of today, this afternoon, and engagement one, which will take place during October, is around mineral resources administration, drill cores, and removal of minerals. So I'm assuming that's the part of the regulation or the policy intention that would govern online map staking because the other two are benefit agreements and socioeconomic policy to take place in November, and December is the mineral rights review board and transitioning of existing interests. So how about this, then: If we can't get a notional plan to show how fast we could move and then work backwards from there, which is what I would love to see, could we say -- could the Minister then roll out the regulations in stages? You know, after the policy intention is completed in October for this piece, move that forward and do this in a phased approach so we can get these regulations out quicker and start implementing these programs just as fast? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. I'll go back to the Minister.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. So, Mr. Chair, I'm happy to say that the Member and I have explored some common ways to approach this. And, unfortunately, there is not a desire from our partners to see that this is piece-mealed, and concern as well with the fact that at the end of the day the MARS system needs to be programmed. And it can't be programmed under our current legislative regime; it needs to be programmed under our next legislative regime.
My next concern, Mr. Speaker, is that by piece-mealing these regulations and doing them in a step by step way that we actually slow down the entire process rather than just setting a schedule, working with our partners, agreeing how we're going to get this done, and plowing forward to get it done. So, Mr. Chair, as I said before, I'm absolutely committed to getting this work done in the life of this Assembly so that we can all, at the end of the day, say that we got this done, we worked together, we put our hands down -- or our heads down, rather, we rolled up our sleeves, and we did the work. Thank you.
Thank you. Are there any further questions from Members? Okay, seeing none.
Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment, tourism and parks, infrastructure investment, $2,807,000. Does the committee agree?
Agreed.
Thank you. Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment, minerals and petroleum resources, infrastructure investments, $988,000. Does the committee agree?
Agreed.
Thank you. Thank you, Members. Please turn to page 51. Tourism and parks with information items to page 52, 53. Are there any questions? Okay, seeing none.
Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment, tourism and parks, infrastructure investment -- oh, I'm sorry, I didn't see you. I'll go to the Member from Great Slave.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I think several of us have questions, so thank you for being kind and going back.
Mr. Chair, can I get a substantiation on the Prelude Lake Territorial Park pump house? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. I'll go to the Minister.
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. So, Mr. Chair, that was originally built before 2004, and it needs to be replaced with an accessible toilet because it is not currently accessible and aligns with our safety priorities of the Assembly. Thank you.
Okay, Thank you. I'll go to the Member from Great Slave.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yeah, and in some of the material provided to Members, I note -- I'm pretty sure I know which outhouse this is. I agree that it needs to be accessible. I'm kind of amazed it's lasted this long, for 20 years. However, I'm curious, can the Minister speak to how much this costs and why it's projected to be so much. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. I'll go to the Minister.
Thank you so much, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I can confirm it's much more affordable than outhouses in other parts of the territory but certainly infrastructure like this does carry a cost at the end of the day, so I just encourage us all to help one another take care of our infrastructure. Thank you.
Thank you. I'll go back to the Member from Great Slave.
Yeah, thank you, Mr. Chair. I don't -- I'm not here to say that this project shouldn't go ahead. I think it should, obviously. I am very happy that the Minister is keeping a mind on accessibility issues. It's more that there are other outhouses for replacement in this listing in places that are more far-flung than Yellowknife that are costing less money so that's why I'm asking the question. Thanks, Mr. Chair.
Okay. I'll go back to the Minister.
Yeah, no, I'd love for the Member to point out to me where the cheaper outhouse is because generally costs go up as you leave Yellowknife, but we can follow up on that one later on. But the more we can encourage our co-workers -- or not co-workers, our fellow residents to take care of outhouses, the more affordable they will be.
Thank you for that question. I'll go back to the Member from Range Lake. No more?
No, thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm done.
Thank you. I'll go to the Member from Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just to ask a follow-up question about the Prelude Lake Territorial Park outhouse, which is in my riding. I just wanted to ask the Minister, can this project be completed without interruptions to service or access to the boat launch or the day use area at Prelude Lake Park? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. I'll go to the Minister.
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. So, Mr. Chair, for further details about kind of how this project will go about and what kind of disruptions might occur, like there might be materials that need to be brought in along the road and so that might have an impact, but I'd have to follow up specifically with the Member on the construction schedule, what that would look like. And we can make a commitment as well to make sure that we are advising park users what that will look like for any disruptions that might occur. Thank you.
Okay, thank you. I'll go back to the Member from Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just would simply request that the Minister also keep me informed, and then I can try to keep constituents informed and those who are using that area just so everyone's aware of what's available and not available. And I know there's a number of people who, yeah, live out there as well as use that area frequently. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. I'll go back to the Minister.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I'm always happy to work with Members and do my best to keep them informed. We might have to bring in some kind of alternative solutions for park users in the meantime but, luckily, it's not the only washroom facility in the park either. But certainly happy to make sure that I'm passing information as best as possible on to the Member. Thank you.
Okay. Thank you. I'll go back to the Member from Yellowknife North. Any further questions? Seeing none.
The Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment, tourism and parks, infrastructure investment, $2,807,000. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Thank you, Members. Please return now to the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment summary found on page 47.
Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment, 2026-2027 Capital Estimates, $3,795,000. Does the committee agree?
