Debates of October 29, 2025 (day 70)

October
29
2025
Session
20th Assembly, 1st Session
Day
70
Speaker
Shane Thompson
Word PDF
Members Present
Hon. Caitlin Cleveland, Mr. Edjericon, Mr. Hawkins, Hon. Lucy Kuptana, Hon. Jay MacDonald, Hon. Vince McKay, Mr. McNeely, Ms. Morgan, Mr. Morse, Ms. Reid, Mr. Rodgers, Hon. Lesa Semmler, Hon. R.J. Simpson, Mr. Testart, Hon. Shane Thompson, Hon. Caroline Wawzonek, Mrs. Weyallon Armstrong
Assembly Members
Topics
Bill 33: Technical Safety Statutes Amendment Act
Committee Motion 84-20(1): Concurrence Motion – Tabled Document 385-20(1): 2026-2027 Capital Estimates, Carried
Committee Motion 85-20(1): Concurrence Motion – Tabled Document 386-20(1): Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures and Borrowing Authorization), No. 3, 2024-2025, Carried
Committee Motion 86-20(1): Concurrence Motion – Tabled Document 387-20(1): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 2, 2025-2026, Carried
Committee Motion 87-20(1): Concurrence Motion – Tabled Document 388-20(1): Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 2, 2025-2026, Carried
Committee Report 30-20(1): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2024-2025 Annual Report of the Northwest Territories Information and Privacy Commissioner,
Committee Report 31-20(1): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2024-2025 Annual Report of the Northwest Territories Office of the Ombud and the 2024-2025 Annual Report of the Languages Commissioner,
Committee Report 32-20(1): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2024-2025 Annual Report of the Northwest Territories Human Rights Commission,
Committee Report 33-20(1): Standing Committee on Procedure and Privileges Report on the Review of the Rules of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly
Follow-up to Oral Question 797-20(1): Wildfires in Tlicho Lands
Member’s Statement 777-20(1): Accountability Mechanisms under the Residential Tenancies Act
Member’s Statement 778-20(1): Mine Closure and Remediation in the Northwest Territories
Member’s Statement 779-20(1): Support for Affordable Childcare
Member’s Statement 780-20(1): Government Approach to Traditional Use Cabins
Member’s Statement 781-20(1): Economic Outlook for the Northwest Territories
Member’s Statement 782-20(1): Early Learning and Literacy Programming
Member’s Statement 783-20(1): Homeownership and Transfer of Market Rental Units to long-Term Tenants
Member’s Statement 784-20(1): Access to Assessments for School-aged Children
Member’s Statement 785-20(1): Celebration for Mike Rowe
Member’s Statement 786-20(1): Auditor General’s Performance Audit on housing in the Northwest Territories
Minister’s Statement 160-20(1): Update on Residential Schools Monument
Minister’s Statement 161-20(1): Release of the Auditor General’s Peformance Audit
Question 870-20(1): Surety Bonds for Environmental Remediation and Reclamation
Question 871-20(1): Renewal of the Literacy Strategy
Question 872-20(1): Assessments for School-aged Students
Question 873-20(1): Support for Affordable Daycare Providers
Question 874-20(1): Traditional Use Cabins
Question 875-20(1): Homeownership and Transfer of Ownership of Market Rental Units to Tenants
Question 876-20(1): Transfer of Commissioner’s Lands to Municipalities
Question 877-20(1): Public Housing in Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh
Question 878-20(1): Assessment of Fiscal Capacity of Mine Operators
Question 879-20(1): Out-of-Country Medical Coverage Policy
Question 880-20(1): Late Payments for Student Financial Assistance
Question 881-20(1): Electronic Medical Records
Question 882-20(1): Dog Act Policy and Regulations
Question 883-20(1): Late Payments for Student Financial Assistance
Question 884-20(1): Transition to British Columbia Curriculum
Question 885-20(1): Late Payments for Student Financial Assistance
Question 886-20(1): Downtown Yellowknife Encampment Fire Safety
Question 887-20(1): Late Payments for Student Financial Assistance
Tabled Document 418-20(1): Budget Dialogues 2025 – What We Heard
Tabled Document 419-20(1): Letter Dated July 8, 2025, from Mayor of Yellowknife to Minister of Finance regarding the City’s Budget Submission Supporting the Transfer of Commissioner’s Land to the City of Yellowknife
Statements

Question 870-20(1): Surety Bonds for Environmental Remediation and Reclamation

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of ECC.

Mr. Speaker, can the Minister explain as to whether the GNWT still considers surety bonds a reasonable fiscal instrument for mining reclamation, or are they being phased out for more solvent instruments in case of company bankruptcy? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Member from Great Slave. Minister of ECC.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the surety bonds are still considered a very valuable type of security for this type of reclamation guarantee, and they are an asset that is fully able to be called upon on demand. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it's important that the GNWT and residents know the fiscal capacity of mining operators. I would like to understand and have the Minister explain the process that GNWT takes to assess whether a company is deemed to be an assignment which would require a test of financial capacity. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the process to determine if a company is an assignment or not is one that would require me to make an interpretation of something that I don't feel I'm comfortable with doing on the floor, as I also wear the hat as attorney general, and this is a legal interpretation, and I would not be able to answer that question at this time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Minister of ECC. Member from Great Slave. Final supplementary.

Mr. Speaker, if a mining company declares bankruptcy and reclamation is now a responsibility of the GNWT, can the Minister explain which division or unit in the GNWT would be assigned this work to reclaim the mine and any associated expenses? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, within the division of lands, we have a team of -- I have to pull up the title here; give me one second.

Certainly, you know, the team that we have in place within lands is the land administration team which would be responsible for overseeing that process as the potential reclamation moves forward and would go back and look at how that process was entered into after a potential situation where a bankruptcy was declared. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Minister of ECC. Oral questions. Member from Frame Lake.