Daniel McNeely

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have legislation at our disposal. My follow-up first question to my statement is addressed to the Minister of MACA. Will the Minister of MACA accept the humanitarian state of an emergency issued by the town of Norman Wells? Mahsi.

Mahsi cho. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, since our last Assembly sitting, the Sahtu has faced a very dramatic summer, starting with the cancellation of the marine river barging services and the concerning wildfires in Fort Good Hope, plus the evacuation.

Mr. Speaker, this issue or situation has created a large negative chain reaction of stress on projects, resupply, household food security, summer public infrastructure preparations for O and M, school supplies, and essential services. Most critically, it has impacted the availability of home and commercial heating fuel.

Mr. Speaker, the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My last question to the Minister here, and I feel this is a very large, multimillion-dollar situation, and I don't feel comfortable in asking four questions on behalf of the Sahtu, but I'm going to ask my last one with some extra reserves for tomorrow. Will the Minister agree that this is a crisis emergency situation? Mahsi.

Mr. Speaker, following up on my statement here earlier today, my questions are to the Minister of Finance. I feel we have discussed this situation at length and are now comfortable to address for Norman Wells' high, high cost of living and fuel.

My first question: Will the Minister of Finance agree to cover the air fuel transportation costs to Norman Wells? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thanks to my colleagues. It's gratifying and heartfelt, warming, that 16 Members have voted to have this debate. And this debate really addresses the urgency that we are experiencing in Norman Wells and the Sahtu.

I feel that I have said this many a times here so I'm not going to have a presentation in front of you other than what I've said here in the North and there in Ottawa. As we all know, I went to Ottawa with my colleagues, the mayor of Tulita, Doug Yallee, and the mayor of Norman Wells and his staff, Mr. Pope, to share the concerns of the magnitude and the in...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thanks to the Minister for that response. Here I'm feeling more and more satisfied and comfortable however I can't really say that for the many people out there in the community.

My third question to the same Minister is the Minister exhausting all possibilities for a cost shared model with the Government of Canada and Imperial Oil themself? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of the budget here. We've started off the initiative towards the fiscal sustainability strategy back in February, and now we're at the end, and it never turns out in the interest of what we all expect, but I think we can all realize that there is passion in this Chamber. I feel confident in this leadership in moving on. Yes, we got to give today for tomorrow. And that compromise is what I'm going to be telling the community of Deline and in collaboration and working together and moving forward is exactly what I expect to receive. I've got to attend a...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thanks for the opportunity to close the debate on this motion here. I additionally wanted to mention here if we look on the spirit of this Assembly's mandate to economic reconciliation with the Indigenous governments, here is one example how to do that and unlocking the Sahtu would mean that this region is 283,000 square kilometers, twice the size of the Maritime provinces, so you can see the potential within this area. And I would request a recorded vote there. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

WHEREAS the Mackenzie River Basin has been experiencing drought and low water levels since 2022, which has disrupted the re-supply of communities by barge;

AND WHEREAS the disruption of barging routes has created extraordinary logistical challenges and costs to deliver goods and supplies to impacted communities;

AND WHEREAS communities in the Sahtu region estimate over a collective $14 million in lost or delayed business opportunity, including logistical and shipping expenses as a result of the 2024 cancelled barge;

AND WHEREAS the Mackenzie Valley Highway has been a...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thanks to the Minister for that information here. What are the department plans for recruitment? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.