Denny Rodgers

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on March 3rd, 2025, I rose to give a statement on building codes, Mr. Speaker, or rather lack of building codes in the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, all government buildings, as I understand, do adopt or abide by the National Standards Building Code, and that building code includes the electrical code, the plumbing code, the fire code, the energy code, as well of course as the building standards code. Mr. Speaker, however, all other developments, there is no code whatsoever. And, Mr. Speaker, we're the only jurisdiction in Canada without a building...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you to the Minister. I think we're starting to see a little light at the end of the tunnel here, and I know it's going to take a continued commitment from the Minister to keep pushing this issue forward and getting this work done. Follow-up question, Mr. Speaker, you mentioned the amendments to the Northwest Territories land regulations. Do we have a timeline for that? Has the department come up with a schedule and timeline to get these amendments done so we can move this forward? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, following up on my Member's statement today regarding the recent work done by the Department of ECC on the developing materials for the Indigenous governments around land leasing. My first question for the Minister of ECC is how would the department, I guess, define Indigenous traditional use cabins and who they are for? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I move that the chair rise and report progress.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the committee wishes to consider Tabled Document 340-20(1), Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures) No. 1, 2025-2026. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And that's a good answer, Mr. Speaker. And I know that the Minister is well aware of what's happening here and what needs to be done and the length of time it's taken many years to get to where we are today. Following up on that, Mr. Speaker, one of the things that come out of the forum was the develop -- follow-up materials for Indigenous governments. Can the Minister speak to the timeline now as when we're going to follow up on that and, indeed, start this -- continue this consultation, gets that information out to Indigenous governments. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, for many years, Indigenous governments have raised concerns over the GNWT's approach to traditional use cabins. They have made it clear that requiring recreational leases and charges fees for,members' cabins does not align with their understanding of aboriginal rights. Mr. Speaker, I brought it up in this House before. I know my colleague, Minister Semmler, in 2023, brought it up as well.

Most recently, Mr. Speaker, ECC held a two-day workshop in Yellowknife meant to advance the conversation around this topic. It is my understanding that progress was made...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I move that consideration of Tabled Document 340-20(1), Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures) No. 1, 2025-2026, be now concluded and that Tabled Document 340-20(1) be reported and recommended as ready for further consideration in formal session through the form of an appropriation bill. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I move that consideration of Tabled Document 341-20(1), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures and Borrowing Authorization) No. 1, 2025-2026, be now concluded and that Tabled Document 341-20(1) be reported and recommended as ready for further consideration in formal session through the form of an appropriation bill. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, many of my questions are similar to what the Member from Frame Lake had said. I do have a couple of additional and just a comment, Mr. Chair, for the millions of subscribers that are tuning in to watch us do this important work.

It is important to note that of the approximately $47 million that we're approving today, about approximately $39 of that is funded by the federal government, so it's not just a rubber stamp. We are actually being transparent and doing due diligence here.

But this one is not, Mr. Speaker, and full support of the $1.8 million. I think it's...