Shane Thompson

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can't talk about the past. That's gone. What I can tell you about right now is the Government of Canada, the Tlicho Government, and the Government of Northwest Territories are working together. We're talking about facetoface, bringing a facilitator. So if they're willing to do that and our Indigenous governments are willing to do this process, why do we as the Government of Northwest Territories need to bring in the dispute mechanism? We don't need to do that unless it's our last resort. So right now, the Government of the Canada, the Tlicho Government, and the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I appreciate the Member's commitment in looking at the same movie over and over again. But if it's a good movie, you want to watch it again and again. And so we want to get you know, see new things, moving on, and we can do that.

So we are moving forward. I have to say that. It's government, and we're looking at three different levels of government, and it takes a long time to get all three parties working together here.

To date, there has been a productive dialog with the GNWT, the Government of Canada, and the Indigenous government. And so we're working with them...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, first and foremost, the Government of the Northwest Territories is not holding it up. I want to make that very clear. Deh Cho First Nations, the GNWT, and the Federal government are part of a working group for the Deh Cho Land Use Planning Committee. In talking to the Committee and being advised that to complete their plan is we're looking at 20222023. And, again, like I said, the GNWT is very supportive of this and working as an active member on it.

So the House is aware, the committee has a revised plan based on reviews of all parties, and the next step is...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the follow document entitled, Environmental Rights Act Annual Report 20202021. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, the recent floods have been devastating for many Northerners who have experienced damage to their communities, property, and their livelihoods. I witnessed the anxiety and stress in the voices and faces of people in my own community as water levels rose and homes and businesses were threatened and many were affected.

In the face of this adversity, I also saw firsthand how communities, leaders, Northerners can rise to meet challenges they must overcome. I am very proud of how our communities have met this challenge.

I am very thankful to local leaders like...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, please be advised this will be the first of five Members' statements I will be doing about the flood situation in the Nahendeh. I can only speak about my experience and what I saw. Please note, there were a lot of moving parts, and I could not see them all.

As people are aware, both communities were in charge. They were the ones that declared the state of local emergency and are working with the Government of the Northwest Territories and the Federal Government, including MP McLeod. From what I have witnessed and been part of, it is sometimes hourly contacts...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Multiple land users are being considered for the GNWT arsenic soil quality guidelines, and this work is in the process of being finalized. The Giant Mine remediation project has approved a closure and remediation plans by the MacKenzie Valley Land and Water Board.

The criteria used by the projects were not solely based on the GNWT guidelines; they are site specific criteria for the Giant Mine that are confirmed through the human health and ecology risk assessment.

ENR has also led the development of the human health risk assessment for legacy...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank the Member for that question. I'm happy to tell the House the department is currently reviewing the 2003 environmental guidelines for contaminated sites remediation. This work is being done with new information on remediation criteria from the Canada Council of Ministers of the Environment as well a new data that has come on arsenic in the Yellowknife area.

ENR recognizes that the 2003 guidelines is dated, and the updating environmental guidance is standard practice as new data and scientific research is available. This work is nearly completed...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And, again, I thank the Member for these questions. They're very important, and they have an impact on residents of Yellowknife. Updating environmental guidance is a standard practice as new data and increased scientific research is available.

I can assure residents of Yellowknife that the previous guidelines completed in 2003 was protective of human health and the environment. ENR will ensure our guidelines continue to be protective of the human health and the environment while incorporating new science and data that becomes available to us. Thank you, Mr...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The GNWT arsenic soil quality guidelines are being developed using the Canada Council Ministers of Environment framework, which is specific to both health, human health, and the environmental health.