Debates of October 31, 2025 (day 72)

October
31
2025
Session
20th Assembly, 1st Session
Day
72
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 35: Miscellaneous Statutes Law Amendment Act, 2026, Carried
Bill 36: Trespass to Property Act, Carried
Committee Motion 132-20(1): Committee Report 33-20(1): Standing Committee on Procedure and Privileges Report on the Review of the Rules of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly, No. 2 – Rule 7.3 – Written Questions Submission, Carried
Committee Motion 133-20(1): Committee Report 33-20(1): Standing Committee on Procedure and Privileges Report on the Review of the Rules of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly, No. 2 – Guidelines for Written Questions, Carried
Committee Motion 134-20(1): Committee Report 33-20(1): Standing Committee on Procedure and Privileges Report on the Review of the Rules of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly, No. 2 – Daily Order of Business on Thursdays, Carried
Committee Motion 135-20(1): Committee Report 33-20(1): Standing Committee on Procedure and Privileges Report on the Review of the Rules of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly, No. 2 – Sitting after Thanksgiving, Carried
Committee Report 34-20(1): Standing Committee on Procedure and Privileges Report on the Review of Motion 56-20(1): Code of Conduct referral to the Standing Committee on Procedure and Privileges, Received and Adopted by the Assembly
Member’s Statement 797-20(1): Deh Cho Negotiations Process
Member’s Statement 798-20(1): French Language Education
Member’s Statement 799-20(1): Premier’s Awards Winners
Member’s Statement 800-20(1): Economic Impacts of Federal Budget
Member’s Statement 801-20(1): Reflections on the Sitting
Member’s Statement 802-20(1): Education in the Tlicho Region
Member’s Statement 803-20(1): Ending Daylight Savings Time
Member’s Statement 804-20(1): Halloween Message
Member’s Statement 805-20(1): Celebration of Life for Rolande Norwegian
Minister’s Statement 165-20(1): First Poppy Ceremony
Minister’s Statement 166-20(1): Government of the Northwest Territories-Literacy Council Agreement
Minister’s Statement 167-20(1): Update on Non-Government Organizations Sector Support Initiative
Motion 65-20(1): Extended Adjournment of the House to February 4, 2026, Carried
Question 905-20(1): Dehcho Negotiations Process
Question 906-20(1): NOrthwest Territories Nominee Program
Question 907-20(1): Midwifery Services
Question 908-20(1): French-first Language Education Rights
Question 909-20(1): Housing Northwest Territories Contracting Process
Question 910-20(1): Supports for Students in Small Communities
Question 911-20(1): Environmental Securities
Question 912-20(1): Building Standards Legislation
Question 913-20(1): Government of the Northwest Territories Procurement Processes
Question 914-20(1): Animal Welfare and Emergency Management
Question 915-20(1): Environmental Securities
Question 916-20(1): CT Scanner Procurement for Inuvik Hospital
Question 917-20(1): Rayrock Minesite Remediation
Question 918-20(1): Chipsealing of the Inuvik Bypass Road
Question 919-20(1): Government Service Delivery Training
Question 920-20(1): New Housing Allocation for Tlicho Communities
Question 921-20(1): Impacts of Jordan’s Principle Funding Changes
Question 922-20(1): Building Standards Framework
Tabled Document 432-20(1): Statement of Consistency for Bill 34: Trespass to Property Act
Tabled Document 435-20(1): Northwest Territories Hydro and Northwest Territories Power Corporation 2024-2025 Annual Report
Tabled Document 436-20(1): Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Motion 61-20(1): Remuneration of Essential Staff During an Evacuation
Tabled Document 437-20(1): 2024-2025 Annual Report: Action Plan in Response to the Calls for Justice on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People
Tabled Document 438-20(1): Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Motion 63-20(1): Creation of an Emergency Management Agency for the Northwest Territories
Written Question 23-20(1): Healthcare Professionals Returning as Locums
Statements

Question 917-20(1): Rayrock Minesite Remediation

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is to ECC Minister. It's regarding the statement that I did yesterday on Rayrock Mine.

First, I want to ask the Minister of ECC, can he confirm whether territorial testing of the surrounding water near the Rayrock site has been completed to assess potential contamination and ensure the safety of Behchoko residents? Thank you.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Member for Monfwi. Minister of Environment and Climate Change.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Rayrock site was -- there's a site there that's a 12-square-kilometer area around the former mine site. This site was excluded from the devolution agreements under Part B of section 7 and remains under the control of the Government of Canada. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. So how is the government working with the responsible authorities, just like he said, to share clear and accessible information with the community of Behchoko about testing results and the impact on the surrounding area? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, between 2018 and 2020, CERNAC worked in collaboration with the Tlicho government on a remedial action plan. That action plan was put into action in 2024 and is projected to take three years. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Minister of ECC. Final supplementary. Member from Monfwi.

Thank you. Thank you for the information. Will the government commit to working with the responsible authority to provide regular updates to the community of Behchoko as the Rayrock Mine remediation project moves forward? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the department is not directly involved in the remediation of this site. You know, it is a collaborative effort between the Tlicho government and the Government of Canada. I think that, you know, we're happy to reach out and see if there is information available and direct the appropriate participant within the process to relay that -- ensure that information is relayed to the Tlicho government. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

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