On the eve of the Western Premiers’ Conference in Yellowknife, Premier R.J. Simpson on Wednesday had to tiptoe around some political minefields set by some Regular MLAs in the Legislative Assembly.
As the session resumed Wednesday after breaking in March, the NWT’s relationship with Alberta and its premier, Danielle Smith, was up for discussion during Oral Questions.
With the Dene Nation outside preparing for a supper-hour protest in support of Treaties 6,7, and 8 outside of the NWT Legislative Assembly Building in light of Alberta’s separation talk, Range Lake MLA Kieron Testart asked Premier Simpson if contingency plans were being made should the province actually secede from Confederation.
“For some reason, (Premier Smith) has cut the threshold for constitutional initiatives in half in her province and is gunning towards a referendum on separation — for whatever reason,” said Testart. “Has the premier discussed this with Premier Smith and what the result would be for the Northwest Territories if we lose our vital connection to Alberta? It’s our logistic hub. It’s a huge economic link. We really can’t do without it.”
Simpson dodged that question, as he was not about to garner a controversial headline before hosting his peers from Western Canada and the North.
Set to attend on Thursday at Chateau Nova Hotel are Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, British Columbia’s David Eby, Saskatchewan’s Scott Moe, Manitoba’s Wab Kinew, Nunavut’s P.J. Akeeagok, and Yukon’s Ranj Pillai.
The Dene Nation organized a protest in support of Treaties 6, 7, and 8 outside of the NWT Legislative Assembly Building Wednesday evening in light of Alberta’s talk about leaving Canada. (James O’Connor/CKLB)
Testart also mentioned the impact of Alberta’s potential move would have on NWT First Nations who support their brothers and sisters across the border.
“Will the premier support those voices?” asked Testart. “If there is a court challenge at some point, the GNWT could be in a position to intervene, even if you can’t make that commitment today, will he at least support those voices that are calling for Indigenous rights to be respected in the province of Alberta?”
Said Simpson: “That’s a hypothetical question, and it should be directed to the Attorney General, so I won’t be answering it on both those fronts, but I’ll say that our track record here in the Northwest Territories on Indigenous rights speaks for itself.”
Meanwhile, a morning Accountability and Oversight Committee hearing into GNWT relief measures to support the struggling diamond sector and the many jobs and economic activity they bring heard from a couple of MLAs who questioned the plan.
Finance Minister Caroline Wawzonek, left, and Industry, Tourism and Investment Minister Caitline Cleveland during a Accountability and Oversight Committee hearing into GNWT relief measures to support the diamond sector. (Assembly livestream)
In the Assembly, Yellowknife North MLA Shauna Morgan asked Finance Minister Caroline Wawzonek to, “explain whether the commitment to use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain operations represents any change whatsoever from the status quo? Or rather, would we always expect businesses to use commercially reasonable efforts in everything that they do?”
Wawzonek said the GNWT always expects businesses to use reasonable efforts, to use local employment, local labour, and “to really ensure that collectively and as a community, we’re really focused on benefit retention” for Northerners.
“That said, I can’t predict what would have happened, but we were in the face of a very difficult decision that some of the diamond mines were facing. We know that globally, there, it is a very difficult market for diamonds right now,” she said, noting the measures aren’t intended to be a long-term solution.
“And we also know that in the in the NWT, that diamond mines provide a lot of our GDP. They provide upwards of 21%. They provide a lot of funding to businesses. They provide a lot of jobs to Northerners that Northerners rely on. And so what we were investing in were those jobs.”
Also in Oral Questions on Wednesday, Premier Simpson said the newly created Senior Envoy to the Government of Canada could cost up to $440,000 a year, which is the top end of the scale, with benefits included.
“So, I work with the Senior Envoy to pick his brain on what he’s seen in the past, to get information about past decisions made in Ottawa, some of that insight that you might not get through the media or through a briefing note,” Simpson said in answering Yellowknife Centre MLA Robert Hawkins’ question.
“And so the type of advice that he gives is quality.”
Quipped Hawkins: “(That’s) more than the prime minister gets paid, oddly enough.
Sahtu MLA Daniel McNeely asks a question Wednesday in the NWT Assembly. Yellowknife Centre MLA Robert Hawkins looks on. (Assembly livestream)
Sahtu MLA Daniel McNeely wanted to know about barging on the Mackenzie River this summer to deliver the re-supply so critical to communities in his region.
Low water levels last summer saw barges from the Marine Transportation Service based in Hay River being cancelled, forcing air fright deliveries that saw the cost-of-living soar.
“How much cargo is booked for the Sahtu; whether it’s fuel or dry or modular units?,” he asked.
Municipal and Community Affairs said he didn’t have “the details handy yet,” as more forecasts need to come in about water levels.
“I know that they were waiting for a key point to determine whether or not we would even be accepting freight in Hay River to put on the barges, or whether or not they would hold off,” said McKay.
“So we’d have to wait to determine to see what we’re getting. So we’ll have to get back to the member to let him know what, what, what freight is for the area.”
