Mr. Speaker, caribou herds across northern Canada have been declining. Many are at or near historic low numbers.  

These declines prompted the Committee on Status of Endangered Species in Canada to assess barren-ground caribou across Canada, including herds in the Northwest Territories, as a threatened species in November 2016.

YELLOWKNIFE (December 14, 2016) – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources advises work to mitigate risk at the Ptarmigan Mine, Tom and Tin Mines on the Ingraham Trail starts this week.

Mobilization of drill and other equipment to the abandoned mine sites and construction of fencing around the sites is set to start on January 4, 2017. Fencing is being installed at the three mine sites to restrict public access for safety reasons.

This work is expected to be completed by March 31, 2017.

YELLOWKNIFE (December 2, 2016) – Buffalo Airways Ltd. has been awarded the contract to provide operation and maintenance of the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) Air Tractor 802A FireBoss Amphibious Water Bomber (FireBoss) fleet.

The Government of the Northwest Territories signed the contract with Joe McBryan, President of Buffalo Airways Ltd yesterday.

The contract is for a five-year period, covering the 2017-2018 to 2020-2021 wildland fire seasons with an option to extend the contract for additional five years.

Delivered on November 21, 2016

Thank Premier McLeod for the introduction. And thank you Committee members for the opportunity to meet with you today.

Madam Chair, the North’s unique ecosystem is critical to the health of the planet. The decisions we make about protecting biodiversity and ecological integrity serve not only the interests of NWT residents and other Canadians, but people around the globe.

Mr. Speaker, over the past two decades, caribou herds in the North have declined and are at or near historic low numbers. There are many factors contributing to this decline. Some, like climate change, are known; others we urgently need to understand better.

As Northerners, knowing what we can do to help the recovery of caribou in the North is important. ENR Regional and Headquarters staff, co-management partners and traditional user groups offer caribou education every year.

Mr. Speaker, from a statistical perspective, 2016 was a below average fire season. A total of 188 wildland fires were reported in the 2016 fire season, burning 229,000 hectares. As a comparison, there were 241 fires and 622,000 hectares burned in 2015. That is half the number of hectares burned in 2016 than in 2015, and 50 fewer fires.

Of the 188 fires this year, 16 fires are suspected person-caused.  The Department provided some type of action on 83 fires, or 44%. In addition, 292 Extra Fire Fighters were hired in the NWT for training or in support of wildland fire operations.

Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories has made a commitment in its Mandate to develop a territorial climate change strategy and I wanted to tell Members about the work that is underway.

As you know, climate change is occurring at an accelerated pace in the Northwest Territories.  We have no choice but to be leaders in addressing, and adapting to the impacts of climate change in our communities.

YELLOWKNIFE (October 13, 2016) – The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) will be engaging northerners this fall and winter on the development of the NWT Climate Change Strategic Framework and an NWT Energy Strategy.

YELLOWKNIFE (October 5, 2016) — A five year work plan to advance conservation network planning was released today by the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT).

Healthy Land, Healthy People: GNWT Priorities for Advancement of Conservation Network Planning 2016-2021, outlines key tasks the GNWT will undertake over the next five years to pursue a comprehensive and collaborative approach to conservation network planning.

YELLOWKNIFE (September 27, 2016) – The NWT Trapper Recognition Program recognizes the hard work NWT trappers put into their craft and the well-earned contribution they bring to the economy.  The Department of Environment and Natural Resources would like to congratulate the 2015-2016 NWT trapper award winners.

Awards are given out to the top trapper in each region for four categories: