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Mr. Speaker, as the weather warms, we are seeing more hunters heading out on the land, including many who are traveling up the winter road to harvest caribou. Most are harvesting safely, respectfully, and following traditional practices.

Unfortunately, a few hunters’ illegal and disrespectful harvesting puts unnecessary pressure on barren-ground caribou herds. These herds are already facing challenges related to the changing climate which can impact their habitat and food sources.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (ENR) is gathering public feedback on how the GNWT works to protect the land, water, wildlife, and traditions of the Northwest Territories.

Protecting biodiversity through the establishment and management of a conservation network is a priority of this government and the GNWT’s approach to conservation planning is guided by Healthy Land, Healthy People: GNWT Priorities for Advancement of Conservation Network Planning 2016-2021 (HLHP).

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Mr. Speaker, traditional lifestyles are a very important part of the social, cultural, and economic fabric of communities in the Northwest Territories.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (ENR) is accepting applications for the Waste Reduction and Recycling Initiative.

This program provides up to $50,000 in financial assistance to NWT municipalities, Indigenous governments, Indigenous organizations, schools, non-profit organizations, businesses, and individuals to support projects that reduce waste, reuse materials and products, recycle materials (that are not already collected through an NWT recycling program), or recover a useful benefit from waste.

Improvements reflecting the views of harvesters across the NWT are one step closer as the review of a critical support program moves forward. 

A What We Heard Report for the Community Harvesters Assistance Program (CHAP) review has been released – summarizing views gathered during engagement with harvesters, community members, Indigenous governments, Indigenous organizations, and others with a stake in the future of traditional harvesting in the NWT.

A new management plan for supporting recovery of the Bathurst caribou herd is now in-place.

The Bathurst Caribou Management Plan, developed by the Bathurst Caribou Advisory Committee, provides guidance for the recovery and sustainable management of the Bathurst caribou herd. The Bathurst Caribou Advisory Committee is made up of representatives from 14 public and Indigenous governments and Indigenous organizations.

Population estimates were obtained for five of the NWT’s barren-ground caribou herds in 2021.

ENR obtains new population estimates for the Tuktoyaktuk Peninsula, Cape Bathurst, and Bluenose-West herds every three years. Due to the continued declines in Bluenose-East and Bathurst herds, ENR had planned to obtain new estimates for these two herds in 2020, only two years since the last estimates. However, 2020’s survey was delayed until 2021 due to COVID-19.

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Mr. Speaker, climate change is one of the most critical issues we face today.  I am pleased to report on actions the GNWT is taking to address its impacts here in the NWT.

As a territory, we are responsible for less than 0.2% of Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions but we are experiencing climate warming at a rate that is three times the global average.

The Government of the Northwest Territories has taken action to address the climate crisis and make energy more secure, reliable, and sustainable in 2020-2021.

Progress is highlighted in four reports, which will be tabled in the legislature later today - Responding to Climate Change: Overview Report 2020-2021, NWT Climate Change Action Plan Report 2020-2021, Northwest Territories Energy Initiatives Report 2020-2021, and the NWT Carbon Tax Report 2020-2021.

The overview report summarizes the GNWT’s activities to address climate change.

For the second year in a row, the GNWT is providing a top-up for grubstake payments to offset the impacts of COVID-19. Regular grubstake payments were made in September 2021, and ENR is now offering a second round of payments to support trappers this season.

The Trapper’s Grubstake Program helps trappers offset some of the costs of starting up each season. The amount of funding trappers can receive is tied to the number of pelts they brought in the previous season.