Thank you, Mr. Chair. I hope this will be five minutes.
I want to take this opportunity to thank the Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs for the opportunity to discuss the challenges faced by our territory's government and our communities.
My name is Shane Thompson. I was born and raised in Hay River, Northwest Territories. I am the Government of Northwest Territories' minister of three portfolios—environment and natural resources, lands, and municipal and community affairs—and I'm the Minister Responsible for Youth.
To help set the context for our conversation today. I want to briefly highlight some important points about the Northwest Territories.
The Northwest Territories comprises 33 communities, with approximately 45,000 people living in an area that is approximately 13% of Canada's land mass. Over half of our population is indigenous.
Nineteen of the 33 communities are served by an all-season highway system. Ten are served by a winter road only, and four are served by marine or air only. Twenty-five of these communities are nearly 100% dependent on fossil fuel for electricity. This is mostly diesel generation. The other eight are on two isolated hydro power grids that are not connected to the North American power system.
Our government is a consensus-based one. We have no political party system. Our cabinet is appointed by the members of the legislative assembly. Community governments play a strong, independent role in the territories, but still require investment, training and capacity building to ensure that our infrastructure meets the needs of our residents.
As you've likely determined, our communities are remote and rural with significant geographic distances between them, with aging and limited infrastructure. Only through collaboration and understanding the territorial operations reality do I believe we can position our communities to be more resilient in both the context of emergency preparedness and Arctic security.
In relation to Arctic security, from the Northwest Territories' perspective northern security is not just about a robust military presence. It is also about building sovereignty, strong resilient people, and communities that show Canada's commitment to the region. I believe this is achieved through significant investment in critical infrastructure like roads, telecommunications and energy.
Of fundamental importance to us is how decisions are made. Decisions about the north must be made by northerners. After all, northerners have the biggest stake in a strong and sustainable Arctic Canada. We are committed to working across borders with indigenous northerners to improve the economic, social and cultural well-being of the Arctic region and thus improve Canada's Arctic sovereignty and security.
Related to strategic infrastructure, the Northwest Territories will require much of the basic infrastructure that already exists in southern jurisdictions to meet the needs of our residents, communities and businesses. The lack of road, communication and energy infrastructure results in a high cost of living and doing business, which is a significant challenge identified by our communities and industry and erodes the potential for economic development.
The Northwest Territories continues to do its part to close the significant infrastructure gap. We have invested in all-season roads to our communities and resources, alternative energy projects and a fibre line to some of our most remote communities near the Beaufort Sea. The most important investments are supported by Canada, but more is needed if we are going to truly address the gap between our remote communities and the rest of Canada.
While the diamond mine industry in Northwest Territories is beginning to wind down, there are many new mining and natural gas resource opportunities including substantial critical mineral potential that could fuel the global green economy and support the growth of our communities and Arctic sovereignty. All this can support Arctic sovereignty by ensuring safe, reliable access to the resources needed to support and build the economy. However, it needs to be done in a way that is balanced with environmental stewardship, so that we can connect our communities and develop our critical resources.
The strategic importance of the Arctic, particularly as a marine transportation route, has been increasing due to climate change. This is in part because it has been shown to be warming between three to four times faster than the global average. Our winter road systems are at risk as our climate continues to change. Ice roads only work when it's cold. This impacts everything from our construction season in communities without year-round road access to the ability to ship in and out of existing mines.
Our remote communities must be equipped to predict, prepare for and respond to climate change hazards, such as an increase in floods, fire, extreme cold weather events, erosion along rivers on the Arctic coast, unpredictable ice conditions and permafrost thaw. We need to ensure our communities have the capacity and ability to respond quickly to emergency situations and manage their disasters. This can be done through many tools; however, we need to support our communities and our indigenous governments to assist their decision-making abilities.
Premiers and indigenous leaders from across the three territories issued a pan-northern leadership statement on climate change. This statement highlighted the need for investment in climate-resilient infrastructure, renewable and alternative secure energy systems, emergency preparedness, northern research, knowledge and capacity building, health and wellness, and the preservation of cultural identity and economic opportunities.
A strong and collaborative relationship with Canada is critical to advance the priorities of residents, communities and indigenous leadership.
The Arctic and northern policy framework is the road map to success in Canada's Arctic. It provides an opportunity for Canada to show leadership in asserting Arctic sovereignty by empowering and equipping communities to be both resilient and responsive in the changing international landscape.
Through the Arctic and northern policy framework, the federal government has already acknowledged the significant gaps that must be filled in between the quality of life experienced by northerners and the rest of Canada. The impact of COVID-19 has opened these gaps wider. It is critical that Canada move forward with us, and fund the implementation of this critical framework. No one government can resolve these issues alone, and we look forward to continued collaboration with all levels of government.
The Northwest Territories has seen the increased severity and occurrence of natural disasters, such as unprecedented floods, both in 2021 and this year, which have caused life-threatening hardships for so many communities, as well as the residents who live in them. There are businesses still trying to recover from the impact of COVID-19. The Northwest Territories is also facing increased risks of and impacts from forest fires, shoreline erosion and permafrost degradation, which are impacting community infrastructure.
With these challenges in mind, the territorial government has increased staffing in emergency management operations at both the territorial and regional levels to support community governments in their emergency preparedness, planning and response. With these increased resources, territorial and regional emergency management organizations are better equipped to increase engagement with community leadership and improve guidance, advice and support to communities in advance of the disaster events.
Communities remain the front line for emergency management, and they rely on the territorial government for support during response and recovery efforts. In return, they must have the support and flexibility of the federal government and its funding programs in order to respond as quickly as possible to our residents in their time of greatest need.
Dedicated and flexible federal funding is needed to support mitigation efforts for community infrastructure, including relocation of critical municipal infrastructure, residences and businesses in communities at risk of disaster events.
In closing, we look forward to the continued partnership and support of this government to meet the challenges I have laid out for you today. Northerners are resilient people, but they need the support and action of all levels of government to ensure their safety, their security and their future.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.