Bob Bromley

I’d like to call on the Sergeant-at-Arms to please bring in the witnesses.

Mr. Abernethy, if I can get you to introduce your witness.

Clauses 21 to 30.

---Clauses 21 through 30 inclusive approved

I acknowledge the answer. It’s not one that obviously builds a lot of confidence, if the Minister doesn’t even know if he’s being updated on this important project. To my knowledge this government has taken no public position on such crucial Giant Mine issues as independent oversight, ongoing research, or public reporting. Because of the way that DIAND is running this project, both as regulator and proponent, other governments find themselves in a curious position when it comes to the environmental assessment.

Given the dismal recent record of DIAND on public accountability and refusal to...

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. I’d like to call on the sponsor of the bill, the Member for Great Slave, Mr. Abernethy, to see whether you wish to bring witnesses into the House.

Thank you. We’ll start by turning to page 11. Committee, clauses 1 to 10.

---Clauses 1 through 10 inclusive approved

I’d like to begin by asking the sponsoring Member, Mr. Abernethy, if he has any comments to introduce the bill.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s my great pleasure to welcome Mr. Tony Whitford, resident of Weledeh. I think we all would agree that it’s great to see that twinkle in the eye in the House again here today. I’d also like to recognize Vivian Squires and Ed Jeske, lifelong friends there. Welcome to the Pacific Northwest Economic Region representatives. I know that Ian’s dad was having a walk in Weledeh today. I hope that went well. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Every day this government loses revenue due to its failure to collect reasonable resource rents.

We have a bill before this Assembly for the creation of an NWT Heritage Fund to put aside funds from existing revenue for the future. The steps to devolution are started; actual implementation is years into the future.

The promise of additional resource revenues is a big part of that agreement’s allure to this government. But why wait to get a fair return from our natural capital? Various commentators have emphasized that the economic rent we are collecting now is much too...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thanks again to the Minister. I’m also well impressed with MACA’s new vigilance in enforcement to prevent new cases of squatting in the block land transfer area. Are you listening, federal government? Can the Minister say what the status on legal actions is here?

Thanks for the Minister’s commitment there. I did expect to hear the response that this is why we need devolution, of course, but obviously that will be then and this is now.

We control the lands on the west side of Prosperous, they control it on the east, and they’re not doing anything. I’m wondering, though, since the Minister mentions devolution, the federal government has indicated to the Premier and this government that they will give GNWT more involvement, at least now that an AIP is signed. How will the Minister of MACA use this opportunity to exert our influence, use our example, and...