Kevin O'Reilly

Thanks, Mr. Chair. While I appreciate the opportunity to get a technical update but I'm going to be asking the Minister questions before the end of this sitting on this matter because the public deserves to know whether the provincial government is going to allow us to sit on this committee or not. So that's a heads up to the Minister that I'm going to be asking for answers in public about this.

I want to move on, though, to a couple of other areas here if I can, Mr. Chair.

I believe this is the part of the ENR budget where inspections for water licenses are conducted, and if I've got that...

Okay, thanks for that. Yeah, I can tell the Minister that I visited Greenland about maybe six, eight years ago, and in Greenland in the capital Nuuk, they had machines that you could just put an empty bottle into and cash came out at the bottom. So if they can do it in Greenland, I don't know why we can't do it here. Like, was and that was, like, a number of years ago. So I'm is that the kind of remote technology or something we're talking about here? Like, this isn't rocket science. It's done all over Europe. But is that the kind of thing we're talking about? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Yeah, thanks, Mr. Chair, and I thank the deputy minister for that. Well, with all due respect, how can you part of a transboundary agreement when the provincial government upstream won't even share information; won't even allow you to be at the table when monitoring is being discussed? This is totally unacceptable. I would like to know from the Minister what the position of the federal government is on our request to sit on this committee?

Okay, thanks. I'm kind of curious; I don't know why we can't fix the Main Estimates. But over to the environment fund. It's on page 95.

I know that there's an accumulated surplus over time but the last three years or next year and then the previous two years, we're running a deficit there on an annual basis. So I'm just wondering what is the objective that this fund is kind of being managed to? Are we trying to draw it down to get it back down to zero at some point, or what is happening? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Yeah, okay, thanks, Mr. Chair, and thanks for that information. I'd mentioned the last couple of days one of the big areas of concern for myself and I'm hearing from others is this proposed tailings, oil sands or tar sands tailings discharge regulations development, and I understand that we've wanted to try to get some better engagement and involvement with oil sands monitoring. There's a body called the oil sands monitoring program oversight committee, and then there's some technical advisory committees that I guess work with that committee as well. And as I understand it, we had GNWT wanted...

Thanks. I guess when I look at this, I guess a bunch of dashes were loaded in. Are we actually is there any money for the Inuvialuit water board, then, this coming year, or not? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Committee would like to consider Tabled Document 56119(2): Main estimates 20222023, with Environment and Natural Resources and the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation. Mahsi, Mr. Chair.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I'm not sure I'm really getting anywhere. Are we seeking volunteers for this work, yes or no? Thank you.

Thank you, Madame la Presidente. I give notice that on Monday, February 28th, 2022, I will move the following motion:

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River South, that the Minister's statement 29219(2): Annual Status Report on the Mandate of the Government of the Northwest Territories 20192023; and Tabled Document 56719(2): Annual Status Report 20192023 Mandate of the Government of the Northwest Territories, February 2021January 2022, be referred to Committee of the Whole for further consideration. Mahsi, Madam Speaker.

Okay, thanks, Mr. Chair, and thanks for that information. So how do we actually get the socalled "industry partners" to actually do this if it's not an actual regulatory change? Just kind of look for volunteers, or how's that actually going to work? And would it be put in place in time for this summer? That's what I guess I'd really like to know. Thanks, Mr. Chair.