Kevin O'Reilly

Thanks, Mr. Chair. During committee's consideration of Bill 56, we heard comments raising concerns around "Why doesn't the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act apply to MLAs?" As I understand it, that is not generally the case in other jurisdictions.

There is provision in the code of conduct, the draft as it exists and will be tabled in the House shortly, to ensure that MLAs treat the information they get from their constituents and about their constituents in an appropriate manner. That is how we deal with privacy considerations here and will deal with them in the future.

This...

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I have some questions that I would like to ask the Minister on clause 18.

This is the part of the bill where a statement of environmental values would be created by the Executive Council. Section 18, though, provides that a Minister of a department or an agency shall take every reasonable step to ensure that a statement of environmental values prepared or amended under section 17 is considered whenever decisions that might significantly affect the environment are made by the department or body. Can someone explain to me how that determination of significantly affect the...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that this committee recommends that upon adoption of the new code of conduct and the coming into force of Bill 56, that a news release be distributed and plain-language materials be posted to the Legislative Assembly website explaining the changes. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. In my remarks earlier I mentioned that this bill has been in place for 29 years. It is not very well-used. What has happened in those 29 years is that the concept of environmental rights has evolved. I mentioned how 149 of 193 countries in the world now have constitutional recognition of environmental rights in one form or another. Unfortunately, Canada is not one of those countries.

I also talked about how expectations were raised by the department during the public consultations of the bill around matters like definitions of a right to healthy environment, public trust, and...

Thanks, Mr. Chair. That information the department is looking to put on its website perhaps to better promote this, will that include maybe a plain-language version of how a request for environmental investigations can be made and other provisions in the bill? Is that the sort of thing that would get promoted in plain language? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that this committee recommends that the 19th Assembly have a public ceremony where each member agrees to and signs the code of conduct. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I would request a recorded vote. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. That's not what I asked. I believe that the deputy minister had indicated that there had been some discussions already with large emitters around regulations. Can someone confirm whether that is the case? Thank you.

I think we might have more discussion about whether this should be part of our policy coming forward. Later in the Minister's statement he sings the praises of P3s, and I would like to know: he talks about how the Mackenzie Valley fibre link is an effective way of delivering large strategic infrastructure projects that are essential for the NWT, so is there some sort of an evaluation framework or criteria for success for the Mackenzie Valley fibre link?

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Well, that is kind of interesting. Committee is not going to exist in about 10 to 12 days. How can this be shared with committee when committee is only going to be around until August 31st? Thanks, Mr. Chair.