Kevin O'Reilly

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I move that Bill 27 be amended by adding the following after clause 3:

3.1. The following is added after section 2.01:

The Commissioner in Executive Council may, in accordance with the regulations, exempt any person or class of persons, equipment or contaminant from all or any provision of this act or the regulations.

If the Commissioner in Executive Council intends to exempt any person or class of persons, equipment or contaminant from all or any provision of this Act or the regulations, the Commissioner in Executive Council shall

(a)

make notice of the proposed exemption...

Thanks, Mr. Chair. We have had quite a bit of discussion around this; so I will try to keep it brief. I think that everybody would agree that we have a common and shared interest in protecting the environment and making sure that we get this very first piece of postdevolution environmental legislation right and that it should really reflect best practises.

I think it is fair to say that the one remaining area where concerns have been expressed is around ministerial authority to grant exemptions from any or all provisions of the act and its regulations. During the public review process of...

I am glad he has done the heavy lifting and he has got his briefing binder on his desk now. I had asked about the scope of the review, and I believe he committed to some public engagements around that. Maybe I could get the Minister to commit to provide more information to this side of the House, and perhaps even to the public about what the scope of this review is going to entail?

Thanks again to the Minister, but I am not sure how REDI is going to make us anymore ready for resource development. As I said, REDI is clearly focused on promoting resource development, and that is a good thing, and it is something that ITI does very well. No question about that. I mentioned a number of other initiatives that would help build public confidence in our resource management decisions including: a science advisor to Cabinet; re-establishment of a round table on the environment and economy; completion of land use plans; completion of our protected areas. Why are these initiatives...

Thanks to the Minister for that response, and I guess we can agree to disagree, but somehow, I would hope that he would agree that building public confidence in our ability to manage resource development is something that we should be working towards. The REDI campaign, though, seems to be partially in response to the attempt to regulate fracking during the 17th Assembly. I could locate only two handouts or five pages on fracking and REDI materials, and there is not much discussion in there about impacts or tradeoffs.

In many other jurisdictions in Canada, they have done examinations of this...

Merci, Monsieur le President. The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment received a briefing on the Resource and Energy Development Information campaign from Industry, Tourism and Investment last week. It was formally announced on June 22nd by the Minister when he said that it "will ensure these resources are used safely and sustainably." This sounds a lot like trying to build public confidence in our ability to develop resources in a responsible way. I would have thought that that should be our approach given the failed attempt to regulate hydraulic fracturing in the last...

Sorry. Yes, there is one other amendment here, Mr. Chair. It is just to tidy up what we did with the last amendment, and if I may move it, Mr. Chair, that subclause 4(2) of Bill 27 be deleted. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I’ll try to keep this brief as well. I think it’s important to understand that there is no ability to make exemptions in the act as it stands today. The Minister would like to include an exemption making authority in the act. I would prefer if it was restricted to emergency situations alone, but the way that it reads now is that the Minister would have the ability to make exemptions for emergencies, but if it’s not an emergency situation, the Minister would have that ability to make an exemption by providing public notice and providing reasonable opportunity for the public...

Merci, Monsieur le President. I attended the Department of Justice's public engagement meeting in Yellowknife on September 14th on the legalization of cannabis. First of all, I want to say it was one of the better GNWT consultation meetings I have ever attended. Thanks to the Minister. Publicity produced a good turnout; it was well organized and facilitated. The discussion was respectful and informative, with good opportunities to provide informed input and have it recorded for consideration. I won't try to summarize the input, but I will comment on what I heard and see as some of the key...

Thanks, Mr. Chair. What we know now, though, the members of these groups, none of them are Tlicho companies. Can I confirm that with the Minister? Thanks, Mr. Chair.