Kevin O'Reilly

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker, and thanks again to the Minister for that response, but I can assure him I was in the room in my previous life when the changes were being proposed. We couldn't even get the federal government into the room, and it was actually being led by the territorial government, these changes last time around.

I'm pleased to hear the Minister say in this House that he recognizes that there's an ongoing role for the federal government in these agreements. So can the Minister commit to engaging the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment regarding changes to the...

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Yes, I think there would probably be  I think I have raised this before  greater strength in numbers, working with our colleagues in Yukon and Nunavut on this, as well. I am sure they share the same kind of concern, and I am sure we can work collectively, with them, to try to move that forward with the federal government. I see the Minister shaking his head, so I am not going to ask a question about it.

I did want to move on to the heritage fund on the next page. It's 142. I am glad to see that we continue to put some of our revenues in there. I just wonder whether there...

Thanks, Mr. Chair. That is all I have for now. Just wanted to get it on the record that the fiscal reduction targets are driving funding that we have been allocating for negotiations. Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thanks to the Minister for that response, because it leads perfect into my next question. There are still residual federal responsibilities in the Northwest Territories for fish, toxic substances, migratory wildlife, transboundary issues, and then the value, of course, that the federal government can bring to the table in terms of experience and funding. Does the Minister recognize these roles of the federal government, and will they be adequately reflected to any amendments to the diamond mine environmental agreements?

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I do appreciate the Minister and thank him for that commitment and look forward to getting the briefing. Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I appreciate the answer. These funds weren't actually reallocated within the department anyway; these were reductions that were part of the fiscal strategy? Thank you.

Merci, Monsieur le President. Our government signed off on several legally binding environmental agreements covering diamond mines in the Northwest Territories as follows:

BHP NWT Diamond Project in 1997;

Diavik Mine in 2000; and

Snap Lake Mine in 2004.

These agreements are part of the network of arrangements that includes impact and benefit agreements, socio-economic agreements and licences, and permits that allowed the diamond mines to proceed in advance of Indigenous land rights settlements and a complete environmental management regime with air and wildlife regulation.

The diamond mine...

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Yes, I have had some constituents contacting me about ongoing negotiations with our main union, Union of Northern Workers, and I am concerned about the pace of negotiations. It has been some time since we have actually had a briefing on the negotiations, and I am wondering if the Minister could commit to providing a briefing to probably priorities and planning on what is happening with the negotiations? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I am just trying to find the page again here. It is page 114. The line item is negotiations. There is going to be a reduction between 2017-18 and 2016-17. Can someone from the department explain why we are reducing the funding for negotiations in light of the commitment and the mandate to try to finish all of these negotiations by the end of the 18th Assembly? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I appreciate that. I fully recognize that the mining industry has made contributions beyond the resource revenues that we get to keep, but I think it is time that we did look at this issue, especially now that we have jurisdiction and control over it. It does need to be a comprehensive review. It is complex because you have to consider either taxes or forms of revenue, but we’re beyond that now. We’re three years into devolution. We haven’t really looked at that, so I appreciate the commitment from the Minister to ensure that his Cabinet colleagues start the move on this. I...