Kevin O'Reilly

My questions are for the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations. Regarding the co-management boards governing the Mackenzie Valley and the Inuvialuit Settlement Region, what is the Government of the Northwest Territories doing to ensure that all vacancies on the co-management boards are filled? Could the Minister provide background information on the current state of vacancies, including:

the current number of vacant positions on each of these boards;

how long each of these currently vacant positions has remained vacant;

the nominating authority for each of these vacant...

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I don’t want to belabour this, but I also have a personal connection with this as I am quarter French Canadian. [English translation not provided.] I'll try to speak a little bit of French occasionally in this House, but also, my children did go through Ecole Allain St-Cyr. They did not have access to a gym and special classrooms, but I'm hoping that we can put that sort of stuff behind us and move forward in the spirit of cooperation and collaboration with the francophone community here in the Northwest Territories. Merci.

I just want to better understand the slow progress on the establishment of this division and the critical work that it's starting to get place. I believe the Minister may have partially answered the question here, but can the Minister of Lands describe what the barriers are for this work and what the Department of Lands is doing to get this important work back on track?

Mr. Chair, I believe I have another motion here to amend the mandate document. I move that Tabled Document 1-18(2), Proposed Mandate of Government of Northwest Territories 2016-2019, be amended on page 18 by inserting the words “We will work collaboratively with the NWT's francophone community to support French language education.” Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. When I checked the GNWT phone directory listing on our website, there's no longer a director for the liabilities and financial assurances division, and only two staff: a project assistant and a specialist. It's not clear what is going on with the staffing of the division. Can the Minister of Lands tell us whether people are leaving this division and why, and what are the plans to fill those positions? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have nothing further to add.

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Lands announced the establishment of the liabilities and financial assurances division in a news release dated September 12, 2014. This was in response to our newly inherited authority over lands and waters acquired through devolution. These are very significant new responsibilities and require careful management to ensure that we do not repeat the legacies and disasters left behind from the poor policies and legislation of the federal government. It is critically important that we get our financial security management system in order to prevent further public...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have a further motion to amend this section of the mandate, if I may. I move that Tabled Document 1-18(2), Proposed Mandate of Government of Northwest Territories 2016-2019, be amended on page 13 by deleting the words “We will develop options for the implementation of the next five-year action plan for the Cumulative Impact Monitoring Program.” and inserting the words “We will support the Cumulative Impact Monitoring Program, CIMP, and respond to recommendations in the Northwest Territories environmental audit for improved environmental management.” Thank you, Mr...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am aware that the Member who spoke previously may have some concerns around this, but I think the idea here is that we would, of course, as a government actually work collaboratively with Aboriginal governments and co-management bodies to ensure that we do have a sound financial security system. I hope that provides some assurances. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have a further motion I would like to bring forward to change the mandate. I move that that Tabled Document 1-18(2), Proposed Mandate of Government of Northwest Territories 2016-2019, be amended on page 13 by deleting the words “develop an integrated comprehensive approach to the management of contaminated sites include prioritizing, sharing of responsibility with other governments, collaboration with other governments, and monitoring,” and inserting the words “develop an integrated comprehensive approach to the management of contaminated sites including prioritizing...