Michael Miltenberger
Statements in Debates
We are collectively in the practice of managing risk. In this case, we are doing that and I’m of the opinion – and I’ve stated this already and I will restate that for the Member – as a government that we can manage that risk. There are things we have to do for clarity, for prudence on a go-forward basis and devolution is going to allow us to do some of those things. Thank you.
We are using the existing processes. We’ve offered our best guidance, advice and position, as a government, in a document in terms of best practices on fracking that has gone to committee, which we are looking on feedback for. It has been developed in conjunction with the regulators and we intend, once it goes to committee, to put it out to the public and industry.
We are also, as a government, as we look at post-devolution, looking at the structure of the regulatory regime so that we can design a northern controlled, made-in-the-North, resident-in-the-North regulatory process, all of which are...
Mr. Speaker, I’m standing and I’m answering every question. The fact that the Member doesn’t like the answers doesn’t mean I’m not answering the question fully and in a forthright manner as befits a Minister of the government. Everything we do is subject to audit. If there is any part of the operation that Members want us to put under a magnifying glass, as they have done in the past in different areas, absolutely we will put any system we have under the rigours of the Auditor General. If they can give us advice and recommendations that we haven’t contemplated, we’ll look at those. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, one is called an estimate and one is called an actual. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. ENR does have a spill line. It’s operational 24 hours a day. Plus, as well, we rely, as the Member well knows in his constituency, on reports from folks that are on the land. They have been very, very helpful in spotting leaks, especially on the pipeline. There is that opportunity there. The National Energy Board has responsibility for responding to leaks at production sites and exploration sites, but clearly, when you look at the map across Canada where spills occur, I mean, it’s very clear that when there’s oil and gas, this type of situation is going to occur, given...
Not at all, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When we provide the information to the Member, I’ll be happy to share the cost breakdowns by community, what they sell the power for, what residents pay for in the hydro communities. I can lay out, as well, for thermal communities, but the residential rate is pegged to the Yellowknife rate. There is a cost difference based on who the distributor, who the provider of power is.
Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Monfwi, that Bill 30, Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), 2014-2015, be read for the third time. Thank you.
Thank you. We have a commitment to an ongoing role here in the Wildlife Act that will engage what is now currently called the Stakeholders Wildlife Act Advisory Group to make sure that we have that ongoing potential opportunity for input. As well, we will work on an ongoing basis with ENR to get feedback from outfitters. In the North Slave there are no settled claims. We’re trying to work out a process on a going-forward basis with the Wek’eezhii, which has a settled claim, but there’s none in the North Slave with the Akaitcho. The Northwest Territories Metis, as well, have some claims up here...
Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Great Slave, that Bill 28, Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2013-2014, be read for the third time.