Robert C. McLeod

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following two documents. The first one is entitled "Stable Livelihood Action Plan 2019-2023." I would also like to table the following document entitled "An E-mail from Marlo Raynolds, Chief of Staff to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada, Regarding Carbon Pricing in the NWT." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am here to present Bill 43. This, along with Bill 42, is a critical piece of legislation that will allow the Government of the Northwest Territories to meet its carbon pricing commitment under the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change through a carbon tax on all petroleum and natural gas fuels except aviation fuel. The purpose of Bill 43 is to amend the Income Tax Act to partly offset the impact of the carbon tax by providing residents a cost-of-living offset benefit. Bill 43 also includes some administrative changes to non-refundable tax credits...

My apologies; I did say "habitat," and I would assume that "habitat protection" would also be part of that discussion, as well.

We are committed to implementing the new Bathurst Caribou Range Plan, now that it has been approved by Cabinet. The range plan was developed collaboratively with 21 organizations, including Indigenous governments, industry, environmental groups, renewable resource boards, and the federal government.

Again, I have to give a shout-out to Ottawa Aboriginal partners who understand that the preservation of the caribou herd is very important to people across the Northwest...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have a motion that Bill 42 be amended by deleting the schedule set out in the appendix to the bill and substituting the schedule attached to the motion.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I always appreciate the Member's questions on the caribou, because it gives us an opportunity to speak of our dedication to the preservation of the caribou across the Northwest Territories, because they are very important to our existence. We have to do what we can to protect them.

Having said that, I did say that we met with the Nunavut Minister. I appreciate their dedication to the preservation of the caribou herds across the north, because they are very important to their people as well. We did ask our officials to initiate some technical discussions on the proposed...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. When ENR reads the proposed clauses together as worded, the clauses would require the Minister or the deputy head to apply the criteria provided in the motion when considering all decisions the GNWT makes. This would include large decisions as well as minor decisions. If on the basis of the criteria it is deemed that the decision would significantly affect the environment, the Minister would then have to consider the statement of environmental values. For example, prior to making any decision, including every meeting requiring duty travel or every purchase of paper, the...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I believe that the next Assembly decided that this was something that they wanted to have a look at this; maybe towards middle to the end of the Assembly, then it is a decision that they would make. As the Member pointed out before, this has been around since 1990, I think he said. Last time it may have been used was 1991, been used four times. I think we have strengthened the bill a bit. We don't know how many more times it may be used because of some of the additions. The next Assembly, when they come in, they can make a determination if they want to have another look...

Yes, I would, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to recognize in the gallery a candidate in the upcoming election for Inuvik Twin Lakes, and also a constituent of Inuvik Twin Lakes. I'd like to welcome Lesa Semmler to the gallery. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Environmental Rights Act, there would be a lot of technical talk that is in there. I think we would owe it to the general public to prepare a plain-language summary as to some of the contents of the Environmental Rights Act. It would be very technical, so we would work to prepare a plain language summary. Thank you, Mr. Chair.