Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister of Environment and Climate Change.
Mr. Speaker, in GNWT executive council policy 53.02, sustainable development, one of the stated principles is that natural resources should be managed so that opportunities for future resource uses are maximized and maintenance of ecosystems is ensured. My question is, is it the Minister's position that our existing transboundary agreements with neighboring upstream jurisdictions allow for the GNWT to effectively meet the intent of this principle should effluent wastewater be released in those upstream jurisdictions? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Great Slave. Minister of Environment and Climate Change.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as the Minister responsible for the sustainable development policy, I am fully committed and I fully stand behind and uphold the principles and the goals of this policy. And I think this is one of the key statements from the policy; it states that environmental conservation is essential to long-term economic prosperity. And, you know, as we look at that in the bigger picture, without development in the North, you know, that's one of the key tools that really contributes to our ability to meet those environmental goals and to achieve those conservation goals at the end of the day. The GNWT, and I, as Minister and the department, have stated in no uncertain terms that we are -- do not support the release of tailings -- treated tailings into the Athabasca River unless the information, data, and science demonstrates that it can be done without harming the ecological integrity of the NWT waters. And I just want to end by saying, you know, we work very closely with the Indigenous governments and Indigenous organizations and our other partners in the North to ensure that we maintain that standard and we have a very strong message to all of the upstream jurisdictions in that regard. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, is it the Minister's position that ECC is taking adequate precautions to prevent or reduce both water quality and quantity threats to our watershed, both within the territory and from upstream jurisdictions, or are more robust protections required? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I can start off by saying I certainly share the concerns of the MLA and also the concerns of our Indigenous governments and our Indigenous organizations and the citizens of the territory when we talk about, you know, the potential impacts of the activity in the upstream jurisdictions. You know, this is why we've negotiated and implemented our transboundary waters agreements. I think they're the key tool that we currently work with Alberta, British Columbia, and the Yukon. We're currently negotiating an agreement with Saskatchewan and, you know, we have this shared commitment to maintain the aquatic ecosystem health and additional environmental monitoring that needs to occur. The transboundary water agreements are what guide that ability to develop those water -- ensure that our quality and quantity has the objectives that we can use to develop the future management actions for the territory. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister of Environment and Climate Change. Final supplementary. Member from Great Slave.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I know the Minister has mentioned that in the life of this Assembly we should see targeted updates to the waters regulations that will assist with clarity for resource development.
Mr. Speaker, can the Minister speak to when the Assembly, not this one, but future Assemblies may anticipate substantive amendments to the Waters Act? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think I've spoken to this a few times in this House and, you know, currently we're working through the first phase of a phased approach to the Act and the regulations, and phase one being the update to the regulations, and we're -- you know, every day we're getting a little bit closer to being able to bring those final results forward. It's very difficult to speak to what the 21st Assembly may do but we are committed to that three-phased approach, and the second phase we'll be looking at the Act and that work will take place in the next Assembly. There is still work going on in that regard but not at the specific large level because we're really focused on phase one of that approach. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister of Environment and Climate Change. Oral questions. Member from Yellowknife North.
