Kieron Testart

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to speak on the Team NWT's recent participation in the Western Canada Summer Games.

First off, I would like to congratulate all members of Team NWT for their performance. Our athletes were excellent ambassadors of our northern spirit and territory, but I want to specifically celebrate the outstanding accomplishments of Leo Konge, one of my constituents. He pushed hard and brought home gold in 50 metre butterfly, as well as two bronze medals in the 100 meter and 200 meter butterfly, at this year's games in Swift Current, Saskatchewan. Leo's dedication...

Thank you. We're in 2019, we have a very unique circumstances for governance in the Northwest Territories, and we have to continue on the path of reconciliation and respect Indigenous partners. That they have an inherent right to self-government and many of those self-governments have come forward.

In regards to Indigenous governments being involved in the creation of zones, I think that that is important, but at the end of the day, it is the Minister who approves the zone. The Minister is a representative of the public Government of the Northwest Territories for all of the people of the...

Thank you. Can the Minister just provide clarity on how the dispute resolution body will operate, or will operate pursuant to this clause? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So a key component of this motion is how it relates to the parent clause, and, to quote from that, there is an exception section that says nothing in this act requires a document to be included in the registry under subsection 3 that is or may be prohibited from disclosure by any other act of the Northwest Territories or Canada or contains information that is provided implicitly, explicitly, in confidence to a person or body exercising powers, performing duties or functions in this act.

So that means, if a third party, including a business interest, came forward and said,...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I think this is a much-needed improvement, as well. I support it. It is important that we clarify this section because there was a great deal of confusion and not just amongst industry looking at the clause and trying to figure it out and providing submissions to the committee's public consultation but also when the committee consulted with Indigenous governments who were involved in co-drafting. There was some confusion as to what benefit agreements are.

I think this is a much-needed improvement to the bill. I think it shows that the Northwest Territories is a place where...

Okay, that's clear. That grandfathered clause that's going to be carried over, will it be subject to the 15-year period as outlined in clause 11? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The idea here is if there is a change in material, a material change, and that shifts the -- let's use the example of an agreement signed, an agreement that's authorized, that's signed pursuant to a land rights agreement that has been accepted by the Minister. There's a change in material circumstances. I see where you are going, Mr. Chair. Does this just mean that an agreement can be amended if it's brought forward as changed, or does this mean the regulations will be drafted in a way that the government can force changes, if the government notes a change in material...

So, if industry filed an objection, let's say there was a notice to be made public, what would be the process there? Would the Minister work with industry to prevent the disclosure of that information, or would the Minister just insist that disclosure take place? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I would request a division in clause 51 and that the vote be recorded.

I see that now. Is the plan going forward to better define, I guess on the top of this and what we've heard over the course of the debate is that it's a discrete mechanism or instrument for Indigenous governments to seek greater mining benefits, or encourage more mining exploration in their co-manage areas or traditional territories. That's the explicit purpose of the section.

I think prospecting licences or permits, rather, have a different purpose, a different policy statement, and I think that's why there's the confusion here. I agree 100 percent with the read that the transitional, that...