Kieron Testart

Thank you, Mr. Chair. What tools are available to the government to change the terms of existing SDLs? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I was under the assumption that that would be a relatively small amount, but I will look forward to that information. My second question is: how much land is currently covered by the existing SDLs? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I think to the economic future of the territory, I always think of what is going to pull our economy forward out of the negative growth that is anticipated for our foreseeable future. The advocacy I have brought to this Chamber has typically revolved around the minerals industry, which I believe is the quickest way to get our economy back on track.

I have had the opportunity to travel to the Sahtu, where oil and gas is not just another economic opportunity, but it very much is the industry that has created a lot of prosperity for the region. Seeing the operations that...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Finally, one of my largest concerns is how these disturbances can disrupt the productivity and livelihood of business owners in particular, many of whom rely on that service to sell their goods. Shutting it down can have economic consequences, as well. Can the Minister update the House as to what efforts the service provider has been pursuing to improve redundancy to Yellowknife, in particular?

I thank the Minister. I think this House is well aware of the excellent work that has been done on the northern part of the territory, the fibre optic line and the future potential it has, but the southern part of the territory still has these issues; in particular, our capital of Yellowknife. Can the Minister bring the public up to date on what is known about the incidents on May the 8th, July the 13th, and August the 12th of this year where the fibre line was cut?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Although I support much of this bill, as Members of this House will recall, during the clause-by-clause review, I took issue with clause 7. I continue to stand opposed to that clause of the bill. Seeing as there is no way to modify it at this point and that the House has settled that question, I will be in support of this bill because the rest of it does very good things for the people of the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River North, that Committee Report 26-18(3): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the Carbon Tax Bills, Bill 42: An Act to Amend the Petroleum Products Tax Act and Bill 43: An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act be received by the Assembly and moved into Committee of the Whole for further consideration. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I appreciate the Minister's earnest attempts to drive investment in this region, but I don't think that these instruments are working. We have heard directly from stakeholders that they are not working as intended. Going forward, they will work better, but there are still a lot of issues with even the revised forms. At least there is an expiry to the terms, but I am afraid that I am still unconvinced that the current state of affairs surrounding SDLs is the best approach to managing opportunities in our economy.

I wouldn't be encouraging any effort that would drive...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Your Standing Committee on Government Operations is pleased to present its Report on the Review of the Carbon Tax Bills, Bill 42, An Act to Amend the Petroleum Products Tax Act, and Bill 43, An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act, and commends it to the House.

The Standing Committee on Government Operations ("the committee") is pleased to report on its review of Bill 42, An Act to Amend the Petroleum Products Tax Act, and Bill 43, An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act, collectively referred to as the carbon tax bills.

The carbon tax bills, sponsored by the Government of the...

Thank you. Mr. Chair, I think the question is not: "will the Minister change the existing SDLs?" It was: "what comfort can he give to people who are concerned around the existing SDL regime that there will, in fact, be economic opportunity produced by these licences?" It doesn't have to be heavy-handed; it doesn't have to be drilling orders, but there has to be something there. If the department has no answer today, is this something that they can look at cooperatively with industry so that we can see some work move forward? Thank you.