Bob Bromley

Thanks.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Premier on aspects of our Devolution Agreement from my statement earlier today. I would like to note Schedule 7, Part E of the Devolution Agreement includes a list of potentially contaminated sites that will be transferred to the GNWT as of April 1st is my understanding.

Can the Premier confirm that we, the GNWT, will be receiving financial securities to cover all the liabilities accessed by our land and water boards when this transfer takes place on April 1st or what the schedule is? Mahsi.

That’s all I have, Mr. Chair. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With devolution implementation in less than six weeks, GNWT assumes responsibility for mines, oil and gas installations set up under “modern environmental review processes.” Already an enormous responsibility, if we are unprepared, this could become an enormous liability.

Under today’s system, each project, mine or whatever is required to post financial securities as part of the review process. This is meant to provide money that protects the public and the environment from closure and clean-up costs even if the operator goes bankrupt. Until April 1st, this financial...

Thank you. That sounds great. I’m wondering how the public will participate and I’m wondering if the Minister can assure us that these meetings will be public and full transparency will be provided through the opportunity for anybody to look at them as people are welcome to attend during this House session. Thank you.

I’m not quite sure that’s relevant to my question. Obviously they will need a terms of reference, it’s a pretty broad swath in the agreement. What is this? Is this government working with other governments? This government very legitimately needs a role to play and that role is not restricted to Cabinet. In fact, it’s not restricted to half of our public; it includes all our public.

Again, I will ask how will Regular Members have input into how this council works and other aspects that would typically be covered in a terms of reference if it’s going to be done without a terms of reference. I...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Thursday, February 20, 2014, I will move the following motion: Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Deh Cho, that the Government of the Northwest Territories work with our regional Aboriginal government partners to determine the desirability and feasibility of establishing and staffing regional offices as a basis for ensuring meaningful input into land and water management structures;

And further, that the Government of the Northwest Territories work with the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board to seek support and resources...

You wouldn’t happen to have a crowbar I could use, would you? Sorry, Mr. Speaker.

What I’m looking for maybe is a commitment from the Premier to provide to the public everything that is not confidential as it was provided in the final agreement, and will the Premier also assure the public at this time in this House that we will not be assuming substantial new liabilities without holding securities to cover them? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the opportunity. I wanted to follow up with my questions for the Premier on the liability and of very grave concern, obviously, if not managed properly. Again, I cite our final agreement where Appendix 7, Part E lists our operating sites that we will become responsible for, and as both the Premier and I mentioned, there’s the opportunity to modify that list, but it’s over 200 sites, so it’s a very substantial list. We’ve mentioned the Norman Wells pipeline and the diamond mines and so on, we are taking those over as per our agreement.

All we have is this...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have to say finally an answer, sort of. I appreciate that.

On behalf of our public, there are many sites that we’re taking over and we will be taking on a lot of liability.

Will the Premier commit to providing the public and this House with a final list of the amount of security deposits and the assessed liabilities for each potentially contaminated site? For example, operating mines that we’re taking over that will be transferred to the GNWT as of April 1st and will he commit to doing this by March 1st so that we and the public have a full understanding of the...