Bob Bromley

WHEREAS many people in the NWT are greatly concerned about serious and lasting impacts of horizontal hydraulic fracturing (fracking) on their health, water, air, climate, fish, wildlife, land and communities;

AND WHEREAS water is one of our most precious resources and the foundation of our ecosystem, and the majority of water contaminated with hydraulic fracturing chemicals is poisoned forever and must ultimately be stored underground with unknown future risk;

AND WHEREAS scientists have determined that 80 percent of currently known unrecovered reserves of fossil fuels, including those in the...

Of course, we do have an entire division within the Department of Lands that is supposedly on top of liabilities.

In our fall session I was shocked to hear that the total shortfall of security deposits held by this government on behalf of mining interests was $176 million.

Can the Minister give me an update on the status of security deposits that are currently being held and what shortfalls there are now? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Lands, and I’d like to start by asking about recent news stories which have talked about layoffs at Cantung Mine. Cantung has recently cut their operating expenses and are considered by some to be in marginal operation at best. So I’m wondering if the Minister can give me a general update on the current status and fiscal viability of Cantung Mine. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. According to recent reports, the crisis regarding available facilities and beds for our growing populations of elders is coming fast. While we dither, the lineup for seniors care beds and services in Yellowknife and across the NWT is growing rapidly. While we claim that decisions must go through a long capital process, the situation worsens, forcing seniors to leave their northern homes or face the consequences. While we delay, our elder’s population grows by 6 or 7 percent a year.

The Department of Health and Social Services and Avens - A Community for Seniors hired Dr...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Devolution was supposed to give the people of the Northwest Territories a voice in matters previously decided from afar by faceless bureaucrats with no skin in the game. It has become apparent, as illustrated by the issue of whether we should pursue fracking in the NWT or not, that our public’s voice continues to fall on deaf ears and that the government’s platitudes about decisions being made by the people of the North were just lip service. The people continue to be unheard when they speak.

That is why when presented with an initiative to give the people an opportunity...

Mr. Speaker, this motion is a reflection of the voice of the people of the Northwest Territories. They have written a petition, phoned, e-mailed, demonstrated, spoken at engagement sessions and petitioned, again, all without a single nod from either the Premier or the Minister of Industry to indicate that their voices have been heard.

The whereases of this motion speak clearly to those broad and deeply felt concerns about fracking, perspectives that have been clearly expressed by all of our regional Aboriginal governments and by all of those jurisdictions that have instituted bands and...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thanks to the Minister. I’ll look forward to that. Despite NEB’s rejection of surety bonds as acceptable surety against environmental liabilities, instead requiring irrevocable letters of credit, this government allows this form of security for mining operations after devolution.

What are the government’s plans for the form of financial instruments acceptable for risky environmental liabilities in the new fracking regulations? Mahsi.

Thank you. I’d say it would be important for this Minister to be on top of the viability of these mines because, of course, they’re the ones responsible for their cleanup and this Minister is responsible for ensuring that the liabilities are covered.

As we all know, mines failing and leaving huge environmental liabilities and costs to taxpayers behind are nothing new.

So my question is: What is the current status of Cantung’s security deposit for environmental liability?

Mr. Speaker, today I want to acknowledge the profound service to the people of the Northwest Territories and Canada by Weledeh constituent Marie Wilson, through her hard work on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Her effort towards healing for people affected by residential school experience is one of the most important and challenging tasks anyone could take on. Considerable healing was achieved through simply hearing people’s stories, a deceptively simple act that alone required extraordinary dedication and personal cost to her and her colleagues. The efforts by Ms. Wilson included...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I want to thank certainly the committee and the Minister and his staff for pulling this legislation together late in our term, but it’s getting done. I guess my first comment would be that there have been some really unconscionable delays in this work. This is the result of, finally, the third or a combination of three reports over the years. I was involved in the second report and it made a strong impression on me, touring across the Northwest Territories, as I know it did the Minister who was with us at the time as a Regular Member. So, it’s very good to see this...