Kevin O'Reilly

Merci, Monsieur le President. I want to thank the Minister for that update. But I guess what I'd like to see is the Minister committing to share a little more information with this side of the House, even if there's no progress being made. Like, it's been radio silence, Mr. Speaker, for two months since I last raised this in the House.

So could the Minister commit to regular monthly, maybe quarterly updates, even if there's no progress being made, so I don't have to continually raise this issue in each sitting? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Merci, Monsieur le President. I want to thank the Minister for that. Although I'm pretty skilled on internet searches, it would be great if the Minister could start providing that kind of information to this side of the House.

Clearly, we're downstream from this mess, and there's a lot at stake for us with regard to the potential impacts on water quality, aquatic life, and human health. The only thing I've seen happen is the release of two $60,000 Requests for Proposals for water quality expert advice to review what Alberta's doing.

Can the Minister tell us what, if anything else, is going on...

Merci, Monsieur le President. I raised the issue of discharges from the Alberta tar sands tailings several times in our last two sittings. Although the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources has committed to share information with this side of the House and the public, I have seen nothing. I can honestly not recall having received a single proactive email or update on the issue of the development of Alberta and federal regulations for discharges from the tar sands tailings ponds from the Minister or the department.

I’ve also raised the issue of Alberta refusing to allow GNWT...

Merci, Monsieur le President. I give notice that on Monday, May 30, 2022, I will move the following motion: Now therefore I move, second by the Honourable Member for Thebacha, that the following Member be removed as an alternate to the Standing Committee on Social Development:

Mr. Jackie Jacobson, the Member for Nunakput;

And further, that the following Member be appointed as alternate to the Standing Committee on Social Development:

Mr. Rocky Simpson, the Member for Hay River South;

And furthermore, that the following Member be appointed to the Standing Committee on Social Development and...

Merci, Monsieur le President. I want to thank the Minister for that. And of course, some of those contracts, there's interim reports that probably could be shared already. But I recognize and support that the development of these regulations is being done with Indigenous governments but it doesn't substitute or replace public engagement. And I also acknowledge that some of these are complex matters and they require a delicate balancing of rights and interests. But this is all the more reason for an informed public debate and information.

So can the Minister commit to providing regular and...

Merci, Monsieur le President. My questions are for the Minister of ITI who is responsible for mining.

In the presentation given to committee in April on the five sets of mining regulations being developed, it was said that the public engagement on this important work is to take place between May and July. May is almost over. Nothing has happened yet.

Can the Minister explain this very short timeline for public engagement and how the public can have any meaningful involvement? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Merci, Madame la Presidente. I move that the chair rise and report progress.

Merci, Monsieur le President. I want to thank the Minister for that, and I will take her up on that commitment. It appears the Minister is going to publicly post five sets of detailed mining regulations that cover a variety of matters, including notice of claims, work, royalties, benefits, and disputes. These are all matters of public interest. It's not clear how long people will have to review and comment, whether those comments will be public, and whether there will be responses to the comments and issues that are raised.

But can the Minister explain how this public posting process will work...

Merci, Monsieur le President. I want to thank the Minister for that. Let's talk about that public engagement. The Minister committed in April to advising us what research has been done. I found contracts on map staking, legal expertise, on dispute resolution, and policy advice from the University of Calgary. Then there's the internal work that the department has already done apparently.

Can the Minister provide a public listing of the research reports completed and when those will be shared with Regular MLAs and the public as part of the engagement on these mining regulations? Mahsi, Mr...

Merci, Monsieur le President. I have to confess, I think there is some white hair up there somewhere, but.

On April 22, 2022, the public and Regular MLAs finally got to hear from the minister for mining and her staff about the development of mining regulations to implement the Mineral Resources Act. There were more than a few surprises, including the very short timeline for public engagement which was set for May to July of this year. Not much if anything has happened since that meeting. The public have a couple more months to weigh in on such hefty matters as how and when it might get notified...