Kevin O'Reilly

Thanks, Madam Chair. This, again, was a matter of a lot of debate and discussion in the last Assembly. The wording in the bill as passed was not ideal. The regular MLAs attempted to amend it. That motion failed. Cabinet attempted to amend it. That motion failed. We didn't do a good job drafting this portion of the act as it became law. And now the Ombud has pointed this out as well. The current wording is just not very clear. It's rather awkward.

And this wording would make it clear that, you know, matters of administration and implementation of a policy can be investigated by the Ombud when...

Mahsi, Monsieur le President. I have a funny feeling I'm going to be here one year again in the future asking the same questions.

Let's move on to land use planning in the Wek'eezhii management area under the Tlicho Agreement. Can the Minister give us an update on the status of this work and how much GNWT and the federal government have contributed in costs of the process so far. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Merci, Monsieur le President. I believe in land use planning. That's what I studied at university in the early 1980s and what brought me to the Northwest Territories in 1985. If you want to create sustainability and certainly over the future of land and water, meaningful and legally binding land use planning is required. While our government agreed to legally binding land use planning in the Gwichin and Sahtu settlement areas as part of those land rights agreements, progress on other land use planning has been slow, if not glacial.

Deh Cho land use planning has been going on for many than 20...

Merci, Madame le President. The committee wishes that the chair rise and report progress. I would like to move it as a motion. Madam Chair, I'd like to move a motion that the chair rise and report progress. Thank you.

Merci, Monsieur le President. I give notice that on Wednesday, June 2nd, 2021, I'll move the following motion. Now Therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River South, that Tabled Document 41319(2): Emerging Stronger: Planning the NWT's Social and Economic Recovery Together be referred to Committee of the Whole for consideration. Merci, Mr. Speaker.

Merci, Monsieur le President. If we're moving forward, why have I been asking these questions for the last year? I just don't get it. If you can't get someone to pay their fair share, Mr. Speaker, that sounds like a dispute to me. Can the Minister explain to me why this is not a dispute and shouldn't be brought to the dispute resolution process, as set out in the agreement? Look, first stage of any dispute is usually you've got to get the parties to sit down and talk about it. You can then go to mediation. Then you can go to arbitration if they can't sort it out. It's a long process. But why...

Mahsi, Monsieur le President. I want to thank the Minister for that. But it's kind of like watching an old movie again and again and again. I've heard all of this before about why we're paying for land use planning up front and that I'll be here a year from now, Mr. Speaker, as I said, asking the same questions.

It's not clear to me why GNWT is fronting this funding for land use planning this large area that includes a traditional territory, of others including Tlicho First Nations and Metis. Are we doing this to try to expedite mining? I have no idea, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister explain why...

Merci, Monsieur le President. My question is for the Minister of Lands about the slow progress outlining these planning outside areas covered by land rights agreements. Land use planning has been taking place in the Deh Cho for more than 20 years now. The last raised issue almost a year ago with the Premier in this House.

I'm not looking for excuses anymore but solutions and timelines. Can the Minister tell us the current status of the Deh Cho land use plan and why our government is holding it up. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi, Monsieur le President. I move, seconded by the Member for Kam Lake, that Minister's statement 16119(2) regarding Emerging Stronger: Planning NWT Social and Economic Recovery be referred to Committee of the Whole for consideration. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Merci, Monsieur le President. I move, seconded by the Member for Nunakput, that Bill 29, Resource Royalty Information Disclosure Statute Amendment Act be read for the first time. Merci, Mr. Speaker.