Kevin O'Reilly

Merci, Monsieur le President. And I contrast the public engagement undertaken in the Yukon with what has happened here. In the Yukon, there was a thorough discussion paper with policy options outlined, public meetings were held. It was a public process, Mr. Speaker. So can the Minister tell us what lessons have been learned during the fouryear long process to develop mining regulations that is not yet complete here? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thanks, Madam Chair. I have law clerk Toby Kruger sitting next to me who helped me develop and draft the bill. Thank you very much.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Thanks for the opportunity to offer opening remarks on Bill 29.

I just, first, want to thank the law clerk who assisted with the research, drafting instructions, and legal advice in preparing the bill. I want to also acknowledge the work of the Department of Justice staff who assisted with the drafting of the bill. And I also want to acknowledge the separation of my role on the committee and as sponsor of the bill. I always declared a conflict of interest if the bill was discussed at committee.

Madam Chair, I'm going to take a few minutes to actually go through a number...

Merci, Monsieur le President. I have five following documents to table: Letter from MLA Frame Lake to Intergovernmental council Secretariat regarding Bill 29 dated July 14th, 2023; second one, Mr. Speaker, Letter from MLA Frame Lake to NonIntergovernmental Council Indigenous Governments regarding Bill 29 dated July 14th, 2023; Information and Privacy Commissioner Review Report and Order dated May 26th, 2023; ITI Decision Letter dated June 26th, 2023, Observations on ITI ATIPP Meeting Summaries (revised August 2023); and lastly, Mr. Speaker, revised GNWT Chamber of Mines Meeting Summaries with...

Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Frame Lake.

Merci, Monsieur le President. I want to thank the Minister for that. So given that most of the evacuation costs are reimbursed well, I just don't understand why our support programs haven't been a little more generous and fairer. So I've received numerous complaints about the unfairness and inadequacy of the Evacuation Travel Support Program. So can the Premier tell us whether Cabinet is ready to reconsider the scope and amount of the current program and better support our residents that were evacuated? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Merci, Monsieur le President. Like most of us in this Chamber, my family and I were the subjects of the mandatory evacuation orders in August and September. I want to extend my personal thanks to all those firefighters, support workers, and other essential service personnel that stayed behind to protect our communities. I also want to thank the Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, and Yukon governments, the nongovernmental organizations, the volunteers, and businesses that helped support our residents while we were away. I also want to acknowledge that as bad as Yellowknife had it, other...

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

Yes, I do, Madam Chair.

Merci, Madam la Presidente. Committee wishes to Consider Bills 29, 77, and 82, and Tabled Document 97319(2), Capital estimates 20242025. Mahsi.