Kevin O'Reilly

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Before I go on to something else, I would like to ask the Minister a question about: is there anything in this section that gives municipal governments, community governments the ability to request temporary protection of areas within their boundaries that might be covered by key municipal infrastructure? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I move that subclause 28(5) of Bill 34 be amended:

(a) in that portion, preceding paragraph by adding: or if applicable to a municipality, after Indigenous government or organization; and

(b) in paragraph (a) by adding, or is within or overlaps within the land of that municipality after Indigenous government or organization.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I don't have anything to add other than I request a recorded vote. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Great, so the Minister can do this as well. Can I just get an explanation from the department of what the purpose of subclause (13) in this section is? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Any other stakeholders communicated with? Northwest Territories Association of Communities, NGOs, some of the parties that did make representations to the standing committee? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Yes, the clock is ticking. Can the Minister clearly outline what the scope and substance of the fiscal regime is that his department seems to have already started? Thank you.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. This section of the bill is all about this idea of restricted areas. This gives Indigenous governments the ability to request temporary restrictions on areas of up to one year, that can be extended to two years, for a number of purposes including areas that might have unique, archaeological, cultural, ecological, geological, or historical significance. Of course, they have to cover the minimum area, and the area can be no larger than something that might be prescribed by regulations.

This would add in to those reasons why an Indigenous government may want to seek protection...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Were there any discussions that the department had with community governments or NWTAC about how to avoid land use conflicts from happening in the future such as providing notice to community governments of claims staking within their boundary? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I move that clause 7 of Bill 34 be amended by adding the following after paragraph (3)(r):

"(r.1) any notices of intended work filed under subsection 42(1) and any waivers made under subsection 42(4); " Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have some remarks I would like to make about the concept of zones, if I may. I think this is an appropriate time, and I have some questions. I have had a lot of difficulty understanding the rationale for these zones. The way I heard it during the clausebyclause review is that the department wants to try to encourage mineral exploration and that this was a way to try to do that. I have said that I think that that's a dangerous mixing of objectives, where the department is supposed to be a regulator of mineral rights and at the same time of promoter, and I think that it's...