Kevin O'Reilly

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Some of our mining companies here actually are required under the Extractive Sector Transparency Measures Act, federal legislation, to disclose on an annual basis what they pay actually to our government in the form of taxes, fees, royalties. Part of the issue is that there is no consistent reporting period, but can someone confirm for me that, indeed, the royalties paid by those companies that do business in the Northwest Territories, portions of that may actually already be disclosed under the federal legislation? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I wish to raise a point of order. The Minister is impugning motives on my part, saying that I don't have confidence in Indigenous governments. I have never said that in this House, and I respectfully would request that he withdraw those remarks. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I raised this issue months ago with the department, and I don't know why it's just suddenly appearing now, but this is good. The Minister does listen once in a while, even if he comes in at the last minute. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Why is there no definition of "prospecting" in the bill? I would like someone to clearly explain what kind of exploration can happen on a claim versus off a claim, what kind of work. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Are there any sort of legal impediments here to providing this ability to request restricted areas to municipal governments? Are there any legal impediments to doing that? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I move that subclause 42(5) of Bill 34 be amended:

(a) in that portion preceding paragraph (a), 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 with the land of that municipality" after "Indigenous governments or organization."

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Merci, Monsieur le President. I rise today to acknowledge Frame Lake constituent Lyda Fuller, who received the Order of the Northwest Territories for the huge, positive impact she has had on the lives of NWT girls, women, and families. Over two decades, Lyda Fuller has led the YWCA NWT in its delivery of transitional housing; the introduction of the first Housing First Program; in programming to address intimate partner violence through research and treatment programs; the creation of a territory-wide network of women's shelters; and through the GirlSpace program. She is a leader, mentor...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, I have a question I'd like to start with, and I want to commend the department, again. This took a lot of work. The annual report requirements are new. This was something that committee worked hard on with the department, and it's definitely an improvement.

So 17.1(1)(q) says the total amount of royalties paid the Government of the Northwest Territories. I understand that, right now, this actually doesn't happen, the public reporting of total royalties. We do get public accounts where there are combined figures for oil and gas and mining royalties, so can someone with...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I think that the witness proved my point. There could be two sets of terms and conditions that relate to claims: one for the zone and one of general application, which I think is going to create confusion -- it is creating confusion in my own mind, obviously -- about having two sets of rules for anyone applying for an instrument.

Can someone from the department clarify whether anybody has actually requested this ability to have what I interpret as two sets of rules for someone securing an instrument? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that Bill 34 be amended by adding the following after subclause 111(4):

(4.1) The Minister may establish one or more agreements with Indigenous governments or organizations in the Northwest Territories as to how the Commissioner in Executive Council will engage with those parties in exercising the regulation-making powers under this section.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.