Kevin O'Reilly

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I’m agreeing with the sentiments raised by my two previous speakers, colleagues from Yellowknife North and Yellowknife Centre, respectively. I think we had a more collaborative process this time around. That’s a good thing. There are, however, a number of conflicting items and commitments in the mandate, and it’s not possible to do it all. It’s so big that you could drive trucks through it. I’ll use one example. When we say that we’re going to try to accomplish three major road projects all at the same time, I think it’s unrealistic and raises unrealistic expectations among...

Merci, Monsieur le President. I want to thank the Premier for his very thorough answer. I very much appreciate getting the information. Can the Premier tell us whether he had any side meetings with Northern territories Premiers, and generally what might have been discussed, and any outcomes?

Merci, Monsieur le President. The Premier, I believe, was in Ottawa yesterday and maybe even this morning. I want to welcome him back. I’d also like to use this opportunity to get an update of what was discussed and any outcomes at the first Minister’s conference. Can the premier provide us with a brief summary of the main issues discussed and any outcomes? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I’ll try to keep this brief as well. I think it’s important to understand that there is no ability to make exemptions in the act as it stands today. The Minister would like to include an exemption making authority in the act. I would prefer if it was restricted to emergency situations alone, but the way that it reads now is that the Minister would have the ability to make exemptions for emergencies, but if it’s not an emergency situation, the Minister would have that ability to make an exemption by providing public notice and providing reasonable opportunity for the public...

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Yes, I would like to move an amendment to clause 3. I believe the amendments are at your table, and then you are going to be passing them out. Shall I wait until it is passed out, or shall I read it out?

I want to thank the Minister for that, and I know I put him on the spot, but that is what I was hoping to hear. I mentioned earlier how I have had some constituents raise these issues with me. Would the Minister be willing to meet informally with Yellowknife business owners, operators, to discuss improvements to our liquor licensing? Is that something the Minister would be prepared to commit to?

Merci, Monsieur le President. My questions are for the Minister of Finance and I apologize. I didn’t give him a heads up before getting in here but I’ve had concerns raised to me by constituents about liquor licensing here in Yellowknife. I believe I heard the Minister say earlier in this sitting that he was going to be conducting a review of liquor licensing. I think that that would also include some public engagements. Can the Minister just talk to us a little bit about the scope of that review of liquor licensing? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

I look forward to that process of building confidence and trust as we move forward, but one of the biggest obstacles to ensure public confidence in our resource development decisions and to ensure timely and informed decisions is a lack of any participant or intervener funding programs. Canadians south of 60 degrees north have a right to participant funding in federal environmental assessments while we do not. Why is participant funding not part of the REDI campaign?

Merci, Monsieur le President. My questions are for the Minister of Industry who is leading the Resource and Energy Development and Information campaign or REDI. Can the Minister explain how REDI is supposed to build public confidence in our ability to develop resources in a responsible way? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. All this motion really does is delete the part of the bill that would have had the authority rest with the Minister to make exemptions. We have now changed that already; so this is just a consequential amendment. I do not think I need to say anything further. Thanks, Mr. Chair.