Kevin O'Reilly

Thanks, Madam Chair. Yeah, okay, that sounds quite interesting. And if I can get the Minister to tell us when that work is going to be finished and whether a draft with a report could be shared with standing committee? Thanks, Madam Chair.

Merci, Monsieur le President. I wish to table the following document: A letter from Alternatives North regarding comments on Forest Act Summary of Policy Intentions dated January 26th, 2022. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Okay. Thanks, Madam Chair. So that shuffling around of money, is that going to be done then through a supplementary appropriation, or do we get like one of these interactivity fund transfer letters? How is this going to be done as the department and the staff work through this optimization process. Thanks, Madam Chair.

Thanks, Madam Chair. I want to thank my colleague from Hay River South for asking a number of the questions I was going to ask, and I want to thank the Minister for pointing out to the premier of Alberta that we signed a transboundary agreement with their government, not Imperial Oil. So maybe educating the minister when you're meeting with her tomorrow, getting the premier to actually read the transboundary agreement might be helpful.

But I guess I want to get some assurance that there's if we enter into this dispute resolution process, that if there is like an independent third party...

Thanks, Madam Chair. Yeah, look, I recognize that this is complicated with being sure everybody's at the table, but are we likely to see any habitat actually protected, you know, by the end of this Assembly? New habitats identified and, more importantly, protected by the end of this Assembly. Thanks, Madam Chair.

Merci, Monsieur le President. I want to thank the Minister for that. It's been radio silence on any public engagement on the development of Public Land Act regulations that will deal with financial security and other matters. Nothing has been done on public engagement since the release of the "what we heard" report in May 2021. That's 20 months ago, Mr. Speaker.

Can the Minister tell us when his department will start the promised phase two of public engagement and finally set up the stakeholder advisory committees? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Yeah, no, thanks for that. Yeah, I know this has been the subject of some ongoing debate and negotiation I guess. I'd say I'm quite confident that this money, at least in sustainable livelihoods, is well used and it actually helps support food security and particularly in our smaller communities. So I'm I think we're going to find a way to work together to get that increased. I think that's all I've got on this activity, Madam Chair. Thanks.

Yeah, thanks, Madam Chair. I think I can feel a Member's statement coming on. But I don't think we're going to get another chance at it, and I think that's probably not good because there was very serious concerns raised with it. And we'll just have to wait and see, but the Minister knows that if I'm not happy, I'm going to get up and talk about it in the House. So not much more I can do right now. Thanks, Madam Chair.

Yeah, okay, well I'll just cool my horses until that point. But I want to turn over to the contributions page on 100. There's a bunch of money going out; maybe there's some money coming in as well with regard to work on caribou. And where are we at with habitat protection. You know, we've told harvesters they can't harvest and some of them have done that voluntarily. You know, we've gone out, tried to get more wolves either by, you know, paying harvesters a little more or shooting them from helicopters. I don't know what else we can do for caribou other than protect habitat at this point...

Merci, Monsieur le President. My questions are for the Minister of Lands. The department has placed top priority in our requests from the mining industry to use surety bonds as an acceptable form of financial security. Ernst & Young were sole sourced for $230,000 to tell the government that surety bonds are good financial security.

Can the Minister tell us whether the report is finished and will be released publicly? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.