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Statements in Debates

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 129)

Thanks, Mr. Chair, and thanks for that. I just find this a really curious practice that why wouldn't that just be spelled out in section 31 of the bill? So it's just left to the discretion of the Speaker and/or the Commissioner as to which parts are brought into force? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 129)

Yeah, thanks, Mr. Chair. So I believe I heard the sponsor of the bill say that there are parts of this bill that are going to come into force right away. And what's the mechanism for doing that? Because it just says here that it's going to be fixed by order of the Commissioner. So what's the mechanism by which parts of this bill are going to come into force right now or maybe on a sense later this week when the Commissioner's in the Chamber. How is that done, because it's not really in the bill itself anywhere. Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 129)

Merci, Mr. Chair. Committee wishes to deal with Bill 58 and Bill 59.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 129)

Merci, Madam la Presidente. I want to thank the Minister for that. Now look, you don't need the regulations to start reporting financial security now. You don't need the regulations; just start doing it. So I know that our government has a protocol with some Indigenous governments around codevelopment of lands and resources legislation and regulations, and I support that process. However, our government seems to have forgotten that it must ensure that the public has a say in the development of legislation and regulations. More than eight years after devolution, there's been very little, if...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 129)

Merci, Madam la Presidente. I'm still trying to pick up my jaw because I couldn't find the contract anywhere in the OpenNWT contract website. But Madam Speaker, I think the fix is our government seems to be poised to accept surety bonds without a real plan to prevent further public liabilities like Cameron Hills and Mactung. So can the Minister tell us why his department has identified surety bonds as the top priority when it comes to financial security in preventing further public liabilities? Mahsi, Madam Speaker.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 129)

Merci, Madame la Presidente. On October 21st, I volunteered for an interview with staff from Ernst & Young and the Department of Lands concerning a contract to consider whether GNWT should accept surety bonds as a form of financial security for environmental disturbances caused by industrial and commercial operations. I have raised concerns in this House in the past about this form of financial security and whether it is truly unconditional, irrevocable, and immediate.

Members may recall that for the first time in 2014, the GNWT accepted surety bonds backed by insurance companies for the Ekati...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 129)

Yeah, okay, thanks. Look, I don't want to prolong this; I just think it should be spelled out in the bill. I trust the Speaker and so on, but I just don't know why we don't write this stuff out in the bill itself as to which parts are going to come into force right away. But I do support bringing the changes to the mandate and the authority of the Integrity Commissioner into force right away, just for the record. And I want to thank the commission for their work in bringing forward a number of matters that are contained in the bill. Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 129)

Okay, thanks, Mr. Chair. So I don't know, which parts of the bill, then, are immediately going to come into force? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 129)

Yeah, thanks, Mr. Chair. In my first term, or last Assembly, I really didn't want to have to do this either. But it's actually enshrined in the Constitution of Canada, and it's not something that we can necessarily change ourselves unfortunately. But there are some Quebec members of their national assembly that are refusing to swear an oath of allegiance to the King. And it's going to be very interesting to see what happens with that because, as I understand it, the Quebec legislature can still somehow allow them to sit in the chamber, even if they haven't sworn this oath of allegiance.

But...

Debates of , 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 128)

Merci, Monsieur le President. I move that the chair rise and report progress.