Louis Sebert

Well, I think that anyone and everyone should be concerned about open government. When we discussed the mandate early on in the -- about a year and a half ago now almost, it was one of the essential items that we did discuss. In my mandate letter it was made clear that this is an important project for this government and for all of the Members of this House. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to recognize Thebacha resident and Fort Smith Town Councillor, Rashmi Patel.

Yes, Mr. Speaker. Like the Member opposite, my spouse was also here, but she seems to have moved on with my grandson. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, this is of course a very important issue, and I am willing to consider such a meeting. Perhaps it would be best if other Ministers were included, so I will consult with them and get back to the Member opposite on that issue. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Of course, the Imperial Oil is responsible for the remediation of oil and gas operation at Norman Wells. I understand they've recently posted a $180million irrevocable letter of credit. We're continuing to monitor and engage the Sahtu Land and Water Board's closure and reclamation planning process, so I can advise that we are on top of this file. This is a complex matter. Of course, the majority, in fact virtually all, of the assets of Imperial Oil are in the proven area, which is an area of federal responsibility. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document entitled "Northwest Territories Law Foundation 34th Annual Report for the Period Ending June 30, 2016." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I understand that the MLA opposite also raised this question in September, and the Minister of ITI at the time thought that an oversight committee at that time was premature. I think that's still this government's position.

With respect to the situation in Nunavut, I understand that the sheriff's office does the transfers and prisoner court security only in Iqaluit. There is a possibility, of course, of changing our system to be more like that of Alberta and some of the southern provinces. However, that would also require the agreement of another party, which the Member opposite did not mention, the judiciary. The long tradition is to have RCMP officers in the courthouse, and any change that we might be planning would have to be vetted through them.

Mr. Speaker, until 2010, I believe all escorts were done in Yellowknife by the RCMP. I was looking at some statistics, which I can't seem to put my hand on at this time, but I understand about 80 per cent of the escorts now are done by the sheriff's office in Yellowknife. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

As we heard in the presentation at lunch, the government is going through a great number of documents that they did receive as part of the bankruptcy proceedings. We'll have to examine those documents to determine whether any responsibility still remains with the federal government.