Louis Sebert

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I cannot, of course, and it would be improper for me to, discuss any specific case before the courts, but there has been a good deal of commentary about the jury system across Canada. I can advise that I have been thinking about this issue and would like to hear from the public and also from members of the local bar who practice in this area. I am a little concerned that radical changes to the jury system would be ill advised. This system has served us well for a thousand years.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Wednesday, February 21, 2018, I will move that Bill 5, An Act to Amend the Summary Conviction Procedures Act, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I imagine this matter will be discussed at the next FPT so, should it be on the agenda, certainly we will be involved with that discussion. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

No, I was not thinking of having a public consultation. I, too, have a good deal of experience with the jury system and have found that it has worked very well in our jurisdiction, dealing with many jury trials in my home community of Fort Smith and also in at least one or two other communities. I certainly will, and I often do, meet with members of my profession and would like to hear from them. Certainly, if the public wishes to write me or contact me in some way, I would also be interested in hearing their concerns, but I am not planning any formal public process at this time.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document entitled "Northwest Territories Surface Rights Board 2017-2018 Budget, Strategic Plan, Business Plan and Five-Year Forecast." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

With respect to the site referenced by the Member opposite, the Ptarmigan site, mineral rights, rather, were issued prior to devolution by Indian and Northern Affairs, which was responsible for subservice rights and tenure. I understand, under the devolution agreement, our government has to respect existing interests at the time of devolution, including mineral interests that existed at the Ptarmigan site.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can advise that, while no reclamation or remediations have started at the site, the GNWT did complete a Phase III Environmental Site Assessment and remedial action plan. This work was done in preparation for meetings with the federal government to determine respective liabilities with respect to this site, and I can advise that GNWT officials, I think from Lands and ENR, met with Indigenous and Northern Affairs representatives to discuss the outcomes of the Phase III assessments and remedial action plans that were completed on that site and some other sites in...

I also had the opportunity of looking at the press release, which does contain the line that TerraX has no liability for any remediation of the previous mine site. I can advise that this government has not given an indemnification.

I cannot speak for what the federal government may have done. I do know, however, that press releases by public companies have to be very careful in their assertions. All I can say, again, is that we did not indemnify them with respect to those liabilities. Thank you.

Yes, Mr. Speaker, I can advise that we are still in negotiations with respect to that matter, the situation as to who will be responsible for the liabilities. I believe that I did correspond with the Member opposite. An estimate for the Ptarmigan Mine remediation outlined a cost in excess of $4 million.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as part of our government’s commitment to create opportunities for Northerners to live and work in the Northwest Territories, the Department of Lands launched a Resource Management Officer training and development program three years ago. Since its creation, there have been two graduates of the program, with another nearing completion in the coming months. These first graduates have been permanently employed with the Department of Lands, and recruiting for new Resource Management Officers will begin shortly.

The training program began with the recruitment of...