Thebacha

Statements in Debates

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 4th Session (day 11)

Yes.

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 4th Session (day 11)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Member has raised a very specific concern. I will commit to consult with my ENR officials first, and then we will look at what steps need to be taken up to and including the recommendation by the Member that we talk to our federal partner on this. Thank you.

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 4th Session (day 9)

We are committed to working with committee. We are going to share the work, we are going to come up with best practices, we are going to do the regulatory review from across not only the country but we’re going to look around the work to see how it’s being dealt with in other jurisdictions that haven’t had moratoriums but are actually engaged in managing this process as they look at resource development. We will come forward and we’ll map out the next steps as we do that. Thank you.

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 4th Session (day 9)

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate the Member’s sage advice and I will keep that in mind as we move forward.

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 4th Session (day 9)

I’ll commit to review the matter with the appropriate officials in the departments and if there is deemed to be a policy gap, then we’ll, of course, take the steps to close that gap.

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 4th Session (day 9)

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of ITI already has a trip scheduled to an active frack site where fracking is practiced. So, yes, we will do that. Thank you.

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 4th Session (day 9)

No, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 4th Session (day 9)

Mr. Speaker, I will commit to work with the Minister of ITI. I can appreciate the Member’s concern about meeting with the Aboriginal governments and going to an actual fracking site. I would think we could probably gather the information about those jurisdictions that have decided to go ahead with fracking, by looking at what is available and having those conversations. But we will do a full review of all those particular positions as it pertains to fracking. Thank you.

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 4th Session (day 9)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Member is correct; this is an important issue. It’s a practice that we need to look at carefully. We’ve already invested considerable time and effort. We intend to come forward by this coming spring, early fall at the latest, with some guidelines built on best practices. We’ve had some very interesting meetings with the National Energy Board, as well, who’s going to be working in conjunction with us, especially at post-devolution, about the way to manage our way through this.

The Member raises a lot of issues that we are working to address and we will be sharing, of...

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 4th Session (day 9)

I’ll commit to put this matter on the table for Cabinet strategy tomorrow, and where all the senior officials are, as well, and we’ll discuss the best way to make sure that we are impartial in all the appropriate areas as it pertains to government policy.