Wally Schumann

Thank you, Mr. Chair. What I am going to say about this is these guidance notes will provide guidance when we move forward with this bill, and this will also allow for a public engagement process, so I do not see the need for doing this. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. It's not clear what circumstances under the Oil and Gas Operations Act would require a mandatory public hearing. As a result, we need to maintain some flexibility here. We believe the best approach is to allow the regulator to develop a list of principles that the regulator will apply on a case-by-case basis to decide whether to conduct a public hearing. Should these bills pass, my understanding is that the regulator will be publishing guidelines and interpretation notes to provide additional guidance on the application and administration of its power to conduct public...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Our approach to this bill, as I said in the opening comments, was administrative in nature and improving transparency in the bill, as well. When we did public engagement, this was not an issue that was brought up, so it was not brought forward. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. I am pleased to introduce Bill 37, An Act to Amend the Oil and Gas Operations Act. The purpose of this bill is to address critical first-step changes to the Oil and Gas Operations Act. Its aim is to enhance transparency and public accountability and address administrative and technical issues with the current legislation.

To enhance transparency and public accountability, this bill proposes extended authorities and requirements for both the Minister and the regulator related to oil and gas activities in the Northwest Territories.

For the regulator, the bill would allow them to...

As I have said in the House, we work very closely with the Tu Cho Co-operative fishermen. We continually meet with them on a regular basis as the plant has moved forward. As all the Members know in this House, the plant is out for tender right now as we speak. We have already bought some of the equipment for this thing. Minister Moses announced a number of funding projects yesterday, and one of them is actually for the lift station to support this plant in Hay River, and we will continue to work with the Tu Cho fishery going forward. We are supporting them and will be assisting them with the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. No, I do not believe the relationship with the Tu Cho fishermen are strained. Just because there was an article on CBC and an interview based on what an individual has said in the Northwest Territories, I would not say it is strained. I have talked to most of the fishermen since that article came out, and there is some real concern about what is being put out there by the press and our relationship with ITI and our staff. In particular, I don't appreciate this individual trying to single out our staff in Hay River who are doing a great job on this. He reaches out to the...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. ITI worked closely with OROGO and NEB to help ensure that the regulator holds proof of financial responsibility if there is a risk of spills or debris from work or an activity. Clause 9 extends the proof of financial responsibility requirement by requiring the holder of an authorization to ensure that the proof of financial responsibility remains in force for the duration of the work or the activity and for the period of one year after the regulator notifies the holder that all work that had been authorized has been successfully abandoned or decommissioned in accordance...

Good minister.

---Laughter

If there is a need to require specific content in the future, Bill 37 is required to have requirements related to the form or the content of the report outlined in the regulations. ITI staff has spoken with OROGO and the NEB regarding the proposed items that would be required under this motion, and OROGO and the NEB have raised concerns regarding the following: the onerous administrative burden created by some of these items; the lack of clarity and appropriateness of some of these items; duplication between certain items; and an incorrect statutory reference.

It is...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Clause 5 provides the regulator with the authority to hold a public hearing when it determines doing so would be in the public interest. A decision would likely be made by the regulator with input from the chief conservation officer, the chief safety officer, and other senior staff, and will be based on a review of concerns related to a particular application or activity. As I said, it's not clear what circumstances under the Oil and Gas Operations Act would require a mandatory public hearing. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We will respond to the recommendations in this report by the end of this Assembly. Thank you, Mr. Chair.