Wally Schumann

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Strong economies must encourage economic diversity and, while our economy relies on the resource sector as its foundation, our government has committed to fostering an economic environment where our residents can find success across a variety of sectors.

It is also this government's view that true economic diversity for the Northwest Territories also means getting the most out of secondary industries arising from our diamond sector, while also working to branch out and encourage the responsible development of new resources.

Through the life of this government, Mr...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. It has been quite clear; we cannot change these existing SDLs that are already put into place. There would be significant litigation possibilities, as I have said to committee when we discussed this. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

It's either by consent or drilling order. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Thebacha, that Bill 41, Tobacco and Vapour Products Control Act, be read for the third time; and, Mr. Speaker, I request a recorded vote. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Under the current regulations, it's indefinite. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We will have a look at it, and we will do the best that we can. If we can accommodate that timeline, we will certainly do it, but if it is going to take longer, I will let the Member know. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We do not have that number in front of us, but we can probably get it before this session is over so that we can get the number back to the Member. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. As this has come up with the mineral side of things, too, my answer is exactly the same. Our fiscal regimes needs to be looked at carefully and holistically, not through the lens of just royalties. It's our opinion that there is insufficient time to put in the attention that this process deserves in the life of this Assembly, and it is our opinion the responsible thing to do was to get through these first-step amendments right and set the stage for the review of our government's fiscal regime for the mineral and petroleum resources for the next Assembly. Thank you, Mr...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am pleased to introduce Bill 36, An Act to Amend the Petroleum Resources Act.

Bill 36 seeks to enhance transparency and public accountability, address administrative and technical issues, and manage significant discoveries of petroleum in the Northwest Territories in the best interests of all residents.

To enhance transparency and public accountability, this bill proposes:

requiring greater amounts of information to be disclosed about a number of different licences and activities related to the petroleum in the NWT;

increasing public representation on the Environmental...

Well, we are figuring that out. I have the information here for Members on SDLs. Northwest Territories onshore, we have 90 SDLs, 90, nine-zero, covering 460,077 hectares. Thank you, Mr. Chair.