Wendy Bisaro

I call Committee of the Whole to order. We have before us: Tabled Document 64-17(3), Northwest Territories Capital Estimates 2013-2014; Bill 2, Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act, 2012; and Bill 8, An Act to Amend the Securities Act. What is the wish of the committee? Mr. Menicoche.

We are discussing capital investment, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Minister, would you care to comment?

To the Minister, I appreciate this is a very long and involved process. It’s an issue which has been ongoing for many, many years, and it will continue to be an issue because many residents in my riding, in my city, and me as well, are concerned about some of things that are proposed in this remediation plan.

I’d like to know from the Minister: if we are actively involved as a government, and if we are committed to following through and proceeding forward with the plan and looking after the site, I’d like to know how the Minister can explain to me that he is protecting my interests, and the...

I’m sorry.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to follow up from my Member’s statement and ask some questions of the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources. He’s also the Minister responsible for the remediation project at Giant Mine.

I’d like to first ask the Minister: Assuming, because it has been signed off by a GNWT representative, the final submission has a number of statements that present positions that Yellowknife residents are happy with the project going forward and so on, I’d like to know from the Minister whether or not Cabinet was involved in the preparation of or the approval of the...

Thank you, committee. We’ll move to page 11-8, 11-9, activity summary, forest management, infrastructure investment summary, total infrastructure investment summary, $1.510 million. Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As you heard from Mr. Bromley already, for a full week this past September the environmental assessment hearings were held on the remediation plan for the Giant Mine site. The GNWT is a partner with the Government of Canada, acting as the developer for the project at these hearings. Two weeks ago the developer made their final submission to the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board, and reading the content of their submission, as Mr. Bromley stated, I also felt that it’s almost as though they weren’t listening to any of the presenters.

The GNWT...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Your committee has been considering Tabled Document 64-17(3), Northwest Territories Capital Estimates 2013-2014, and would like to report progress with one motion being adopted, that consideration of Tabled Document 64-17(3) is concluded, and that the House concur in those estimates and that an appropriation bill to be based thereon be introduced without delay. Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of Committee of the Whole be concurred with. Thank you.

Does committee agree we will proceed without witnesses?

Question has been called.

---Carried

Thank you, committee. What is the wish of committee? Mr. Menicoche.