Wendy Bisaro

One last question here. There is no reference, I don’t think, that I can see or that I have found, to any kind of reporting. Does this legislation or does the agreement require any kind of reporting by the council or by the GNWT to the public on the activities of the Intergovernmental Council?

That’s good. Thanks.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are addressed to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. I’d like to follow up on my Member’s statement. It is obvious, and I mentioned it in my statement, that the government is not going to be able to meet the March 24th deadline date that they have for the court date and come forward to the judge with a solution, with an alternative solution to what’s been mandated by the court.

I’d like to know from the Minister at this point, knowing that negotiations are not happening either in Yellowknife or in Hay River, what’s next on the part of...

Thanks to Mr. Goldney. I didn’t really hear in there if the costs are shared equally by all the parties. Everybody has their own money ,but if the costs for the annual costs are $100, is that $100 divided equally among the six or seven or eight parties that are party to the agreement? Thank you.

Thanks to Mr. Fulford for that. I kind of thought that was the case. I think my concern is that the requirement may be there, but as I understand it, the amount of either the financial security or the need to have the closure and the reclamation plans is up to the regulator, and if the regulator makes a determination and determines an amount of money that is not what is required or accepts a remediation plan that’s in its infancy and isn’t updated over the years as the development occurs, we’re going to be left holding the bag when the development ends or it folds in the midst of production...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. A number of questions here. I’m trying to understand this bill. I realize it’s based upon an agreement which was negotiated between devolution negotiations and so on. I guess, considering that we have an agreement that has been signed by all parties, why do we need legislation to implement the agreement? Why can’t we just use the agreement as the document that governs what’s going on? Thank you.

Thanks, Madam Chair. I just wanted to ask one other question. There are a number of regulations, I gather, under the Canada Petroleum Resources Act. Is my understanding correct that these regulations, Environmental Studies Research Fund regulations, Frontier Lands Petroleum Royalty Regulations, Frontier Lands Registration Regulations, will those be mirrored as the act has been mirrored?

I didn’t quite hear the answer, but if it was “in the appropriate manner” what does that mean?

Thanks, Madam Chair. Okay, understood. I wanted to ask a question with regards to the Environmental Studies Research Fund and the Minister mentioned that in his opening remarks as well. I understand the purpose; I understand who is going to be appointed to this group, but I don’t understand where the money is coming from. Could I find out how this is going to be funded with dollars? Thank you.

Again, it’s just one more thing that I think we need to add to the list of potential amendments to the act. I think, as legislators, we need to make sure that NWT residents are protected against potential financial liabilities, and we have to make sure that any legislation that we put in place around developments and so on ensures our people are going to be protected, that this government is going to be protected in having to pick up liabilities, whether it be through closure or whether it be through spills or whether it be through just bad practices as an industry.

I wanted to ask a question...