Debates of November 27, 2007 (day 3)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have a question for the Minister of Environment in regards to the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act, which is the federal legislation that was passed in 1989 and came into force. It is part of the condition of that legislation that calls for an audit to be done in regards to the legislation. It was supposed to be done five years after the legislation was passed. Basically it was concluded in December of 2005, which was seven years after the legislation was passed. Mr. Speaker, it is my understanding that the recommendations that the review from that legislation is still not being implemented. I would like to ask the Minister of Environment exactly what his department is doing in regards to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to ensure that Indian and Northern Affairs Canada is meeting its obligations under the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act in regards to addressing the recommendations of the NWT environmental audit report that was done in 2005.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Minister responsible for Environment and Natural Resources, Mr. Miltenberger.

Return To Question 14-16(1): Obligations Under The Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Member has raised an issue of concern to the Government of the Northwest Territories and that is the broader issue of land use planning as it affects the Northwest Territories and the need to have a better and broader government-wide policy in this area. That is something that we are committed to doing in the coming weeks and months. As well, we are going to be working with the regions to follow up on their efforts for regional land use plans. We are looking closely at the recommendations of work yet undone and we will be encouraging the federal government to meet all of their obligations. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Supplementary To Question 14-16(1): Obligations Under The Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources is responsible for coordinating the GNWT’s participation on the environmental assessment process under the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act. But yet, Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister exactly can he tell me how many preliminary screening processes have been conducted through the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act over the last three years? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 14-16(1): Obligations Under The Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I don’t have that particular technical information at my fingertips. I will commit to providing it to the Member. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Supplementary To Question 14-16(1): Obligations Under The Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my constituent, in regards to the Gwich’in settlement region in the Mackenzie Delta, has completed a land use plan that has been in place for several years. Yet, Mr. Speaker, under the environmental assessment regulatory process, land use planning is a critical component of the decision-making process. But yet, Mr. Speaker, we heard from a lot of other regions throughout the Northwest Territories…

Do you have a question, Mr. Krutko?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister of Environment tell me exactly how many land use plans are in place and exactly how many environmental impact assessment processes were conducted in those areas where no land use plans are in place?

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 14-16(1): Obligations Under The Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can indicate to the Member that I am aware that the Gwich’in, Sahtu, Inuvialuit and the Deh Cho regions are currently looking at land use planning processes. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. A final, short supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Supplementary To Question 14-16(1): Obligations Under The Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister look at what is the coordination between areas where land use plans have been completed, where the regulatory environmental assessment process is and where areas were called for preliminary screening in regards to those areas where land use plans are compared to those areas where it isn’t? Can the Minister look into that and give me an idea of what the recommendations in regards to the environmental assessment report is and why those recommendations have not been acted on?

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 14-16(1): Obligations Under The Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’ll commit to review the Hansard to get a clear understanding of the Member’s questions so we get it right, and I will get that information for the Member. Thank you.