Thank you. Mr. O'Reilly.
Please, Mr. Chair. That didn't really answer my question: has that exercise been completed, and, if so or if it's going to be happening in the future, can the Minister agree to share the report with the standing committee? Thanks, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. Minister Sebert.
This review of lessons learned or this exercise to examine the Tlicho All-Season Road assessment, we are coordinating, as I say, a GNWT-wide "lessons learned" exercise. That has not yet been completed. If it is and when it is completed, if I have the ability to do so, I will share it with committee. I do appreciate the Member's concern about this whole area, and I did not mean to make light of the fact that we are the proponent and regulator on some projects. It does have its complexities, which I understand. I can't think of a different or better way of being both proponent and regulatory decision-maker, but, certainly, we have to review our project assessment function to make sure that it's transparent and works well. This is going to be an ongoing issue, and I just want Members to know that we are looking at making improvements. I think perhaps Mr. Hagen would like to elaborate on that. Thank you.
I will actually go back to Mr. O'Reilly. It's his time, and we are running low. Mr. O'Reilly.
Yes, thanks, Mr. Chair. I will just read a quick quote from the review board. The board found that the so-called whole-of-government approach, and this is the quote, "has limited the ability of evidence and expertise from GNWT departments about the potential impacts, concerns, and mitigations on issues within their respective mandates and jurisdictions." That, to me, is pretty damning. That is not coming from me. That is coming from the review board, so I want to encourage the Minister, and I think he is made a commitment before that he is going to review how this policy has been working. I think it has failed this government twice now, and I don't agree with Mr. Hagen's assessment. If we maybe had provided better advice to the proponent, better advice to the land and water board, maybe TerraX might be out there exploring right now. I think we can and should be doing a lot better, and that policy is not working. Is the Minister prepared to review that policy and share that with the standing committee? Thanks, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. I will ask that we keep this very tight. We are very far into policy now, not so much in the budget. Minister, please respond.
Yes. I think that I agree with the comment that we can do better. Yes, we're going to be looking at these policies, the review of the GNWT's project assessment function, to look at areas for potential improvements, and I'm sure we can share that as we proceed. We want to hear from committee with their input because, in the end, I think we have the same object. We want to make the system better. Thank you.
Thank you. Nothing further from Mr. O'Reilly. Lands, planning and coordination, operations expenditure summary, $7,484,000. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Thank you, committee. Please return to the activity total, or rather the departmental total, on page 305. I will call the total department. Lands, total department, $22,584,000. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Thank you, committee. Does committee agree that this concludes our consideration of the Department of Lands?
Agreed.
Thank you, committee. Thank you to the Minister and to the witnesses. Sergeant-at-Arms, you may escort the witnesses from the Chamber. The Minister would like to make a comment. Minister.
I'd like to thank all those who asked questions about the Lands Department. I referred to the new Lands Act which will be introduced, I gave notice today, or yesterday. Thank you very much. Today? Was it today? It seems like a long time ago.
---Laughter
Seriously, I do thank all those who are here and have asked interesting questions and who really are interested in improvement. I realize this is a very difficult area, made particularly difficult when you are the proponent as well as the regulator. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister. Sergeant-at-Arms, you may escort the witnesses from the Chamber. I guess they didn't have to stick around for the Minister's closing statements, but we thank them for sticking around anyway. Minister, you can take your seat. Thank you to the witnesses. What is the wish of committee? Mr. Beaulieu.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that the chair rise and report progress.
Thank you. There is a motion to report progress. The motion is in order and non-debatable. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.
---Carried
I will rise and report progress.
Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Tabled Document 322-18(3), Main Estimates 2019-2020, and would like to report progress, and, Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of the Committee of the Whole be concurred with.
Masi. Do we have a seconder? Member for Yellowknife Centre. The motion is in order. All those in favour? All those opposed?
---Carried
[Translation] Orders of the day for Friday, March 8, 2019, at 10:00 a.m.:
Prayer
Ministers' Statements
Members' Statements
Returns to Oral Questions
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Acknowledgments
Oral Questions
Written Questions
Returns to Written Questions
Replies to the Commissioner's Opening Address
Petitions
Reports of Standing and Special Committees
Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills
Tabling of Documents
Notices of Motion
Notices of Motion for First Reading of Bills
Motions
First Reading of Bills
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Bill 44, Forest Act
-
Bill 45, Corrections Act
Second Reading of Bills
-
Bill 42, An Act to Amend the Petroleum Products Tax Act
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Bill 43, An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
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Bill 26, Statistics Act
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Bill 31, Northwest Territories 911 Act
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Committee Report 12-18(3), Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2018 Report of the Auditor General of Canada on Northwest Territories Child and Family Services
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Committee Report 13-18(3), Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of Bill 31: Northwest Territories 911 Act
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Minister's Statement 131-18(3), Sessional Statement
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Minister's Statement 151-18(3), New Federal Infrastructure Agreement
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Minister's Statement 158-18(3), Developments in Early Childhood Programs and Services
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Tabled Document 237-18(3), Independent Commission to Review Members' Compensation and Benefits 2018 Review of Members' Compensation and Benefits Report, August 2018
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Tabled Document 322-18(3), Main Estimates, 2019-2020
Report of Committee of the Whole
Third Reading of Bills
Orders of the Day
[Translation ends]
Masi, Mr. Clerk. [Translation] This House stands adjourned until Friday, March 8, 2019, at 10:00 a.m. [Translation ends]
---ADJOURNMENT
The House adjourned at 6:15 p.m.
