Debates of February 7, 2020 (day 3)

Date
February
7
2020
Session
19th Assembly, 2nd Session
Day
3
Members Present
Hon. Frederick Blake Jr, Mr. Bonnetrouge, Hon. Paulie Chinna, Ms. Cleveland, Hon. Caroline Cochrane, Ms. Green, Mr. Jacobson, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Lafferty, Ms. Martselos, Hon. Katrina Nokleby, Mr. Norn, Mr. O'Reilly, Ms. Semmler, Hon. R.J. Simpson, Mr. Rocky Simpson, Hon. Diane Thom, Hon. Shane Thompson, Hon. Caroline Wawzonek
Topics
Statements

Question 30-19(2): Co-Drafting in Regulation Development in the Northwest Territories

Merci, Monsieur le President. I just have one question, and it's for the Minister of Justice, if I may. In response to an earlier question, she did commit to consulting with the standing committee in looking at how the public would be engaged in the future around regulation making. That is great, but she did not say anything about co-drafting and whether she would be consulting with standing committee on that. I just want to remind her that, in the last Assembly, the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment developed a whole report around co-drafting, with lots of recommendations, ideas about how to improve that process going forward, including the involvement of standing committee. I would like to know from the Minister of Justice whether she is prepared to work with the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment moving forward in looking at how Indigenous governments are going to be involved in co-drafting of regulations. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Minister of Justice.

Mr. Speaker, I did not speak specifically to co-drafting in terms of how that would look and what commitments might be made. Quite frankly, the reason is that, if I make a commitment in this House, I am going to take it very seriously, and I understand that co-drafting and the involvement of the Indigenous governments, the involvement of the intergovernmental council, involves EIA, involves Cabinet, involves more than just the Department of Justice, and so I was not prepared to stand up and make that specific commitment here. Nevertheless, I can certainly commit to working with standing committee, making sure that I am personally briefed and aware of what is in that report, and so, to that extent, we will move forward, but that is about as far as I am prepared to go today, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Minister of Justice. Oral questions. Member for Nunakput.