Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. In light of the existing tar sands projects and the legacy tailings ponds, and the proposed $40 billion tech resources tar sands projects, and the possibility of a $40-billion worth of tailing ponds, I wanted to touch upon the Transboundary Water Agreement, specifically the implementation site. Agreements are important to both upstream and downstream communities in that they help to ensure that upstream activities do not unreasonably harm the aquatic ecosystem of downstream waterways. Water-quantity and quality monitoring is necessary to ensure these commitments are being met. My question to the Minister of, I believe it's ENR: do these agreements include any provisions for monitoring and testing of water quantity and water quality? Mahsi.
Thank you, Member for Deh Cho. Minister responsible for Environment and Natural Resources.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The department's bilateral agreement or the Government of the Northwest Territories' agreement with Alberta does actually have that. It is actually part of the evaluation. It's the quality and quantity there, and it is actually at the Slave River and the Hay River. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mahsi, Minister, for that answer. Are there currently any reports of any findings of all this quality testing available?
Since 2015, two annual reports have been released under our Alberta-NWT transboundary agreement, and a report for 2017-2018 is currently being finalized for release.
Can the Minister ensure that the reports will be shared with the public, especially the effect on First Nations in the Akaitcho Territory, the Dehcho Territory, and K'atlodeeche First Nations?
All reports are publicly released and available on the ENR website, but specifically to the Member's question, we will make sure they get a copy of the report. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.
