Merci, Monsieur le President. My questions are for the Minister of the Environment and Natural Resources.
The Tlicho government asked for a regional study covering the Slave Geological Province almost exactly a year ago. The June 7th, 2021, letter for the Tlicho government stated, "we need an independent assessment of options, impacts, and benefits before permanent infrastructure is built and there's only one chance to get it right.
So the regional study seems to have been put on hold during the recent federal election.
Can the Minister give us an update on the status of the proposed regional study? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Minister responsible for ENR.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm going to probably just it's not going to be a perfect answer. So basically, and as in depth as the Member may want. So right now working on a potential regional strategy assessment in the Slave Geological Province is being led by the Crown Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada. Regional studies are a federal responsibility under the MVRMA, CIRNAC, and the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board are planning to hold a workshop later this month with Indigenous governments, resource management supports, on the regional strategic environmental assessments. The GNWT will attempt will be attending this workshop, and details which are still being developed. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Merci, Monsieur le President. I want to thank the Minister for that. Of course, perfect is the enemy of good.
But, you know, I understand that the final decision, of course, is going to be made by a federal minister but clearly there's a lot at stake for us, and I know that the federal minister has consulted with our government. I just want to know what our government is saying back.
So can the Minister tell us whether GNWT intends to engage Indigenous governments, the public, and even Regular MLAs with regard to our position on this regional this proposed regional study. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, sometimes people say perfect is the enemy of good. Well, if we do good, then we get criticized for not being perfect. So we need to do the job right. So I just want to make that very clear.
The federal government has agreed to hold primary discussions with Indigenous governments, the GNWT, the Government of Nunavut, and boards. The GNWT will actively participate in this engagement. The GNWT has not developed a position on a regional assessment. I need to stress we have not come up with a position.
The GNWT will first be participating in engagements led by the federal government. Following this when more information is known, MLAs will be consulted on a potential GNWT position.
I need to really stress we will reach out to all our MLAs, whether it's on Cabinet or AOC, to come with a position.
As I committed last year, I will share additional information with MLAs when it becomes available. So we'll make that commitment. I did it last year. I'll make the commitment again here. We will make that commitment to make sure we share that information. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Merci, Monsieur le President. I want to thank the Minister for that.
I don't know how you actively participate in something if you don't have the position. But I'm going to leave it to the Minister.
You know, the most important resource in this area of the proposed regional study is the Bathurst caribou herd, which doesn't pay any attention to boundaries.
So can the Minister explain whether our government is taking a position on the geographic scope of this proposed regional study and the need for a transboundary approach? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as a government, as a Minister, I make a decision based on information provided to me. I should not make a decision based on what could be or can't be.
So, Mr. Speaker, the GNWT, again, has not developed a position on a regional assessment. The GNWT will not take a formal position until there is more information and engagement has occurred with Indigenous governments, Nunavut, regulatory bodies, as well as MLAs. Any GNWT position will take into account the views of all parties and stakeholders as well as the GNWT legal obligations, mandated items, and priorities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary, Member for Frame Lake.
Merci, Monsieur le President. I want to thank the Minister for that. But clearly our government should be in a position now to stand on its hind legs and actually say something about the importance of caribou, the importance of this region for our communities. But I guess we have to wait and be told this.
So I'm giving my feedback to the Minister now. It's become best practice with an environmental assessment to ensure that there's participant funding for Indigenous governments and the public and to provide for a level playing field during these kinds of things.
So can the Minister tell us what the position of this government is with regard to the funding of a regional study and, more particularly, participant funding? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Well, Mr. Speaker, first of all, caribou are very important, and I don't need anybody to tell me that. I live it. My family lives it. Indigenous governments live it.
I've been talking with Indigenous leadership. We are going to Nunavut this month to talk about caribou.
So I thank the Member for that. But caribou are very important.
To answer his question, the GNWT expects that any regional assessments would include opportunity for meaningful Indigenous and public participation. The GNWT support federal participation funding for our regional strategic environmental assessment if one is held. The funding for the RSEA, includes participation funding, would be a federal responsibility, and we will make sure that we tell the federal government to make sure we put that funding forward. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Colleagues, our time for oral questions has expired.
