Kieron Testart

I see that now. Is the plan going forward to better define, I guess on the top of this and what we've heard over the course of the debate is that it's a discrete mechanism or instrument for Indigenous governments to seek greater mining benefits, or encourage more mining exploration in their co-manage areas or traditional territories. That's the explicit purpose of the section.

I think prospecting licences or permits, rather, have a different purpose, a different policy statement, and I think that's why there's the confusion here. I agree 100 percent with the read that the transitional, that...

I had a question to the Minister on clause 53. Will that be allowed, Mr. Chair?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. When questions were being put to the Minister by the honourable Member for Frame Lake, one of the responses was that the reason that the government has declined to include intended work in the public registry is concern, A, around confidentiality, which we have discussed, and B, that it would somehow impact or limit or infringe upon the inherent rights of Indigenous persons. I would like the government to walk me through that about how, and I will be very precise here, including a provision that intended work would be provided in the public registry infringes on section...

I'll interpret that as "no." The fact that we don't know where this is headed, that it's incredibly broad, those were the initial concerns of committee, and I really hope that gets resolved tonight, that there is some clarity on this, because this is a big hole in this legislation that is solved by regulations, and we don't get to decide those, and we don't know what those are going to look like. So we need some certainly on this, and if all we could get is policy certainty tonight, I'd be happy, but we couldn't even get that. So I still have grave concerns around this section. Thank you, Mr...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that the chair rise and report progress. Thank you.

Thank you. Would it be fair to characterize this zone section as having nothing to do with prospecting permits in its current form because they are addressed through a transitional provision? Thank you.

When will a decision be rendered on moving forward, on how these regulations are going to move forward?

Thank you. I would appreciate if the Minister could answer my question. Is it the position of the government that the Minister has adequate ability to protect the confidential business interests of industry from being posted in the public registry? Thank you.

Could this section be used to enable regulations that creates a penalty regime if companies aren't able to meet their benefits governed by this section? Yes or no. Thank you.

Mr. Chair, I move that Bill 34 be amended by adding the following after subclause 111(4):

(4.1) A copy of each regulation that the Commissioner in Executive Council proposes to make under this act shall be published in the Northwest Territories Gazette, and a reasonable opportunity shall be afforded to interested persons to make representations to the Minister in respect of the proposed regulations.

(4.2) No proposed regulation need be published more than once under subsection (4.1), whether or not it is altered or amended after such publication as a result of representations made by interested...