Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Recently in the media there has been a lot of discussion on the whole idea of hydraulic fracturing. My question is to the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources. What is the government or department doing to ensure that the practice of hydraulic fracking is mitigated and also understood? Eventually, more likely the introduction of the practice will be fairly common up here in the Northwest Territories. Is the department taking measures to ensure that it will be done within the regulatory system that’s safe and, of course, respects the environment? Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Nadli. The honourable Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, Mr. Miltenberger.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is a recently new process that is not completely understood. It is a source of great research at the international, national and even in our level as we seek to understand the use of hydraulic fracking for unconventional oils, in particular shale gas.
There is work being done at the federal level. We are striking a committee between ENR and ITI and other relevant deputies and departments to look at this issue and to address some of the issues that the Member talked about to try to get a good handle on the research. Some provinces’ fracking for unconventional sources are in use in B.C. and Alberta, Quebec and Nova Scotia, and some others have put a moratorium on it. Some states, as well, are taking a second look at it.
It is an issue, a process that there are a lot of unknowns, lots of potential impacts, use of a lot of substances in an area deep underground and is not well understood. We are going to take the steps necessary to understand this and make sure any steps taken have that balance of protecting the environment as we look at what is possible from this economic development opportunity. Thank you.
The Minister has indicated that there has been some consideration in terms of what other jurisdictions have undertaken. I wonder if the Minister and the department have considered as an option, seeming that there are some other initiatives – one of them is a moratorium on evictions on housing – a moratorium on hydraulic fracking in the North. Mahsi.
Mr. Speaker, we are not at that point in any of our deliberations. We have to work with the federal government to look at that type of issue. There’s still work and research to be done. As I indicated, some jurisdictions to the south of us are using that process. There are a lot of questions and there is work being done and there are meetings, as well, being held across the North by the National Energy Board and ANSI, as well as the Government of the Northwest Territories, especially in the Sahtu, to meet with the communities and individuals to talk about this process and understand the concerns and share the information we do have about this process. Thank you.
The Minister has indicated that there is some level of cooperation with the federal government. I wonder if the department is considering, perhaps, some unique ways in terms of how this whole new practice will be introduced to the North. Hopefully at some point the department will consider some unique ways that are northern based, to ensure that the environment is not compromised and understand that there’s some positive development in terms of the Water Stewardship Strategy. I understand water is very vital to the people of the Northwest Territories, so I wanted to know if the Minister is considering some unique northern, perhaps, solutions to this practice that’s eventually going to come to the North. Mahsi.
Thank you. One of the, I suppose, most unique practices that we’re considering or initiatives we’re considering, of course, is to conclude the Devolution Agreement, where we would take over responsibility and authority of our land, water and resource development and be able to speak to these type of practices. I appreciate the Member’s comments on the Water Stewardship Strategy. If he has specific recommendations in terms of what he considers unique northern approaches that we may not have considered, I’d be very happy to look at those and would ask that he share that with us so that we can include that in our deliberations. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Nadli.
Thank you. I don’t have any questions, but perhaps maybe at some point I’d like to perhaps get a briefing from the Minister in terms of what it is, perhaps that could be considered in terms of a management regime to mitigate the whole practice of hydraulic fracking. Perhaps the Minister could make that available, if perhaps there are some discussions at that time. Mahsi.
We would be pleased to appear before committee and do a full briefing on the work we’ve done in terms of crossing the North and educating folks on the process, as well as lay out the process, some of the history and some of the questions and concerns that are existing in regard to this process. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.
