Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Premier following up on questions that I had during the spring session and are with regard to the changes in federal laws, environmental laws in particular. I had previously asked the Premier questions on the major changes underway in that area – withdrawal of habitat protection in the Fisheries Act, collapse of our regional land and water boards into one, creation of artificial mandatory deadlines for completion of assessments, and so on. The Premier said he had belatedly written the feds inquiring about the Fisheries Act changes, but I’ve never heard back about the response he received. The new federal omnibus bill proposes even further changes.
I’d like to ask the Premier whether we were informed in advance or consulted on these latest changes which extend the radical alteration of the federal government’s management of our northern environment.
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The honourable Premier, Mr. McLeod.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Member for his question. We have written a couple of times to the federal government with regard to the changes that we understood were proposed for fisheries. We have yet to receive a response. We have not been briefed on the provisions of the omnibus bill, although we did get briefed on the proposed changes to the MVRMA.
Thanks to the comments from the Premier. A sad state of affairs indeed.
In changes to the Navigable Waters Protection Act under the new omnibus bill, 45, I understand Canada removed environmental protection on all but 97 major lakes and 62 rivers. Even some heritage rivers have had their protection yanked. Environmental review would no longer be required for any dam, road crossing, pipeline, mine, or bridge affecting water bodies not on that specific list. Reviews will be the responsibility of provinces except here, which is federal. We have that many lakes and rivers in the Weledeh riding alone.
Can the Premier confirm whether we were consulted on the composition of that list and confirm to this House what water bodies in the NWT, if any, are left on this skeleton-like remains?
We were not apprised of any changes to the Navigable Waters Act. We are now in the process of asking our departments to review the list to identify what the implications are for the Northwest Territories.
Thanks again to the Premier. An even sadder state of affairs indeed. Apparently we are expected to pass mirror legislation to adopt the federal regime as our own at the time of devolution and will be resourced just for those responsibilities, is my understanding. So here again the federal government is ransacking the environmental protection regime in anticipation of devolution without our input or approval, leaving us to try and shore up the regime later with our own resources.
Can the Premier remind me why devolution is a good deal and what resources we’re going to use to bring environmental responsibility back to the NWT after this is all said and done?
This doesn’t affect devolution. This is a national initiative that is being put forward by the Government of Canada.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Final supplementary, Mr. Bromley.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish the federal government had a similar compartmentalization in their views. Every day seems to bring new details on the federal mangling of our environmental law. Meanwhile, we’re out consulting on the land use sustainability framework that is intended to influence the nature and content of our future resource management regime. Obviously, we’re dealing with a moving target. We can be consulting one night and find that things have changed the next morning.
I’d like to ask the Premier why we are asking our citizens what kind of land use sustainability framework they want, when we seem committed to meekly accept whatever hollow regime Ottawa finally passes our way. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The honourable Premier, Mr. McLeod.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think the Member recognizes that we’re dealing with a majority federal government and we are moving forward in what is in the best interests of all the people of the Northwest Territories.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The Member for Range Lake, Mr. Dolynny.
