[Translation] Mr. Chairman, the environment is important for each of us. We have to make responsible choices for our future. [Translation ends]
Mr. Speaker, I’ve been trying to make a concerted effort to learn a little French, and what I’m trying to tell everyone here today is that the environment is important to all of us. We have to make a responsible choice towards our future.
We all have an important role for promoting and developing and getting behind responsible development, but when our government says to the public it’s open for business, I’m cautious to wonder what type of industry they’re courting. Are they mindful of the future that they are inviting to the dance?
The public impression is that if the territorial regulator is the same Minister promoting the industry, how is that honestly fair? Often I’ve heard, and people have wondered: why isn’t the Minister of Environment not the territorial regulator? Some say the Minister of Industry snuggles up just too closely to industry; obviously, he’ll take their side. People wonder: does it really matter if he’s on the prime rib circuit; does that prejudice the future decision?
At the same time, some would wonder, if the Environment Minister was the regulator, would the Environment Minister be just too cautious to allow projects to proceed? That too would be fair criticism.
The point is it’s a challenging responsibility that every single one of us is involved in. We must be part of a responsible process that develops for our future generations. So while we make choices here today, we must be mindful we’re not making them for ourselves, we’re making them for down the road.
I support responsible development. I welcome the choices, but may all the choices be fully informed. We need all the information on the table. So, when my good friends in the Sahtu want to pursue their opportunities, their hopes, their dreams – and sometimes that may include fracking – we must be fully informed of the decisions that they’re making because we are making choices that will have effects in the future. But let us not forget, while this government pursues a fracking policy, that really is telling you they’ve decided fracking is okay, we’re just waiting for what type of fracking is okay. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.
