Debates of January 29, 2010 (day 18)

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Statements

QUESTION 215-16(4): GNWT RESPONSE TO JOINT REVIEW PANEL REVIEW

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to follow up with a few more questions about the Joint Review Panel process and the government’s plans. I am squeezing these in on a Friday because there is a very aggressive table. It is a schedule that is laid out by the Joint Review Panel for the public to participate in the response. My first question is to the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources -- and this is following up my Member’s statement -- will the GNWT prepare a financial analysis of the implementation costs of the Joint Review Panel recommendations? Thank you.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Part of the assessment process and response process is going to be to look at the cost of the recommendations and our response to what that may cost so that we, in fact, know what the bill will be if we are going to recommend a certain course of action. Thank you.

Thanks to the Minister for that. Can the Minister commit to making this financial analysis public, especially before a Cabinet decision is made on the Joint Review Panel recommendations so that the public can have some input and response to the government? Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, in due course, that information will be public. I can’t at this moment commit to making anything public before it has gone through our internal process. Thank you.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Final supplementary, Mr. Bromley.

Does the GNWT intend to file a submission with the National Energy Board on or before February 11th, 2010, that responds to the Joint Review Panel report and recommendations and, if so, how will we involve the MLAs and the public in the preparation of this submission? That’s February 11th. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I’ll take that question as notice.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

The question is being taken as notice. Ms. Bisaro.