Debates of August 23, 2007 (day 16)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I indicated, I’ll give it one last kick at the cat with regard to source 177. Mr. Speaker, there has been a lot of dialogue between the Premier, discussions with the former Minister of Indian Affairs, Mr. Jim Prentice, and also a meeting with Prime Minister Stephen Harper in Calgary, and also the Tuk Community Corporation chair, the chair of IRC, and CEO, and also with the Minister of Transportation and his department. I’d like to ask the Minister of Transportation, can he give an update on how the application process is going with regard to their submissions to the ILA? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. The honourable Minister responsible for Transportation, Mr. Menicoche.

Return To Question 188-15(6): Inuvialuit Lands Administration Land Use Application

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. The Department of Transportation has ongoing discussions with ILA to discuss permitting and fees associated with an application to access lands in ILA. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Supplementary, Mr. Pokiak.

Supplementary To Question 188-15(6): Inuvialuit Lands Administration Land Use Application

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to ask the Minister, where is that application now? Is it in the hands of ILA right now? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. Mr. Menicoche.

Further Return To Question 188-15(6): Inuvialuit Lands Administration Land Use Application

Mr. Speaker, we did not hand any application over to the ILA office. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Supplementary, Mr. Pokiak.

Supplementary To Question 188-15(6): Inuvialuit Lands Administration Land Use Application

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know some time back, that the department did say that they were going to work with ILA with regard to the permitting process and I’m very surprised that his department hasn’t even moved forward with that application process. I understand that there might be a little bit of loss but I think, if I may request, Mr. Speaker, that I think the Minister should get his department to at least submit that application to the ILA. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. Mr. Menicoche.

Further Return To Question 188-15(6): Inuvialuit Lands Administration Land Use Application

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I’m probably going to have to get into some level of detail here for the Member. He’s well aware of the challenges we’ve had with the ILA and fees and royalty structures in that particular regime. The permitting process necessary for constructing the road from Tuktoyaktuk to source 177 is the application submission will have to have the royalty fees associated with that permit attached. Our estimates, based on the length of the road and the land around the source that we need, runs about $3 million, Mr. Speaker. That’s something of a huge issue for us as a department and us as a government. Secondly, once even upon application of $3 million, the title to the footprint of the route is not even available to the government after that. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Final supplementary, Mr. Pokiak.

Supplementary To Question 188-15(6): Inuvialuit Lands Administration Land Use Application

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If I recall, having worked with ILA prior to being elected here, my understanding with regard to the application process is that all they require at the initial stage is the initial application fee plus the first 1,000 cubic metres so that the application can go forward. I don’t know where the Minister is getting that information, but I can guarantee you for sure that all they require is the initial application fee plus the first 1,000 cubic metres. Will he do that? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. Mr. Menicoche.

Further Return To Question 188-15(6): Inuvialuit Lands Administration Land Use Application

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I’m going to have to respectfully disagree with the Member that that is not the case. We are continually negotiating and having discussion with ILA to discuss the permitting fees and the permitting to access the route for source 177. Thank you.