Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wanted to pose a couple of questions to the Minister of ITI. My first question is: Will the Minister support the idea of establishing a moratorium on disallowing hydraulic fracturing in the NWT? Mahsi. Yes or no.
Thank you, Mr. Nadli. Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Mr. Ramsay.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We inherited a system from the National Energy Board of Canada. We are moving forward with draft regulations of our own that take into consideration the views and needs of Northerners, specifically air quality, water quality and management, and disclosure. We are moving forward with that process. Thank you.
I wanted to ask the Minister if he could update the House in terms of the process of developing the regulations. At what point would this House see the final end product of these regulations coming to this House for public input at some point? Mahsi.
We’ve got some more community meetings to take place. We’ve got the process to try to wrap up. But given us some more time, we made an announcement last week that we are going to take until the end of August with the process. If we need further time, we’re going to take that time. We’re going to ensure we get that right. We’re going to talk to people. We’re going to try and get as much education out there on what we’re trying to do, where we’re trying to go. There’s going to be opportunity for Members through the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure. We’ll get their feedback. We’ll be back in front of them, I would suggest sometime in September. We have another sitting of the Legislative Assembly the last week of September, the first week of October. We’ll be back. We’re not going anywhere. We’re going to ensure that we get this right. Thank you.
Other jurisdictions in Canada have established a resolute position in terms of allowing a moratorium against hydraulic fracturing. What makes the NWT different, that we’re not going to follow suit in establishing a moratorium for the NWT? Mahsi.
I guess you could flip that over and say there are jurisdictions in this country that do allow the process. Alberta, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, even the Yukon recently made a decision to allow fracking in the Yukon Territory, in a small portion of the territory.
We want to be a have territory. We want to have jobs. We want to have a diversified economy. We need jobs in regions that currently have high unemployment rates.
We can manage this resource. We’re in the risk-management business. Nothing happens without some risk, but you have to weigh the benefits with those risks, and we believe we can do that. We believe we can manage it. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Nadli.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Once again, if the Minister could tell the House whether, as the Minister, he supports the idea of a moratorium. Yes or no. Mahsi.
I certainly support a balanced approach to this, and that’s where I’m at. I believe we can have a balanced approach. I said this before in the House and I’ll say it again today. We’re not going to be in the energy business unless we’re in the business of protecting the environment, and we need to be in both of those. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Member for Hay River North, Mr. Bouchard.
