Debates of November 27, 2007 (day 3)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about the recent announcement in regards to regulatory reform in the Northwest Territories by the Minister of Indian Affairs, Chuck Strahl, on November 7th.

Mr. Speaker, the Minister appointed Neil McCrank, a person from the South again who is involved with the regulatory agency out of Alberta. But yet, Mr. Speaker, I believe it’s time that the North took its place in managing its own resources, its own regulatory system, but, more importantly, looking at what we already have and seeing exactly what’s working and what’s not.

Mr. Speaker, it’s nice to hear that Ottawa is taking the issue in regards to the interest of the people of the Northwest Territories. Yet, Mr. Speaker, the Mackenzie Valley Resources Management Act -- the land claims have been settled in the Northwest Territories -- was basically implemented through federal legislation. Yet, Mr. Speaker, the Inuvialuit Environmental Impact Review Board, the Mackenzie Valley Resources Management Act implements the regulatory boards up and down the Mackenzie Valley. But yet, Mr. Speaker, nowhere in the Northwest Territories has the federal government lived up to its obligation under existing legislation by way of ensuring that the regulatory boards and agencies have the tools to make decisions based on fundamental factors.

Mr. Speaker, one of the points I’d like to raise is land use planning. Mr. Speaker, under the Mackenzie Valley Resources Management Act, land use planning is an integrated process for decision-making. Yet, Mr. Speaker, under the Northwest Territories environmental audit in 2005, the main report states less than one-fifth of the area covered in the Mackenzie Valley Resources Management Act is protected largely by establishing land use plans.

Mr. Speaker, the federal government has the tools already in those legislation. It just takes a little bit of commitment and will by the federal government and the Government of the Northwest Territories to enact those regulatory responsibilities for the people of the Northwest Territories, to protect our lands, resources, our environment, for the benefit of all northerners and future generations.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. At the appropriate time, I will have questions for the Minister of the Environment. Thank you.

---Applause