Debates of March 5, 2020 (day 15)

Date
March
5
2020
Session
19th Assembly, 2nd Session
Day
15
Members Present
Hon. Frederick Blake Jr, Mr. Bonnetrouge, Hon. Paulie Chinna, Ms. Cleveland, Hon. Caroline Cochrane, Ms. Green, Mr. Jacobson, Mr. Johnson, Ms. Martselos, Hon. Katrina Nokleby, Mr. O'Reilly, Ms. Semmler, Hon. R.J. Simpson, Mr. Rocky Simpson, Hon. Diane Thom, Hon. Shane Thompson, Hon. Caroline Wawzonek
Topics
Statements

Question 164-19(2): Oil and Gas Operations Liability Cap

Merci, Monsieur le President. While we are on a roll and we are getting all these yeses, I think it's a good time to go back to the liability caps in the Oil and Gas Spills and Debris Liability Regulations that I raised with the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment a couple of days ago. I would like to know when the Minister is going to complete that review of the liability caps. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I do not know when that will be complete.

Does the Minister expect to complete this review before the end of this Assembly? Could she give us some idea? The Minister has a Petroleum Resources Strategy in place that includes spending for a million dollars over three years and, as I understand it, some of that is to review the regulations and framework that we have in place. Can the Minister commit to completing that review before the end of this Assembly? It's a one-page regulation; I don't know what the problem is.

There is no problem, other than departments are very busy. I do commit to finishing this review before the end of the Assembly.

I want to thank the Minister for that. I would like to know from the Minister whether the department has looked into the issue of whether these liability caps are going to impede our ability to recover any funds or carry out the remediation work that is going to be required at the Cameron Hills field?

I will have to get back to the Member with a written response to that question.