Merci, Monsieur le President. I raised the issue of discharges from the Alberta tar sands tailings several times in our last two sittings. Although the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources has committed to share information with this side of the House and the public, I have seen nothing. I can honestly not recall having received a single proactive email or update on the issue of the development of Alberta and federal regulations for discharges from the tar sands tailings ponds from the Minister or the department.
I’ve also raised the issue of Alberta refusing to allow GNWT representatives on committees considering water quality downstream of the tar sands. The Minister said he would be raising the issue with the federal Minister of the Environment and Climate Change. But again, nothing has been shared with us as Regular MLAs.
What I have learned over the last couple of months from our own research is that the GNWT put out two $60,000 Request for Proposals for technical advice regarding discharges. The successful contractors will conduct critical reviews of all information provided to the Government of Alberta related to oil sands toxicity and review all information related to technology-based effluent limits. And that's good work, Mr. Speaker, but maybe sharing some of that with this side of the House would be good.
It’s not clear whether or when our government may conduct its own modeling of impacts of discharges into the NWT.
I will have questions for the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources about what is going on with regard to tar sands tailing ponds discharges and when information will be shared with this side of the House and the public. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Members' statements. Member for Kam Lake.
