Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Your committee on economic development and environment is pleased to provide the report of prevention and management contaminated sites and commends it into the House.
The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment identified contaminated sites as a priority of the committee to focus through the life of the 19th Assembly. The Committee focuses to ensure the Northwest Territories is well positioned to prevent environmental liabilities and effectively manage contaminated work sites. To guide committee in the review of contaminated sites, several stakeholders included several briefings from the Government of the Northwest Territories. As a result the review, committee has provided several recommendations to the Government of the Northwest Territories and the intent and purpose was improve, prevention, management of contaminated sites in the Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker,
The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories create a mandatory legislative requirement for companies to operate with approved closure and reclamation plans on regularly reviewed and updated with appropriate adjustments through financial security.
The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment recommends the GNWT keep closure and reclamation tools up to date and publicly available to ensure the GNWT is collecting enough security to reflect true costs of a closure and reclamation.
The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment recommends that the GNWT work interdepartmentally with communities and their existing communitybased monitoring programs to align monitoring efforts with the surveillance programs required under regulatory permits and licences.
The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment recommends the GNWT ensure it has the internal expertise to inform regulatory decisionmaking and inspection capacity to prevent further public liabilities.
The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment recommends the GNWT expand the Approach to Contaminated Sites guidance document to ensure policies and processes are in place to prevent future public environmental liabilities, most significantly projects that result in perpetual care situations. Further policy and guidance with respect to public disclosure are also required.
The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment recommends the GNWT establish the internal capacity for an effective early warning system to prevent further public liabilities. This approach will also require clear measures to prevent perpetual care situations, including mandatory financial security that is regularly reviewed and adjusted.
The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment recommends the GNWT ensure legislation has clear and appropriate timelines for remediation and reclamation of inactive or suspended well sites.
The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment recommends the GNWT study the Government of Saskatchewan Institutional Control Program and develop an NWT model that better implements the polluter-pays principle for the longterm and unforeseen remediation of mining sites while providing regulatory certainty with respect to industry relinquishment. An NWT model should be developed by the end of the 19th Assembly.
The committee recommends the GNWT implement transparent and clear processes to ensure that securities are established, reviewed and coordinated among various departments.
The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment recommends the GNWT review and amend all legislative requirements regarding the form of financial security for environmental compliance and remediation to ensure financial security must be irrevocable, absolute and unconditional.
The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment recommends that the GNWT undertake an immediate review of the Oil and Gas Spills and Debris Liability Regulations to ensure that the absolute liability caps are increased to fully implement the polluter-pays principle, reflect best practices and protect the public from liabilities. This review and increases to the caps should be implemented before the end of the 19th Assembly.
The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment recommends the GNWT make financial security information (including operator, land and water related securities, amounts, location of project, form of security, expiry dates) public through a website to help build public confidence in resource management.
The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment recommends the Department of Finance provide a plan with timelines to enhance reporting on the GNWT Environmental Liabilities Dashboard by matching reporting practices in the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat’s Federal Contaminates Sites Inventory.
The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment recommends the GNWT develop a plan with a budget and schedule to better support communities in the management of landfills, that includes training, capacity building, best practices in waste management, diversion, backhaul and related matters. This plan should be developed by the end of the 19th Assembly.
The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment recommends the GNWT explore partnerships with industry and industry associations to provide handson practical training for landfill managers across the territory.
The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment recommends the GNWT provide a response to these recommendations within 120 days. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Nunakput. Reports of standing and special committees. Member for Nunakput.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, move, seconded by the honourable Member from the Deh Cho, that the Committee Report 3919(2), deemed read, and printed in Hansard in its entirety. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Nunakput. The motion is in order. To the motion?
Question.
Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Any abstentions. The motion is carried. Committee Report 1319(2) is deemed read and will be printed in Hansard.
