Debates of October 4, 2023 (day 166)

October
4
2023
Session
19th Assembly, 2nd Session
Day
166
Speaker
Frederick Blake Jr.
Word PDF
Members Present
Hon. Diane Archie, Hon. Frederick Blake Jr., Mr. Bonnetrouge, Hon. Paulie Chinna, Ms. Cleveland, Hon. Caroline Cochrane, Mr. Edjericon, Hon. Julie Green, Mr. Jacobson, Mr. Johnson, Ms. Martselos, Ms. Nokleby, Mr. O’Reilly, Ms. Semmler, Hon. R.J. Simpson, Mr. Rocky Simpson, Hon. Shane Thompson, Hon. Caroline Wawzonek, Ms. Weyallon Armstrong
Assembly Members
Topics
Bill 74: Forest Act, Carried
Bill 78: Waste Reduction and Resource Recovery Act, Carried
Bill 83: Liquor Act, Carried
Bill 92: An Act to Amend the Petroleum Products and Carbon Tax, No. 3, Carried
Committee Motion 493-19(2): Committee Report 55-19(2) Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of Bill 85: United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Implementation Act – Indigenous Government and Organiz
Committee Motion 494-19(2): Committee Report 55-19(2) Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of Bill 85: United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Implementation Act – Action Plan, Carried
Committee Motion 495-19(2): Committee Report 55-19(2) Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of Bill 85: United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Implementation Act – Funding Framework, Carried
Committee Motion 496-19(2): Committee Report 55-19(2) Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of Bill 85: United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Implementation Act – Mechanism on Action Plan Committe
Committee Motion 497-19(2): Committee Report 55-19(2) Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of Bill 85: United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Implementation Act – Shared Decision-Making Agreement,
Committee Motion 498-19(2): Committee Report 55-19(2) Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of Bill 85: United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Implementation Act – Provide Notice to Standing Commit
Committee Motion 499-19(2): Committee Report 55-19(2) Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of Bill 85: United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Implementation Act – Five Year Review, Carried
Committee Motion 500-19(2): Committee Report 55-19(2) Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of Bill 85: United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Implementation Act – Guidelines for Statements, Carrie
Committee Motion 501-19(2): Bill 85: United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Implementation Act – amend subclause 8(2), Defeated
Committee Motion 502-19(2): Bill 85: United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Implementation Act – amend subclause 12(2.1), Defeated
Committee Motion 503-19(2): Bill 65: Builders’ Lien Act – New Clause 3.1, Carried
Committee Motion 504-19(2): Bill 65: Builders’ Lien Act – Amend Clause 3.1, Defeated
Committee Motion 505-19(2): Bill 65: Builders’ Lien Act – Amend Subclause 20(1), Carried
Committee Motion 506-19(2): Bill 65: Builders’ Lien Act – Amend Subclause 44(2), Carried
Committee Motion 507-19(2): Bill 65: Builders’ Lien Act – Amend Subclause 46(6), Carried
Committee Motion 508-19(2): Bill 65: Builders’ Lien Act – New Clause 90.1, Defeated
Committee Motion 509-19(2): Bill 65: Builders’ Lien Act – Amend Paragraph 91(k), Carried
Committee Motion 510-19(2): Bill 65: Builders’ Lien Act – New Clause 93.1, Carried
Committee Motion 511-19(2): Bill 84: An Act to Amend the Northwest Territories Business Development and Investment Corporation Act – Amend Clause 7, Carried
Committee Report 76-19(2): Special Committee on Transition Matters Moving Forward: Report of the Special Committee on Transition Matters
Member’s Statement 1630-19(2): Business Support for 2023 Wildfire Evacuations
Member’s Statement 1631-19(2): Medical Travel
Member’s Statement 1632-19(2): Northwest Territories Power Corporation
Member’s Statement 1633-19(2): Environmental Guideline for Contaminated Sites
Member’s Statement 1634-19(2): National Day of Action for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women
Member’s Statement 1635-19(2): Inadequate Housing in Nunakput
Member’s Statement 1636-19(2): Imperial Oil Tailings Pond Seepage
Member’s Statement 1637-19(2): Appointment of Administrator for Hamlet of Fort Resolution
Member’s Statement 1638-19(2): Violence against Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQIA+ people
Member’s Statement 1639-19(2): Settling Land Claims
Member’s Statement 1640-19(2): Safe and Affordable Housing for Women
Member’s Statement 1641-19(2): 2021 and 2022 Band Manager Mentor Award Winner
Minister’s Statement 388-19(2): Residential and Recreational Public Land Leasing Pricing Revisions
Minister’s Statement 389-19(2): Early Learning and Child Care
Minister’s Statement 390-19(2): Improvements in Mental Health Supports
Minister’s Statement 391-19(2): Reclaiming the Capable Person – A Strategic Framework for Addressing Family Violence in the Northwest Territories
Motion 87–19(2): Dissolution of the 19th Assembly
Question 1611-19(2): Availability of Housing in Nunakput
Question 1612-19(2): Taltson Hydroelectric Expansion Project
Question 1613-19(2): Imperial Oil Tailing Ponds Seepage
Question 1614-19(2): Reimbursement of Costs for Medical Travel
Question 1615-19(2): Hamlet of Fort Resolution
Question 1616-19(2): Business Support for 2023 Wildfire Evacuations
Question 1617-19(2): Environmental Guidelines for Contaminated Sites
Question 1618-19(2): Settling Land Claims
Question 1619-19(2): Homelessness
Recorded Vote
Tabled Document 1024-19(2): Reclaiming the Capable Person: We Are All Capable Persons When We Have Community – A Strategic Framework for Addressing Family Violence in the Northwest Territories
Tabled Document 1027-19(2): Correspondence Dated March 29, 2023 from the Ontario Dental Hygienists Association
Statements

Member’s Statement 1636-19(2): Imperial Oil Tailings Pond Seepage

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I previously spoke on the subject of the Alberta oil sands tailings ponds spills, perhaps several times in the life of this 19th Assembly. This House has heard of a couple of incidents of tailings ponds breaches. One was 5.3 million litres of industrial wastewater in February 2023 and another one in May 2023. The tailings ponds contain hazardous chemicals used in separating the oil from the sand. Both incidences were not reported to our territorial government although there is a bilateral agreement with Alberta.

I would like to reiterate the current bilateral water management agreement with Alberta. It's not an effective mechanism to protect our waterways.

Now there is a news article claiming that Imperial Oil and the Alberta regulator knew for years about tailings seepage at the mine. It is reported the Alberta regulator had reports of seepage as early as 2019. Both Imperial Oil and the Alberta regulator knew the Kearl oil sands mine was seeping tailings into the groundwater for a number of years. They decided not to notify the public and tried to manage it internally. Substances found at the tailings ponds include naphthenic acids, dissolved solids, and sulfates. Oil sands tailings are considered toxic to fish and other wildlife.

A spokesperson for the Alberta regulator has stated that the agency is committed to strong oversight of the Kearl site. Yet, the tailings seepage continues. The Mikisew Cree First Nation chief has stated the regulator did not stop the seepage in 2022, and they didn't acknowledge it since 2019. The chief went on to state, They say they have contained the seepage. They have not. The fact that they did not tell us about the seepage for nine months is the tip of the iceberg.

Mr. Speaker, this issue and actions by regulators, oil companies, and the Alberta government are blasphemous, outlandish, and sickening in that they won't take simple regulatory measures in the face of known human and environmental health problems. Mahsi.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Member for Deh Cho. Members' statements. Member for Tu NedheWiilideh.