Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier I spoke to a suggestion by the Tlicho government that we engage in discussions on amendments to the water regulations. I'd just like to know from the Minister of ECC has the department initiated those discussions as suggested? Thank you.
Thank you, Member from Frame Lake. Minister of Environment and Climate Change.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the GNWT is open to and has proposed amendments to the Waters Act for several years. The process the GNWT proposed included incorporating the interests and input of all parties into the Waters Act and then to have a focused review of the waters regulations. Other legislative priorities of the GNWT and Indigenous governments have advanced ahead of this work. The department is aware of the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board has initiated a review process to receive input regarding the interpretation of water use for ice bridge constructions under the waters regulation, and the department worked with the Department of Justice to provide its position on the interpretation of the water regulation in the October 2023 submission to the MacKenzie Valley Land and Water Board. At this time, it would be premature to bring amendments to the water regulations forward prior to the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board making a ruling on this issue. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister explain to us why the department making a ruling is precluding the department from initiating discussions and moving forward knowing that changes to the regulations could take some time. I don't personally see why the work can't occur alongside. Can the Minister provide some more clarity? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, submissions have been made to the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board by numerous parties, including the NWT Chamber of Mines, industry, the Tlicho government, and others. Nearly all submissions have been of the same opinion, that their interpretation of the water regulation should not consider water use for the ice bridges in the type of water license or that use is exempt from licensing. We look forward to the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board making a decision on this matter. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the Minister for the answer. Respectfully, Mr. Speaker, what I was asking is whether we can initiate discussions and initiate movement on amendments to the waters regulations while waiting for the board's decision. Is there any reason why waiting for the board's decision precludes the GNWT from moving on this issue? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the department is committed to continuing discussions with the land and water board and the Tlicho government and the other interested parties on this type of water use and its interpretation. Making the changes at this time sorry. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Minister of Environment and Climate Change. Final supplementary. Member from Frame Lake.
Okay, thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the Minister. Mr. Speaker, I just want to get clear is the Minister open to initiating changes to the regs. I know that there's talk about changing the Waters Act, but I would suggest that's going to be a process that will take some time. Is the Minister open to initiating changes to the regs ahead of or alongside development of a new Waters Act? Thank you.
The department believes that the issue could be resolved by interpretation of the regulations rather than an amendment to the regulations. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Minister of Environment and Climate Change. Oral questions. Member from Range Lake.
