Mr. Speaker, this is in response to an oral question asked by Mr. Gargan on November 26, 1993 on the quality of water on the Mackenzie River system. There appears to be several options for protecting specific water bodies. Under the federal Northwest Territories Waters Act, there is a section which allows for the protection of land around a lake and protects a water body from the deposit of any type of waste. The Governor in Council can direct the NWT Water
Board not to issue a license to a specified water body. Under the Territorial Parks Act, administered by the Department of Economic Development and Tourism, a natural environment recreation park could be established around the watershed of a water body requiring protecting. The Commissioner could then make regulations controlling the use and development of resources in that park. Establishment of a federal park would also offer similar protection for a water body.
Under the Territorial Area Development Act, administered by the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, the Commissioner may designate an area in the territories as a development area. This would allow the orderly development of an area which could offer protection of a water supply. However, the maximum area of a designation must not exceed 150 square kilometres.
The designation of a heritage river does not give any legal protection to the river. If development occurs on a heritage river, it must do so in a manner which maintains the heritage value of the river. The designation of a heritage river is established by the Department of Economic Development and Tourism and Environment Canada. Thank you.