Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Return to oral question asked by Mr. Picco on October 21, 1997, regarding Environmental Liability Site Inventory.
The report provided to the Standing Committee on Government Operations listed sites on the Commissioner's land that might have a potential environmental liability to the Government of the Northwest Territories associated with the use of the land. The report also indicated that there might be a federal and/or joint responsibility for a portion of the potential environmental liabilities. The reason for this is that some of the sites were transferred to the territorial government by the federal government over the years, as program responsibility was transferred.
We are not in a position to pursue this matter with the federal government at this time. We must first identify those sites that were transferred from the federal government by checking historical records and verifying title documents. Site audits would then be required in order to evaluate the potential liabilities. As you are aware, these types of audits are very costly, and we do not have the resources available to conduct them at this time. Without taking these steps there would be no basis for negotiation with the federal government. As resources permit, our government will be pursuing the issue of environmental liabilities and will be approaching the federal government as appropriate. Thank you.