Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to make some comments on the matter of impact benefit agreements and what they mean to the people who rely on them as the basis for opportunities. Mr. Speaker, a question frequently asked of me by my constituents is, what are impact benefit agreements and what good are impact benefit agreements if jobs, business opportunities and resources are still going south and not to the communities impacted by development?
What recourse if any does a community or region have if it only receives the benefit of opportunities by the good graces of the company undertaking the development? The legal implications of impact benefit agreements appears to be set in a void of uncertainty. It is a gray area that wets the appetite of a community but may not allow them to eat, thereby leaving a sour taste in their mouth.
Legislation such as the Canadian Petroleum Resources Act and the Canadian Oil and Gas Operations Act specifies a requirement for companies to consider providing communities with employment and business opportunities. This requirement has no teeth. It appears to be a mere formality and means with which to eliminate any meaningful participation by northern people and businesses in resource development.
The whole issue of impact benefit agreements between aboriginal peoples and resource developers is shrouded in secrecy and mystery. To what extent are these resource companies providing opportunities to people of the North? Who is monitoring the promises made in these agreements? What recourse, if any, does a party to an agreement possess if the company fails to deliver such promises?
Mr. Speaker, the validity of these agreements is questionable as the requirement to deliver opportunities is based only on the best efforts which really means we tried and could not deliver therefore we go south for services. The federal government under the Canadian Oil and Gas Operations Act has the authority to require compliance with any requirement of the act. Failing such compliance, could in essence cancel the interest.
Mr. Speaker, history has demonstrated that the government will always place the company ahead of the community. So where does this leave the community when the federal government is not willing to enforce its own legislation?
Mr. Speaker, it is evident that the legal nature of impact benefit agreements is confusing and uncertain. As a northern territory made up of land owners who have an inherent right, it is imperative that...