Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Environment regarding my Member’s statement on the protection of the Peel River watershed and the Peel River land use planning commission’s report, which has now gone to public review. They have had formal meetings in Fort McPherson and at that point there were some 60 people who turned out. The majority of the people there asked for 100 percent protection. Right now the commission is recommending 80 percent. I’d like to ask the Minister of Environment what is the position of the Northwest Territories government regarding the Peel River planning commission’s report.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Minister responsible for Environment and Natural Resources, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Keeping in mind that the vast majority

of the Peel River watershed is in the Yukon and it is subject to, in addition to this process, a transboundary agreement with the Yukon, weak though it may be, the Government of the Northwest Territories is supportive of the aspirations of the people on the Peel to protect as much of the watershed as possible for traditional lifestyles.

Also in my Member’s statement I made reference to the implications and major effects of resource development on the headwaters, which will have a direct affect on the communities in the Northwest Territories, particularly Fort McPherson and Aklavik all the way to the Arctic Ocean. I’d like to ask the Minister with regard to our Water Strategy and looking at the implications we’re seeing at Fort McMurray and the downstream affect that is having, does the government have a position regarding the Water Strategy and the implication of these developments downstream on the waterways?

I’ve had a relatively recent communication with the Minister from the Yukon and I’ve indicated to him in that conversation that we have, and have had, concerns about the Peel River watershed. There’s lots of activity there. We also have concerns about the efficacy and efficiency of our transboundary agreement that was one of the only ones that has been signed under the existing Mackenzie River Basin Transboundary Agreement and that we are drafting a communication to open discussions on that whole issue.

I’d like to ask the Minister if there has been any formal written correspondence from the Government of the Northwest Territories regarding its support of the Peel River planning commission report regarding the protection of the watershed for the people in the Northwest Territories.

We are engaged in water issues across the Northwest Territories. As it pertains to the Peel, we are paying very close attention and we are involved. If my memory serves me correctly, it is the one region that is yet to have their water conference. We’ve opened up our discussions with the Yukon and we’re trying to be as supportive as possible of the work that’s being done in the Peel River watershed land use plan.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Final supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to ask the Minister responsible for the environment if he could formally write a letter to the planning commission regarding the Government of the Northwest Territories’ position on where we stand with regard to the planning commission report so that the people of the Northwest Territories from Fort McPherson and Aklavik, the people that I

represent, will get an understanding where this government stands on this important issue.

I will talk with the officials in the department, starting with the deputy minister, to see if we can follow up on that request.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The honourable Minister responsible for Justice, Mr. Lafferty.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I think we need to gather more information on this particular case. Who are we referring to? The condition of the case if it’s going to be transferred to Edmonton, there are always certain cases why they’re transferred to Edmonton. I need to gather more information on this subject.

I guess just in general, is there a change in our policy or directive at the jail that we have to send inmates out to a halfway house in Edmonton or outside our jurisdiction?

There have been, within the policy, changes to certain programs. I need to dig further into this particular area. The Member is referring to individuals who are being sent to a halfway house. I need to work with my colleague, as well, at the Health and Social Services department and find out what the status is, which file he is referring to.

Like I said, with certain inmates, they are transferred to certain areas, depending on their circumstances and their positions. I need to gather more information on this particular file.

I’d be pleased to share the details with the Minister and follow up on this issue. I’m not sure, but I think the Minister took the question as notice as well.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. I didn’t hear a question there. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I recently asked some questions regarding the WSCC and my concerns regarding the occupational health and safety regs that are being reviewed and certainly ensuring that they will be fairly reviewed by the public, such as businesses. The Minister did respond in a good way and certainly said that he would make sure that did happen. After that, I did approach the Minister with some concerns regarding this situation with the Safety Advisory Committee. Specifically, where do they get their mandate to do this review that’s approximately 400 pages of regulations? In discussing this matter with a number of people in the community, be it with the Governance Council and in some light with the Minister, it sounded like no one knew who gave them that mandate. Can the Minister comment specific to that issue in the House today, which is: Who gave the Safety Advisory Committee the mandate to go out and review those 400 pages of regulations? Furthermore, who are they reporting their findings to?

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Minister responsible for the Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission, Mr. Robert McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Section 26 of the NWT Safety Act gives the Minister the mandate and authority to establish the Safety Advisory Committee. The committee is established and they do report to the Minister. Thank you.

I thank the Minister for that clarification of who they actually report to, but, Mr. Speaker, part of my question was overlooked, which is who gave them the mandate to go review the almost 400 pages of regulations under the occupational health and safety regs? Who gave them the marching orders? Was it the Governance Council or was it the Minister’s office? Thank you.

The mandate was given from the Minister’s office. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, would the Minister responsible for the WSCC let me know when that mandate was given and specifically what that mandate was to do? If he could clarify the instructions given specifically to the Safety Advisory Committee. Thank you.