Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure held public hearings on Bill 7, Community Planning and Development Act, during the months of April and May of 2011 in Yellowknife, Fort Smith, Ulukhaktok, Inuvik, and Aklavik. The clause-by-clause review with the Minister began on May 10, 2011, and concluded on August 15, 2011.
During the May 10, 2011, review of the bill with the Minister, the committee passed a motion to amend the bill by adding a provision stating that nothing in the act shall be construed as to abrogate or derogate from Aboriginal or treaty rights, that anything authorized by the act must be carried out in accordance with land claim agreements where they apply, and that land claim agreements and legislation are paramount in case of a conflict with this act.
Similar provisions are found in other Northwest Territories legislation such as the Species at Risk Act. The Minister did not concur with this amendment and so the bill was not amended. The Minister requested time to seek legal advice on the implications of the amendment.
During the August 15
conclusion of the clause-by-
clause review, the Minister advised that direction has been given for the development of amendments to include similar provisions in the Interpretation Act, which applies to all NWT legislation. This legislation would come forward during the life of the 17
Assembly. The committee
and the Minister did agree to one minor, non-substantive amendment during the clause-by-clause review of the bill.
Following the clause-by-clause review, a motion was carried to report Bill 7, Community Planning and Development Act, to the Legislative Assembly as ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole as amended and reprinted.
Mr. Chairman, this concludes the committee’s opening comments on Bill 7. Individual Members
may have additional questions or comments as we proceed. Thank you.