Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are directed to the Minister of Environment with regard to the proposed amendments to the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act. I know the Minister mentioned that this government is requesting three additional changes to be considered in light of what’s being recommended by the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board and also the other boards and agencies. I think the big issue or challenge that we face is that as the Northwest Territories I don’t think it’s the fault of the board. If anything, the boards are doing what they’ve been told, but without having the adequate resources to do their jobs. Especially integrating land and water management systems and looking at the timelines for consultation of which we have 42 days to deal with a Class A and 15 days for Class B licences. Yet there are regions in the Northwest Territories that don’t have land claims, regarding the Tlicho and Dehcho and the South Slave. Without having the appropriate
structures in place it is a challenge on different regions.
I’d like to ask the Minister what we are doing with regard to the government’s suggested changes to find ways to integrate these different systems to streamline them so they’re more workable.