Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Meetings with industry helped the committee establish confidence that proponents will apply their best expertise to development in the central Mackenzie Valley throughout the drilling process. However, the committee insists that environmental and technical challenges require made-in-the-north solutions, as presenters in Calgary also emphasized.
The central Mackenzie Valley is home to many species of wildlife. Land consumption and disturbance, habitat fragmentation, and noise pollution are areas of serious concern for Members as well as for the people of the Northwest Territories. Strategies to monitor the impacts of industry on wildlife and habitat should include the development of independent and project-specific environmental monitoring. The committee highlights the need for comprehensive land-use planning in any area where oil and gas development is contemplated. In the absence of finalized land use plans, area management plans may facilitate both the protection of the natural environment and efficiency in the development of key infrastructure.
Recommendation 4
The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories include in its policy on hydraulic fracturing the implementation of environmental monitoring and area management plans.
Absent from presentations during the Calgary study tour was discussion of a comprehensive approach to greenhouse gas emissions related to oil and gas production. These emissions are significant and need to be managed. Best practices are available to limit air pollutants. The Government of the Northwest Territories has the authority to uphold provisions in its Greenhouse Gas Strategy, and
should take into account greenhouse gas emissions related to oil and gas development in its emissions targets and management objectives. Both Alberta and British Columbia report and publish volumes of flared and vented gases, and the Northwest Territories could adopt a similar requirement and require mitigation.
Recommendation 5
The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories include greenhouse gas monitoring and mitigation measures in its policy on hydraulic fracturing.
Mr. Speaker, I will now turn the floor over to my colleague, with your permission, Mr. Nadli.