Thank you for the opportunity to speak to Bill 14, Waters Act. The passage of this legislation is an important step towards implementing the Northwest Territories Lands and Resources Devolution Agreement.

The Waters Act substantially mirrors the federal Northwest Territories Waters Act, which Canada will make inapplicable on lands and waters not retained by the federal government on April 1, 2014.

Under the Devolution Agreement, the GNWT is committed to “substantially mirror” Canada’s statutes and regulations that are being repealed or made inapplicable to public lands and waters transferring to the GNWT through devolution. The mirroring exercise means that the new GNWT laws will address the same matters, in substantially the same way, as federal laws do now. Mirroring principles limited changes to addressing issues such as correcting outdated language and applying GNWT drafting standards.

Mirrored legislation is a practical first step to ensure a continued delivery of services on April 1, 2014. Mirrored legislation also ensures that there are no legislative gaps or overlaps between the GNWT and Canada.

The parties to the Devolution Agreement entered into a Protocol for Review of Devolution Legislation. Under this protocol, all parties have had the opportunity to review and comment on this legislation before it was introduced in the Legislative Assembly. We have considered these comments carefully in the preparation of the bill before you.

The Waters Act will provide the Government of the Northwest Territories with authority related to waters in the Northwest Territories.

This legislation will form part of an integrated regulatory system of land and water management in the Northwest Territories with Bill 10, the proposed Northwest Territories Lands Act, and the federal Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act.

The authorities set out in the Waters Act will be the responsibility of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

The bill provides the GNWT with authorities relating to the licensing and use of water and the disposal of waste into water. The bill also provides for the continuance of the Inuvialuit Water Board, formerly known as the Northwest Territories Water Board, which is responsible for the conservation, development and use of water in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region.

Regulations made under the Waters Act will also govern the issuance of Type A and B water licences for water under the administration and control of the GNWT in all of the Northwest Territories, including the Mackenzie Valley.

The bill sets out rights and duties of licence holders and others, including a compensation scheme for rights holders, the duties and powers of analysts and inspectors as well as the enforcement scheme for contraventions under the act.

I would be pleased to answer any questions Members may have.