Question has been called. Motion is carried.

---Carried

Committee Report 19-17(5) is received and moved into Committee of the Whole. Mr. Dolynny.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to waive Rule 100(4) and have Committee Report 19-17(5), Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2015 Report of the Auditor General of Canada on Corrections in the Northwest Territories, moved into Committee of the Whole for consideration later today. Thank you.

---Unanimous consent granted

Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just before I begin, our report is much more succinct with only one page. Your Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure is pleased to provide its report on the review of draft hydraulic fracturing regulations and commends it to the House.

The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure recognizes that the issue of hydraulic fracturing is one of great public importance and interest across the Northwest Territories. Throughout the 17th Assembly, members of the standing committee have invested a great deal of time and research into furthering their understanding of hydraulic fracturing, in keeping with their role within the Government of the Northwest Territories.

The proposed hydraulic fracturing filing regulations were released for 90 days of public review on March 31, 2015. Recently, that engagement period has been extended to at least the end of August 2015. Members of the committee commend the government for recognizing the people of the Northwest Territories call for additional time and consultation. While the committee does not typically review regulations, legislation inherited at devolution has afforded it the opportunity. Members accept this great responsibility, both to our fellow Members and to the people of the Northwest Territories.

At this time the committee has not adopted a position respecting the proposed regulations. Members continue to recognize the vital need for a diversified economy that provides all communities and regions with opportunities and an environment that will sustain present and future generations as set out in the goals of this 17^th Legislative Assembly. Further, Members recognize the significance of the Government of the Northwest Territories asserting itself as a northern regulator following devolution and the importance of incorporating northern realities into any regulatory framework.

The committee's research compares the proposed regulations and the federal requirements, which were in place prior to devolution. Many sections of the proposed regulations mirror the federal requirements, though there are also variations, including new provisions as well as items that were not mirrored.

The committee's research also provides background information, considering past activity within the Northwest Territories and recognizing keen public interest in items respecting water security, environmental assessment, northern operating conditions, ongoing research and waste management.

Members are eager to continue their participation throughout the remainder of the engagement period. In contribution to that discussion, the committee will table its research today at the appropriate time.

That concludes the presentation of our report. Therefore, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Nahendeh, that Committee Report 20-17(5), Report on the Review of Hydraulic Fracturing Filing Regulations, be received and adopted by this Assembly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Motion is in order. To the motion.

Question has been called. Motion is carried.

---Carried

Committee Report 20-17(5) is received by the Assembly. Thank you, Mr. Hawkins.

Item 5, returns to oral questions. Item 6, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Dolynny.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Through you, I'd like to introduce a number of the students we had here earlier when we were reading our committee report. We may have scared them away. A fine group of Grade 6 students from Range Lake North School, and I think it's important that I recognize their names so they're in our Hansard: Alvin Kotchilea, Bhaven Chotalia, Caitlyn Beck, Caleb Francis, Carson Formaniuk, Ethan Hunter, Hannah Cote, Isabelle Corothers, Jacob Hildebrandt, Jordan Schmidt, Karolann Duhamel, Mason Pond, Nathan Cluff, Oliver Lovely, Sara Stride, Tyson Black, William Cote, Yash Shrestha Their teacher was Mr. Jeff McConomy. Again, it's a great pleasure to have another Grade 6 class come and join us here during the session.

I also want to recognize two residents who were with us here. We had Mr. Dave Wasylciw here. He just left us recently. I have in the gallery - I'm going to play a little bit of my dad card here and I know he's going to be pretty humble up there, but I have my oldest son here today who has joined us - he has just returned from university - Mr. Tanner Dolynny. Again, as I said, as his dad I'm going to boast a bit. One of the good products of our swim program here in the Northwest Territories, ranked the best in Canada. He's going to Olympic trials one day, one day.

Last, but not least, I'd like to thank Mr. Jeff Corradetti for joining us here today and my constituency assistant, Mr. Grant Pryznyk. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, colleagues.

Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. Ms. Bisaro.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It's my pleasure to welcome a constituent from Frame Lake, Mr. Jeff Corradetti, president of the YK Motocross Association, listening intently today. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Mr. Moses.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I'd like to recognize two of our hardworking Pages who are from the Inuvik Boot Lake riding: Mr. Tanner Gillis and Ms. Kristen Harder. They're not in the House at the moment, but I know they've been doing a lot of great work over the week, and I hope they really enjoyed their experience here at the Legislative Assembly. To all other Pages, as Members, we really appreciate the work that you did for us over the last couple of weeks.

I'd also like to recognize Ms. Lillian Elias, who has been interpreting this past week. Good job. I know she's getting out the message to our residents who speak Inuvialuit in the Northwest Territories. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Moses. I'd like to welcome everybody here in the public gallery. Thank you for taking an interest in our proceedings here today.

Item 7, acknowledgements. Mr. Yakeleya.

Mr. Speaker, it is my great pleasure to honour Mr. Danny Leonard Gaudet. Today I want to state a fact. Today the University of Alberta will be honouring Mr. Danny Gaudet with an honourary Doctoral Law Degree.

The honourary degree demonstrates that hard work, a sense of purpose, doing more than you're paid for and helping others is the first lesson taught to him by his elders. He says he owes so much to these highly prized teachers in life.

Mr. Speaker, let us today in this Assembly congratulate Mr. Danny Gaudet on his Doctoral Degree in Law. On behalf of the Sahtu and those who know Dr. Gaudet now, please join me in congratulating him. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Bromley.

Mr. Speaker, today I want to acknowledge the profound service to the people of the Northwest Territories and Canada by Weledeh constituent Marie Wilson, through her hard work on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Her effort towards healing for people affected by residential school experience is one of the most important and challenging tasks anyone could take on. Considerable healing was achieved through simply hearing people's stories, a deceptively simple act that alone required extraordinary dedication and personal cost to her and her colleagues. The efforts by Ms. Wilson included contributions to a landmark report on this dark time in our country's history.

I would like to offer my deepest appreciation to Ms. Wilson, and also recognize her family for their support, tolerance and sacrifices to enable her critical work on the commission. I invite all Members to join me in acknowledging her for this outstanding service.

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Item 8, oral questions. Ms. Bisaro.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are addressed to the Minister of Lands. As I indicated in my statement, I'd like to follow up on a number of things. But firstly, as I mentioned in my statement, the first question I have for the Minister is, and just a reminder, the YK Motocross Association has had a lease application denied.

I would like to the ask the Minister, why won't he allow the YK Motocross Association their lease application? Thank you.

Minister of Lands, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That area is within the withdrawal area that we're doing all the work on; therefore, I think we've made it quite clear that we're not taking any applications for any areas within the interim withdrawal. Thank you.

I'm not sure I want to thank the Minister because that was an answer that I didn't want to hear. However, the moratorium was established for a reason. My understanding is the rationale for the moratorium was it was spurred by many new leases in the areas in the lakes around Yellowknife which have been issued by the federal government and there was an increase in squatters on the lakes. There was a large concern of the people who already had leases on these lakes that the lakes were going to be subject to overuse, and that was what prompted the current moratorium.

My question to the Minister is: What was the rationale for the moratorium that is currently in effect? Thank you.

The rationale for the moratorium was to allow us time to do a proper density study and environmental studies of all the areas within the focus area. We had done some work previous to devolution, but with devolution we had a larger area that came over to the territorial government, so we expanded our time and we expanded the work that we had to do. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.