WHEREAS the Elections and Plebiscites Act provides that the Commissioner may, on the recommendation of the Legislative Assembly, direct that a plebiscite be held on any question that is of importance to the people of the Northwest Territories;
AND WHEREAS discussion and debate of hydraulic fracturing in the Northwest Territories has entered public discourse;
AND WHEREAS the government has recognized the significance of public engagement in this area and announced that engagement on proposed hydraulic fracturing regulations will continue until at least August 2015;
AND WHEREAS, to date, this engagement has shown hydraulic fracturing to be an issue of great importance to the people of the Northwest Territories;
AND WHEREAS the people of the Northwest Territories should take part in any decision on whether to undertake hydraulic fracturing in the Northwest Territories as well as how to regulate any such activity;
AND WHEREAS the Polling Day of the Northwest Territories General Election will be held on Monday, November 23, 2015;
NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Weledeh, that this Legislative Assembly recommends to the Commissioner that a plebiscite be held in the Northwest Territories on Monday, November 23, 2015, with the following question: “Should hydraulic fracturing be permitted in the Northwest Territories?” Thank you, Mr. Speaker.