All those abstaining, please stand. The results of the recorded vote are ten in favour, seven opposed, zero abstentions. The motion is carried.

---

Carried

We will continue our discussion of the section, “Economy, Environment, and Climate Change.” Mr. O'Reilly.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have a further motion I would like to bring forward to change the mandate. I move that that Tabled Document 1-18(2), Proposed Mandate of Government of Northwest Territories 2016-2019, be amended on page 13 by deleting the words “develop an integrated comprehensive approach to the management of contaminated sites include prioritizing, sharing of responsibility with other governments, collaboration with other governments, and monitoring,” and inserting the words “develop an integrated comprehensive approach to the management of contaminated sites including prioritizing, sharing of responsibility in collaboration with other governments, monitoring, and a sound financial security system to prevent public liabilities.” Thank you, Mr. Chair.

A motion is on the floor. The motion is in order. To the motion. Mr. O'Reilly.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The important addition here is the words at the end to focus some attention on not just managing contaminated sites, but actually preventing them from happening in the first place. That’s really the purpose of financial security system. Earlier today in my Member’s statement and through questions, I raised a number of issues around the importance of this, and what happens if we don't manage our land and water carefully: We can incur huge liabilities that can cripple us financially. We don't have nearly the room of the federal government to absorb those sorts of costs, so fine for us to manage sites, but let's make sure they don't happen in the first place.

Thank you, Mr. O’Reilly. To the motion. Mr. Nakimayak.

Thank you, Mr. Nakimayak. To the motion. Mr. O'Reilly.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am aware that the Member who spoke previously may have some concerns around this, but I think the idea here is that we would, of course, as a government actually work collaboratively with Aboriginal governments and co-management bodies to ensure that we do have a sound financial security system. I hope that provides some assurances. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. O’Reilly. Mr. Nakimayak.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. In a sense, I agree with the Member for Frame Lake, but then again we spoke earlier on this as well too and I had mentioned that the Member may be carrying baggage from five or 10 years down the road. We need to look forward, making sure that we're okay and not making decisions from the past today. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

To the motion, Ms. Green.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I take the point of the Member for Nunakput, that some of our most contaminated sites were established at a time when environmental regulation was not as rigorous as it is today. Having said that, however, there are still a number of sites that are being established now that are not fully secured financially against future liability, and given the cost of operating in the North and the cost of remediating contaminated sites often in remote places, it's essential that we have the means to provide clean up in the event of the company leaving or going bankrupt. I do not believe that this will be a disincentive to invest in the Northwest Territories, because I think that sound financial security is required everywhere that mining takes place. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Ms. Green. To the motion. Mr. Nakimayak.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thanks to both Members from Yellowknife for their comments. In my region there are mineral claim stakes that are outstanding and so we negotiate fair agreements with exploration companies. I believe that what we have in place is sound, and I also believe that moving ahead with negotiations for other sites, I think we have a good system in place that will still be effective in negotiating impact and benefit agreements and other agreements with exploration companies.

Thank you, Mr. Nakimayak. I'm going to call on the mover of the motion to conclude debate. I will allow another comment from Ms. Green.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just to make one more reply to Mr. Nakimayak. The mineral staking and the negotiation of impact and benefit agreements is at the other end of the spectrum in mining development: It's the front end. What we're talking about here is the back end. When the ore is done and the mine is closed, we're talking about what happens next, so there's no reason that this policy would stand in the way of anyone staking a claim, or in fact developing a mine if the claim was proven to be beneficial. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I call on the mover to close debate.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I don't think I have anything further to add at this point. Thank you.

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

We will continue our discussion on the “Economy, Environment, and Climate Change” section. Are there any comments? Mr. O'Reilly.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have a further motion to amend this section of the mandate, if I may. I move that Tabled Document 1-18(2), Proposed Mandate of Government of Northwest Territories 2016-2019, be amended on page 13 by deleting the words “We will develop options for the implementation of the next five-year action plan for the Cumulative Impact Monitoring Program.” and inserting the words, “We will support the Cumulative Impact Monitoring Program, CIMP, and respond to recommendations in the Northwest Territories environmental audit for improved environmental management.”