Could the Minister make available a copy of the contractual arrangement, even if he has to do it in confidence. I would be really curious to see it. Thanks.

Thank you, Mr. O’Reilly. Would the Minister be willing to make that available to the member? Minister McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

We will have to confirm and see if we're legally allowed to do that. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Mr. O'Reilly.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I want to move on. It's my understanding the GNWT may still hold the surface lease for the Cantung Mine. Can the Minister confirm that?

Minister McLeod.

Yes, that is correct. We have surface leases for the Cantung Mine.

Thank you. Mr. O'Reilly.

How much financial security is held under the surface lease, and what form is it held in? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair,

there was no financial security associated with the lease, which was issued by Canada before devolution. Even though the GNWT still holds the surface lease, Canada has accepted the responsibility to remediate.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mr. O'Reilly.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. The reason why I raise this is we had a similar situation for another mine further down the road from Yellowknife called Giant Mine, where the GNWT had a surface lease, for that property and we incurred some liability as a result of that, because there was no financial security required under that surface lease. I’m just wondering, can the Minister then tell me what the outstanding reclamation liabilities are for Cantung, and whether we actually still have any exposure as a result of a surface lease? Thanks.

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair,

much like Giant Mine, Canada has accepted the responsibility to remediate this site as far as the liabilities go. I will work with my Department of Lands, and confirm and have them identify some of the liabilities, and I will share that information with committee. Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. O'Reilly.

Thanks very much, Mr. Chair. I am just wondering, when the GNWT took over the jurisdiction post-devolution, did we make any efforts to get the water licence security for Cantung increased? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister McLeod.

The Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board set the security amounts, and the GNWT can provide information to the board on the recommended amounts. The GNWT, I can assure you, was very active in the most recent water licensing process that took place since devolution, and made recommendations to the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board that security amounts should be increased.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Mr. O'Reilly.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I guess that's my point here, that we don't actually have to wait for the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board to make a determination. We can actually make a submission directly to the board at any time, it doesn't have to be a water license renewal, and try to get the security increased at any point to make sure that we're not exposed in any way. That’s my concern, here, that I think some of this happened under our watch, and I want to try to prevent this from happening again. I’m just curious. What kind of involvement did the financial assurances and liabilities division have in the management of financial securities for the Cantung mine?

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair,

the financial assurances and liabilities division was established to help manage and coordinate the GNWT's current responsibilities in the modern integrated resource management regime that we have in the NWT. The financial assurances and liabilities division played an advisory role in the water licensing process that happened with North American Tungsten Company Ltd. was going into insolvency.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Mr. O'Reilly.