Thank you, Mr. Hagen. I will also remind all the witnesses and all the Members to just finish off a statement with "thank you" or something to let the tech team know to change the microphones. Mr. Vanthuyne.
Debates of Feb. 23rd, 2017
This is page numbers 1951 – 2010 of the Hansard for the 18th Assembly, 2nd Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was going.
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February 22nd, 2017
Cory Vanthuyne Yellowknife North
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Well, this is good to hear, that there is maybe some possible future consideration to bringing those two in line. I wonder: are there any challenges right now with the Department of Lands trying to achieve some of its work, especially as it relates to inspections, with water and Lands being separate? Are there any current challenges that the department is hindered by in that regard? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
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Louis Sebert Thebacha
Yes, Mr. Chair. Perhaps I could have Mr. Hagen answer that operational question. Thank you.
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Hagen
Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. Lands and ENR work very well together, so, as a result of that, we really don't come across any problems with how we do inspections. If you are looking at being cost-effective, there is probably a better way of doing it for budgeting purposes, but we do not encounter any problems working with ENR in Lands. We collaborate well. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
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Cory Vanthuyne Yellowknife North
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Can the department describe, then, some of the challenges that those outside government might be having with regard to those two being separated?
When it comes to permitting or, again, inspections, is this creating some degree of redundancy and double effort and potentially even double expense for those who are applying for land use permits and those who are applying for access to water? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
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Louis Sebert Thebacha
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I can't really speak to that, because I haven't heard that concern from private industry to this point. Perhaps Mr. Hagen might have something to add to that, but I've not heard any submissions on that specific item. I mean, there are always concerns by those in the corporate or industrial world about the complexity of oversight and the regulatory system in the Northwest Territories, but I haven't heard that specific concern. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
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Hagen
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Like I stated before, operationally the two departments work well together. It doesn't create a conflict or an overkill on inspections. You referred to land use permits or water licence. Of course, we don't issue those; those are issued, I'm sure you know, through the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board or the Tlicho Land and Water Board or the Wek'eezhii Land and Water Board. Sorry, the Sahtu and the Gwich'in. So we don't handle the ISR in the regulatory boards, but our inspectors do not complicate them applying for a permit or a water licence. When they get one, they have terms and conditions that are put into the land use permit, for example, and our inspectors then go out and inspect the terms and conditions laid out by the land and water boards. We do the lands part. The ENR water inspectors do the water part of that permit.
I mean, perhaps it could cause confusion by a proponent thinking why it's Lands and Department of ENR, you know, both coming in on one permit; they may question that, but they don't lose anything by having two departments coming in. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
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Daniel McNeely Sahtu
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Like my colleague had mentioned on why there's not a proposition in place here to hold lands and waters underneath the same department here, as the Minister's statement mentioned earlier on cross-appointment of inspectors between Lands and ENR. So picking that up here, I'm just wondering about the word "efficiencies" and less confusion to developers: are there any intentions for this fiscal year to see a transfer of the water inspector to the Lands department? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
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Hagen
Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you, Mr. McNeely, for suggesting if it happens it comes to Lands; I appreciate that.
There is no confusion in the way it's structured today. Whether they should be transferred to Lands or to ENR, of course, it's the Cabinet's decision and not ours. I have views on it operationally, but it works the way it is so there's nothing to say that it can't go forward the same way it is. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
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Daniel McNeely Sahtu
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, the word I used in my previous comment as well is "efficiencies," and I guess this is what we're trying to do is utilize efficiencies and apply them where it's applicable for a more streamlined administration system.
So I look forward to any further discussions on our recommendations, if there is willingness. Sure it might be working but can it work better I guess is my personal statement, but if there is, with the powers that be, to entertain the idea of transferring the water inspectors to the Lands, okay, we'll leave it at that as a suggestion.
My next question on the Lands Act -- no, I'll leave that for later, Mr. Chair. I'll go to the operational budget as set out in 293. I noticed 2015-16 versus 2017-18; 2015-16 we see a transfer of devolution authorities and related transfer budget allowances there from the agreement that was negotiated, and it has dropped ever since. My understanding is that devolution has seen some transitional funding that was supposed to come within the next three years or the next five years of operations. Why has the head office administration funding budget been on a slide or decreasing since takeover of devolution? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
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