Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
What We Heard
This part of the report is organized around the key themes or subject areas raised during the committee's public hearings and in the written submissions received.
Confidentiality in Bill 36
Committee appreciates the steps taken by the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment to improve and modernize Bill 36 and Bill 37 by amending the confidentiality provisions in both bills. Improving accountability and transparency is a fundamental component of the Government of the Northwest Territories' Mandate. Ensuring in legislation that all information is made available while determining certain criteria for confidentiality is contributing to achieving a better balance between increasing transparency and the need to protect confidential information.
Stakeholders commented on the importance of transparency in all aspects of regulating oil and gas-related activities in the Northwest Territories. One stakeholder remained unconvinced that the bills strike the appropriate balance between confidentiality of proprietary information and public transparency. Currently, all information provided for the purposes of the Petroleum Resources Act and the Oil and Gas Operations Act, and the regulations under those acts, is deemed privileged and kept confidential, with few exceptions.
Bills 36 and Bill 37 change this and reverse the process in that all information required to be provided will be made available to the public unless the recipient of the information, which would be either the Minister or the Regulator, determines the information meets the test for confidentiality. Committee recognizes and supports this important step in the modernization of the legislation.
Role of Minister and Regulator
The Regulator is designated by the Commissioner in Executive Council under the Oil and Gas Operations Act (OGOA). The Minister has designated the regulator, however, delegated those powers to the Executive Director of the Office of the Regulator of Oil and Gas Operations (OROGO). Generally speaking, the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment has stronger responsibilities under the Petroleum Resources Act, and the regulator has a more robust role under the Oil and Gas Operations Act.
Committee received several comments on the importance that the roles of Minister and regulator do not overlap or interfere with either mandate. For example, where the Minister has the authority to classify information as confidential, this discretion must not overlap or infringe on the authority of the regulator. It was pointed out clearly that the regulator must be an independent decision-maker, if its rulings are to be viewed by the public as being free from political interference. However, there also was a clear desire expressed for more clarity around what information the Minister and the regulator should make publicly available. Committee considered carefully these concerns when discussing publication and annual report requirements.
Publication Requirement in Bill 36
Committee heard a number of comments on what is required to be published in the Petroleum Resources Act. Currently, the Minister is required to post notices in the Government of the Northwest Territories Gazette and "in any other publication the Minister deems appropriate"; this was seen as too vague. Stakeholders asked to improve the transparency of government decisions by setting out where the notices should be published.
Committee heard that the Gazette is an antiquated system of public notification and that it cannot be considered widely used. It was suggested that information be made available on websites or electronically to broaden the reach and accessibility of the information. Committee agreed that specifying where information needs to be made available is consistent with the Government of the Northwest Territories' Open Government Policy and the commitment to make information accessible in a way that is responsive to the needs and expectations of Northwest Territories residents.
Committee also wanted to ensure that information is being made accessible consistently and is user-friendly. Committee therefore moved Motion 1, which requires the administering department to publish information in the Gazette, make information public more widely, and publish it in a timely manner on a website.
Mr. Speaker, I now pass this on to the honourable Member for Hay River North. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.