Thank you, Dr. McEachern. Mr. O'Reilly.
Debates of Aug. 14th, 2019
This is page numbers 5993 - 6030 of the Hansard for the 18th Assembly, 3rd 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 work.
Topics
Committee Motion 168-18(3): Bill 37: An Act to Amend the Oil and Gas Operations Act - Clause 6, Defeated
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 6023
Committee Motion 168-18(3): Bill 37: An Act to Amend the Oil and Gas Operations Act - Clause 6, Defeated
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 6023
Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake
Thanks, Mr. Chair. Okay. I don't agree with everything that has been said. I would like to know, after the one-year period, if something goes wrong, who is responsible and who pays? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Committee Motion 168-18(3): Bill 37: An Act to Amend the Oil and Gas Operations Act - Clause 6, Defeated
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 6023
Committee Motion 168-18(3): Bill 37: An Act to Amend the Oil and Gas Operations Act - Clause 6, Defeated
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 6023
Dr. Mceachern
Thank you, Mr. Chair. The well owner is responsible for anything that goes wrong with any sort of work on a well, well suspension, or well abandonment, and that continues beyond any period of time in which the proof of financial responsibility is held. If a well owner is proven at fault after the proof of financial responsibility is returned, if there is a problem with a well 10, 15, 20 years down the road, then that well owner is liable for cleaning up that well and for any damages associated with it, and there is no limit to that liability.
Committee Motion 168-18(3): Bill 37: An Act to Amend the Oil and Gas Operations Act - Clause 6, Defeated
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 6023
Committee Motion 168-18(3): Bill 37: An Act to Amend the Oil and Gas Operations Act - Clause 6, Defeated
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 6023
Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake
Thanks, Mr. Chair. Well, I am glad to hear that there is no limitation period on the liability that might be associated when something does go wrong. I would like to know how much financial responsibility is held right now and what form it generally takes. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Committee Motion 168-18(3): Bill 37: An Act to Amend the Oil and Gas Operations Act - Clause 6, Defeated
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 6023
Committee Motion 168-18(3): Bill 37: An Act to Amend the Oil and Gas Operations Act - Clause 6, Defeated
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 6023
Dr. Mceachern
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, the regulator would have that information and could provide it, although we do not have it in front of us at this moment. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Committee Motion 168-18(3): Bill 37: An Act to Amend the Oil and Gas Operations Act - Clause 6, Defeated
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 6023
Committee Motion 168-18(3): Bill 37: An Act to Amend the Oil and Gas Operations Act - Clause 6, Defeated
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 6023
Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake
Thanks, Mr. Chair. Can I get a commitment, then, out of the Minister to provide that information in the next few days, or maybe even tomorrow? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Committee Motion 168-18(3): Bill 37: An Act to Amend the Oil and Gas Operations Act - Clause 6, Defeated
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 6023
Committee Motion 168-18(3): Bill 37: An Act to Amend the Oil and Gas Operations Act - Clause 6, Defeated
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 6023
Marion
Thanks, Mr. Chair. Yes, we can commit to asking the regulator. There may be concerns about the existing confidentiality provisions, but we can commit to asking the regulator for that information.
Committee Motion 168-18(3): Bill 37: An Act to Amend the Oil and Gas Operations Act - Clause 6, Defeated
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 6023
The Chair R.J. Simpson
Thank you, and noting that that is the regulator's information. Mr. O'Reilly.
Committee Motion 168-18(3): Bill 37: An Act to Amend the Oil and Gas Operations Act - Clause 6, Defeated
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 6024
Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake
Thanks, Mr. Chair. Yes, I get all of that, too. As I understood, I think the regulator is actually going through a process now of developing a methodology for determining financial responsibility, so I think the answer may actually be zero, but I just would like to get that confirmed. I understand, the OROGO, you can ask, but they may not be able to deliver, but I assume that they will. I think that is all I have on this. I still remain a little bit concerned about the one-year period, but I will have to see how this plays out. Thanks, Mr. Chair.
Committee Motion 168-18(3): Bill 37: An Act to Amend the Oil and Gas Operations Act - Clause 6, Defeated
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 6024
Committee Motion 168-18(3): Bill 37: An Act to Amend the Oil and Gas Operations Act - Clause 6, Defeated
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 6024
Committee Motion 168-18(3): Bill 37: An Act to Amend the Oil and Gas Operations Act - Clause 6, Defeated
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 6024
Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake
Thanks, Mr. Chair. So, like I asked yesterday and I think I heard in the Minister's opening remarks, there do not seem to be any regulations that are required for this bill to be brought into force, but can I have some explanation of when that is going to happen and what the schedule might look like? Thanks, Mr. Chair.
Committee Motion 168-18(3): Bill 37: An Act to Amend the Oil and Gas Operations Act - Clause 6, Defeated
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 6024
Committee Motion 168-18(3): Bill 37: An Act to Amend the Oil and Gas Operations Act - Clause 6, Defeated
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 6024
Dr. Mceachern
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, yesterday we committed to basically work out a plan for the so-called coming into force of the two bills related to oil and gas, so we will do that. We will basically look through the bills clause by clause and identify which parts of the bill, which clauses, can come into force right away versus other ones that will need some additional guidance work to support them and estimated timelines by engaging with the regulators where their assistance or where their leadership in developing these guidance notes will be required. Clearly, when the regulators develop guidance notes, they have an engagement process therein, so there would be elements of these bills that will need to wait for that, but there will be much here that will be able to come into force very expeditiously. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Committee Motion 168-18(3): Bill 37: An Act to Amend the Oil and Gas Operations Act - Clause 6, Defeated
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 6024
Committee Motion 168-18(3): Bill 37: An Act to Amend the Oil and Gas Operations Act - Clause 6, Defeated
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 6024
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 168-18(3): Bill 37: An Act to Amend the Oil and Gas Operations Act - Clause 6, Defeated
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 6024
The Chair R.J. Simpson
Thank you, committee. Please return to the bill number and title. Bill 37, An Act to Amend the Oil and Gas Operations Act. Does committee agree?
Committee Motion 168-18(3): Bill 37: An Act to Amend the Oil and Gas Operations Act - Clause 6, Defeated
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 6024
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 168-18(3): Bill 37: An Act to Amend the Oil and Gas Operations Act - Clause 6, Defeated
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 6024
The Chair R.J. Simpson
Thank you, committee. To the bill as a whole, does committee agree that Bill 37, An Act to Amend the Oil and Gas Operations Act, is now ready for third reading?
Committee Motion 168-18(3): Bill 37: An Act to Amend the Oil and Gas Operations Act - Clause 6, Defeated
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 6024
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.