Thank you. Minister.

Yes, Mr. Chair. Let's not try and confuse things here, and apologies to the Member if he misunderstood. My understanding is that they have spoken to some of the large emitters on the program, not the actual regulations themselves, as he is implying. Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. O'Reilly.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I am not trying to imply anything; I am trying to understand what is actually going on, because this side of the House has not really received much information about what the program is. We have received nothing. There seems to be some kind of commitment from the deputy minister to possibly share draft regulations with a future committee. Is there going to be an opportunity for the public to comment on draft regulations made pursuant to this section of the bill? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Can the Member please repeat the question?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I would like to know whether there is going to be an opportunity for the public to comment on draft regulations made to establish rebates of the carbon tax and grants under the carbon tax as this bill sets out. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The regulations need to be developed very quickly, so we will get that done, and then, as the next government goes through the main estimates process, there may be other opportunities for input, but the regulations need to be done as quickly as possible, and we are going to undertake that work. Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. O'Reilly.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Can the Minister then confirm that there will be no opportunity for the public to comment on the draft regulations? Yes or no? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Not at this point. We didn't contemplate that at this point, but there may be opportunities in the future. We don't know; right? We don't know, but at this particular point, the direct response to the Member's question is "not at this point." My interpreter can interpret that.

Thank you. Mr. O'Reilly.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, I heard that one loud and clear. There will not be an opportunity for the public to comment on draft regulations to establish the rebates or the grants pursuant to the carbon pricing system that Cabinet is going to implement.

I just wish to contrast that with the Yukon approach, where a bill went through the House, a public review; those rebates are set out by statute in the Yukon; there was some public accountability oversight for that. That will not happen in the Northwest Territories. That is one of the fundamental problems with this bill; there is no opportunity for the public to have any say in how these rebates or grants are going to be given out. For that reason, I oppose this bill. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. To clause 8.

---Clauses 8 through 13 inclusive approved

Clause 14. Mr. O'Reilly.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I move that Bill 42 be amended by adding the following to clause 14.

14.1 The following is added after Section 20.1:

20.2 (1) The Minister shall prepare an annual report with respect to the administration of this act during each fiscal year including

1. the total amount of carbon tax collected with respect to each of the petroleum products listed in the schedule and natural gas;
2. the total amount of penalties assessed and collected under subsections 16(2) and (5) in respect of carbon tax;
3. any orders for the payment or refund of tax, interest, penalties, or costs under subsection 16.7(5);
4. the total amount of fines ordered under subsections 21(1.1) and (1.2) in respect of offences related to carbon tax;
5. the total amount of rebates provided under subsection 22(1);
6. a list of large emitters to which a grant was provided under subsection 2.3(2) and the purpose for which each grant was provided;
7. an estimate of the anticipated reduction in greenhouse gas emissions relating to each grant provided under subsection 2.3(2);
8. any other expenditures made in the collection and administration of the carbon tax;
9. an estimate of the total reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in the Northwest Territories expected and achieved as a result of the expenditures incurred based on the amount of carbon tax collected; and
10. any other information the Minister considers to be in the public interest as it relates to the imposition of the carbon tax, use of the carbon tax revenues, and impacts on the cost of living in the Northwest Territories and the environment.

(2) The Minister shall cause the annual report prepared under subsection (1) to be laid before the Legislative Assembly at the earliest opportunity following the end of the fiscal year.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Mr. O'Reilly, this motion is out of order on two counts. It is being moved at the incorrect time. It is a new clause, and it should be moved at the end of the bill. It is also beyond the scope of this bill, as the bill does not touch on reporting. The motion is out of order. Clause 14. Mr. Beaulieu.

There is a motion on the floor to report progress. The motion is in order and non-debatable. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

I will rise and report progress.

May I have the report, Member for Hay River?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Your committee has been considering Committee Report 26-18(3): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the Carbon Tax Bills, Bill 42: An Act to Amend the Petroleum Products Tax Act and Bill 43: An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act; Bill 42: An Act to Amend the Petroleum Products Tax Act; Bill 43: An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act and would like to report progress that Committee Report 26-18(3) has concluded. Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of the Committee of the Whole be concurred with. Thank you.

Do I have a seconder? Member for Mackenzie Delta. The motion is in order. All those in favour? All those opposed?

---Carried

Masi. Item 22, third reading of bills. Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment.

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member from Yellowknife South, that Bill 37: An Act to Amend the Oil and Gas Operations Act be read for the third time. Mr. Speaker, I request a recorded vote. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. The Member has requested a recorded vote. The motion is in order. To the motion.