Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I was in the process of trying to get some clarification about why there is no definition of "prospecting" in the bill. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you. Ms. Faryna.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you. Mr. O'Reilly.

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Mr. Chair. There may be an industry understanding of what "prospecting" is, but it's not outlined in the bill. It requires a licence. You have to get a prospecting licence to do prospecting, but I cannot get a clear answer as to what it really means and what work. I understand, if somebody stakes a claim, only they can do prospecting on the claim, but what if you have a prospecting licence? What can you do off of a mineral claim? Can someone tell me that? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you. Ms. Faryna.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you. Mr. O'Reilly.

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Yes, this is just going in circles, so I think I will stop it there. It's not clear to the public, it's not clear to me, what prospecting necessarily is as authorized under this act. Somebody has to get a licence to do it. It's not clear what it is, where it can be done, whether you have to have a mineral claim to do it or not. I think this is part of the problem here. Thanks, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you. Seeing nothing further, does committee agree we move to the clause-by-clause consideration?

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, committee. There are 116 clauses in the bill. As I accept there may be a number of amendments that Members wish to move, I am going to take each clause one by one. Committee, we will consider the bill number and title after consideration of each clause. I will begin calling out the clauses one by one. If committee agrees or disagrees with the clause, please respond accordingly. Each Member may get my attention if they wish to speak to any particular clause. The first clause is found on page 10. To clause 1, does committee agree? Minister Abernethy.

Glen Abernethy Great Slave

I move that clause 1 of Bill 34 be amended by deleting the definition "settlement lands," and adding the following definition in alphabetical order:

"Settlement area" means:

(a) the area within the Northwest Territories as described in appendix A to the Gwich'in Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement entered into between Her Majesty the Queen in right of Canada and the Gwich'in, as represented by the Gwich'in Tribal Council, on April 22, 1992, as amended;

(b) the area within the Northwest Territories shown in annex A and described in annex A(1) of the Inuvialuit Final Agreement entered into between the Inuvialuit and the Inuvialuit Settlement Region and the Government of Canada on June 5, 1984, as amended;

(c) the area within the Northwest Territories as described in appendix A to the Sahtu, Dene, and Metis Comprehensive Claim Agreement entered into between Her Majesty the Queen in right of Canada and the Dene of Colville Lake, Deline, Fort Good Hope, and Fort Norman and the Metis of Fort Good Hope, Fort Norman, and Norman Wells, as represented by the Sahtu Tribal Council, on September 6, 1993, as amended;

(d) the area within the Northwest Territories described in parts 1 and 2 of the appendix of chapter 1 of the Land Claims and Self-government Agreement among the Tlicho and the Government of the Northwest Territories and the Government of Canada signed on August 25, 2003, as amended; and

(e) other areas prescribed as settlement areas for the purposes of this act.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.