Mahsi, Mr. Johnson. Minister.

Yeah, so I just want to clarify that, you know, we're talking amalgamation -- or the Member is talking about it. We're not talking about that right now. We're not talking about positions. We're not having that conversation. But my understanding is that there's two distinct positions and you need those two distinct positions. But for further detail and clarity on this, I would like you to turn to the deputy minister. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Deputy minister.

Mahsi. Are there any other questions from committee on this section? Mr. Simpson.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I guess I'd just like to talk about the release of treated oil sand tailings in Alberta. And I guess it's difficult for me to wrap my head around the fact that we don't hear much from the government's side on this. We hear Indigenous organizations, you know, opposing it. You know, we're downstream from it. We have claims out there that have, you know, sections about water rights and management. They have sections in there about the right to fish and wildlife.

And so I would ask the Minister if his department is collaborating or working with the Indigenous governments to deal with this issue because it sounds like we don't have a lot of clout when it comes to what's happening in Alberta and, you know, I just want to make sure we're using every avenue we can and, you know, we've got settled claims that are in, you know, entrenched in the constitution, you know, and they've got sections in there that we could use. So I just want to make sure, you know, that we are doing everything we can to protect the water and wildlife in the Northwest Territories. And, you know -- so I guess the question is, what are we doing? Are we working with Indigenous groups? Are we using the claims, the sections in the claims? So a couple questions there. Thank you.

Mahsi, Mr. Simpson. Minister.

Okay, thank you. I want to be very clear to the House, and to the people that are listening here, no release of oil sand process water is currently allowed under the Alberta Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act or the federal Fisheries Act, so it's not allowed. It's not allowed.

When you talk about what we're doing, I'm not in -- as I said previously, I'm not in there to make it public out there, slamming. We're trying to work behind the scenes, do the work we need to do, and we do have a relationship with our Indigenous governments. But for that detail of exactly, we've already had one meeting on water. We were planning on another one. Again, COVID hit. But for further detail on exactly what we're doing in moving forward thing, I'll turn to the deputy minister. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mahsi. Deputy minister.

Mahsi. Mr. Simpson.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. You know, we have these -- I understand we have these agreements. And you know, we have the claims agreements as well. Yet, you know, I look at, you know, case law, you know throughout Canada and throughout the US and, you know, there's been issues that have arisen. So I just want to make sure, you know, your department and this government is prepared, you know, to ensure that water flowing into the Northwest Territories is protected and do everything we can, whether it's through agreements, through the claims, it's through the courts, whatever we have to do, and we have to be prepared, you know, at some point to, you know, possibly, you know, go that route. Because, you know, water's going to be a -- you know, it's a commodity that everybody needs and it wouldn't take much to, you know, to destroy the habitat here in the Northwest Territories if we get contaminants coming down. You know, we talk about fish and other wildlife as well. So I just want to make sure that, you know, it's front and center and we're using everything we can. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mahsi, Mr. Simpson. Minister.

Front, centre, back, side, overtop, underneath - it is very much a priority of this department, this government. I can guarantee you there's been lots of conversations and the department is working very diligently with our Indigenous governments and with the Alberta government and the federal government to make sure that these transboundary water agreements are enforced and work properly. There is mechanisms in there on how we -- where we go. And at some point in time, if we have to go there then we go there. But right now we are doing everything that we can and I have to say the department, starting from the deputy minister all the way down to our water inspectors out there, they're doing their job. They are doing good work in making sure that everything's being addressed. But I couldn't agree with you more and I couldn't agree with Mr. O'Reilly any more. These things need to be addressed. Sometimes in government we're a little bit -- not at the speed that people want but we're trying to do it appropriately and respectfully but also for the residents of the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mahsi. Mr. Simpson.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just a word of caution I guess, is that when you use the word such as "guarantee" unless you've got 100 percent control over what's happening, don't use it. Thank you.

Mahsi, Mr. Simpson. Any comments, Minister.

I guarantee that I'll listen to him on that one. Thank you.

Mahsi. Mr. Simpson? I don't see any further questions from committee. Mr. Edjericon.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yeah, I think this is a -- be a discussion on this one here. I just wanted to let you know that I was also involved at the Mackenzie Valley Impact Review Board as a chairman for six years and we also were really concerned about the water and transboundary. So we also made arrangements to work with the Alberta government on the transboundary agreement to share information. And that information, to me, was really important because we kind of -- the mandate, the review board at the time was making sure that we protect the wildlife, the air, and the fish.

And I guess the other thing I was going to say is that you look at Giant Mine. You know, there's a huge cleanup that happened there. And that was probably one of the toughest EAs I've ever been through. And at the end, we made a decision that's based on the evidence and the people that was all involved. The GNWT was there. Also proponents with the federal Government of Canada etcetera. So, and I'm glad the Minister talked about the agreements they have with Alberta government now and sharing information and so on.

And it's still -- you know, when I go back to my constituency and I listen to the elders and I listen to Chief Gerry Cheezie from Alberta, they still have issues and concerns about water and downstream users etcetera. And I'm not really sure how far your agreement goes in terms of the water license for the proponents in Alberta. And, like here in the North, we have a process that deals with those water license, you know, Ekati and Diavik etcetera, and we could make sure that, you know, the environment's going to continue to be protected etcetera.

Also up here with the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act, the way we do business now is they start put security in so that mining companies don't end up like Giant Mine. So I guess the question for me is that in Alberta, I'm not sure how far your water license or your agreement goes but how do we get involved if projects continues to happen. I know the oil prices are down. There's -- in places in Alberta where, you know, the refinery, you know, I heard a bunch of stories about not very good oil, they call it dirty oil and that kind of thing. But what I'm thinking, Mr. Chairman, is that how do we get involved to make sure that we don't have another Giant Mine and making sure the water's protected?

Mahsi, Mr. Edjericon. Minister.

I'll start and then I'll turn to the deputy minister. We don't want another Giant Mine. However, we can't tell other jurisdictions how they monitor or how they allow development. It would not be good if we are -- if you look at it, if we have Nunavut telling us what we can and can't do. We need to work with our organizations and we do address issues that way, but as for the how our water management is done and if I misspoke I will turn to the deputy minister to clear up everything and answer the other part of the question on how this transboundary agreement works. Thank you.

Mahsi. Deputy minister.