This is page numbers 5695 - 5762 of the Hansard for the 19th Assembly, 2nd 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 know.

Topics

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Member for Frame Lake.

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Madam Chair. I love those answers. Over to one of my favourites, the Northwest Territories Surface Rights Board, can I just get confirmation from the Minister that they haven't dealt with any disputes in the last year? Thanks, Madam Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. Minister.

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

The Member is correct.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Member for Frame Lake.

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Madam Chair. These folks haven't dealt with a dispute their entire existence, and this was never really needed. This could have been handled through the existing dispute resolution mechanisms and with the land rights agreements. Look, this is not a co-management approach. The Minister appoints everybody here. I think the Indigenous governments don't get a say in this. This is ancient legislation that we inherited from the federal government. We've reviewed a good part of the other resource management legislation that we have in place. When is the Minister going to review this legislation and the board? Thanks, Madam Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Minister.

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you. So it meets Canada's obligations and they provide the funding, so we don't have any visions of dealing with it presently. Thank you.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Member for Frame Lake.

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Madam Chair. It may be federal money but this is our legislation, and I think we -- last time I think I raised this, the Minister said, well -- or maybe it was the former -- or whatever -- deputy minister that raised this, that maybe there might be some opportunity to review this through some other renewal process or government renewal initiative or some other regular renewal or review provisions that the GNWT has. So we're just going to let this thing sit here, continue to spend money, and not do any work. I just don't get it. And there doesn't seem to be any interest on the part of this Cabinet to actually review this even though it's our legislation. Is there any process by which this can be reviewed? Thanks, Madam Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Minister.

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

So presently we have other priorities and that's where we're focusing our energy and time on. Thank you, Madam Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Member for Frame Lake.

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Yeah, thanks, Madam Chair. I kind of feel like I should be a zombie and I'm going to come back and continue to hammer on this one because this should never have happened in the first place. It's not needed. It doesn't do any work. And it's not a co-management approach. It just doesn't fit with the way that we do other co-management here in the Northwest Territories. I don't know what else I can say, Madam Chair. This needs to be reviewed. Thanks, Madam Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Are there any further questions under the information items from Members? Seeing none, thank you, Members. Please return now to the departmental summary found on page 73. Review -- with information items on page 74. Any questions? Seeing none, committee, I will now call the department summary.

Environment and Climate Change, operations expenditure, total department, 2023-2024 Main Estimates, $124,309,000. Does committee agree?

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Mr. O'Reilly.

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Madam Chair. I move that this committee defer further consideration of the estimates for the Department of Environment and Climate Change at this time. Mahsi, Madam Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. The motion is in order. To the motion?

Some Hon. Members

Question.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried. Consideration of the Department of Environment and Climate Change, 2023-2024 Main Estimates, operating expenditures, total department, is deferred. Thank you, Minister. Minister.

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you. First of all, I'd like to thank committee for the work they did and questions they asked today. But I'd also very much like to thank the department. I know it's been very challenging as we do the amalgamation, but I have to agree with the Member from Thebacha. Amazing staff are working to better serve the residents of the Northwest Territories, so I'd like to thank the staff that work together to provide this nice little binder and all the work that they have done to this date. So thank you very much.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. And thank you to the witnesses, all the witnesses for appearing before us. And those are not little binders. I didn't even know they came that big.

Sergeant-at-arms, please escort the witnesses from the Chamber.

What is the wish of committee? Member for Frame Lake.

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Merci, Madam la Presidente. I move that the chair rise and report progress. Mahsi, Madam Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. There's 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 now rise and report progress.

---SHORT RECESS