Thank you, Madam Chair. Speaking to the bill, I also too won't be supporting the bill. You know, as it is already we have a regulatory process that we all have to go through when the mining industry comes up here. I know for sure in my community, N'dilo and the community of Lutselk'e and Fort Resolution, we do benefit from the mining industry from employment to IBAs. Some of these IBAs were just paid out to help put out from this evacuation that just happened and, you know, it's a concern that we're -- that we're doing that but at the end of the day, there's got to be a different way to do this, and right now as it is, I know -- back in the early days, like my colleague has said, that back in 1991 we had no -- we had high unemployment in our community. We went from, what, 85 percent in Dettah, N'dilo to when BHP first got here, and we maximized the benefits of the mining industry, and it created a lot of jobs for us, apprenticeship training, etcetera. And all four communities throughout the NWT that maximized the benefits in mining but now to have mining industry to go through hurdles, and we're just going to chase away mining industry now and for what reason? You know, I think it's important that we really take a look at this whole thing again. But for today, I can't support this bill. I mean, I -- right now, the mining companies like BMP, Diavik, De Beers, they're all on the downturn now. They're going to look at reclaiming etcetera. And we need jobs. The young people need jobs, you know, and by putting more barriers in place by this government, it's just going to chase these guys away, you know, and we don't want to do that. So I think that we should really take a look at this and for now, Madam Chair, I won't be supporting this bill. Thank you.
Richard Edjericon on Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
In the Legislative Assembly on September 27th, 2023. See this statement in context.
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
September 27th, 2023
Page 6456
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