Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Your committee would like to report on its consideration of Bill 74, Forest Act.
Bill 74 is unique because it is the first bill to be developed collaboratively with the Indigenous governments and co-management bodies. That means the bill is also the first legislation to be reviewed under the process convention for the introduction, consideration, and enactment of bills drafted pursuant to the intergovernmental council legislative development protocol.
Bill 74 received second reading in the Legislative Assembly on March 9, 2023, and was referred to the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment for review. Also, on March 9, 2023, committee received approval from the House to extend its review of the bill from the standard 120 days to 180 days to allow for more collaboration with Indigenous governments. The standing committee held a public briefing on this bill with the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and an intergovernmental council representative on April 28th, 2023. Following that, committee held four public hearings around the territory and received six written submissions.
After careful consideration of feedback received, committee negotiated numerous motions with the departmental staff and the Indigenous governments that were members of the technical working group to amend Bill 74 to address committee's concerns with the bill. The clause-by-clause review of Bill 74 took place on August 11th, 2023. Committee proposed 28 motions to amend the bill. The Minister concurred with 22 of those motions.
Mr. Speaker, the committee reports that Bill 74, forest Act, is ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole as amended and reprinted. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.