That's where we're responding to, the point of order.

Member from of Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh, it's on the point of order so you get to speak about that, not about...

Okay, Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. Okay, we'll take a 15-minute break, or a 10-minute break.

---SHORT RECESS

Thank you, colleagues. Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh, to the point of order.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to respond to the point of order. I want to be very clear I was speaking to the situation and the facts surrounding it, Mr. Speaker. The Minister's mandate letter is a tool this House uses for accountability. It should not be off limits for Members to speak to.

The government is following colonial policies, and the Minister is responsible for those policies in this House. It is important that Indigenous people be allowed to call out colonial policies, laws, and actions and attitudes, as part of the ongoing process of reconciliation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. To the point of order, I am ready to rule.

Colleagues, this is a very emotional and difficult discussion, but it is important. It is even more important that we engage in respectful debate. Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh talked about ability to talk about policy, and I agree, this is the House where we talk about policy. But when it crosses the line of talking about motives of a Minister or a Member, that is inappropriate.

Our rules require our residents and they demand us to be respectful. Rule 33(l) says it's against the rules to speak disrespectful of another Member. I believe the Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh crossed that line.

Remember, folks, it's what we say in this House and how we deal with it, including outside here in our Members' lounges when we make decisions and your behaviour makes me make decisions. Do I want this job? Not in moments like this. But it's about the residents of the Northwest Territories.

The Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh is a very passionate about this situation. We have an individual who is a resident of the community, and we're dealing with this matter. And I would encourage people to work together on that. However, saying that, I've also -- like I said, I've ruled that he's crossed the line. I'll ask the Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh to apologize to the Member -- or to withdraw his comments, and then we'll move on. Thank you. Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Thank you, Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Colleagues, there was 30 seconds left on the clock. Being respectful of the situation and how we are, I am going to not use those last 30 seconds. No disrespect to Members from AOC or Cabinet. I just do not feel that we need to use those 30 seconds today. And I could be wrong, but we can start afresh tomorrow. Thank you. Mr. Clerk.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Oral questions. Written questions. Member from Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I seek the House's unanimous consent to return to number 8, oral questions. Thank you.

Thank you, Member from Yellowknife Centre. Member from Yellowknife Centre has requested unanimous consent to return to item number 8, oral questions.

We have a nay. Thank you. We will not be returning to oral questions.

Oral questions. Written questions. Returns to written questions. Replies to the Commissioner's address. Petitions. Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills. Reports of Standing and Special Committees. Member from Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, your Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment is pleased to provide its Report on the Review of Land Use Permitting and Water Licensing Regulatory Framework in the Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker, I'll read the executive summary. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment's, (the committee) interest in undertaking a targeted review of the Mackenzie Valley Resources Management Act's (MVRMA) regulatory framework began in the Spring of 2024. This review was largely prompted by committee being aware of the ongoing concerns and challenges within the regulatory system, particularly with respect to the Waters Regulations, that have been raised by various stakeholders, Indigenous governments and communities, proponents and participants, particularly with respect to the experiences with the land use permitting and water licensing processes.

Committee's objective was to review the effectiveness and interpretation of the processes and requirements under the MVRMA, with a focus on ensuring the Act's spirit and intent are upheld. The review also aimed to assess the role of the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) within the regulatory system. This work builds on related efforts, including the Mackenzie Valley Operational Dialogue (MVOD), the NWT Environmental Audit, and the contributions from the Land and Water Boards, the Mackenzie Valley Review Board, Indigenous governments, the GNWT, the Government of Canada, and other stakeholders.

This study is designed to align with the broader legislative priorities being advanced during the 20th Legislative Assembly, including the implementation of the Mineral Resources Act and the phased amendments to the Waters Act and its regulations led by the Department of Environment and Climate Change (ECC).

To inform this work, the committee issued a public call for input and invited public feedback, including Indigenous governments and communities, the Land and Water Boards (LWBs), Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC), and the NWT and Nunavut Chamber of Mines, small mining and exploration companies, and the other interested parties. A particular emphasis was placed on ensuring Indigenous perspectives were heard, with formal invitations extended to Indigenous governments and communities to share their experiences and concerns.

I'm pausing so that interpreters -- I'm not going too fast.

Through public briefings and written contributions, committee consistently heard a range of concerns and insights that coalesced around a set of recurring themes. These themes, often overlapping in both substance and impact, underscored the complexity and interconnectedness of the issues facing the regulatory system. Participants spoke to challenges related to regulatory duplication and clarity, and highlighted some of the logistical and planning challenges, particularly those that are unique to the North. Committee also heard about the importance of education and coordination, the potential of economic benefits, and the critical need for meaningful participation — particularly in terms of human resource capacity and sustained funding. Additionally, submissions frequently pointed to the recommendations from the NWT Environmental Audit as a valuable reference point for future action. These perspectives form the foundation of the committee's finding and have shaped the direction of our recommendations.

It is important to note that some Indigenous governments and stakeholders expressed a willingness to participate but were unable to do so due to capacity limitations — a recurring issue that emerged throughout the study and it's reflected in multiple sections of this report.

I'll read the recommendations now, Mr. Speaker, and pause after each one.

Recommendation 1: The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment recommends the Government of the Northwest Territories develop a standardized mineral exploration permitting bundle, in consultation with affected parties, similar to what the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board has already done for municipal water licenses.

Recommendation 2: The Standing Committee on -- I'll just say the committee. The recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories provide a transparent public update on its website outlining the steps being taken to amend the Waters Regulations, progress against key milestones, and timelines for further action, to ensure accountability and maintain public confidence.

Recommendation 3: The committee recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories update the Waters Regulations, allocate sufficient resources — included staffing and funding — to support the amendments and their implementation, and identify a clear target date by which the new regulations will be in effect.

Recommendation 4: The committee recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories adhere to the announced timeline for implementing the Mineral Resources Act Regulations, ensuring that the process includes meaningful public consultation, is properly resourced for effective execution, and is supported by frequent public reporting on progress and milestones through the GNWT's website to maintain transparency and accountability.

Recommendation 5: The committee recommends that the GNWT review and enhance its internal process related to board appointments, including the timeliness of nominations, coordination of federal counterparts, and mechanisms for follow-up, to ensure that regulatory and co-management boards maintain full membership and operational continuity, and make these enhancements in a timely fashion.

Recommendation 6: The committee recommends that the GNWT add compliance and enforcement datasets to the GNWT's Open Data portal.

Recommendation 7: The standing committee recommends the GNWT expand and improve the current Pathfinder's Program into a single, comprehensive initiative. This enhancement program should guide proponents through the regulatory requirements across the entire project lifecycle, encompassing the Land and Water Boards and the relevant GNWT departments. Adequate staffing and resources should be provided by the GNWT to ensure its effective operation.

Recommendation 8: The Standing Committee recommends the GNWT review the suite of existing templates and guidance documents across the regulatory system to identify where there are gaps, and develop consistent, high-quality materials such as templates, how-to guides, and reference documents to support all stages of the project authorization lifecycles as part of a comprehensive Pathfinding Program.

Recommendation 9: The standing committee recommends the GNWT works with the Land and Water Boards of the Mackenzie Valley to provide better guidance and direction to project proponents across all stages of the regulatory lifecycle of a project to include plain language summaries with their technical supports as part of their engagement with Indigenous communities and the public.

Recommendation 10: The standing committee recommends the GNWT provides more detailed timelines and commitments for development of the new Indigenous procurement policy (IPP) and provide details as to how the new IPP could help to address the concerns raised by Indigenous governments and communities in this report and elsewhere.

Recommendation 11: The standing committee recommends the GNWT increase the number of secondments to Indigenous governments and communities to increase their capacity in environmental, technical, resource development and regulatory fields.

Recommendation 12: The standing committee recommends the GNWT provide greater investments and partnerships with Indigenous governments to develop long-term capacity building programs for Indigenous governments that include:

• Creating dedicated funding streams for training and professional development in regulatory, environmental, and technical fields.
• Supporting more internships, apprenticeships, and mentorships with regulatory agencies or Indigenous organizations.
• Promoting post-secondary scholarships and bursaries in relevant disciplines like environmental science, engineering, law, or land management and ensuring that local institutions such as Aurora College are able to provide high quality education in these fields.
• Partnering with Indigenous governments in developing community-led training programs while also involving local knowledge holders and elders to ensure the training is culturally appropriate.

Recommendation 13, Mr. Speaker. The standing committee recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories change the Interim Resource Management Assistance Program funding model for providing annual funding to providing stable multi-year funding to enable Indigenous governments to attract and retain high quality staff.

Recommendation 14: The standing committee recommends that the GNWT prioritize and enhance efforts to increase capacity funding for Indigenous governments and organizations, advocating for this as part of the updated federal engagement strategy and provide a public status update.

Recommendation 15: The standing committee recommends that the GNWT work with the federal government to clarify how the Northern Regulatory Initiative (NRI) can be used to strengthen capacity in the Northwest Territories and provide clear guidance to eligible parties on how to access this funding.

Recommendation 16, Mr. Speaker. The standing committee recommends that the GNWT provide new dedicated capacity funding to support meaningful participation by community governments, non-governmental organizations, and members of the public in regulatory processes under the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act (MVRMA).

Committee further recommends that the GNWT ensure these groups are consistently included and invited to participate in relevant discussions, so their knowledge and expertise can contribute to decision-making processes, and to share publicly how they will do so and how improvement will be measured

Recommendation 17, Mr. Speaker. The standing committee recommends that the GNWT fully implement all recommendations outlined in the 2020 NWT Environmental Audit, and provide a comprehensive, public written update to committee that includes:

1. The current status of implementation for each Audit recommendation, clearly indicating which have been completed, are in progress, or remain outstanding;
2. Timelines for the completion of each outstanding recommendation;
3. A detailed rationale for any delays or deviations from any original implementation plans that were developed;
4. An estimate of associated costs and human resources for implementing each recommendation, including any future projected expenditures; and,
5. A clear and actionable plan outlining how the government intends to address all outstanding Audit recommendations, including assigned departmental responsibilities, expected outcomes, and measures to track progress.

Recommendation 18: The standing committee recommends to the GNWT that when the 2025 Environmental Audit is published, the Government of the Northwest Territories formulate a comprehensive update to Recommendation 17 in this committee report that includes a detailed response with associated resources and to provide that response within one year.

Recommendation 19: The standing committee recommends that the GNWT fully implement all recommendations outlined by the Mackenzie Valley Operational Dialogue, and provide a comprehensive, public written update to the committee that includes:

1. The current status of implementation for each MVOD recommendation, clearly indicating which have been completed, are in progress, or remain outstanding;
2. Timelines for the completion of each outstanding recommendation;
3. A detailed rationale for any delays or deviations from any original implementation plans that were developed;
4. An estimate of associated costs and human resources for implementing each recommendation, including any future projected expenditures; and,
5. A clear and actionable plan outlining how the government intends to address all outstanding Audit recommendations, including assigned departmental responsibilities, expected outcomes, and measures to track progress.

Mr. Speaker, that now brings me to Recommendation 20, which is the Standing Committee on Economic Development recommends to the Government of the Northwest Territories provide a response to this report in 120 days.

And before I move a motion, Mr. Speaker, I just want to add, ever so gently but most importantly, is that, if I may speak on committee's behalf, we couldn't have done this report without the amazing expertise of our advisor and our clerk. And without that, committee would have found it an end, so with that I want to acknowledge the amazing work, in particular of our advisor, who helped develop this with us, work us through it, make sure we all fully could bring forward a quality report as we're tabling here before the House today, and to her we owe a sincere debt of thanks and gratitude for her finest work we've seen. Thank you.

Thank you, Member from Yellowknife Centre.

Member from Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate you letting me add that little extra, but it's important.

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the Member for Frame Lake, that the remainder of the Committee Report 23-20(1), the Standing Committee on economic environment -- sorry, Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Review of the Land Use Permitting and Water Licensing Regulatory Framework in the Northwest Territories be deemed read and printed in Hansard in its entirety. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

*Deemed Read - Link

Thank you, Member from Yellowknife Centre. To the motion.

Question has been called. All those in favour? Opposed? Abstentions? Motion passed.

---Carried

Member from Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, colleagues.

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Frame Lake, that committee -- I can take it back -- strike it from the record. I'll start again, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the Member for Frame Lake, that the Committee Report 23-20(1), Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Review of Land Use Permitting and Water Licensing Regulatory Framework in the Northwest Territories, be received and adopted by this Assembly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Yellowknife Centre. To the motion.

Question has been called. All those in favour? Opposed? Abstentions? Motion carried.

---Carried

Member from Yellowknife Centre.

And thank you, Mr. Speaker. The last one.

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Frame Lake, that pursuant to Rule 9.4(5)(a) that the Government of the Northwest Territories table a comprehensive response to this report, including all its recommendations, within 120 days or at the earliest opportunity subsequent to the passage of 120 days. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Member from Yellowknife Centre. To the motion.

Question has been called. All in favour? Opposed? Abstentions? Motion passed.

---Carried

Reports of Standing and Special Committees. Tabling of documents. Minister of Finance and NWT Power Corp.