Assembly Vote
19th Assembly, 2nd SessionMarch 9, 2023
Motion Sponsor
Bill 74
the Forest Act
Bill Sponsor:
Hon. Shane Thompson
Last Stage Completed:
Law (Assent given) (Oct. 6, 2023)
Topic
Motion Text
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member from YK South, that Bill 74, Forest Act, be read for the second time.
I wish to advise the House that Bill 74, Forest Act, has been drafted under the Intergovernmental Council Legislative Development Protocol which sets out a collaborative process of development of legislation with respect to lands and resources between Intergovernmental Council, Indigenous governments, and the lands and resource department of the Government of the Northwest Territories.
This bill repeals the Forest Management Act and the Forest Protection Act and replaces them with one comprehensive statute that
- Allocates responsibility for the stewardship and management of the forests in the Northwest Territories among renewable resource boards, renewable resource councils, forest management committees, and the Government of the Northwest Territories;
- Provides for the establishment of a dispute resolution process to be utilized where there is disagreement among the previously mentioned entities respecting the design or development of plans for management of forests and forest resources;
- Establishes forest management and protection standards including wildfire prevention and control measures;
- Establishes a licensing and permitting scheme with respect to the harvesting and use of forest resources;
- Establishes appeals processes for persons affected by decisions made under this Act;
- Establishes prohibitions, offences and penalties and sets out an investigation and enforcement regime; and
- Authorizes the Minister to make regulations.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.