Bill C-17 (Historical)

An Act to amend the Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Act and to make a consequential amendment to another Act

This enactment amends the Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Act, in particular by repealing the provisions
(a) that authorize the federal minister to delegate any of his or her powers, duties and functions under that Act to the territorial minister;
(b) that exempt projects and existing projects from the requirement of a new assessment when an authorization is renewed or amended and there are no significant changes to the original project as previously assessed;
(c) that establish time limits for assessments; and
(d) that authorize the federal minister to issue binding policy directions to the Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Board.
The enactment also amends the Yukon and Nunavut Regulatory Improvement Act by repealing the transitional provision relating to the application of time limit provisions enacted by that Act to projects in respect of which the evaluation, screening or review had begun before that Act came into force but for which no decision had yet been made.

[The Chair, Liberal, MaryAnn Mihychuk]

We're back in order.

We're going to go through clause-by-clause of Bill C-17. We have nine clauses. This bill has been reviewed and investigated. We've heard witnesses, and now we're ready to go through the bill.

We've done clause 1, on division.

We are on clause 2.

(On clause 2)

[The Chair, Liberal, MaryAnn Mihychuk]

Welcome, everybody.

We're going to be looking at Bill C-17, an act to amend the Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Act and to make a consequential amendment to another act, pursuant to the order of reference of Tuesday, June 20, 2017.

We have in front of us department officials who are here as experts if members have any questions, but they will not be presenting.

Before we begin, I wish to recognize that we're on the unceded territory of the Algonquin people, and we're in the beginning process of truth and reconciliation.

We have had a number of hearings. There is a lot of anticipation that we move the bill quickly, so let's get down to business.

I'm going to begin with clause 1. Shall clause 1 carry?

(Clause 1 agreed to on division)

Shall clause 2 carry?

[Mike Burke]

In her letter, she committed to working in that relationship after the passage of Bill C-17. So again, we've made it well known that we feel it's homework. We need to do our homework and get prepared to do this work ahead of time because a gap between the passage of Bill C-17 and the implementation of some form of agreement to reinstitute timelines and reassessment is going to be a period of uncertainty for us in the Yukon. If that goes on for years, that would be a very bad thing indeed.

The federal government recently announced an investment in mining infrastructure in the Yukon, and you don't want to shoot yourself in the foot.

[Mike Burke]

Certainly this is a step backwards. Certainty is lessened, as you've heard in our statements and our testimony, due to the timelines imposed with Bill C-17.

[Mike Bossio, Liberal, Hastings—Lennox and Addington, ON]

Once again, I think this is a process toward a collaboration. You yourself said you're working on an MOU with the first nations. You're working on reconciliation. That's a part of the whole process. I think once Bill C-17 is passed, that's not the end of this process. That encapsulates this, a snapshot in a period of time that all the parties agree needs to move forward.

Bills and legislation evolve on an ongoing basis, and once again, this is a step in that evolution. I think what's really important here is the collaboration, because it's only through the collaboration toward reconciliation...not just for reconciliation, but to also give certainty to corporations when they are working in this environment. Now that we have that reconciliation process, now that we have first nations involved in accepting the path forward, that's only going to add further certainty to corporations operating in those areas.

Mr. Burke, would you like to comment on that?

[Jonas Smith]

One of the changes contained in Bill S-6 that was taken into consideration was cumulative impacts, so that is one of the amendments that is staying in the bill, even after Bill C-17 passes. Therefore, cumulative effects are being considered under our legislation now.

I just want to clarify one of my previous statements.

Again, we're not trying to further delay this bill. There is a process, which is beyond any of our understanding, regarding how bills make their way through the houses of Parliament, but can we not be having these discussions concurrently? Can we not strike this committee? Can we not be working on this replacement solution, whether it is regulatory, policy, or legislative, while this bill makes its way through Parliament?

[Jonas Smith]

To be clear, sir, we're not proposing kiboshing Bill C-17. Our concern is partially informed by the four-month delay we've experienced already and that there has been no progress to date. Our concern is that, if Bill C-17 becomes law tomorrow, and these very valuable, demonstrably effective provisions are rescinded, we have no guarantees of how long it will take to come up with a solution. We are absolutely willing to talk about temporary solutions or permanent solutions. As I mentioned earlier, it could be legislative, regulatory, or policy, but the fact remains that there has been no progress to date and that is our concern.

[Mike Bossio, Liberal, Hastings—Lennox and Addington, ON]

Sure.

I think that the parties that negotiated agreements around this bill, as has been mentioned many times, have been desperate to see this move ahead as quickly as possible. I think any further delays wouldn't serve the interests of anyone involved in this process. Is there reason to believe that once Bill C-17 is passed, a lot of the stuff you're looking to have done can still be negotiated at that time? There's no reason to delay the process any longer than it has already been delayed. If we're going to truly move on a path towards reconciliation, the time needs to be taken in order to get it right with indigenous communities and all stakeholders, especially around some of the areas that you're addressing around timelines and reassessments. I just fail to see why we'd put the kibosh on Bill C-17 and start all over, so that we can put these things in, rather than pass Bill C-17 and move forward in the process, along with true reconciliation.

[Mike Burke, President, Yukon Chamber of Mines]

Good morning, Madam Chair and members of the standing committee. Thank you for the invitation to appear before you today and provide clarity to the support of the Yukon Chamber of Mines for the passage of Bill C-17.

This is an important bill for all Yukoners, one that touches on reconciliation, environmental sustainability, and economic development. In February 2017, the Yukon Chamber of Mines provided support to Yukon first nations in seeking expeditious passage of Bill C-17 recognizing that first nation governments were not fully involved in the development of its predecessor legislation Bill S-6. It is unfortunate that we find ourselves here due to the fact that the process agreed to by all governments was not followed.

The Yukon Chamber of Mines recognizes the involvement of first nations in the development of legislation. Our support to Yukon first nations was also predicated on addressing industry concerns, namely reassessments and timelines, through a collaborative framework with Yukon first nations, the Yukon government and the Government of Canada, a fact that's been overlooked during debates in the House of Commons.

I refer you to the joint press release by the Council of Yukon First Nations, the Yukon government, and the Yukon Chamber of Mines, which contains the following quote from me, the president of the Yukon Chamber of Mines:

The mining industry is on the front lines of reconciliation, as exploration and development activities occur in the traditional territory of all Yukon First Nations. It is with this in mind that the resetting of the relationship between all orders of government brings the opportunity to address challenging issues around timelines & re-assessments through a collaborative framework moving forward.

It is without a doubt that the passage of Bill C-17 needs to occur in order to reconcile with Yukon first nations. The federal and territorial governments must work immediately with first nations governments to address the concerns and risks associated with the removal of the provisions addressing reassessment and timelines from the act.

I would like to draw your attention to Minister Bennett's commitment in a letter to the Yukon Chamber of Mines dated July 6, 2017, “Once amendments to Bill C-17 have been made, the department is willing to work with Yukon first nations, the Government of Yukon, and stakeholders such as your organization to review these issues in order to identify possible short-term administrative or long-term legislative solutions.”

We appreciate this commitment. However, it is imperative that all orders of government work to undertake and implement solutions to these issues in advance of the passage of Bill C-17 to ensure continuity for all parties involved. The time to start this work is already in the past. Our concerns for the future of our business have been shared with all levels of government. We strongly urge you to begin this work and establish a timeline to report progress on this front.

The future of the Yukon mining and exploration community is threatened by a process that is clearly flawed. However, proof has been given of an improved process with the experience to date using these amendments. The mining and exploration community includes first nations communities as we enter a new era in mining where first nations are valued partners in our business.

This partnership brings much needed economic wealth and opportunities to first nations in the Yukon where few opportunities sometimes exist.

I wish to reiterate some of the highlights from previous speakers.

Regarding section 49.1, non-significant modifications to a project, the nature of mining operations is that mine plans and ore bodies will change once they go into production. Very few operations ever know the ultimate number, size, and configuration of all ore bodies in a mine area prior to making a production decision. New ore bodies are often sought within existing mine areas. This process is termed brownfields exploration or within sight of the headframe. The same is true of exploration projects where plans change based on the last soil sample, the last rock sample, or last drill hole result. A completely new reassessment, including previously assessed impacts, should not occur where a mine may want to include a new ore body or an exploration project needs to drill some holes in a new discovery. Only the actual changes to a project need to be assessed.

Since Bill S-6, over 100 authorizations have been sought under the provision with over 60% approved, in other words, not requiring a reassessment of current activities. This section of the act is so widely used that a provision regarding the approval process was contained in an April 2016 memorandum of understanding between the federal, territorial, and Yukon first nations governments. In it a consent provision was provided to Yukon first nations.

The cost savings to proponents and governments is obvious. It is simply inefficient for any party to be reassessed on activities which have already been assessed or which result in a non-significant modification to a project. An example I have been personally involved in is the simple time extension to a project where a five-year expiration plan was approved, but due to the inability to raise capital to conduct expiration, only one year of the assessed plan was completed prior to the expiration date of that permit. An extension of four years to complete the plan was applied for under section 49.1 and was determined not significant and a complete reassessment of the plan was not required. That's common sense.

The current process for determining reassessments has resulted in a decreased pressure on the resources of first nations and YESAB, as well as other government departments that participate in assessments.

Moving on to timelines, under subsection 56(1), YESAB has the ability to elevate the level of review required for an assessment if it is unable to form a view as to whether the project, as proposed, should be recommended for approval. They can move it from designated office to executive committee to a panel review. There is no proposed timeline for this elevation decision, which can therefore result in unreasonable delays, significant costs, and potential legal action, which has already occurred in one case. In addition, no timelines previously existed for the time period that a project is deemed adequate. Mr. Thrall with Alexco provided excellent examples of the impact that can have on a project.

High-performing organizations have setting of targets, including timelines, as a key to superior performance. Proponents, Yukoners, governments, and YESAB itself, should accept no less than being a high-performing organization. Companies that invest in development or projects in the Yukon accept the risk of an approvals process and its timelines. However, that risk increases significantly without the application of specific timelines. Mining projects reaching the stage of undergoing an environmental assessment to go into production have invested millions of dollars, and the time value of money is very significant as they enter into the YESAB and permitting process. You cannot calculate the time value of money if you do not know the parameters for time.

The Yukon Chamber of Mines recognizes the increased pressure on the limited resources of Yukon first nations with the implemented timelines. Government support to increase capacity is essential for Yukon first nations to effectively participate within YESAB reviews in a timely manner.

The Yukon Chamber of Mines and our membership support the need for a robust environmental review process. We represent a science-based industry composed of geologists, engineers, tradespeople, and other professional and non-professional occupations, that has made and will continue to make significant investments in reducing the impact our business has on the environment. We do not want to save money at the expense of the environment. That is a myth.

We are at the forefront of reconciliation as we invest in the backyards of Yukon first nations. We are at the forefront of reconciliation as we partner with Yukon first nations and provide economic opportunities where, in many cases, few other opportunities exist.

We support the passage of Bill C-17 in order to reconcile with Yukon first nations. We urge the federal government to immediately engage with first nations governments and the Yukon government to find short-term administrative or long-term legislative solutions to the impact of the removal of the reassessments and timelines contained in Bill C-17. The impact of Bill C-17, without addressing these concerns, will have a serious negative impact on investment and mining and exploration projects in the Yukon.

The Yukon Chamber of Mines urges that this work be undertaken to implement solutions to these issues in advance of the passage of Bill C-17 to ensure continuity for all parties involved.

Thank you for the opportunity to speak to you today.

[Jonas Smith, Project Manager, Yukon Producers Group]

Madam Chair, members of the committee, mesdames et messieurs, my name is Jonas Smith, and as is common in a small jurisdiction where many of us wear numerous hats, I am involved in several mining-related organizations, including Prosperity Yukon and the Klondike Placer Miners' Association. My comments today will focus on the perspective of the Yukon Producers Group, although I can address questions concerning other perspectives, depending on the line of questioning from the honourable members.

Yukon Producers Group is a mining industry-driven organization representing Yukon's operating mines, advanced mineral exploration and development projects, and our key service suppliers.

We appreciate this opportunity to correct the record and to clarify some of the misrepresentations put forward during previous hearings and parliamentary debate regarding this bill. We believe there will be dire socio-economic impacts for Yukon residents, businesses, and communities if replacement language for the repealed sections is not established before Bill C-17 receives royal assent.

While our members are also concerned with issues related to legislated timelines, given our limited time with you here today, my comments will focus on the matter of reassessment.

As I mentioned earlier, the territory is a small jurisdiction with only 38,000 residents. The benefits and opportunities one operating mine can provide Yukoners, all orders of government, and Yukon communities resonate significantly throughout the territory and across all economic sectors. The repeal of the reassessment provision currently within the Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Act must simply not proceed until a replacement process has been deliberated and is in place.

We are aware of, and respect, Yukon first nations' position as to how this and three other amendments to YESAA were introduced outside of the previously agreed-to tripartite process. We fully support first nations participation in the development of legislation that affects all Yukoners, and we expect our governments to adhere to the process outlined in the treaties.

As such, our approach does not counter Bill C-17; rather, it implores that you, as federal legislators, recognize that without a replacement provision in place to address the existing section 49.1 and reassessment, industry, municipalities, and first nations governments will be left behind, and all Yukoners will suffer the negative consequences.

From training to employment and support for our hospitals, our college, our community charities, and our recreational facilities, the mining industry is integral to our socio-economic fabric, and the ability for mines to get into operation and remain operating is seriously challenged in the territory.

We are asking for the deferral of Bill C-17 until Canada, Yukon, and the Council of Yukon First Nations, with the input of industry and affected stakeholders, have deliberated and determined a replacement process for reassessment. This is the logical approach, as opposed to repealing this important provision with nothing collaboratively determined prior to repeal.

As stated in the Yukon Minerals Advisory Board, YMAB, 2016 annual report, tabled in the Yukon Legislative Assembly on June 7, 2017:

In the absence of a regulatory mechanism such as 49(1)...the process under which projects are 'reassessed' under YESAA is highly flawed.

At best, it serves as a significant burden and barrier to development and capital investments in the Yukon. At worst it threatens the very future of mineral development and placer mining in the territory. There are multiple examples in the Yukon that either have, or will, prematurely shut down projects due in large part to reassessment. The fact that 49(1) has been used by...[YESAB] over 80 times—

—now over 100 times—

—since Bill S-6 became law in 2015 speaks volumes for the critical need of a practical regulatory tool that can manage determinations of non-significance when appropriate.

YMAB appreciates the highly political lightning rod Bill S-6 became and the fact that C-17 will be enacted is not the issue. What is at issue is the loss of a practical regulatory tool that was deployed, or could have been deployed, to avoid repetitive environmental assessments deemed non-significant that serve no benefit to the public or the environment. It is worth noting that this will, and has, impacted several sectors beyond mining in the Yukon.

For context, the Yukon Minerals Advisory Board is comprised of 10 Yukon mineral industry representatives and is legislatively mandated to provide recommendations directly to the Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources, as enacted under the Yukon Economic Development Act of 1999. Until the Northwest Territories devolved from Canada in 2014 and established a similar board, this was the only board of its kind in the country.

To quote YMAB further from its 2015 annual report:

Mining projects that have triggered a reassessment under YESAA require the entire project be reassessed rather than only the new or altered project component(s), which triggered the reassessment in the first place. There appears to be a misperception that industry seeks to circumvent future environmental assessments altogether and this perception is incorrect. YMAB is simply suggesting any reassessment be properly scoped to include only those project components that are new or substantially altered from the original assessment.

For example, as my colleague here has just recounted, Alexco has been through the YESAB process 11 times in 10 years. A project-wide reassessment every time does not allow for the fundamentals of establishing and sustaining a mining operation. To be sustainable an operation needs to continually modify and optimize mining and site plans in response to a multitude of factors, including technology, environmental best practices, commodity prices, or first nation and community values.

The absence of a reassessment provision not only negatively affects proponents, but places a strain on the financial and human resources of publicly funded assessors and governments as well.

Another very recent example from a Yukon mine ramping up to production revealed that in these last few months when Bill C-17 has been making its way through Parliament, the company was once again subjected to an expensive, time-consuming, and ultimately unnecessary reassessment. In this case YESAB ultimately determined that reassessment and any further mitigation beyond the original assessment were not required. Yet despite this relatively favourable outcome, the process that led to it still consumed considerable resources from the company and the YESAB assessment office.

It resulted in a missed season of work for the company, where those financial and human resources could have been put to far better use employing citizens of the affected first nation and the community where it operates.

As I mentioned previously, since section 49.1 was enacted in 2015, over 100 projects have applied for exemption from reassessment. These were not only mining proponents, but municipalities as well. The City of Whitehorse, a major employer in our territory's capital, received this determination under section 49.1 for one of its permanent renewals:

The project has been assessed once by YESAB in 2013. Since that time, the only changes in relation to the project were minor and regulatory in nature. There have been no significant changes to the project and therefore an assessment is not required. KDFN and TKC”—Kwanlin Dun First Nation and Ta'an Kwach'an Council, the two self-governing first nations within whose traditional territory the project lies—“were both contacted to provide comments, but no comments were received.

It has been suggested, given the number of Yukon's economic sectors that have benefited from this reassessment provision, including industry and municipalities, that removing it before its replacement is in position is like ripping the roof off your house before you've decided what to replace it with and leaving Yukoners out in the rain in the process.

Yukon's mining industry is modern, responsible, and innovative. It is a partner at the forefront of research and relationships that balance economic, social, cultural, and environmental values. It and its supporting service and supply companies are our territory's largest private sector employers. It contributes 20% to our GDP, a significant number in a small developing jurisdiction otherwise dominated by the public sector.

The mineral industry is committed to working with all orders of government to provide opportunities that allow Yukoners to grow up in the territory, study and train in the territory, and pursue rewarding and well-paying private sector jobs and careers.

In conclusion, Madam Chair and committee members, the Yukon Producers Group proposes that a committee of interested and affected government and industry parties be struck to work on replacement for the reassessment and timelines provisions and provide its recommendations for this replacement before Bill C-17 receives royal assent.

If replacement provisions are not in place beforehand, industry, municipalities, and all Yukoners will suffer.

Thank you again for the opportunity and your time this morning.

[Brad Thrall, President, Alexco Resource Corp.]

Madam Chair and members of the standing committee, good morning and thank you for the invitation to appear before you today, and provide some industry perspective about this important legislation.

My name is Brad Thrall. I'm the president of Alexco Resource Corp., and I'm urging deferral of Bill C-17's passage until all affected and interested parties can deliberate, and mutually determine language to preserve the reassessment and timeline provisions currently within the Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Act. Repeal of the reassessment and timeline provisions, as anticipated in Bill C-17, without replacement language ready to go, will perpetuate economic uncertainty, and will negatively impact the competitiveness of Yukon, and will diminish economic and social opportunities for all Yukoners.

First, I'll provide some background about Alexco. We are a Canadian mining company. Our primary asset is the historic Keno Hill silver district north of Whitehorse in the traditional territory of the first nation of Na-Cho Nyak Dun. The district was the site of more than 30 underground silver mines from 1913 until 1989, and was the second largest silver producing district in Canada.

Alexco distinguishes itself from other resource companies in that we also founded an independent environmental remediation firm, Alexco Environmental Group, or AEG, which specializes in brownfield site cleanup as well as all aspects of environmental management and permitting.

In part, because of our demonstrated expertise in northern mining reclamation prior to 2005, Alexco was selected as a preferred purchaser of the bankrupt and environmentally compromised assets of Keno Hill from Canada in 2006. At that time, the district was a significant environmental liability for Canada. Since that time, our work to clean up legacy liability in the district has been conducted through AEG in a contractual relationship with Canada, and to date, Alexco has invested more than $22 million, and shares ongoing costs with the federal government. All of this investment offsets Canadian taxpayer liability.

Alexco has also been a recent producer of silver, lead, and zinc from the district, and we are actively planning to resume production in 2018, pending the successful outcome of additional assessments under YESAA.

Currently, we have 80 employees, including a significant number of Yukoners and first nation citizens as part of our mine development program. We anticipate further expanded business and employment opportunities for Na-Cho Nyak Dun citizens, and for residents and contractors in the village of Mayo once permitting is completed.

Once back in production, we will employ over 200, and our annual payroll alone will be in excess of $35 million. There will be significant contract and business opportunities for Yukon and northern business and service providers, and enhanced opportunities to support first nation and community events and initiatives that reflect the social, cultural, and environmental values of the community and its citizens.

We are no strangers to the YESAA process. We have been through this YESAA process 11 times in the past 10 years, six times on the mining side of our business, and a further five times on the environmental cleanup side. In addition, we anticipate making applications for another three assessments under YESAA within the next three months alone.

I believe our experiences in the development assessment process, our relationship with Canada and the environmental cleanup of legacy liabilities, plus our mining experience in Yukon make us exceptionally qualified to provide some real world context for this important discussion.

With this in mind, we are focusing on two specific sections of Bill C-17: project reassessment, section 49.1 of the act, and timelines, section 56(1) of the act.

We can also contrast our experience after YESAA was amended in June 2015 with our experience prior as a measure of the success of the current legislation which, as you know, includes the reassessment timeline provisions. The current legislation allows proponents of certain projects to apply to the decision body, usually Yukon or first nation governments, under section 49.1, to allow a project to proceed without the need for reassessment. This allows previously assessed projects to proceed to the authorization process without duplication.

The reality of mining is that during the process, new or extensions to existing ore bodies may be identified, and these discoveries may require slight modifications to mine operating plans. Under the current legislation, these modifications would generally not require a complete project-wide reassessment. However, if Bill C-17 is passed, they would, even though there is no significant environmental or socio-economic impact and no change in the production stream.

While in production between 2011 and 2013 under the former legislation, Alexco proposed to add to our mine production stream two new deposits adjacent to our existing operations. No significant changes were contemplated. Regardless, permitting required a new project-wide reassessment, which occupied 221 days of YESAB's time and jeopardized the sustainability of our district. Under the existing legislation, small changes to operations could be dealt with as simple licence amendments and could subsequently help ensure sustainable jobs and a sustainable business.

Similarly, in 2014, Alexco was again fully reassessed for production from a third new deposit, and this reassessment included a duplicative assessment of our already licensed and operating mill, which took another 298 days of YESAB's time and resources.

On the environmental side of our business, we were required to go back through an entire environmental assessment to maintain a water licence to extend the operating period for various water treatment facilities. Ironically, these same facilities were mitigating historic environmental liability, but this simple extension required 134 days of YESAB's time to assess the entire project yet again.

Please understand that we firmly support a rigorous environmental assessment process for the Yukon, for new projects and when fundamental changes are made to existing projects. However, small changes to a mine plan or to environmental facilities should not require a “back to square one” assessment. If set back to the previous legislation, uncertainty will prevail, and investment, jobs, benefits, and opportunities for residents and communities will be compromised.

Regarding timelines, the current act includes a provision, subsection 56(1), that limits the time for a proponent's application to be completed through the process. Passage of Bill C-17 would repeal this provision, allowing this period to revert to being an undefined and unlimited period.

Over the eight years before YESAA was amended and over the course of 10 assessments, some of which were duplicative, the time period required to deem our project proposals adequate has increased more than fivefold. In contrast, our 11th assessment in 2017, under the amended legislation, took less than 20 days for adequacy. We expect that in part this is due to the lessened workload of YESAB's designated office resulting from YESAA's amendment in June 2015.

Since YESAA was amended, there have been approximately 100 applications under section 49.1, and of these, nearly two-thirds have been granted by the decision body. Projects granted the opportunity to modify permits and licences without having to undergo full reassessment are not limited only to mining, but include Yukon municipalities and first nation governments as well.

In my view, the reassessment provision has served exactly the purpose for which it was designed. It has increased efficiency at all levels of government. It has substantially reduced or eliminated duplicative assessments. It has reduced cost to the taxpayer while placing Yukon on a competitive footing with other provinces and territories—and globally, I might add.

Based on Alexco's experience and our knowledge of others in the resource and environmental sectors, we believe that passage of Bill C-17 will materially harm Yukon's competitiveness as a destination for resource capital. It will create uncertainty and will hinder our territory's economic growth relative to other jurisdictions in Canada, directly and negatively affecting training and employment for Yukoners and a company's ability to invest in social, cultural, and health and wellness initiatives for Yukon first nations citizens and all Yukoners.

Madam Chair, we believe the proper path forward is to delay this bill until all parties involved—the Yukon government, first nations, municipalities, and industries beyond just mineral exploration, such as tourism, for example—have the chance to mutually develop replacement language to preserve the reassessment and timeline provisions. Passage of Bill C-17 without replacement language will set the Yukon back on its growth since devolution.

I thank you for your time.

[The Chair, Liberal, MaryAnn Mihychuk]

Good morning, everybody. Welcome to the Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs.

Welcome to the Yukon representatives. It's nice to see former colleagues of mine. It's important to get this bill through, so that you have assurance and know what the system is, and then you can make some fabulous discoveries, and production, and employ people.

Let's get down to business. Pursuant to the order of reference of Tuesday, June 20, 2017, we are studying Bill C-17, an act to amend the Yukon environmental socio-economic assessment act and to make a consequential amendment to another act.

You're going to be our last panel on Bill C-17. We're anxious to hear from you.

First, I'd like to recognize that we're on the unceded territory of the Algonquin people. We say that because Canada has started the process of understanding the truth and moving through reconciliation with our first peoples and indigenous communities.

We'll get started with some of the procedure. You have 10 minutes each to present and then we'll go into a round of questions and answers from the committee members.

I have Brad starting, but it doesn't need to be.

Okay, I'll turn things over to you. I'll signal when it's time to wrap up.

Yukon Environmental and Socio-Economic Assessment Act

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

It being 3:16 p.m., pursuant to order made on Tuesday, May 30, 2017, the House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the motion at the second reading stage of Bill C-17.

Call in the members.

The House resumed from June 19 consideration of the motion that Bill C-17, An Act to amend the Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Act and to make a consequential amendment to another Act, be read the second time and referred to a committee.

[David Yurdiga, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Cold Lake, AB]

Thank you, Madam Chair; and thank you to Chief Steve Smith for joining us this morning.

Going through the process from Bill S-6 to Bill C-17, it seems that the most contentious issue is the time limits on the review process. Even in Bill C-17, with time limits not being part of the legislation, the time limits still exist within the Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Board.

I don't know why that's a problem in that, in Bill S-6, it was there just as a stopgap measure. Basically, all it said was, yes, we support timelines. Now Bill C-17 is taking that out, but time limits are still there. Am I correct in that analogy?