Oh, oh!
Evidence of meeting #54 for Indigenous and Northern Affairs in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was process.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Evidence of meeting #54 for Indigenous and Northern Affairs in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was process.
A recording is available from Parliament.
5:20 p.m.
Some hon. members
Oh, oh!
5:20 p.m.
Conservative
Ray Boughen Conservative Palliser, SK
I mean the questions make some sense.
Following my colleague and the questions he raised, let me talk about the GDP in Nunavut and Yukon, which has grown over the past couple of years while they have been struggling with the GDP in the Northwest Territories. Could the minister describe the benefits that will flow from the implementation of this bill?
5:20 p.m.
Conservative
John Duncan Conservative Vancouver Island North, BC
Yes, I think it's fairly obvious that tremendous benefits will flow.
We've already seen some benefits because we're seeing people trying to meet the spirit and intent of legislation.
One of the very significant parts of the legislation is self-imposition of timelines. A big part of that is timelines within the federal family, our own approval times internally within the federal government. I've been heavily criticized by the mining sector and the territorial governments and others over the years. We're imposing some pretty tight deadlines on ourselves. Through the legislation, we're imposing deadlines on others as well.
They're all leading us to a place where the mining sector, for example, is completely supporting this bill. They're saying the new regulatory regime will enhance the territorial economic competitiveness for mineral investment, will have a positive influence on GDP, and will boost confidence in the north as a place to invest. This is really good stuff. They are the ones that have not hesitated to point out that the GDP in Yukon and Nunavut has had major growth, and it's gone the other way in the NWT. They know why; they're the ones making the decisions. They are very much welcoming these initiatives.
I wanted to quote something, but I can't quite pull it down. The shade went down.
5:25 p.m.
Conservative
Ray Boughen Conservative Palliser, SK
Minister, in looking at the Nunavut planning and project assessment act and the Northwest Territories surface rights board act being put together into one piece of legislation, which you talked about a little, could you expand on that? I know my colleague asked you a similar question and then answered it as you went along. I wonder if we could hear your answer.
5:25 p.m.
Conservative
John Duncan Conservative Vancouver Island North, BC
Basically we're trying to make the best use of what's termed limited House time. I don't care what anyone wants to say, we have a lineup of legislation for the House, and unless we use the House fairly efficiently, we'll never come close to being able to get everything through.
I can give you an example. Matrimonial real property legislation for first nations, which is a piece of legislation that's really important for women and children living on reserve, has been introduced into Parliament four times. There's been a legislative vacuum emanating from the Supreme Court for 25 years, and we're having trouble getting it through Parliament because of opposition resistance. This is occurring as a backdrop to our trying to get other important legislation through as well.
Whenever we can bundle legislation that's related, and this is all totally related to investment north of 60, to economic development, to environmental assessment, to protecting the environment, to doing things in an appropriate way, and it's welcomed by the three territorial governments, to me it's a no-brainer that we'll want to combine it.
5:25 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Chris Warkentin
Thank you, Mr. Boughen.
Thank you, Minister, for being with us today. Thank you for accommodating our schedule as you and your officials have. They've come back for several false starts, so we appreciate their willingness to work with us as well.
Colleagues, we'll adjourn the meeting, but I would ask the members of the subcommittee if we could meet briefly for a minute.
The meeting is adjourned.