Ron Irwin

[Indian Affairs, May 12th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, if my good friend had come to our Liberal convention yesterday he would have heard the speech, but there is hope some time maybe in the future he will cross over the floor and he will get the benefit of hearing-

[Canada Petroleum Resources Act, May 9th, 1994]

moved that Bill C-25, an act to amend the Canada Petroleum Resources Act, be read the second time and referred to a committee.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to address the House on Bill C-25, an act to amend the Canada Petroleum Resources Act.

As parliamentarians we are required to absorb vast amounts of information. Pages and pages of documentation can accompany even the simplest request for a decision. It is remarkable that such a brief piece of legislation as Bill C-25 can be so important.

Bill C-25 proposes only a minor administrative change to the Canada Petroleum Resources Act in order to exempt the Norman Wells oil field which will now include additional lands. This change and, more important, the reasons behind it will have major ramifications for northern communities, for northern aboriginal people and for Canadians.

The amendment is important because it will allow production from the Norman Wells oil field in the central Mackenzie valley to continue under existing arrangements for as long as the field is commercially producible. This is now estimated to be at least to the year 2020, a full 12 years longer than originally anticipated.

Without this extension the community of Norman Wells will lose an important economic stimulus. Jobs will be lost both in Norman Wells and in other northern communities. Governments and taxpayers will also lose as millions of dollars of potential corporate and personal tax revenues, royalties and other income will disappear. In the process a vital resource will be needlessly and negligently left in the ground.

Extending the production agreement for Norman Wells, on the other hand, will rekindle investor interest in the Canadian north. As hon. members know, the economic well-being of both territories will very much benefit from healthy resource industries.

With the recent settlement of a number of aboriginal comprehensive land claims in the north, we are now in the process of opening lands to private enterprise. Establishing certainty of land and resource ownerships is one of the principle objectives of a comprehensive claims settlement.

From this standpoint, the extension of the Norman Wells project could not be more opportune. It will focus attention on the great resource potential of these northern areas at a time when lands are becoming available for exploration and development.

This in turn will result in additional drilling and service contracts for northern firms. There will also be new business opportunities for other service industries. The economic benefits of Norman Wells will continue and broaden. In order to put Bill C-25 into perspective I would like to briefly explain some of the history behind the Norman Wells development.

Although the Norman Wells field was discovered around the turn of the century, it was not significantly developed until the second world war when northern inland oil supplies became strategically important. In 1944 at the height of the war effort the Government of Canada entered into an agreement with Imperial Oil Limited to develop the Norman Wells field, the so-called proven area, set out in that agreement as based on the technology that was available at the time.

Today we know that a small proportion of the field extends beyond the current proven area boundaries. As well, the 1944 agreement had an expiry date of 2008, which was considered to be more than enough time to extract all the oil.

Based on new exploration and production technology, Imperial Oil now believes the field will be productive well beyond this date, an assessment backed by the National Energy Board.

Hon. members may be aware that the governor in council has the authority to extend the duration of the 1944 agreement with Imperial Oil and to expand the proven area. However, a minor amendment is required to the Canada Petroleum Resources Act to ensure that the act which specifically excludes the 1944 agreement refers to the 1994 agreement.

Bill C-25 accomplishes this with an amendment that is inconsequential to the application of the act in any other region of Canada.

Proclamation of this legislation will have an immediate and very positive economic impact in the north and other parts of Canada. Bill C-25 will pave the way for a $30 million drilling program that will be undertaken by Imperial Oil this year, assuming Parliament acts quickly enough to allow the company to take advantage of a short window of opportunity this summer for drilling work in the north.

This drilling program will be undertaken mostly in the expanded proven area. About one-third of the money, $10 million, will be spent directly in the north. Most of the remaining $20 million will be spent in Alberta.

As a result of the drilling program and the extension of the field's producing life, short term employment in the Norman Wells area will increase and long term employment will be stabilized.

This government is committed to working with Imperial Oil, other companies, the community of Norman Wells and the Sahtu Dene and Metis to ensure that local people benefit from the employment. At least one-third of the on site jobs generated by the drilling program will be guaranteed to local residents. Indirect employment is estimated at an additional 25 person years in the north.

Aboriginal people in particular stand to benefit from this extension. Under their land claim agreements the Gwich'in, the Sahtu Dene and Metis are entitled to a share of the royalties from Norman Wells. The extension will give them a guaranteed revenue flow beyond 2008 and perhaps to the year 2020.

As well, Shehtah Drilling which is jointly owned by the Dene Metis and Imperial Oil holds a $6 million drilling contract that is conditional on this project moving forward.

The Government of Canada's financial position will also benefit from the continued production of oil from Norman Wells. In addition to receiving millions in additional royalty payments from Imperial Oil, I remind hon. members that Canada is a one-third owner in Norman Wells development. The extension of production is expected to bring the government millions of dollars in return on this investment. We will also increase revenues from federal, territorial and municipal corporate taxes and from personal income taxes.

Bill C-25 provides clear evidence of this government's commitment to economic renewal in all regions of Canada. The Norman Wells extension project will not only keep some Canadians working, it will contribute directly and indirectly to the creation of many new jobs both in the north and in Alberta.

This is a positive initiative that has the support of all the key players: aboriginal and non-aboriginal people in the Northwest Territories, the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, the petroleum industry and of course the Government of Canada. It deserves the support of this House so that the planned drilling program can proceed this year and the affected northern communities, families and workers can be assured of a stable economic future.

[Aboriginal Affairs, May 6th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I apologize; I did not hear the subjects.

In Manitoba right now there are four subject matters being negotiated. I think the hon. member is familiar with them. We will be negotiating health, education, fire and police protection, and aboriginal courts. At least 10 subject matters will be negotiated with aboriginal people that will eventually define self-government.

[Aboriginal Affairs, May 6th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, under the Tory regime, as the hon. member knows, gaming was transferred to the provinces. Several of the provinces are putting up gaming regimes and are dealing with aboriginal people.

For instance, the best example I can give is in the province of Saskatchewan where an agreement was worked out with the FSIN for two casinos, one in Saskatoon and one in Regina, and there will be a split on income.

If the provinces decide to proceed to move jurisdiction over to the aboriginal people, to share jurisdiction or to have co-management, I think it would be a favourable result. As far as whether it is part of the self-government negotiations, it is not as far as federal government is concerned.

[Indian Affairs, May 6th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, there are two guarantees: my word and the law. The hon. member can rely on both.

[Indian Affairs, May 6th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, I want to tell the hon. member that this is not true. Yesterday and this morning I talked with Mr. Christos Sirros about the service stations. There is a problem, but there is no agreement between us. Even if I had the money I would not do it.

Our problem is with 12 stations, private businesses, and we have the band year. I am a fiduciary and the government's fiduciary of the funds that belong to the band. Not only can I not do this, I would not use band moneys to solve a government tax problem between basically private enterprise and the government.

[Self-Government, May 5th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, in the words of Allan MacEachen, that's better, it's a question.

[Self-Government, May 5th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, that is not a question.

[Aboriginal Self-Government, May 5th, 1994]

Perhaps some day the government. The leader of the Reform Party makes a valid point. The next legislation that will be before the House dealing with aboriginal people he will see clearly that the Charter of Rights and Freedoms will apply. That will be some time this month.

[Aboriginal Self-Government, May 5th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, that is a good question. The rights and freedoms under the charter as they are now expressed apply to provincial and federal governments. I think we have to be cognizant that when we make these transfers that the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, about which I feel very strongly, should be transposed into the negotiations.

The Leader of the Opposition will be happy-not the opposition leader but the leader of the Reform Party, hopefully the opposition-