SPEAKING NOTES For

The Honourable Chuck Strahl, PC, MP
Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians

Announcement of Northern Regulatory Improvement Initiative and Minister's Special Representative

Yellowknife, Northwest Territories
November 7, 2007

Check against delivery

 

Good morning and thank you for coming.

In the Speech from the Throne on October 16th, our government made it clear that the North ranks very high among our priorities. We also made it clear that we are committed to seeing the North realize its true potential.

That is why we are advancing an integrated Northern Strategy, the goals of which include protecting Northern environmental heritage, and promoting Northern economic and social development.

We know that strong regulatory regimes are essential to achieving these goals, which is why – in addition to the good work already underway – we are developing the Northern Regulatory Improvements Initiative.

This is a strategy that will advance effective northern resource management, effect the positive ongoing evolution of the system, and improve the overall northern regulatory environment.

We know the Northwest Territories regulatory regime is a shared system, with shared decision-making responsibilities among many stakeholders – federal, territorial, and Aboriginal. It is also a relatively new system, which is continuing to grow and evolve.

The regime as it currently works has many strengths. Those responsible for making decisions regarding land and resources are committed to the North and to northerners, and always take a balanced approach to economic development and environmental protection.  However, we know there is room for improvement.  In fact, we have been told by many different stakeholders, including the Auditor General, the Conference Board of Canada, the mining and energy industries, territorial governments and Aboriginal groups, that there is room for improvement.

There are high expectations for regulatory regimes across the North, given the important role that these regimes play in enabling the North to realize its vast economic potential, while continuing to protect its valuable environmental heritage and providing real, tangible benefits to Northerners.

Everyday, we see evidence of development opportunities that test the efficiency and effectiveness of the current system. It is essential that we maximize the potential benefits of resource-development projects, while protecting the environment, and to do that we must have predictable, effective and efficient regulatory systems across the North.

Resource management boards play an important role in this system -- they are an excellent example of how we can all work together for positive change. I have just come from a meeting of the Northwest Territories Board Forum where I spoke about the steps our government is taking to help facilitate that change.

As I mentioned we are already working on a number of other successful activities to improve regulatory systems across the North, including:

• amendments to the Canada Oil and Gas Operations Act to provide the National Energy Board with the authority to regulate pipeline access;
• amendments to the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act, to ensure the basic principle of “one project, one environmental assessment”;
• the accelerated development of the Nunavut Land Use Planning and Impact Assessment Act;
• New funding to strengthen Board capacity in Nunavut and the Northwest Territories; and
• the Five Year Review of the Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment process.

To ensure we continue to build on this good work, I am happy to introduce to you Mr. Neil McCrank, who I have appointed as my Special Representative for the Northern Regulatory Improvement Initiative. Mr. McCrank’s role will be to provide me with advice on improving the strength and efficiency of the regulatory regimes across the North.

As the Minister’s Special Representative, Mr. McCrank will speak with our key partners and stakeholders to obtain their views. These discussions will include other federal government departments, territorial governments, land claim organizations, Aboriginal governments and organizations, industry associations, and environmental non-governmental organizations. I have asked him to focus initially on the Northwest Territories, but there is no question that we need to identify common themes across the North so he will also be speaking with stakeholders in Nunavut and Yukon.

Following a review of Mr. McCrank’s report, including his recommendations for advancing the regulatory regime, Canada will develop a strategy for action.

The work Mr. McCrank will undertake on the Northern Regulatory Improvements Initiative is an important part of ensuring regulatory regimes across the North are strong, efficient, effective, and predictable and will better equip the North to develop and benefit from its resources in the best way possible. Indeed, his appointment attests to our government’s commitment to the North.

Thank you