Page 1
Page 2
Page 3
Page 4
Page 5
Page 6
Page 7
Page 8
Page 9
Page 10
Page 11
Page 12
Page 13
Page 14
Page 15
Page 16
Page 17
Page 18
Page 19
Page 20
Page 21
Page 22
Page 23
Page 24
Tuesday September 22 2015 21 6.8103 in x 6.3125 in INDUSTRY FRACKING BY CRAIG GILBERT The 17th Assemblys economic development committee welcomed word that the GNWT intends to extend the public engagement pe- riod on a new hydraulic fracturing policy. The Standing Committee on Economic De- velopment and Infrastructure issued a state- ment saying it is pleased Industry Tourism and Investment Minister David Ramsay con- rmed discussions would continue into the next assembly. We stress that more work must be done to engage and respond to the publics concerns andtotheseveralconcernsandissuesraisedin theCommitteesResearchSummarytabledon June 4 standing committee chair MLA Rob- ert Hawkins said in a press release. It is our viewthatthepublicislookingforguaranteesof protectionforwaterlandwildlifeandhuman health and has brought a range of insightful views before the government. Ramsay said on Sept. 17 the fracking policy dovetails with the GNWTs work towards an NWT Oil and Gas Strategy. Responsibleresourcedevelopmentinclud- ing oil and gas development is a major com- ponent of the NWT economy and essential to creating a prosperous sustainable future for our residents he said. We recognize that peoplewantmoretimetothinkabouthowour resources are best managed and developed. Draft regulations setting out ling require- ments for proposed oil and gas projects were developed earlierthis year.Between April and June 2015 the departments of ITI Environ- ment and Natural Resources and Lands con- ducted 14 public engagement sessions in 12 communitiesthroughouttheterritoryhearing input from residents businesses and industry about the proposed regulations according to theGNWT.Residentswerealsoabletosubmit comments by mail and email. Hawkins said the committee has stud- ied hydraulic fracturing throughout the 17th Assembly considered potential im- pacts on all regions and residents and recognized the need to continually pur- sue the best possible information. Most recently members undertook a review of the proposed Hydraulic Fracturing Filing Regulations. Thecommitteesnalreportwillbetabledin theupcomingsessionoftheLegislativeAssembly. Asdiscussiononhydraulicfracturingandthe proposedNWTOilandGasStrategyproceeds the committee encourages all residents to re- main involved. Parties may also make written submissions to the committee Hawkins said. Industry ministry extends consultation period on new fracking policy into next Assembly PhotoJoshuaDoubek The GNWT has announced it will extend the input period on its new fracking policy into the next Assembly.