Yukon.

• Author: Kolody, Linda
• Position: Legislative Reports

2013 Fall Sitting

On December 19, the 2013 Fall Sitting of the First Session of the 33rd Legislative Assembly adjourned. The 28-day sitting had commenced on October 31. All 10 government bills introduced during the sitting received Assent before the sitting concluded.

Select Committee--Hydraulic Fracturing

The work of the Select Committee Regarding the Risks and Benefits of Hydraulic Fracturing (established in the 2013 Spring Sitting, and described in Yukon's two previous legislative reports) continues. The Committee travelled to southern Alberta on a fact-finding mission from January 6-9 to "tour a site and meet with organizations and government agencies," in furtherance of the aspect of the Committee's mandate requiring its members to gain "a science-based understanding of the technical, environmental, economic and regulatory aspects of hydraulic fracturing."

On January 6, the Committee travelled to Red Deer, toured the Alberta Energy Regulator Field Centre, and held meetings with Alberta Energy Regulator, and Sundre Petroleum Operators Group. The following day, the Committee toured a hydraulic fracturing operation and a producing well site located north of Red Deer. On January 8, the Committee held meetings in Calgary with Alberta Health Services, Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development, a University of Calgary professor from the Department of Geology and Geophysics, and the Cochrane Area Under Siege Coalition. The following day, the Committee travelled back to Yukon.

In a January 20 open letter, Patti McLeod, chair of the six-member committee, provided an update on upcoming committee proceedings. Public proceedings, which were held in the Yukon Legislative Chamber on January 31 and February 1, brought presentations from eight groups and individuals over the course of two full days. After each committee member had the opportunity to ask the presenter a few questions, committee members selected and asked questions submitted in writing by visitors in the Gallery. The public...