3 (1) A panel is established, to be known in English as the English and Wabigoon Rivers Remediation Panel and in French as Comité d’assainissement des rivières English et Wabigoon. Purposes (2) The purposes of the panel are to, (a) advise the Minister on, (i) the establishment of the Trust, (ii) the practices and procedures for the panel referred to in subsection (16), (iii) the criteria for the payment of funds from the Trust referred to in subsection 8 (1), and (iv) the development of remediation goals and objectives; (b) issue written directions to the trustee requiring the release of funds from the trust; (c) prepare the report described in section 11; and (d) perform other functions specified in this Act or required by the Minister. First Nation representatives (3) The Minister shall invite the band councils of each of the following First Nations to appoint two representatives to be members of the panel: 1. Grassy Narrows First Nation. 2. Wabaseemoong Independent Nations. First Nation representation (4) The band council of each First Nation mentioned in subsection (3) may, after receipt of an invitation from the Minister, appoint up to two representatives to be members of the panel. Other communities, representatives (5) Where an Indigenous community that has a historic relationship with the English or Wabigoon Rivers, other than a First Nation mentioned in subsection (3), has an interest in the remediation of the English or Wabigoon Rivers, the Minister may authorize a representative of that community to participate in one or more meetings of the panel. Not to vote, etc. (6) A person authorized under subsection (5) to participate in a meeting of the panel is not a member of the panel and may not vote on any matter considered by the panel. Ontario representative (7) The Minister may appoint up to two members to represent the interests of Ontario on the panel. Appointments at pleasure (8) A member of the panel serves at the pleasure of, (a) the band council of the First Nation the member represents, in the case of a member appointed under subsection (4); or (b) the Minister, in the case of a member appointed under subsection (7). Timing of invitations (9) The Minister shall issue the invitations under subsection (3) within 10 days after this section comes into force. Timing of appointments (10) Within 10 days after the invitations are issued, the Minister and the band council of each First Nation mentioned in subsection (3) shall each, if they wish to appoint representatives to the panel, endeavour to appoint one or two representatives. Chair and vice-chair (11) The members of the panel shall select a chair and vice-chair of the panel from among the members of the panel. Timing of selection (12) The members of the panel shall endeavour to hold the initial meeting of the panel and select the chair and vice-chair within 20 days following the expiry of the 10-day period provided for in subsection (10). Timing of advice, remediation goals and objectives (13) The panel shall endeavour to provide the advice to the Minister in respect of the development of the remediation goals and objectives as soon as reasonably possible. Quorum (14) Two-thirds of the members of the panel constitute a quorum. How decisions reached (15) The panel shall attempt to reach consensus in respect of a matter before it, but where that is not possible, the determination of a matter before the panel shall be by majority vote. Practices and procedures (16) The Minister may, after considering the advice, if any, of the panel, establish practices and procedures for the panel, including providing for, (a) means of dispute resolution including facilitation, mediation or arbitration; (b) the establishment of subcommittees to advise the panel; and (c) the means by which the panel and subcommittees make decisions, including procedures to be applied to take into account the views of each panel member in accordance with clause (19) (c). Facilitator or mediator (17) Despite any practice or procedure established under subsection (16), the chair of the panel may invite a person to participate in one or more meetings of the panel to assist the panel by acting as a facilitator or mediator in respect of disputes related to the work of the panel. Decisions of the panel (18) Decisions of the panel shall be made in accordance with the practices and procedures, if any, established under subsection (16). Directions of the panel to trustee (19) A decision of the panel to issue a written direction to the trustee requiring the release of funds from the trust, (a) shall be made in accordance with the practices and procedures, if any, established under subsection (16); (b) shall be made in accordance with the criteria established under subsection 8 (1); (c) shall take into account the views of each panel member appointed under subsection (4) as to whether the aboriginal or treaty rights of the First Nation the member represents are likely to be disproportionately and adversely affected by the activities to which the direction relates; and (d) shall be communicated to the trustee by the chair or the vice-chair on behalf of the panel. Dissolution (20) The Minister may, after seeking the advice of the panel, dissolve the panel if the Minister determines that the panel, (a) is no longer required because no further activities are required to address the presence of contaminants; or (b) is unable to carry out its functions.