Bob Bromley

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to start by noting that, of course, this motion is in response to the crystal clear and unanimous voices of our Aboriginal partners, who between them constitute the greater part of the residents in the Northwest Territories. It’s in response to the many residents who have similarly spoken clearly through groups like Alternatives North, the unions and Ecology North and as individual citizens. It is in response to the Chamber of Mines who have nervously, though perhaps belatedly, acknowledged that the regional boards are indeed working well.

We could put forward a...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thanks again to the Minister. It sounds more and more positive. We know that our forestry officials are highly qualified, so I assume we will be applying best practices as we develop our forest management plans.

The logical next question is Forest Stewardship Council certification is now the best known standard for sustainable forest products.

Will our wood pellets be able to take advantage of the FSC certification as we market them both here in the NWT and abroad? Mahsi.

Thanks to the Minister. That sounds like a very interesting project. I’d love to hear another announcement before the end of this session as we had yesterday with the Fort Providence people.

Some people are wondering how a pellet mill will compete with pellet mills in BC and Alberta that seem to have cheaper power, cheaper labour and practically free access to sawdust from onsite lumber mills. So, basically if we’re going to export wood pellets – and that’s basically what I’ve been hearing – what is our competitive advantage here? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s a great honour to recognize Anthony J. Whitford, a resident of Weledeh and a person of some renown in this House and I believe still holding, in fact, an honourary assignment as Table Officer of this House. Welcome, Tony.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thanks very much for that clarification.

Will the Minister commit to getting both of these groups together for a refreshing all-under-one-tent discussion? Mahsi.

Mr. Speaker, I understand, again, that these meetings have been happening with the working group. I understand that those are those people with Aboriginal treaty rights and responsibilities for wildlife management. As we know, problems developed during the Wildlife Act. They were always leaving out consultations with those without those rights until very late in the game where their input becomes ineffective and the result, of course, is unnecessary tension and division. I am sure that is not the intent of the Minister, but the Minister is well aware of this.

What is the Minister going to do to...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to return to item 7 on the Order Paper. Mahsi.

---Unanimous consent granted

Thanks to the Minister again. I’m not aware of any briefings to committee on this, or any offer, but I appreciate that offer now. This House, I believe, is on record on wanting input into the development of regulations for this act and also the Heritage Fund Act.

How has the Minister started work on this approach and what groups have been contacted so far? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Wildlife Act was recently passed by this House after many years of effort, but it left many of the tough decisions to regulations, which must be developed for implementation of the law.

Can the Minister of the Environment provide an update on the development of these regulations to date? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is with some sadness and appreciation that I rise to report that this past Saturday a well-known and colourful Weledeh constituent “Stan the Man” Larocque passed away peacefully with his family by his side at the Stanton Territorial Hospital.

Mr. Larocque was 94 years old and was known as a real northern character. He made his way north in the late ‘30s when Yellowknife was just beginning as a gold mining town. He worked on the early cat trains, hauling freight across Great Slave on sledges pulled by a bulldozer. Known for his good sense of humour, you could often...