Bob Bromley

I appreciate the Minister’s response again. I think we really want to use those emergency provisions only when there is an emergency, otherwise it needs the oversight. Now, these problems could have been avoided if we had an effective community-based mechanism for independent oversight. Yet, despite six drafts of an oversight discussion paper and eight drafts of an Environmental Agreement, the working group hasn’t met since last August.

The Minister stated his support for independent oversight at a March 2012 workshop. So will the Minister direct his department and encourage our federal...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to direct my questions to the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources and focus on the Giant Mine Remediation Project. Aboriginal Affairs Northern Development Canada, GNWT’s partner on this remediation project, has filed a water licence application to carry out demolition of the roaster complex at the Giant Mine, requiring removal of 700 tonnes of deadly arsenic trioxide and 90,000 cubic metres of waste, but there are serious concerns with the federal government plan for site. Most disturbing is a lack of a comprehensive dust management and air...

Thanks to the Minister’s comments. I appreciate that. I think this is an opportunity to do some serious navel gazing to see how well we’ve done and how productive our work has been with internal efforts versus through contributions. I know there seems to be an effort out there that restricts contributions to projects that are less than an acre in size. To me, that’s completely crazy. It ignores the size of our communities and so on and I have to wonder where that’s coming from.

I think the Minister is on the right track and good, full discussions on this with all of our partners who are out...

Thanks to the Minister. So I appreciate that this will be a very broad review and, I’m assuming, the Minister replied with some interest in looking at the Finnish system.

Will the Minister report to the committee on the results of the review of the Finnish system and really work with us on a plan to adopt, fund and implement those aspects that we think are warranted?

Mr. Chair, I’m just wondering where we’re at in response to recovering from the episode of moving ECE for a few years and now back under this Minister’s leadership. What is our debt situation and how are we doing with collections? If I could just get an update on that area. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I will give the Minister a chance to get his seat there. I do appreciate the Minister’s support for agriculture under the economic diversification business support side of things. I know he had a bit of a peak experience with the Polar Egg move. I just want to explore the Growing Forward Program a little bit. I understand it’s being renewed, Growing Forward 2. Of Growing Forward 1, what proportion of the funds – I don’t remember how much it was – was allocated to contributions to other parties and what was spent with our own programs internally, agricultural programs...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thanks to the Minister. This government talks fiscal restraint in the first two years of the mandate, before program expansions in the third and fourth years. We will have $4 million more in our federal ALBE funds to coincide with our return to funding, apparently, in response to human needs.

Again, will the Minister advance his case to provide the essential complementary support to make sure there are no gaps in these various programs of support for ALBE students? Mahsi.

Mr. Chair, I have a last question on that aspect. Are we regularly or do we routinely, at some interval, contact the YWCA agencies that would be expected to maintain waiting lists so that we are aware of what they’re hearing and seeing on the ground? Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I just want to do a little follow-up there. I think this fund is very much appreciated and it is a real struggle. I know the Minister is aware of that and I know the outfitters have been working hard to try to diversify, as the Minister is well aware. I’m sure that’s been helpful, but the challenges are clear.

I agree that this government certainly encouraged these outfitters to develop in this way and this government is responsible and failed in their management of caribou. So there is some responsibility here and I’m sure that’s part of the consideration as we support...

Thanks for the Minister’s comments there. I hope the Minister will report to committee on what was achieved with the $2.5 million expenditure this year.

Unfortunately, ALBE and upgrading students are not eligible for student financial assistance. SFA, as it’s called, recognizes that people going to college and university need room and board, but apparently ALBE students don’t have these needs. With all this programming being funded to get people back to school, why is student financial assistance not available to adult learning basic education students? Mahsi.