Bob Bromley

Thank you for that explanation of the reduction, that clears up that mystery. I’m still concerned about where we’re getting the millions of dollars required for the caribou surveys. These are core activities that this government is responsible for and we do bring in partners and so on. In terms of funding, unless things have changed mightily since the last time we looked at this, the GNWT is sort of the major agency responsible for funding those surveys. Perhaps I can start with is there an estimate for the cost of surveying all of our major herds this fiscal year?

Yes, I was referring to during the 16th Assembly when the caribou did crash and we were, as a government, less than candid leaving the outfitters with commitments that they obviously couldn’t fulfill given the situation. We knew it. They didn’t.

I appreciate that update from the Minister. In the December statement, the Minister said he would be working with the Health Minister on prevention and treatment options, and I think that’s what the Minister was talking about. I’m wondering, given that this work is ongoing, and hopefully we’re going to come up with a good solution, is the Minister aiming at avoiding the costs of Bill C-10 through his prevention program or is his strategy to come up with the dollars for new facilities and services and so on. What is the goal? What is the strategic direction of this Minister in consultation with...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I didn’t mean to interrupt my colleague’s flow there, but I just have a few quick ones. First of all, the department seems to be focusing on large projects quite a bit. That’s great when they happen. You know, there’s potential for a lot of benefits, but we don’t have a lot of influence on whether or not they happen. That’s primarily an economic analysis. We do have a lot of influence on whether or not and to the degree to which and how we make sure we tie down benefits from those big projects when they happen.

An example was mentioned by the Minister of Finance in his...

It’s clear that I have lots of colleagues that share your enthusiasm for this real high potential area. I agree that there are a lot of amazing and wonderful entrepreneurs out there. I noted that they also play a big role in the communities for sharing their expertise. They’re all very much outgoing that way and are real nodes and worthy of our support. I’m very glad to hear that this is fully supported.

I guess maybe just to move on here. Are these $300,000 essentially federal dollars? Are those the going forward or is that in addition to that? I’m wondering what that amount would be.

I’m also...

The reason I raise this is because we do have a lot of capable public servants in our workforce and there has been a trend in the past to contract out more and more. We hire the experts in the field and then they sit there and do administration when they were hired to actually do the work because they are experts in that field. That is an ongoing concern.

The second question I have on this page is the department is committed to surveying all the major herds, as we learned from the Minister, this fiscal year. Yet I see really a reduction, if anything, to the wildlife management budget. Again I’m...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just wondering why we reduced the support for sport hunter outfitter marketing from $600,000 to $300,000 this year. Clearly, the need is ongoing and I imagine things are getting more stressed as time goes by. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I have read the Justice department’s analysis of impacts resulting from the federal crime bill, the so-called Safe Streets and Communities Act. The law’s requirement for mandatory minimum sentences and limitations on additional sentences place huge new burdens upon our policing, courts and correction services, and possibly resulting in tens of millions of dollars more in expenditures, not to mention human costs.

According to the department’s estimate, the need to expand the North Slave Correctional Centre could cost $32 million and perhaps another $35 million for a new...

I’m glad that process is underway. I hope we will see some reallocation of those dollars. My last question on this page, the minerals, oil and gas up considerably again. Is that related to the contract services and the mineral strategy again?

That’s all, thanks.