Bob Bromley

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are directed to the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources. I want to follow up on my earlier Member’s statement, a key priority of the 17th Assembly’s support of environmentally sustainable development, and obviously the public is on track here. Given our current policies, we’re not achieving that and we’re not able to achieve that. There’s no potential to achieve that. What is the Minister prepared to do in terms of improved policies and law to counter the threat to our people and environment?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. During the last session while debating how best to act on climate change, discussion was sidetracked as a focus on rules obscured the meat of the debate. Nevertheless, recognition of the need for real action shone through. Public responses sent to Ministers, colleagues and myself showed overwhelming public support for GNWT leadership on a more responsible position to fight climate change.

Here are some sample quotes: “We’re in denial about what every major academy of science is telling us.” “The imbalance has wreaked havoc on the environment.” “Our behaviour is folly of...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to return to item 15, notices of motion, on the orders of the day. Mahsi.

---Unanimous consent granted

Thanks to the Minister for that commitment. One has to question the care that was taken in the planning of these exercises to ensure protection of public safety and infrastructure. Has this government contacted the commanders of these exercises and requested assurance and a detailed explanation of measures being taken to prevent further harm to people and vital infrastructure or will we do that contact soon?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister responsible for the NWT Power Corporation and it’s my hope I can get answers beyond finalizing devolution as the answer to all of my questions. The hydro supply for Yellowknife and Behchoko was recently knocked out by the Canadian Military’s current exercises for our protection. We face a huge bill for one kilometre of transmission line repairs, elevated fuel costs replacing hydro with diesel power for at least 10 days, and associated expenses. Will the Minister be sending an invoice to the federal Minister of National Defence for a...

Thanks for that response from the Minister. I appreciate that. Will the Minister commit to immediately revising the Greenhouse Gas Policy to remove the policy of allowing greenhouse gas emissions to soar to 100 percent above earlier emissions by 2020 and replace it with a more responsible policy in line with the science with which he agrees?

Yes, Mr. Speaker?

Most of my Member’s statement was in fact dedicated to that, but I’d be happy to offer a lot of suggestions. We have elected this Minister to lead us and I’m expecting… This was raised in the last session, as you are well aware, having ruled on various points of order and so on. Now we’re finally getting back to the debate here. Obviously, months have gone by and there’s still no response. I’d like to ask that question again. What is this Minister doing, what is he prepared to do to modify our policies and laws to address the concerns on greenhouse gas emissions?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It gives me great pleasure to join you in welcoming Mr. Anthony “Tony” Whitford. So many accolades, the list is getting longer daily. I’m looking forward to seeing him at the table with the table officers soon.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Friday, February 17, 2012, I will move the following motion: now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, that the Department of Health and Social Services investigate the potential for successful implementation of similar programming and work with standing committees to test and introduce a similar program in the NWT;

And further, that the government provide a comprehensive response to this motion within 120 days.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.