Bob Bromley

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don’t want to take away from the work that we are doing. As enormous as the Minister makes it sound and as modest as I feel it is, I don’t want to take away from that. I will note that we have a 10 percent reduction target for the GNWT, which is one-twelfth of the NWT. One-twelfth times one-tenth, that’s one one hundred-twentieth of the greenhouse gas emissions in the Northwest Territories. So it’s pretty modest. We know that’s way out of date and typically small. So I’m hoping we are getting going on that strategy

Let me just say, will the Minister commit to bringing...

That’s kind of my concern. We’re three years almost into our mandate here and yet we’ve got a lot of debate to go before we actually do things. So I’m pretty concerned here. The Minister notes, as anybody could have noted in this strategy, that cross-departmental efforts are needed, but again there is no mechanism for merging community engagement which is called for with private enterprise and Public Works and Services’ considerable experience now in a pilot test approach to distribute a biomass energy project in each region. So I’m wondering what is the mechanism for that. There is no...

This modest Biomass Strategy has been slow to come, but it’s finally laid the basis for moving forward. It now needs full and progressive implementation. We have a start in 2010-2011, but to fully realize the benefits it can offer we will need the full support and capacity required to be nailed down in the 2011-2012 budget cycle. I call on all Members to ensure that we learn from this first year of experience with the Biomass Strategy and commit to a fully resourced strategy on how we will get our people, environment, and economy to where it must and can be.

Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses in. Does committee agree?

I guess I don’t have enough information to suggest a strategy to the Minister, other than I hope he will look at it and see if there is a long-term plan to resolve it. Thank you.

I would presume with that information that there are details to it and there must be opportunities over time narrowing down those options, putting a strategy together to do that on the lower end of the cost range. Are we looking at that, Mr. Chairman, putting that together? Thank you.

I appreciate Mr. Williams’ and the Minister’s comments. I know we heard a lot the other day about how the Legislative Assembly is doing and they’re marching right along in regard to some of those initiatives; I think well along towards achieving 80 percent reduction in paper in some areas and looking really good. I’m assuming that’s also saving us dollars and giving us some flexibility for other work and priorities. So that’s all I had. I’d probably benefit from seeing the terms of reference, if that’s shareable there. So I appreciate those comments. Thank you.

What is the wish of the committee? Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. If I am right, I think this is where the Brilliant Future document is being implemented and I am wondering if, first of all, is that the budget under strategic initiatives. I see there is a doubling of that cost this year under program delivery details. I assume that is for the delivery of that program A Brilliant North. Am I correct there or are there other initiatives I should know about there? Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Motion is on the floor, in order and is being distributed.