Kevin O'Reilly

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Okay, I appreciate the help with that. Where in the department is the agricultural strategy funding located? Thanks, Mr. Chair. Is this the right section? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Sure, yes, there is shown in the business plan a $50,000 reduction to the water regulatory budget, and I think it shows up on page 86, as well. Can someone tell me what that reduction is all about? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I did the homework for the Minister over the lunch hour. Out of the 27 commitments when you look at the mandate tracker on the executive website, only one has been completed; one out of 27 items. This is a department that cannot get the job done. They are behind in legislation, important wildlife planning, climate change initiatives. I am sorry to say this, but the department is way behind on everything, and it is because of the cuts that continue to be made to this department.

Last year, and again this year, there are cuts of $371,000 to the corporate management function...

I think I understand some of that. I'm not sure I necessarily agree with it all, but is there an MOU or some formal agreement between GNWT and the Water Board over reporting of the staff and who is responsible for what? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Merci, Monsieur le President. Thanks to the Minister again. Lots of talk with the NTPC. That's great, but let's put something in writing in the strategy about what the role is going to be for that corporation moving forward.

The relationship between the NWT Energy Strategy, the Climate Change Strategic Framework, and carbon pricing is not set out in the draft Energy Strategy. A reasonable person would expect to see greenhouse gas reductions linked to specific energy conservation, fuel-switching, technology targets, that would be funded by carbon pricing revenues and federal programs. That is...

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I appreciate the Minister's commitment, but so far, the solutions haven't worked with the fiscal strategy of Cabinet to reduce this department because it hasn't been able to accomplish everything that it wanted.

I want to ask, though: when was the last time that there was a good review done of a fire suppression in particular? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thanks, Mr. Chairman. Yes, that's what I was worried about. Look, the Cumulative Impact Monitoring Program is established under federal legislation, the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act. It's part 6. It's the audit function and state of the environment function for the MVRMA. If there is money to be taken out to support legislative initiatives, where is the legislation to actually set up the Cumulative Impact Monitoring Program to a greater extent than what is already in Part 6 of the MVRMA?

If we're using this as a pot to shuffle off money for other departmental activities, in my view...

Thanks, Mr. Chair. The employees, are they employees of the Water Board or of ENR? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thanks to the Minister for that, and I look forward to the release of the final versions later in April. In my statement, I mentioned the confusing energy targets in the NWT strategy. Some sectorial targets are related to reduced greenhouse gas emissions, while another is based on increasing renewable energy use, another is couched in terms of energy efficiency, and the largest energy use sector industry has no targets whatsoever. Can the Minister explain this patchwork approach to setting energy targets in the draft strategy?

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Yes, that's what I was most worried about. These reductions are not necessarily going to be confined to forest management. They might be made elsewhere within the department. Is that what I heard? Thanks, Mr. Chair.