Kevin O'Reilly

Thanks, Mr. Chair. In the Minister’s opening remarks, he talked about how there was an extra $2 million to continue implementation of the Water Stewardship Strategy including work on the Transboundary Water Agreements. I think that amount is found under the watershed management item listed on page 79. Is that the case, Mr. Chair?

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Yes, I can see the reduction as we go down to page 65. There are actually two people being cut, or two positions, I should say, being cut from this function within ENR. Can someone explain what these two positions are and why it’s necessary to cut them? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Okay. I am happy to get that information. I'm just a little bit surprised that nobody at the table seems to know this sort of information because it's a big area of work within the department, but I'm happy to get it as quickly as they can put it together. Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I will try to keep my comments on some of the higher levels and some of the issues that maybe some of my colleagues have not covered so far.

Earlier today in the House, there was a lot of discussion around climate change and carbon pricing. This department plays a really crucial role in moving forward on those issues, and I believe they actually have the expertise inhouse to do some work on this. I want to make sure that that stays within the department, but I just don't sense that there is any urgency on these issues with our government. I expect that ENR is going to play a...

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Can the Minister tell me when we might be able to expect to get that information? I am just very conscious of the amount of time we have left to sort out the departmental budgets and so on. When can I expect to get this information from the department? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

I thank the Minister for that response and look forward to seeing some of the correspondence that he might have with the Government of Nunavut. Can the Minister explain why our government continues to pursue funding for an all-weather road into the Slave Geological Province before the Bathurst Caribou Range Plan is completed and implemented? It's sort of like putting the cart before the horse.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I appreciate the response from the Minister, but I just do not think that these are wise reductions at a time when the department has a lot to deliver on in terms of its mandate, the mandate commitments that have been made, the announcements that the Minister has made. I just think that legislation and policy work, programs and services are going to continue to be delayed and not to the standard that our public deserves, so I continue to disagree with these cuts. I don't think I have anything further to say other than these are very serious concerns for me. I think they are...

Merci, Monsieur le President. It seems to be environment and climate change day in the House, and I love it.

---Laughter

My question is for the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources. The recently released Bathurst Range Plan discussion paper recommends winter-only access in calving and post-calving and summer ranges of the Bathurst caribou herd. Does the Minister accept this recommended next step and that there are trade-offs to be made between caribou protection and mineral development? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I am mindful of my colleague across the way. Page 83 in the program details, there is sort of this nibbling away here of money in terms of biodiversity conservation, field operations, wildlife research and management. What is happening here? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Of course, I've never seen one of these information items, what it might look like. Is the Minister saying then that they might find the resources internally then to fill another position or two? Or how would the new money be found if the department does this functional review and they want to have more capacity? Thanks, Mr. Chair.