Michael Miltenberger

Our focus has been to put our resources not into those types of tax cuts or credits but to look at putting training programs in place that we can be there to assist communities, individuals and businesses so that they actually have some place to go. So it’s just not a credit but more of a structure, a bigger critical mass that allows us to provide a broader range of service across the North.

As a government, we haven’t raised income tax, corporate taxes, business taxes for well over a decade, and we intend to hold the line on that as well. We have been working very hard not to increase the cost to do business. The tax rate in the Northwest Territories is 4 percent, and that’s worth about $4 million a year. The issue, as we’ve heard in this House as we debate things like capital and the lack of revenue, that if we’re going to consider any kind of revenue offsets lost because of tax cuts, we have to, before we do that, anticipate where we’re going to get that replacement revenue or...

Thank you. As we’ve done our work, first with the Water Strategy – Northern Voices, Northern Water – we have, at every step of the way, worked with the Aboriginal governments. We have an Aboriginal Steering Committee with representatives from the Aboriginal governments that have been working with us both in the development of the Water Strategy as well as being involved in the negotiations and providing oversight on that very complex process.

The Alberta agreement, which is nearing completion, there will be about a 90 percent similarity between the key points and elements that are being...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Back in 1997 there was a transboundary master agreement signed between a number of jurisdictions: the federal government, the territorial government, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia and the Yukon. One of the conditions in that agreement was that there were supposed to be bilaterals negotiated between all of the jurisdictions. We are hard at work and very close to completing our negotiations with Alberta, Saskatchewan and B.C.

The only bilateral that exists is the one between us and the Yukon government, and I’ve been in recent discussions with the Minister of...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Of course, we’ll work with committee and this House to provide all the necessary numbers we require to make the most informed decisions in terms of the costs and benefits and the risk and rewards for the work in the Sahtu. The numbers and the requests the Member has made will be factored into that information that is going to be pulled together as we move forward. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Very clearly, this government is aware of the impact of climate change. We’re aware of all reports done by the IPCC. There is no debate from us whether those findings are valid or not. We’re spending millions and millions of dollars as a government to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change and global warming and we will continue to make those substantial investments as we balance a whole list of competing needs. Definitely there’s no debate on this side of the House on whether their findings are valid or not. Thank you.

In addition to the people and the resources we already have on the ground, we are also, as part of our community based water monitoring strategy that we’re rolling out across the North, putting in that capacity and working with communities to have that capacity both in terms of the equipment to do the monitoring as well as the ability to use the equipment that is being put in. We’re looking at making sure all those pieces are linked.

Yes, Mr. Speaker. In fact, there is a position in Norman Wells that is dedicated to assist people to navigate those very specific program areas the Member mentioned. I will make sure to have a conversation with the deputy minister and the superintendent in Norman Wells. They are already engaged, but we will make sure they are aware of the concern expressed by the Member in this House.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have with me Mr. Ernie Campbell, deputy minister of Environment and Natural Resources. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There are a number of programs that are application-based. The ones delivered by ENR are the Alternative Energy Technologies Program, which is about $300,000 a year. Unfortunately, that program already has a waiting list. It has been a subscribed Energy Conservation Program, which supports reduced usage of electro heat energies and water. Maximum grant contribution is $50,000 available. We are operating with a budget of about $200,000 this year. The Biomass Energy Program has a broad range of support programs to help people to convert to biomass. It is a $400,000 fund...