Michael Miltenberger

We have committed to that amount of money. This is a federal responsibly. In fact, as we take over devolution, the signed devolution to take over land, water and resource development, Giant will be a separate issue that will stay under the purview of the federal government. At this point, the hope is, the plan is that that money will be sufficient. If there’s any more money required, once again, this is a federal responsibly.

Madam Chair, may I also ask the Minister of MACA to elaborate further on that particular point, please?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to take this opportunity to update the Members on our fiscal situation.

I tabled the first budget of the 17th Legislative Assembly in May, just five short months ago. Our commitment to protect programs and services has not changed, and our strategy of limiting new expenditure growth to ensure surpluses has become even more important as global economic instability persists.

While our economy is recovering slowly from the global slowdown, we remain vulnerable to uncertain economic conditions. Statistics Canada’s latest estimate shows a 2 percent decline in the NWT...

Thank you, Madam Chair. There are two key points. The infrastructure money under the New Deal, it was a five-year arrangement and it’s currently up for review and discussion with the Association of Communities and the communities about its adequacy, and after this first five years, are there changes, do things have to be adjusted.

As we’ve demonstrated through the business planning process we’ve identified because of, if I can use the Sahtu as a very specific case, because of the pressures that are there with the increased exploration and pressures on infrastructure and demand that we’ve made...

Thank you, Madam Chair. I have Mr. Williams, deputy minister of Municipal and Community Affairs.

Madam Chair, what we were hoping to do is the same as last time; Minister McLeod would be there with his deputy.

Thank you, Madam Chair. What I will do is speak to the broad issues. There were a considerable number of very specific program areas that will be able to be addressed in detail with the Ministers coming to the table with their deputies on health, education, housing, environment, whatever the issue may be, but I will touch on as many of the big items as I can.

In regard to late tendering, once again, Madam Chair, we’re interested in the specifics, but overall, if when you ask the departments and you ask the government, we’ll tell you that we think this has been a distinct improvement, that we...

Yes, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m not aware of that specific circumstance so I will have to talk to the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs and I will take that question as notice.

As I indicated, this particular waste site, Giant, is separate and not included in the devolution agreement. It is going to stay within the responsibility of the federal government to maintain and clean up and do all the things necessary to bring it back to proper use.