Michael Miltenberger

As well, Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document, entitled “Public Accounts 2010-2011 Section I and II.”

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has done a significant amount of work on the whole area of biomass and released a Biomass Strategy. We have invested significantly as a government in converting buildings. We are talking to a proponent now, currently, who has some very ambitious plans to look at a pellet plant in the North that would bring value-added industries into the North for the provision of biomass. NTPC itself is going to be looking at the possibilities in some of the smaller communities to try to look at replacement of diesel. As well, as we...

There is significant potential. We’ve spent, over the last Assembly and before, about $13 million doing all the technical work, getting all the permitting and environmental work done when we initially contemplated going up to the diamond mines. That has not proven feasible, so now we are looking at options both north and south with grid connections with putting the power into the communities, a possible hookup to Yellowknife. The Member has mentioned two potential mine projects that could put that power to use. We know that the Taltson has up to about 200 megawatts of power if fully put to use...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document, entitled “NT Energy Strategic Plan 2012-2014.”

That is an option that is currently under consideration. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This issue has been discussed around the Cabinet table. As well, the Power Corp has had discussions about what may be possible among its board members and within the corporation. As well, there have been some discussions with the proponents of these various projects about the need for affordable energy and power, how critical that could be and what’s possible, especially looking at the area by the Buffalo Junction where some of the proposed sites are. Thank you.

I know that the Department of National Defence military place the safety of its members above all, even though they often go in harm’s way on our behalf. In this instance I think it’s premature to assume that there was any dereliction of duty or things weren’t done properly or that they sacrificed safety for some other expedient motive. I think we have to be careful, be measured. Let’s find out what happened, and there will be plenty of time to ascribe blame once we have all the facts.

Once all those accrued costs are in and we have a clear understanding of what they are, and we’ve done all the final analysis and bookkeeping, I will provide that information to committee since it’s going to be some time before we gather in this Legislature. So I will commit to provide that information to committee.

We have tabled a Biomass Strategy that speaks to that particular initiative. We’re concluding a Solar Strategy. We’re doing a Hydro Strategy. We’re looking at wind as well. Geothermal. We, as well, are clearly on track. We have a plan that’s called devolution. Devolution will give us the authority to control land, water and resource development, and it will allow us to make changes that are appropriate to the North on regulatory regimes to address some of the very issues that the Member talks about. With his full support, we could have that agreement signed by 2014. Thank you.

The current plan has us working to stabilize our emissions at 2005 levels or less. We have laid out - and I could go on at great length but I appreciate your direction on short answers - the things we have underway with the resources we have available. We’re going to continue to work on those. We’ve met with local groups. We’re pursuing the work on carbon tax, emission standards, all those types of things in addition to the ongoing work. We’re in fiscal restraint so we don’t have the same amount of money that we did in the 16th Assembly, so we’re trying to be as creative as possible. We would...