Michael Miltenberger

This whole process is a classic example of why Northerners have to have control over their own decision-making in this area; regulatory reform and resource development, land and water.

Here we are in this Assembly trying to find out what the federal government’s up to. They haven’t told us clearly. They’ve made some comments about something dramatic that they want to do. We are concerned that they’re going to do things that are not going to be in our best interest as a territory. There’s been some improvement in relationships since the signing of the AIP where now the federal government has...

The Member has been quoting from documents that I don’t have. I take his point about consultation. This is a federal process. This is federal legislation. We have been, for the most part, up until recently, treated like a stakeholder, much to our chagrin. They’re expecting the second draft. Most of the changes being contemplated at this point are legislative in nature. There’s been no significant reply to our response to the McCrank Report that we submitted back in 2009 where there was significant changes put forward and recommended by Mr. McCrank, some of which we took exception to and did...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It gives me great pleasure to stand today and recognize Ms. Tina McNeill from the Uncle Gabe’s Friendship Centre in Fort Smith.

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Monfwi, that Bill 5, Write-off of Debts Act, 2010-2011, be read for the third time. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, later today I will be tabling the NWT Water Stewardship Strategy Action Plan. The action plan outlines how the Water Stewardship Strategy will be implemented and reflects the needs and interests of NWT residents. Implementing the plan will address this Assembly’s priority to ensure an environment that sustains present and future generations and protects our water supply and quality.

The action plan builds upon the multi-year, multi-million dollar Water Stewardship Strategy, and is the result of multiple water partner meetings, public input and multi-agency workshops. It represents...

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document titled Northwest Territories Water Stewardship: A Plan for Action 2011-2015.

The Member raises a good suggestion and there is and has been over the years and in some communities there is an ongoing interagency type of arrangement where the involved departments and agencies get together to discuss some of the issues where the elected leaders in the community get together as well as part of the process to deal with issues. Usually, unfortunately, sometimes spurred on by a crisis or some tragic event that has happened in the community.

But I agree with the Member that there is a tremendous amount of community resources. It takes something to bring them together to do that...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Our best information, of course, is for those that are children in care that come under the Child and Family Services Act. The gap between, and I think the Member for Kam Lake acknowledged that and mentioned that gap for those teenagers. Our information is relatively weak. Thank you.

We are, as a government, contributing millions of dollars in this community to assist in any number of buildings, with the Salvation Army, with the Bailey House, with the YWCA. All the other facilities that are on the ground here in this community are, for the most part, funded by the Government of the Northwest Territories. What we have here is a community initiative that is they’re bringing together funds and now, as we move forward, the Member is trying to push this government separate from our budgeting process, separate from our capital planning process, to fund operations that we’re not...

We have made no specific contribution of that nature. Thank you.