Michael Miltenberger

His statement is the first awareness that I have, the first notice that I’ve had that the Hotel Association wants a tax imposed territory-wide. Unless I’ve missed it or I’ve forgotten it, I don’t recollect hearing this specifically before. He has raised this issue for the first time in the House. There was a different approach suggested by the Association of Communities. Once again, that alone, in terms of how it would be applied, is going to require some discussion. It’s not that we’re reluctant. There’s work being done. It has been done. We’ve indicated in this budget, in the House here a...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s not an issue of hesitation. It’s an issue of getting feedback, getting some initial direction and positive response through the revenue roundtables and then mapping out the way forward. In this case, it was recommended that the ability to have a hotel tax be delegated down to the community level. The Member is talking about something for the Hotel Association. This points to the need for doing the proper work to in fact decide upon what would be the right structure. I’ve indicated in this budget that there’s not going to be any tax increases, so that work would be...

Mr. Speaker, I can assure the Member that every staff member in Environment and Natural Resources is working flat out on a whole host of issues, including this Greenhouse Gas Strategy, and the folks that are working on this strategy are fully applying themselves with their shoulder to the wheel, their nose to the grindstone and unremitting efforts to bring this process to a successful conclusion. I will commit that we will have a Greenhouse Gas Strategy at the end of the day that will hopefully meet the very high standard that the Member has set for himself and all the rest of us mere mortals...

As we proceed with the implementation of our Water Strategy, as we proceed with the work with the federal government about monitoring, and as we proceed with the discussions about taking over more authorities for land and water and resource development, those are the types of efforts we’re going to have to make. That we’re going to have to, as well, rely, and the Member talked about traditional knowledge, the people that are the users of the land and the water and the fish, and ENR will have a clear role to play, because have people on the ground in almost every community that can work with...

I appreciate the Member’s comments. The Arctic Energy Alliance is a delivery agent to assist with carrying out a lot of the priorities and work as it pertains to energy efficiencies and greenhouse gas reductions. We have, of course, worked closely with communities as they have developed their own energy plans and we are working with them all on an individual basis, recognizing that one size doesn’t fit all. For example, looking at wind in Nunakput. But I will ask, Mr. Chairman, the deputy to speak specifically to some of the things that are going on in the Beaufort-Delta area. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, the final Greenhouse Gas Strategy would be a product of this government, this Assembly. The Member sits on the Climate Change Committee that has had a hand in this to a good degree. We have to make sure that the products that comes out of this Legislature that are put forward into this House reflect the consensus that we can reach on going forward on a territorial-wide Greenhouse Gas Strategy. Thank you.

As I’ve indicated in the House, we’ve undergone an extensive period of consultation across the North and all the communities with many groups and individuals. As I indicated to the Member, the intention is that if all goes according to plan, that we will give notice of motion on March 7th for a first reading of the Wildlife Act. We’ll take the process time and then we’ll go for first and second reading on the 9th and 10th, I believe. Thank you.

No, Mr. Chairman, but just to reiterate for the Member that this is only part of the $225,000. Under grants and contributions there’s other money listed under compensation and benefits and other areas. The intent, as the deputy indicated, is to move forward with our commitment to traditional knowledge. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am not aware of any specific charges that were laid on the Northwest Territories side. I know that if there were issues they tended to be on the Yukon side of the border. For us, basically, it is a good news story that there was in fact, that the numbers weren’t as bad as predicted, the numbers that the Northwest Territories subscribed to, in terms of estimates, were considerably higher than those that were contemplated and put forward by the Yukon government. Our numbers were much more consistent with the Porcupine Caribou Management Board, but there are no plans at...

Mr. Chairman, we have $153,000 dedicated to our part of the work of the land use framework. The deputy sits on the working group. Many of the elements of the Water Strategy and the principles are being reflected and are reflected in the land use framework. It is an initiative that is, we think, very close to conclusion, but I will ask the deputy if he will speak a bit to some of the detail. Thank you.