Michael Miltenberger

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The discussions we’ve had with Mr. Pollard in regard to regulatory reform and the work he’s doing and some of our concerns have focused on other areas. Though we have talked about properly funding the processes that are currently there that haven’t been funded, things like cumulative impact. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to advise Members that the Honourable Floyd Roland will be absent from the House today to attend devolution discussions in Deline.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Right now there is no clear specific requirement in terms of residency for board members or who should sit on the board. We do look at regional representation and we also, as a matter of course, expect that board members and the chairman will be residents of the Northwest Territories. I will commit to discuss the issue with the deputy minister and take a look at those issues. Thank you.

If there were public meetings, we’ll have to see the best forum to respond. There were public meetings held in every community. As well, there have been e-mails and representations by individual groups and individuals themselves. We’ll have to see what the most effective way is to publicize this. Unless the Member is suggesting somehow that we do a blanket response to everybody and maybe publish in the paper or some such thing, I’m not sure what the Member has in mind.

Thank you. As I’ve indicated in this House previously, the proof will be in the pudding, as it were, as we come forward with a draft or the bill for first and second reading that will lay out the result of all that work, all the many iterations, the improvements, amendments and adjustments that have been made and are currently being finalized so that that fact can happen. Thank you.

Thank you. I don’t know if I would agree with the assessment that there was a breakdown of our systems. We definitely know that there was a decline in the various caribou herds.

We will address some of that through the Wildlife Act. The vehicle that will probably provide a better form for that is going to be the Barren Ground Management Strategy that’s coming forward and the need in this part of the country to look at a multiparty board or arrangement to look after the number of herds that are in this part of the country. Go from east to west with the Beverly Qamanirjuaq, the Ahiak, the...

Mr. Speaker, we have legal counsel with us every step of the way on this piece of legislation looking at all issues, all amendments, changes when concerns are raised to look at the interpretation, make sure that whatever is put into the bill complies completely. Thank you.

Thank you. As Minister of Finance I caught the keyword of “funded.” The issue is going to be to address, through the management, the conference process to see and make sure that everybody is represented. As a public government, the Government of the Northwest Territories, we are charged with representing the interests of Northerners at that table as well. There are options to make sure we have representation from non-Aboriginal harvesters and, we believe, mechanisms to do that. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We will pull that information together. It will be on the ENR website and, where possible, as we discuss that with the Member for Frame Lake, where one of the other Members will look at direct responses as well to those people or organizations that made specific representations. Thank you.

I was remiss, Mr. Speaker, as well, to point out that there is a recent initiative called BizPaL that was structured and put in place to, in fact, help small businesses navigate through government and deal with government. In regard to his specific question, I will commit to the Member that we will put that issue on the next agenda for the Refocusing committee. Thank you.