Michael Miltenberger

The government is not contemplating now or I don’t anticipate in the future getting into the pellet manufacturing business, but what we would see doing is what we have done and continue to do through ITI and economic development support programs we have is to hopefully get a proponent that would be able to partner up with an aboriginal government that has access to supply and be able to have a business venture that would be viable and stand-alone when it comes to looking at the pellet industry. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have been doing a number of things. As we look at the biomass sector, we have a fledgling market being built and we are looking at value-added down the road. We’ve proceeded with and continue to do inventories in the South Slave and the Deh Cho. Up the Valley we’ve been looking at areas such as fast-growing willows in terms of potential supply for biomass. We’ve brought in consultants to look at, in fact, the viability of setting up our own industry to create the pellets. As well, we have this concept of a wood marshalling yard that we’re looking at for certain parts...

The Minister of ITI is also the chair of the Ministerial Energy Coordinating Committee which provides oversight to this area as well as all the other energy initiatives that we have underway. As well, we have spent a lot of time trying to build a market with our investments in biomass with the schools, the jails, the health centres that are all going onto biomass. The encouragement with communities to do energy plans as well as individuals to switch to pellet stoves. Those combined factors and the Minister of ITI wearing two hats. I as well, as the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources...

The Member points out a key challenge and that is the issue of access to a sustainable supply. We’ve been working at concepts that would allow partnerships with aboriginal governments, with the landholders of the area, possibly with the concept of the wood marshalling yard, for example, but that’s one of the challenges. The other one is you want to make sure you’re located close to the supply. Some of the best timber that we do have and best forests for a viable pellet industry, for example, would be in the Deh Cho. There is a market right here in Yellowknife, and in the South Slave it is very...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It gives me great pleasure to be able to recognize Mr. Sonny McDonald, esteemed elder, one of the greatest carvers that we’ve had in the North, and a friend and constituent from the mighty constituency of Thebacha.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It gives me great pleasure today to recognize Ms. Betty Villebrun, president of the Northwest Territories Metis Nation; Ken Hudson, president of the Fort Smith Metis Local; and Paul Harrington, president of the Hay River Metis Local. Welcome and thank you for coming to the Assembly. I don’t often get a chance to recognize folks. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, October 18th to 24th is Waste Reduction Week in Canada. This week is an opportunity to provide residents with information about the environmental ramifications of wasteful practices and to encourage all of us to reduce, reuse and recycle.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has organized a number of activities to celebrate Waste Reduction Week. Random acts of greenness include a clothing swap, a cell phone and rechargeable battery recycling opportunity, a litterless lunch workshop and potluck, daily waste reduction tips, and ideas on how to reduce, reuse and recycle...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There currently exists a selection of programs that support the traditional activities on the land that are housed in ITI and MACA. As well, one of the things we’re looking at in terms of new support would be through the business planning process coming up. We’re looking at the expansion of the funding program that now assists community hunts.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. As the Member knows, we, the country and the Northwest Territories are moving out of the stimulus phase and into the restraint phase. Many jurisdictions are struggling with enormous deficits and debts.

I appreciate, once again, the Member’s comments about the new processes and thing that we’ve collectively agreed to. I think he’s answered the question with the community funding when he made the comment that we spend an amazing amount of money -- $1 billion -- but it’s not enough. I think it’s the same if you asked the Health Minister, if we doubled your budget could...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just quickly in regard to the Deh Cho Bridge, it has not had a negative impact on the capital plan that’s before us. We are all aware of the process that happened with the federal Minister of Finance and the negotiation for a $75 million a year bump-up for five years in terms of our general borrowing limit. The fiscal plan we laid out and continued to follow predates some of the more recent activities. As well, once the bridge is concluded here, hopefully in the fall, it will be, for the most part, self-liquidating costs through the revenues it’s going to generate. We...