Michael Miltenberger

Mr. Speaker, the business we do in the south is tied to, of course, the fiscal year which ends March 31st and starts April 1st for the new budget. The budget for the House will be passed and approved and we will start the flow April 1, 2011.

This I know is an issue of great concern to many of the members of the communities outside of Yellowknife where harvesting and hunting are significant activities. As the Member is aware, discussions have been held in relation to the business plans and Strategic Initiatives committees and work that’s being done. The intent is, having travelled with the Member to the communities in his riding where we heard in almost every community about as we look to live off the land and we look for other opportunities other than may be available through some of the caribou herds that are in decline, the need...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, two years ago the world economy experienced a downturn unprecedented since the Great Depression. The turmoil touched everyone including Canada. The NWT economy shrank in 2009. Employment fell by 5.2 percent and mineral exploration by 80 percent.

We are encouraged by the fact that the positive signs of growth observed earlier this year appear to be confirmed. Forecasts of NWT economy are predicting growth in 2010-2011 fuelled by a rebound in the diamond industry. The Conference Board of Canada forecasts that our economy will grow by 4.8 percent this year and...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We appreciate the Member’s comments, particularly about the process and the decisions that we as the Legislature and the government have made responding to that feedback.

The issue of the concerns about the school facilities of course has been addressed and the Member will be, I’m sure, addressing it with the Minister of Education, along with the issue of the college campus, and with the Minister of Justice with the courthouse.

We’ve had, and will continue to have, the discussion about the increased presence in Ottawa at other tables collectively as we plan how we’re...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate the Member’s comments. We collectively have managed our way through, in this Assembly, some very significant issues with the wrench in the economy to what is happening in the world around us. I agree that the billion dollars would not have been possible without the cost shared dollars with the feds, some of it 50 cent dollars, some of it 75 cent dollars.

The issue of energy efficiency is a key one. I know the Member has said he is tired of hearing about the $60 million, but that was a commitment of this Assembly that is going to pay dividends for us. We...

Yes, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Monday, October 18, 2010, I will move that Bill 12, An Act to Amend the Liquor Act, be read for the first time. Thank you.

Being part of the business planning process, it has been discussed. It has been built into the main estimates. The House will be gathering for its final major budget session in late January or February, going into March, and that’s when the matter will be decided by the House.

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...