Michael Miltenberger

I think everybody would like to have this resolved as soon as possible. One of the issues is the Dene Nation has come forward with this and they want confirmation that they are speaking on behalf of the chiefs on this issue. The suggestion was to each identify a person or staff member to be able to sit down and start negotiating some of the outstanding issues. We’re involved in that process at this point.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. There are a number of options like those available for a number of different facets of this project. They key for us now, though, is to get the project stabilized, get the funding sorted out and flowing so that we can, in fact, conclude this project, and do as Minister McLeod indicated, a review, and see where that information and review would take us in terms of next steps, once we’re past the immediate challenge and imperative, which is to get this project stabilized. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, what I would suggest to the Member is that I will share the list with him and he can give us his advice. He is far more familiar with the sites than I would be. Then we could, if it’s the wish of the Member, we could set up a meeting with the department officials to get an update for both of his communities. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, later today I will be tabling the Northwest Territories Biomass Energy Strategy.

Biomass energy is renewable energy derived from organic plant materials produced by photosynthesis. Essentially, it is solar energy stored in the mass of trees and plants. Biomass energy is available in the NWT in the form of wood and wood pellets.

An increased use of wood and wood pellets as an alternative source of energy supports the Government of the Northwest Territories goal of an environment that will sustain present and future generations.

Given the increasing cost of heating our homes and...

Mr. Chairman, the project management, as it is now set up to involve the territorial government, is going to continue on. The corporate structure that is currently there will continue until we sort out the implications of our discussions with lenders. But the project management is now fully and firmly going to be run by the Government of the Northwest Territories Department of Transportation. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a list which I’d be happy to share with the Member. I believe there are six sites in Fort Resolution all assessed as low risk and there’s another seven in Lutselk’e all assessed, as well, as low risk.

Yes, Mr. Chairman.

When a contract is let, there is a process that is initiated from the time depending on what kind of a contract it is, if it’s an FRP, if it’s a tender, if it’s a different kind of contract, there’s a process. There are checks and balance all along the way within the various departments to make sure this is being done by the numbers. The Members stand up in the House and raise issues about specific contracts with veiled and not thinly veiled allegations that there is some type of wrongdoing. We’ve got all the documents here. We’ve laid it all out. Issues in the Legislature are different from...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. As the Member pointed out, there’s a history to this project with some considerable trials and tribulations. Our responsibility as a Cabinet and as a government and as a Legislature is to manage our way through this. I’m sitting here as the Minister of Finance. Mr. McLeod, as Mr. Ramsay pointed out, is the Minister of Transportation. And, of course, the Premier is here as well. Collectively as a Cabinet we’re intent on managing our way through this. As Finance Minister I’m accountable in the role that I play and we are here to manage our way through this and we are...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The act lays out processes for various departments. Ministers, deputies and all their staff have that information available. There are checks and balances through the system, approval processes required. As well, there are audits done on a regular basis. We table all the reports in the House. When there are concerns raised, they are backtracked to wherever they originated and we make efforts to remedy those situations. Thank you.