Michael Miltenberger

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife South, that Bill 9, Supplementary Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures) No. 2, 2009-2010, be read for the first time.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A little over two years and I’m still trying to give the Member an answer that she likes, depending on the circumstance. The Member is very well aware we have a capital planning process. It’s intensely participated in. There’s huge interest given now coming forward that after the two years of stimulus money, that the capital plan is not going to be as big as it has been over the last two years. So the challenge for us as a Legislature is to look at the priorities on that list and if we want to replace something, what is that? If we are going to collectively decide we...

Yes, Mr. Speaker. Work was done looking at that. Thank you.

Yes, Mr. Speaker. I think that has potential. As well, as I indicated in my early answer, the municipalities have the authority, as well, in their jurisdictions to pass the bylaws about if there is going to be bottled water allowed or not at public events and those types of things. I will talk to my colleagues. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we’re spending millions of dollars to make sure that communities have good potable water. We have recycling to encourage people to return their containers and they’ve been going down south. There are abilities there for communities to pass bylaws about water. There would be an ability for this Legislature to send out the message that we’re not going to have bottled water at any of our functions.

The Member raised a lot of the very critical statistics in terms of the impact and cost of energy for bottled water. I agree with her that we have some of the best...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, water is fundamental to life. Clean and abundant fresh water is essential to the social, spiritual, cultural and economic well-being of all NWT residents. We rely on our clean waters and healthy aquatic eco-systems and recognize it as one of our most valuable resources.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada and designated representatives of aboriginal governments, partnered to develop a draft Water Strategy. Later today, I will be tabling the draft NWT Water Stewardship Strategy, Northern Voices, Northern...

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Boot Lake, that Bill 6, Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), 2010-2011, be read for the second time.

Mr. Speaker, this bill authorizes the Government of the Northwest Territories to make infrastructure expenditures for the 2010-2011 fiscal year. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following two documents titled Public Accounts of the Northwest Territories Interim Report for the Year Ended March 31, 2009, and Interactivity Transfers Exceeding $250,000 for the period ending April 1, 2009, to August 31, 2009. Thank you.

I believe we are well established into the 21st Century. I have indicated to the Member some of the things we are doing directly. Indirectly we are paying very close attention and working very closely with the folks involved in the broadband initiative. It involves Industry Canada and Vulcan. We are very committed to making sure that this is a successful endeavour. Thank you.

We have done work on cell phone service and looking at what we are doing, what the potential costs and challenges are in looking at other communities. I would be pleased to share that information with the Member. Thank you.