Michael Miltenberger

Mr. Speaker, the budget speaks about $60 million basically over four years with this year to be the start-up year. The Ministerial Energy Coordinating Committee, chaired by Minister Bob McLeod, is overseeing the projects. The money would be located in different departments as we look at moving forward. The intent, though, is to have it coordinated through the Ministerial Energy Coordinating Committee to ensure that the whole range of projects move ahead, be it hydro, mini-hydro and wind and such. Thank you.

What we will commit to is, of course, to get the very latest information that we have in terms of any detail that would add or allow us to have a fully informed discussion. When we have that, we will share it with the Member and then we can arrange to have the discussions necessary to see not only Yellowknife but across the North where we are in the best position to take best advantage of this funding. Thank you.

Given the federal government’s stated commitment for a two-year stimulus and to use it or lose it, the more shovel ready projects we have are design ready, that are ready to be put in on the ground, I think is going to be a key criteria given the short time frames for the fund. Thank you.

Once again we can add that to the list. We’ll pull the IRMA agreement. The Member is very familiar with that. As we look at the issue and mapping out next steps, we’ll include that as part of the discussion, recognizing that there is also federal money in that mix.

What I’d like to suggest as a first step would be that the Member and myself and the deputy sit down to talk about the issue, frame it out thoroughly, see what’s possible, and then map out next steps from there.

Mr. Speaker, I’m pleased to update Members on the Canadian Council of Environment Ministers Meeting held in Whitehorse earlier this week. I attended this conference along with the Member from Weledeh, Mr. Bob Bromley.

A range of issues were discussed at the meeting including municipal wastewater effluent, climate change and strategies to reduce packaging and encourage manufacturers to take greater responsibility for the products they manufacture.

I am pleased to advise this House that after six years in development, the majority of CCME members endorsed national standards for municipal...

Mr. Speaker, I would like to suggest that on these issues where the territorial government deals with the federal government, that the positions we are trying to make sure are consistent and one and the same so that we don’t send out confusing messages as a government. Thank you.

Yes, Mr. Speaker, I will ensure that by this time tomorrow that I am conversant on this issue and able to engage in a meaningful discourse with the Member. Thank you.

The one fund that we’re aware of is there’s a billion dollar Green Fund that the federal government has money for. It’s project-based. Once again, once the criteria is clear, we believe that we have a number of projects that may be eligible. We’ll have to get in line with every other province and territory across the land, but we believe we have two things: we have our share and we have projects that we think would be considered, by the federal terminology, as shovel ready. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, the intent of the Biomass Strategy is to do a number of things. One of the key areas we are interested in, of course, is lowering the cost of living in the small communities. We’re looking at heating; generation and distribution of electricity are two main areas. We are of the opinion that there is great potential and there is technology that is currently in existence. We know that the Member’s community of Jean Marie River has been very active in this area. We are very interested, should the budget be approved, to move forward to find a smaller community that could be used as a...