Michael Miltenberger

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That is one of the issues on the list that we have to come to grips with. The federal government has come out with their own suggested plan. Now they’re indicating they’re prepared to look at alternative suggestions. It’s a discussion, as a government, that we have to have. Some of our existing policies, like the Greenhouse Gas Strategy, are mainly focused on how government does business, how we’re going to control our own emissions. But as we look at development, existing and to come, it is an issue that we’re going to, as a government, have to put our minds around in...

Mr. Speaker, we have about 1,200 days left, so we’re not talking years here. We’re going to be moving fairly quickly. When we do, I look forward to the Member’s support to push this forward and help us deal with all the potential obstacles.

While the Member may think it’s relatively simple, it does take time. If we stood up today and said we’re going to get rid of plastic bags, we have to plan how you’re going to do that, how much lead time, and make sure you have it laid out very clearly. You want to make sure we consult with committee and do this right. We want to do this so that it will...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d just like to point out that I think ENR has provided fairly significant leadership. If you think back a couple of years, when we first rolled out the recycling program, it was with considerable consternation, because the plan wasn’t complete enough. We forged ahead anyway, and now we have a very successful program. We continue to work on that program. We’ve been doing consultations, and we plan to come forward here in the next number of weeks with a plan that will look at some fairly significant improvements to the waste reduction and recycling program. On our list...

Those folks who are eligible for the Public Housing subsidy would have funds flow to them from ECE. The issue with seniors’ housing and no rent was a political decision of this Legislature back in, I believe, 1995 or 1996. The costs have been built into the operation of the Housing Corporation, and the money’s been, over the years, put into the budgets of the districts and looked at yearly.

The Fuel Subsidy Program is an annual program that seniors can apply for. If they’re eligible, they’ll get up to the equivalent of five cords of wood, or 2,200 litres of fuel. We also have everybody outside of Yellowknife in the diesel communities in the North subsidized for the first 1,700 kilowatts under the Territorial Power Support Program.

Of course, through the business-planning process we’d be very interested to sit down and talk to and work with the Social Programs Committee. We’ve already looked at some of the issues for seniors, how the seniors programs are currently structured under...

Mr. Speaker, these are all political decisions that can be made, have been made: the issues for no rent.... There is a contradiction or a discrepancy with, as the Member’s indicated, meanstesting on one hand and not on the other.

The whole definition of a safety net — which is what we’re trying to provide for all our citizens — does not imply universality. It implies that if you hit the safety net, we should be able to help you so you don’t fall through into poverty. If you have the good fortune to have enough income to live on your own, then that’s a credit to you, and it’s a credit to us as a...

It will be a challenge.

The Housing Corporation. There’s no rent or costs billed to the seniors, so this is covered through the operations of the Housing Corporation.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The one main program that is there for utilities, mainly fuel, of course, is the Seniors’ Fuel Subsidy Program that is administered by ECE. In addition, there is the fund that is administered with land taxes. We have, through Housing, a Seniors' Home Repair Program that homeowner seniors may be eligible for if they apply. These are three funds that speak to the area that’s been raised by the Member.

Mr. Speaker, as soon as we conclude this budget, we’re going to roll over into the full and first opportunity as this Legislature to have a look at the full development of the business plans for the rest of this term.

I would suggest that if the political will and appetite is there, the government stands ready, as well, to engage in that discussion. It is going to be one, like most things we do, where we tackle issues in our programs that are long-standing. There’s going to be a lot of concern. But clearly, politically, we’re ready to have that discussion and work with the committees. If there...