Michael Miltenberger

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there is an energy coordinating committee on Cabinet made up of ITI, myself, and Public Works and Services and such, and we’re tasked with overseeing the energy plan, conservation issues, hydro issues. As we get up and running -- in fact, we’re having a meeting Monday to start the business of the committee -- those type of detailed issues will be one of the things that we’re going to be looking at. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize in the gallery today a constituent, a friend, a board member for Sport North, Mr. Shannon Cumming.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In fact, I had the opportunity to meet with the college Board of Governors yesterday at noon, as well with the president, to talk about the NRTP course, the need to work together, the role of the Aurora Research Institute up in Inuvik, the need to set a collaborative science agenda between the government and Aurora College. So we’re setting the framework in place to have those type of discussions that will lead to the resolution and the moving forward of the issue that the Member has raised. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we’re committed to working with the Assembly, as we’ve been saying over the last number of days, sorting out the final priorities for the strategic direction and priorities for the 16th Assembly. Cabinet will be moving on that. The issue of alternative energy is a key issue. We’re working with communities, and have been, between the energy plans. We know that there have been significant advances in a lot of areas. As oil hits $100 a barrel, the interest levels are continuing to grow, as well as the pressure to reduce our greenhouse gases. So we have to sort...

Mr. Speaker, for the past several years we have been measuring the strength and steadiness of the winds in Beaufort-Delta communities. This was done in collaboration with the Aurora Research Institute and the Government of Canada.

The data collected to date shows the feasibility of this technology. We must now work with communities to determine how best to proceed towards establishing wind generation in remote High Arctic communities. This topic, along with others, is being discussed in detail at the Wind Energy Conference in Tuktoyaktuk this week.

More than 100 delegates are attending the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I discussed with the Member that we would like to, in the new year, schedule time to tour Nunakput and all the communities in his constituency, including Paulatuk where I’m sure we’ll have an opportunity to discuss that particular issue with the Member and with the community members. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the issue of the need to inspect and remediate the black mould in Paulatuk was dealt with through a call for tenders. Arctic Builders out of Inuvik, who are certified specialists in this area, got the tender. They’ve been in to Paulatuk; the houses have been inspected and work is underway to remediate the houses that have been identified with black mould. It is anticipated that the project will be complete, I understand, by the end of December.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’d be happy to share with the Member the reports and the findings of the Arctic Builders as they did their house inspections and the work that was required. The Member will note in the report that the majority of the black mould was due to non-structural reasons, but it is an issue in many other communities, as well, and, yes, we are trying to come up with a way to identify and deal with this issue before it becomes severely problematic. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I understand that the department has indicated to me that they are working on the paperwork to increase the number of tags for Liard from one to six so that we can, if necessary, have animals taken down. DOT has indicated that they are looking at putting a heavy-duty fence around the airport to keep the animals out. As well, we’re working with ENR on a pilot basis with some electrified fencing to see if that will work. We are still committed, although it is late, in coming up with a broader plan that’s going to allow us to address this issue where it exists not only...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can indicate to the Member that I am aware that the Gwich’in, Sahtu, Inuvialuit and the Deh Cho regions are currently looking at land use planning processes. Thank you.