Michael Miltenberger

Mr. Speaker, this Legislative Assembly has a vision of strong individuals, families and communities sharing the benefits and responsibilities of a unified, environmentally sustainable and prosperous Northwest Territories. Achieving that vision requires a balanced approach that advances our economic, environmental and social priorities. This government is moving forward on all those fronts.

I would like to take a few moments to speak to the Mackenzie Valley Fibre Link Project. On January 12, 2015, the government took the first step towards removing the limitations of our current communications...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Maybe I wasn’t quite as clear as I could have been, but the intent is to move to a 10-year moving average. We haven’t done that yet. That says when we move into next year’s budget that’s what we’re going to be looking at doing as we come forward with the budget plans.

In regards to the $118,000, I’ll ask the deputy to clarify that one particular issue. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Not that I recollect. We are currently at work with the folks in Lutselk’e on Thaidene Nene. We are looking at northern tools, our first big initiative post-devolution. We also have the five candidate areas that are there that have been waiting for us to put our attention to them post-devolution that were identified through the Protected Areas Strategy, but there haven’t been any other specific conservation areas. I will ask the deputy if he wants to add anything further in case I may have inadvertently misspoken.

Mr. Chair, as the deputy pointed out, there were no takers last go around, so we will go back in and see if there’s any interest at the community level to get this tower built. Thank you.

I’ll take the Member’s advice and review the text to make sure that it’s accurate.

Mr. Chairman, at this point we are putting out that particular project, along with the section of highway, for example, on the Wrigley/Norman Wells, the potential road through the Tlicho, extensive generation work that needs to be done. As ideas, part of a plan, a vision of going forward and that should the borrowing limit be adjusted and allow us to make those investments, then we will be moving forward on whatever projects are going to be funded with all the detailed work that is necessary. At this point it’s...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. As part of the review process from last fire season, as we go into the communities and into the regions, that discussion is taking place. We don’t have a big pot of money set aside. We would work with communities. We would work with individuals. We would look at putting the fire crews to work, for example, if they’re not otherwise occupied in communities, to help doing some of that work. Once again, we are encouraging individuals to fire smart all their own properties and whatever resources that communities may have, as well, to add to that. We will work with...

I do, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.

Thank you. I will commit to provide all the most current information to the Members before the end of the week. Thank you.

I don’t have a definitive estimate at this point, but I will keep the House up to date when I do get that number. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate the Member’s comments and his suggestions of where we could make life better. I want to reassure him that even though he challenges my memory, I have not forgotten what it’s like to be a Regular Member. I just want to reassure the Member of that as he constantly reminds me that I’ve forgotten, and I constantly remind him that I can well remember.

Unfortunately, I’m going to just tell him some things that he doesn’t want to hear. He says he knows the answers. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources is working, in my opinion, at capacity. In fact...