Michael Miltenberger

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In regards to the Member’s question, I would like to just reflect quickly back on his Member’s statement and his acknowledgement and recognition of the foresight of the people of Kakisa, and I just want to acknowledge that I concur with his assessment that what they did was, I think, pivotal in how well they survived the wildfires.

What’s been happening is we’ve been doing a debriefing. We’ve been working internally. We’re going out to the communities now to have those discussions across many of the regional centres, but to have that discussion with communities about...

We will look at how timely we can be. We are somewhat consumed with the budget session and such, but I will once again commit to the Member that I will be able to get back to him before the end of session with some specific timelines. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The paper bags have their own downside, but I listened carefully to the Member’s comments and statement and I’ve chatted with the Member about this before and I have met with the department about the need, after five years, to take a look at that particular program to look at revitalizing it and maybe fine tuning it. Thank you.

We know that it’s technically possible. We know that it’s practically possible. We know that there are examples of where it has been used and there has been success. The example that the Member has raised is one. They’ve also come up with some very, very interesting ones in other technological areas like health with the lab on a chip and the type of work where they’re going to create in the next few months an actual tricorder from the old Star Trek days that is actually going to work and do what people just thought about in the ’60’s.

We know that that process works. What we need to have is the...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We don’t have that level of detail with us but we can commit to provide it to committee.

Yes, Madam Chair, we will provide that information. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate the Member’s comments on the overall applauding of the work of the government and his continued support, which has been there right from the start, in terms of the Mackenzie Valley Fibre Optic Link. We are of a like mind that if our very conservative estimates prove to be wrong and that we’re going to generate more revenue and it’s going to be much more fruitful than what we anticipated, then what we would fully intend to stay on the track that the Member has recommended and that we get on, which is pay it down sooner so that it is paid for sooner.

The FAA...

Yes, we’re part of consensus government here. If it’s the will of the Assembly to have work done on this at this juncture, we’ll look at trying to take that direction. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The resource revenues referred to in the budget is the money that is put aside for all the Aboriginal governments and will be accessed by the signatories, the share they have agreed to. The other money is… I think they have a year to decide if they are going to come on board. We are still in that year and we will have that discussion here in the next couple of weeks as we approach April. So the $2 million referred to for mediation is ongoing.

The Member’s comment about collective bargaining in light of the budget circumstances is going to be important on a go-forward...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We don’t have that level of detail. We can provide that to the committee. Thank you.