Michael Miltenberger

Thebacha

Statements in Debates

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 5th Session (day 55)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife South, that Bill 43, An Act to Amend the Borrowing Authorization Act, be read for the second time.

Mr. Speaker, this bill increases the amounts that may be borrowed by the Commissioner to ensure the Consolidated Revenue Fund is sufficient to meet lawful disbursements. Thank you.

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 5th Session (day 55)

Thank you, Madam Chair. We appreciate the comments from the Members in regard to the lowering of the cost of living, which would be a way of improving services. We are very committed to that. I’ve indicated now quite a number of times, as we look at our borrowing limit we need to make these critical investments that are going to help us lower the cost of living and there are a couple of things that we can do and we are focusing on those. One is the cost of energy generation and look at how we do business. The other one is critical infrastructure that promotes economic development like the...

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 5th Session (day 55)

Yes, Madam Chair.

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 5th Session (day 54)

The ability to put out a franchise call is the community’s responsibility and right. They’ve done that. We can’t speak to the past. There is a current one coming out. We’ve been asked to consider bidding on it and we are considering that and we’re looking at it, as we discussed in this House earlier this week.

I would just point out that when it comes to the NWT Power Corporation, and I believe all of us in this room, we would see that provision of electricity is an essential service and the same as we deliver and we look after all the fuel in the small, off-road communities to ensure that...

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 5th Session (day 54)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to observe first, though the budget address is replete with references to the cost of living, an issue that the Member raised earlier in the House and about the McLeod government not paying close enough attention. I would suggest when you read the full budget address you would note that it’s replete and I’m somewhat offended at the fact that the Member didn’t notice that when he perused it in great detail because they are standout in significant numbers.

As it relates to the issue that the Member raised, I think the fundamental piece that we’re looking at as...

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 5th Session (day 54)

I would argue that we have shown an enormous interest and support for alternative energy in the communities. In the Member’s riding, for example, we have been working very, very closely with the communities. In Fort Providence, for example, and Fort Resolution to formalize forest management agreements that is going to allow the business opportunity to put in a $20 million pellet plant, creating not only environmental benefits but a huge economic opportunity. We lead the country in biomass applications here in the Northwest Territories. We have put in a significant array in Fort Simpson. We are...

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 5th Session (day 54)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There are two things, two main approaches we need to take as we deal with the impacts of climate change.

First, we are going to have to adapt to the changing world, and the changes that are coming have been coming for decades and the changes that were needed to be put into effect are going to take decades to be impacted. In the meantime, we have been adapting to the permafrost issues that the Member has mentioned. We are adapting and paying for issues like low water, but at the same time we are investing millions, tens upon millions of dollars on alternate energy...

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 5th Session (day 54)

Thank you, Madam Chair. I thank the Members for their comments. I will address the broad issues we’ve made note of. There are some fairly specific departmental issues the Ministers will be addressing when they appear before the House to defend their budgets.

With regard to some of the common issues, I appreciate the positive comments on the budget. It is a challenge to balance the many competing needs with not enough resources. The reality is this is not so much about restraint as it is about living within our means. We are spending almost $2 billion for 42,000 people and we have expenditure...

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 5th Session (day 54)

Thank you, Madam Chair. I have with me the deputy minister of Finance, Mike Aumond; and the deputy secretary to the FMB, Sandy Kalgutkar. Thank you.

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 5th Session (day 54)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the second opportunity to try to get this through the House. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife South, that Bill 43, An Act to Amend the Borrowing Authorization Act, be read for the first time.