Robert C. McLeod

Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. It is every two years that we will be doing the work. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the Member is correct. It is for the agricultural strategy implementation. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, we do not have that level of information at our fingertips, but we will endeavour to gather the information, come back and share it with the Member, and share it with committee when we have the appropriate resources to do so. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I am pleased to present the 2018-2019 Main Estimates for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Overall, the department’s estimates propose a decrease of $2.498 million or 2.5 per cent of the 2017-2018 Main Estimates, and the net reduction of one position.

Highlights of the proposed estimates include:

New funding of $482,000 to improve existing climate change resilience and adaptation capacity, $475,000 to assist with the implementation of the agriculture strategy through related animal health initiatives and a review of waste resource practices,...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the money stays within the department, actually within that division, and is used for other purposes. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, we get our folks out monitoring all the time, and then we have also made known, I have heard this concern when I was in a meeting with some of the Member's constituents in Nahendeh, and we also said that, if they have any indication of any suspicious activity or not adhering to the Wildlife Act, then to report it; but we try to get our folks out as much as we can, and get them out patrolling and so they are out there being seen. It was a concern that was raised and we are hoping to take steps to try and address it. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, we don't have MOUs with other departments. We have a very coordinated approach. There is a committee that is set up, direct level committee, I believe. It would be different if you were working with external stakeholders like Aboriginal governments, where you do sometimes enter into MOUs, but within the government itself, between departments, I'm not sure if it's common practice to have MOUs between departments. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Member and I will continue to disagree on the capacity issues. We feel that our folks feel that they're able to do the work they do with the appropriation they have, and if there's a need for further appropriation, then they would approach FMB. I have a lot of confidence in our people.

To the Member's question, 2016-2017, my understanding was the last time the fire suppression appropriation was reviewed. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. The difference would have been $90,000 because the budget allocation is $100,000. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

All right. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, well, first of all, I am not sure if I have heard the Minister of Infrastructure say that environmental conditions will play no part in the route to the road. I would have to confirm that. I mean, I will look it up. I will just type it into one of the websites, and I am sure that information will come up. I am going to get Dr. Dragon to talk about the work that he has done with the officials at the officials' level. Thank you, Mr. Chair.