Robert C. McLeod

The annual sustainable harvest level for the inventoried areas in the South Slave and Deh Cho combined is approximately 500,000 cubic metres per year.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, specific discussions with the communities haven't happened yet. This has been identified as an opportunity. It does make sense that, if there are opportunities there to use wood that has already been cut, then we should explore that. The actual discussions haven't happened with communities yet. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It's very difficult getting money out of the Minister of Finance. ENR will be rolling out a proposed adaptation planning program to assist communities to prepare, plan, and implement measures to address climate change. The enhanced program also has a dedicated PY in resources to assist community. Also, as part of the development of a five-year action plan, the department will be looking at what resources are required for implementation and federal funding opportunities. If there are opportunities to access some federal funding, obviously we'll be looking at those. At the same time, we'll be...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I disagree wholeheartedly with the Member. The department has not failed in its leadership role. In fact, we're doing a lot of work. I think the Auditor General even made a comment to the work we did. Some of the work that they were doing was before the work that we did.

We are using the recommendations from the Office of the Auditor General to strengthen our role. They did look at it a fine period of time and did not consider all of the good work that is being done to develop the Climate Change Strategic Framework. The document is a roadmap as to how the...

Reports have been commissioned by ENR to look at greenhouse gas emissions and the forest industry, the substitution of fossil fuels with wood biomass in the Northwest Territories. They demonstrate significant reductions in greenhouse gas emission when utilizing woody biomass. GNWT sees this industry as environmentally sustainable while also offering NWT residents potential savings on heating costs.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the full utilization of trees on the harvest system used by Aurora Wood Pellets, this level of detail has not been provided to ENR yet. Pre-harvest prescriptions will determine what happens to treetops scattered onsite. As soon as we have more information to pass on and if it is the wish of committee, we can keep them informed. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document entitled "20152016 Traditional Knowledge Annual Report." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The report looking at greenhouse gas savings was based on utilizing green timber. It is generally understood that utilizing deadwood yields greater greenhouse gas savings than green wood. The fact that the wood pellets that are out there -- I believe they have to have a specific moisture content. I looked it up on the Environment Canada website. I believe it has to have a specific moisture content. My understanding is they dry the pellets and do not utilize green as much.

Mr. Speaker, we have had a lot of work that was done on this, some regional meetings in a number of the communities, as I've pointed out. We've had meetings with industry and gotten their feedback. Again, as we proceed closer to the implementation, it is imperative that I work with committee, provide committee with information, and get some feedback from committee. I can ensure the Member and the public that ENR has taken the leadership role on this and that we want to make sure that we have a product that is best and one we can do for the people of the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr...

Mr. Speaker, we've done a lot of work on this. I believe I've given committee an update on the carbon price. The Climate Change Strategic Framework, I believe, will still need to come before committee, or we could do 11 independent briefings if they choose to, as well. We continue to work on that. We are looking forward to coming forward with some changes and to strengthen our adaptation to climate change.