Wendy Bisaro

I guess that begs the question why, if he could advise me of that.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to address a few more questions to the Minister of Finance with regard to an NWT green fund. I have to ask the Minister if lowering greenhouse gas emissions is a priority for this government, which I hope that it is and I think I’ve heard the Minister say that. It also seems to be a priority for our communities to develop community energy plans, because we have assisted them in doing that. Community energy plans have goals and they have objectives. So, in my estimation, we should be involving our communities in all of the activities that we do and we should be...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. That is all I have. Thanks.

I thank the Minister for the information. Again, I have to agree to disagree with him, unfortunately. I’d like for him to answer for me how a community can get to be one of the many projects which he’s mentioned. I give the government credit for the wind energy, for the recycling, all those things that we have done, but those are government projects. I would like to know how any community can access those funds. What is the application process? What are the guidelines, et cetera, et cetera? Can he explain that, please? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my Member’s statement, I addressed the response to the JRP recommendations that was filed by the GNWT to the NEB. My questions today are addressed to the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, who is responsible for the NEB portion of this. It was Minister McLeod who advised the chair of the Economic Development and Infrastructure committee that the response was filed. Since the Minister was the recipient of a letter from the Social Programs committee, the same kind of a letter that went to the Minister of EDI. I would like to know from Minister McLeod why the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I request unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted.

Just one last question to do with the numbers on page 13-17. The climate change, in the program delivery details it lists climate change as $6.8 million give or take. In grants and contributions is some $5 million, which seemed to basically refer to climate change. I just wonder if the Minister could advise if that’s correct. Most of that $6.8 million for climate change, is it going to be... Sorry. Is the $5 million in grants and contributions identified under that climate change figure of $6.8 million?

Thanks for that information. Just to follow up, I wasn’t quite sure what you were referencing as going to be happening in this next fiscal year. I note that there’s some money in grants and contributions for communities and regional governments. So you’re talking about fleshing out the plan and expanding it. Is that work only going to be done by the GNWT or is there some money available for the communities to do some of this work as well?

Just a last question on this area. The work is going to be done you said in 2010, you’re hoping to have it done by 2011. Are you talking the beginning of 2011 or middle or end of the year? Can you give us a rough idea as to the time frame for the work to set these targets and set up this plan? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have a couple of questions relative to climate change and greenhouse gas emissions. I’d, first of all, like to talk about greenhouse gas emission targets. I know that the business plan talks about that we want to be 10 percent below 2001 levels by 2011. That target is fairly modest I guess I would say. I’d like to know from the Minister if there has been any consideration or if there’s going to be any consideration in this next fiscal year to increase the intensity of that reduction. Will we be able to set more stringent targets, I guess, for ourselves? Has that been...