Kate Reid

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Can the Minister please explain the increase in the line item in 2024-2025 from the main to revised estimates and now here in the main estimates in 2024-2025 for the line item of environmental protection and waste management, what caused us to go so far over and is there continuing cost pressures? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. And I just want to confirm, from what I heard yesterday, making sure it's applicable for the department, is the intent to evaluate one or two programs every fiscal? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. And, yeah, I suppose the real question -- and thank you to my colleague who just shoved a note in my face -- is what outcome are you seeking? The number of meetings doesn't really matter, right. What is the outcome that you want from these meetings, and I guess that's my question to the Minister. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. And thank you to deputy clerk for that answer. I ask simply because it's important that the people of the NWT see and hear us and see our deliberations in all of our capacities. So making sure we have systems that work, pretty important. So that's more a comment than anything. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. This is more of a policy question than a main estimates question, and I'm doing my best to assume that it should possibly live under directorate.

So under the department's business plan on page 228, one of the actions that they are doing to support the mandate is to engage regularly with the NWTAC and the LGANT on key community government related issues. And it's really more of a general comment but also kind of a question.

The measure for this action is the number of meetings between either the Minister or official level meetings held between MACA and these organizations...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And, you know, recognizing that this is a much bigger problem than just our jurisdiction, I appreciate that answer.

Finally, will the GNWT be able to enact extended producer responsibility regulations or policies in the life of this Assembly? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Only really one more question. I understand that the reason the line item in forest management is so high in the actuals from last year is due to the unprecedented season. I can respect that. I know we fund that with supps. Whether I think that's the best way to go about things or not really doesn't matter to me, I'll leave that up to the Minister and his department. But why is compliance and officer services gone down over the last two years? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And recognizing that this is a little bit of an overlap to MACA's jurisdiction, I hope the Minister can answer this. What is the GNWT doing to support municipalities on waste reduction and diversion? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. And, yeah, I know it's not necessarily always the budget line item here that would make all the difference, but I guess could the Minister speak more to what they're exploring to support the forest industry. I know there's interest on the Regular MLAs' side to see that industry flourish. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I want to speak to an environmental and community issue. The lack of plastic waste recycling and the influx of plastics in our landfills in the NWT.

Plastic is present in everything in our society, but the management of plastic waste remains a problem. Only 9 percent of the plastic waste that is created in our country is recycled. Plastics continue to be buried in landfills across the territory, including in Yellowknife, as reported this past April by the CBC. 60 tonnes of plastic waste was collected in the blue bins across the city, and they are now...