Shane Thompson

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I thought this was going to be a short Q&A here, but it got a little bit longer. I appreciate the Minister providing that opportunity, and I will pass that on to the leadership in Fort Liard, that they can reach out to the regional staff there to see what can be done. So I thank the Minister for that. I understand the challenges that we see, but, again, that community needs to find work and they're trying to get this done, so I greatly appreciate it. It's just more of a comment. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Further on to the directorate, we see a reduction of about $55,000. Can the Minister expand on this reduction? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. This could probably be a short one here. In regards to the Oil & Gas Symposium in Calgary, I realize the Minister is not going and staff are, have they reached out to some of the Aboriginal communities and invited them to go to that conference? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am on page 211. I noticed that corporate costs from the previous budget have gone down. Can the Minister explain where these changes come from? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. In Growing Forward, there's $488,000 on page 216. When we talk about the Economic Diversification, a portion of that money was earmarked for that. Where is the difference in that money? Is it a federal program that this money is coming from, or is this an internal transfer? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I thank the Minister for that answer. I guess my next question is: how would the greenhouse-gas-savings calculations change if pellets burned were made from green lumber?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. On page 216, it says “Growing Forward.” It says “$488,000.” Could the Minister just maybe elaborate a little further on what he talked about with the Economic Diversification in there, the amount? I'm just trying to get that clarified. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the Minister's answer and the department working on this project. My final question is: In regards to wood pellets that are being burned now to heat many GNWT buildings, how are the greenhouse gas savings calculated? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I thank the Minister for the clarification on that. It says, "NWT Business Development and Investment Corporation," it's the $943,000. Is that the BDIC cut? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I thank the Minister for the answer. I think, probably, the standing committee would probably wish to see that. My second question is: I understand that more than 3.5 million hectares of forest have been burned in recent years, leaving behind large tracts of dry and boreal forest. Of course, much of it is in the South Mackenzie region. Using this timber might be an environmentally better source for Aurora Wood Pellet's operations. Has the company considered this, and, if so, what were the results of this consideration?