Today I’d like to make a few comments in regard to the budget address we just recently heard. Firstly, I find little fault in the budget as presented. I certainly am in disagreement with parts of the budget. Things like the milk subsidy that is not included, a grant to Skills Canada that will be discontinued, that the budget continues to use the term “strategic initiative” to define costs which are actually forced growth. But in general I feel that the Minister of Finance has done a good job.
The Minister has referenced the current global economic downturn a number of times and he’s stated that it will likely have an impact on the NWT. I’m encouraged that he’s recognizing that fact. He would be the proverbial ostrich with its head in the sand if he did not, but I encourage the Minister, as we move forward through the 2009-2010 fiscal year, to remain vigilant about the effects that we’re going to experience. We cannot wait for negative results. We have to be proactive and plan ahead. I am very happy to hear in his budget address that the Minister seems to think that will happen.
We have to have contingency plans and strategies in place to respond to reduced revenues, if that’s what occurs. Too often governments react to a situation instead of planning ahead, and reacting can be disastrous.
Further, I feel that this government must ensure that the budget’s infrastructure projects that have been referenced provide economic stimulus to our communities, and our smaller communities in particular. It’s very important that the Finance Minister makes sure that happens. These communities are struggling and it’s the duty of their government to assist them in surviving the current economic strife that they’re encountering.
I support the $20 million investment in energy initiatives. If we’re ever to become self-sufficient in regard to our power needs we, as a Territory, have to remove ourselves from reliance on fossil fuels. These investments are long term, but I think it’s moving in the right direction.
Lastly, I’d like to draw attention to a few of the Finance Minister’s words from the address where he stated, “The budget provides additional funding of $2 million to improve care for seniors; that funding should be directed where it serves the most vulnerable, the most in need, or where people are less able to help themselves.” I could only think about the Supplementary Health Benefits Program as proposed, and those words from the budget address hardly, to me, mean that we’re going to be assisting our seniors. I trust that the government means the words that are actually on the paper and that they apply this intent when redesigning this particular program.
In conclusion, I look forward to debating this budget and I will have questions for the Minister at a later date.
Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.
I wanted to start by saying I was very pleased to hear in the budget address whenever things were being considered they were being considered from the perspectives of the economy, people, and the environment. This is a three-legged stool that is so essential in our approach to all issues. This is the first budget I have actually heard this in, so I want to compliment the Minister on that.
I’d like to also delve into the details, because that’s where the juice is, or not, on energy initiatives. I’d like to start by mentioning this recession that we’re in and the effect it’s had on the price of energy, particularly oil. Many believe that we hit peak oil and that’s what drove the prices up so high just before the recession hit. It may have contributed to it. We have a window of opportunity now when prices are low to be very effective with our dollars. We can rest assured, and I’ve had people come up to me at the break and say this window of opportunity may be very brief. We need to be very effective with this time and deliver these programs very effectively and quickly.
First of all, let’s get it done. Let’s have a community systems approach on the ground. Let’s deal with the revenue included and, in particular here, energy efficiency and, of course, dealing with heating. Electricity is more problematic and I’m not saying ignore that. We need to be talking about that too.
One of the first things to me is we have a biomass opportunity. The Minister has identified that. We need community forest inventories, we need sustainable harvest plans, we need the development of wood cooperatives where people in the community can contribute and grow and harvest wood following the sustainable programs and so on. We need to look into wood classification. This is demonstrated to be the most efficient way to go for biomass and district heating in our communities. These are all off-the-shelf technologies available now.
I’m pleased to see the interest in wind and geothermal. Mini-hydro, $800,000 towards planning. Lord, Lord. Let’s get to actually doing something on mini-hydro, please.
Energy efficiency, I’d like to see us go after establishing EGH-80 in our public housing programs, especially with the federal dollars that are available.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I see I’m out of time.
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Beaulieu.
