Debates of May 14, 2007 (day 6)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my Member’s statement I talked about the expansion of the waste recovery program. We’ve seen the Beverage Container Program take off and it’s doing very well. I’d like to ask the Minister of ENR what is the policy right now in the Northwest Territories with respect to tires? Is there a tax that’s charged on tires at their point of purchase? Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Minister responsible for Environment and Natural Resources, Mr. MacLeod.

Return To Question 68-15(6): Tire Recycling

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don’t believe there is a tax, but I’d have to confirm that, Mr. Speaker. However, in the review of our Waste Reduction Recovery Program, tires and automobiles and e-garbage and things of that nature are being undertaken as part of a review that we’ve started now and will be reporting on by this fall, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 68-15(6): Tire Recycling

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Would that review include considering or contemplating a tax on tires purchased in the Northwest Territories and a rebate for tires when they are returned for recycling? Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 68-15(6): Tire Recycling

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, tires have been raised as one of the considerations that we have to look at. We are also working with communities to look at mobile equipment. We recently had a number of workshops and had some companies from Alberta come and talk about being able to recycle some of the scrap metals. As part of those discussions, several communities got together and are exploring the different ways they can deal with the bulkier products in their landfill, such as tires and mobile tire shredding is something we are considering. We are also going to be working with communities to look to see if we can package it up so we can access some of the federal green funding. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 68-15(6): Tire Recycling

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, that all sounds really good, but it sounds really vague and it sounds really far away and something that is not going to happen very soon. It is going to take in a whole wide range of products in recovery. It is really good to talk about it, but I want to talk about tires. It must be fairly simple. They are filling up our landfill as the days go ahead here. What do we need to do as a government to put legislation in place? What kind of framework needs to be in place to charge a levy on the tires when they are sold and to have a rebate to get them back to a central location for recycling? Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 68-15(6): Tire Recycling

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know there is some sense of urgency, but I wouldn’t think of going ahead without consulting with the Members of this House and the communities.

---Laughter

There is a lot of interest. There are a lot of different issues that we have to deal with including what products we focus on next. There are plastic bags. There are tires. There are vehicles and all types of things that we recognize have to be dealt with. We are not going to be able to deal with all of them. We need the input from the communities and the general public. So we have to take the time. We have contracted Lutra Associates to do the research on the recovery and recycling. We are working with the communities to try to access some money up front to start looking at mobile equipment so we can reduce some of the pressures that are facing the communities and their landfills. However, moving it any faster I think would be moving ahead faster than the communities would like. So we have to take the time to do it right, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Final supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 68-15(6): Tire Recycling

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess that is somewhat encouraging. They have hired Lutra Associates. They are going to do a study. Again, I think they are casting the net too wide. With so many priorities, there really is no priority. I would like to see a priority put on rubber tires. Even if you can’t get it figured out right away what you are going to do with them after you collect them, at least get the tax and the rebate system put in place so we can at least start getting them to one place where we can do something useful with them. There are a lot of really good uses for shredded tires, tire chips. They can even be exported and sold to other places. So I would like to see some priority on the tire recycling. Could the Minister agree to that? Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 68-15(6): Tire Recycling

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Of course, we will agree particularly with the Member’s comments. I will forward them on to the committee for consideration. Thank you.