Debates of May 31, 2006 (day 2)

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. My question here today is for the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources just relating to our recycling program which rolled out last year. I know that the program has been receiving good reviews and good public participation. That is a good direction that everybody in the North has taken seriously. My concern is with the smaller community depots, Mr. Speaker, that rely on the larger deposit centres in the urban areas to drop off all their recyclable materials. There seems to be some discrepancy on how these materials are refunded and paid for. In the smaller communities, the small depots are paying per unit on the cans and the bottles and the containers that they are taking in and they are bringing them to the larger centres. The larger centres are telling them that they are basing them on the weight that they are bringing in. There is some discrepancy on the refunding and the receiving of the money that they have dished out in collecting the recyclables. I am just wondering what the policy is of the government on the recycling. Is it based on the number of cans or bottles, or by the weight? Can the Minister just answer that first? Thanks.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. The honourable Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, Mr. Miltenberger.

Return To Question 9-15(5): NWT Recycle Program Policies

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the cash in your trash is based on a price per container. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Supplementary To Question 9-15(5): NWT Recycle Program Policies

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If the cash for your trash is based on the per unit, what is the government doing to ensure that when there is a discrepancy between the large centres and the smaller centres that are transporting all of these materials to their depot, that they are communicated that the government policy is on a per unit basis and not on a per weight? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 9-15(5): NWT Recycle Program Policies

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Now that I have been made aware of this discrepancy as the Member has indicated, then we will be following up today and tomorrow to ensure that the proper facts are communicated to all of the participants in this program. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Supplementary To Question 9-15(5): NWT Recycle Program Policies

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is good to know that the Minister will be sending out some kind of a memo to all of the main operators. Is there any avenue in our appeal mechanism that the government would have? Is there an office that these small depot operators can call when there is a dispute and that they can get some mitigation to resolve it? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 9-15(5): NWT Recycle Program Policies

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would recommend that, if there are questions in any particular community, they contact the local ENR officer or the local regional office. They should be able to hopefully resolve the issues and clarify any misunderstandings. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Final supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Supplementary To Question 9-15(5): NWT Recycle Program Policies

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is just for the Minister’s information. I am sure he is well aware that a lot of these small centres don’t have Renewable Resource officers. They don’t have ENR officers. When they do phone the ENR office in Yellowknife, Hay River, the South Slave, North Slave, or the Inuvik office from these remote communities, these calls usually go unanswered, then these people just give up. I know of a few small community depots that are just shutting down because they are not getting any feedback from the government. They are not getting any support in trying to mitigate these disputes that they are having with the larger operators. The larger operators are definitely not taking up their small community concerns to the government because there is a dispute in place. How can people get some positive feedback from the government in saying, yes, we can look into it and we will check into your concern? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 9-15(5): NWT Recycle Program Policies

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If the Member would provide me with the detail of the information that he has talked about in the communities and contractors that he is referring to, I will ensure that they are followed up with and that we can clarify circumstances and make sure that they have the support they need. We can hopefully resolve this issue and maintain and continue the recycling program. Thank you.