Debates of October 14, 2005 (day 10)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions this morning are for Mr. Miltenberger as the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, and they concern the Beverage Container Recovery Program, Mr. Speaker, something which this legislature has been working on for a number of years and really with anticipation for the November 1st implementation. However, it has stayed on the radar screen and, unfortunately, not with such a high degree of anticipation. Among a number of issues that continue to dog this program is the realization that now within about two-and-a-half weeks of the implementation, Mr. Speaker, a number of communities still do not have this system fully implemented, especially depots whereby containers can be returned and recycled. I wanted to start with a question on this one, Mr. Speaker, to the Minister. Which communities will have depots ready to cash in empties by November 1st? Thank you.

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

Return To Question 119-15(4): Implementation Of NWT Recycling Program

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’d just like to point out that this very important initiative was created late in the life of the 14th Assembly and was seen as something that was put into place before that Assembly finished. The 15th Assembly has picked up that challenge, and we’re moving on that. Mr. Speaker, through this program, we estimate that we discard about 25 million containers over the course of a year. That’s over 500 containers for every man, woman and child in the Northwest Territories. We’ve picked a date of November 1st that we want to try and roll out this program in all the communities that are ready. We have coverage for, we believe, over 80 percent of the Northwest Territories population. The specific communities that will have depots are Yellowknife, Hay River, Inuvik, Fort Smith, Fort Simpson, Behchoko, Fort Resolution and Nahanni Butte. We’re in active discussions, as we speak, with Gameti, Paulatuk, Holman and Tuktoyaktuk, as well. So we’re making every effort to make sure that we’re ready. We’re going to be starting this program November 1st, and we’re going to be working actively up until then and beyond to ensure that every community has capacity to have a depot. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 119-15(4): Implementation Of NWT Recycling Program

Mr. Speaker, from a consumer's point of view, a pretty critical part of this program, given that I think most northerners want to participate in something that’s going to help the environment, is that if there’s going to be a collection that’s going to start on November 1st, it’s going to take at least 15 cents extra for each container. There should be some way that they know they can turn that in and recover at least part of that fee. My question, Mr. Speaker, is what are the government’s plans for those communities that will not have a depot on November 1st? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Good question, Bill. Good question.

Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 119-15(4): Implementation Of NWT Recycling Program

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we’re going to work with individual communities, but my suggestion to everyone is keep your containers and we’re coming.

---Laughter

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 119-15(4): Implementation Of NWT Recycling Program

Mr. Speaker, in the meantime, I’m not going to be able to keep my money. I’m going to have to give my money to the government while efforts go on to set up a way to return it. Mr. Speaker, how does the government square this? How does it justify proceeding in these smallest communities where the cost is the highest, with taking this deposit but not having a way of returning it? Justify that, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 119-15(4): Implementation Of NWT Recycling Program

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this project is a good idea, and we acknowledge the fact that we have some communities that we haven’t made arrangements with yet. We still have some time left, but the reality is that we are going to unfold this and it would be almost impossible to just pick and choose individual communities. This cost is put on the distributors and it goes to the communities, so Members can keep their cans and their bottles of beverages and we will compensate them. The program is there, and we’re going to do everything in our power to make sure this works. We have coverage for over 80 percent of the population of the Northwest Territories, and it’s important that we start moving on this. There was enormous pressure that we were dragging our feet, that we were delaying and we weren’t in fact getting this program up and running. Well, we’re going to do that. It’s going to take some time, but we’re going to work it through and get it up and running. Thank you.

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

Supplementary To Question 119-15(4): Implementation Of NWT Recycling Program

Mr. Speaker, the issue is not at all the validity and the decency of this program. The issue is in implementation and fairness, especially to those people in the smallest communities -- and I will say this again -- where the costs are the highest, and they have no choice in this matter. This is not good government. Will the government, in those communities that cannot be served with a depot by November 1st, withhold, defer this program until such time as a depot is available? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 119-15(4): Implementation Of NWT Recycling Program

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we are going to proceed, and we’re going to work with every community to come up with arrangements, alternative or interim as they may be, to ensure that people have the ability to get their beverage containers to a place where they can be compensated. If there’s no depot in that community, then we’ll make arrangements to make sure that people can have those containers taken to a place where compensation can be made.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today my questions will be for the Minister of ITI, and it’s in regards to a "buy northern" program. This government spends a lot of money on northern-based industries to support them, and I applaud them for such efforts. They put a lot of efforts into the arts and crafts and even the secondary diamond industry. Even the local Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce, to their specific credit, promotes "buy local" to help support local businesses that continue to give back to the communities. So when I look at northern manufacturers, I think of such companies as Arctic Wild Harvest; we have the tea lady; we have Energy Wall Trusses, and we even have the Fort McPherson canvas bags. So what are we doing to promote these? My question to the Minister of ITI is, what are we doing to create a program to make a made-in-the-NWT program to help build a little pride in northern awareness so we can buy and shop local? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Mr. Bell.

Return To Question 120-15(4): Promotion Of NWT Manufacturing

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have, for some time, been without an NWT manufacturing strategy, and it’s been something that we’ve discussed and wanted to move forward on. I’ve asked the department and the BDIC, the newly created BDIC, as part of the terms of reference for the program and service review they have embarked on, to also consider what we might do and what kind of support we might better provide to the manufacturing sector. It is difficult. There are many hurdles in order to have a viable manufacturing sector. We’re very distant from markets. The cost of inputs, labour and utilities, is higher in the North than it is in the South, but that’s not to say that we can’t have a strong and viable manufacturing sector. So this is something that I’ve asked the BDIC and our department to look at and consider as they go forward with this program service review. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 120-15(4): Promotion Of NWT Manufacturing

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the honourable Member for mentioning that we don’t have a strategy. That’s something I’d like to see us work on and maybe see if we can get a commitment from the Minister, in the long run, to do that. But I don’t think a northern strategy necessarily has to be where we have to start. It could be where we’re going. I believe very strongly that the northern manufacturers need to be supported and this government needs to get behind them. I’ll speak to something that’s probably near and dear to the Speaker’s heart, which is that I bought windows from Arctic Front out of Hay River, and I was exceptionally satisfied and promoted them to several people in Yellowknife who bought them. So these northern manufacturers are producing great quality products in our North, and I think it’s imperative that we go the extra mile. So would the Minister consider something along the lines of a logo identification program? It could be something as simple as little stickers that said it was made in the NWT, just like the U.S.A. did a few years ago when they showed everyone their labels, “Made in the U.S.A.” So would the Minister look at maybe making something simple like a “Made in the NWT” logo to help build that pride? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 120-15(4): Promotion Of NWT Manufacturing

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is something that’s come up in my recent consultations with chambers of commerce across the Northwest Territories. We had some discussion around such an initiative in Fort Smith, I believe. It is something we’d like to look at. We’ve talked internally about our arts and crafts and how to ensure there is a premium and additional margin for people producing arts and crafts in the Northwest Territories. We’ve talked about branding and tags that would have some reference to the artists who created the crafts. But with that and with that branding certainly will come “Made in the NWT” labels. Could that be expanded to other products? It probably could. It’s something that I’d like to consider in my discussions with chambers of commerce and I think it is a good initiative that could be discussed and debated as the program service review is undertaken. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 120-15(4): Promotion Of NWT Manufacturing

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there are more than 400 people who work in this industry of northern manufacturing and I think it’s important that we take a serious look at that. This manufacturing industry commits over $63 million to our northern economy, and I think it’s more than a laughable number; I think it’s quite a serious number that we have to pay serious attention to. So I believe in my heart that they deserve a lot of respect. So would the Minister seriously consider and maybe commit today to at least look into a logo program, which would only cost pennies, so we can put stickers on products made in the North so we can continue that recognition? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 120-15(4): Promotion Of NWT Manufacturing

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’ll certainly investigate that possibility, and I think it could be a component of an NWT manufacturing strategy. This is something that I think is very important. So I can give the Member the assurance that we’ll discuss that as a department; discuss it with the BDIC; and certainly talk to chambers of commerce about that initiative; and, again, give the Member my commitment that we do intend to develop an NWT manufacturing strategy. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 120-15(4): Promotion Of NWT Manufacturing

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate that commitment from the Minister, because a little logo program doesn’t need a lot of administration and a long time research, so I look forward to his response on that when he gets back to me. Would he also look towards making a web site? B.C. has a “Made in B.C.” program and apparently it’s hugely accepted and seen as a special launch to promote B.C. manufactured products. Would he look at creating or maybe implementing something similar to the B.C. “Made in B.C.” program? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Bell.

Further Return To Question 120-15(4): Promotion Of NWT Manufacturing

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’ll admit that I’m not familiar with the “Made in B.C.” program. The concept sounds sound, and I can give the Member my assurance again that as we investigate an NWT manufacturing strategy, we’ll look at all these possibilities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. My question, Mr. Speaker, is to the Honourable Joe Handley. It’s just a question on some Northern Strategy dollars that have rolled out in the last couple of months. I just want to ask the Minister if any of these Northern Strategy dollars have been accessed by any of the communities in the NWT to date. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. The honourable Premier, Mr. Handley.

Return To Question 121-15(4): Access To Northern Strategy Funds

Mr. Speaker, no. No communities have accessed any of the money. The money will not be available to any of the Members until this House has debated the proposal and has agreed with it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Supplementary To Question 121-15(4): Access To Northern Strategy Funds

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Premier, for that. I guess the proposal that this House will be debating, are we going to bring that proposal forward any time soon and get the debate over and done with so that communities can access these Northern Strategy dollars? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 121-15(4): Access To Northern Strategy Funds

Mr. Speaker, yes, the money is identified in the supp and will be open for debate at that time. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Supplementary To Question 121-15(4): Access To Northern Strategy Funds

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess it has just come to my attention that Nunavut and the Yukon have already had access to these Northern Strategy dollars and the communities are already putting proposals forward to spend some of that money. I guess the Minister is well aware of the divisiveness in the communities that has arisen because of these Northern Strategy dollars. Does this government have any plan of assisting these communities to work out and develop some good community plans to spend some of these northern infrastructure dollars? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 121-15(4): Access To Northern Strategy Funds

Mr. Speaker, last spring when we had the Circle of Northern Leaders meeting, we heard very loud and clear messages from local leaders that they wanted the ability to lead, to be leaders. They are elected. They wanted to be able to decide on the highest priority of their communities. Generally, that’s what we heard across the Territories. So we have designed this proposal in a way that responds to that. Having said that, if some communities would prefer to submit applications to us and have us decide amongst the applications that we receive, then we’re starting to prepare to do that. That’s been the conventional way of doing it, and that’s always an option for communities if it’s too divisive or they have other reasons why they would like us to do it. They have three years to access the money, and we’d be pleased to do it, but at the same time we want to respond to the message we heard loud and clear from local leaders to let them lead. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Supplementary To Question 121-15(4): Access To Northern Strategy Funds

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I was just wondering, I know the communities probably don’t want the government to decide how they’re going to spend these dollars because the autonomy has gone to the community level anyway. But I just wanted to ask the Minister if the government would propose or consider an option of being mediator to a lot of these community governments that are having problems with each other in developing good comprehensive plans on how they’re going to spend these dollars and where their priorities should go. Is the government willing to entertain a position of that nature? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 121-15(4): Access To Northern Strategy Funds

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, we would be willing to do that, but we will not interfere unless the community asks us to come in. We will have people, through the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, who will advise them on how the money has to be accounted for. But in terms of setting their priorities, we won’t get involved with that unless they are asking us to help them do it. Of course, if they have questions, we’re always open to answer questions, provide advice, provide help wherever we can. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Going back to my Member’s statement today on the pipeline, I have a couple of questions for Mr. Handley. I read, with interest, some of the comments he made in the paper about some of the demands being excessive. Does he believe that this could possibly kill the project? Thank you.