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.