The community has an allocation from this government for their infrastructure and they will determine on their own what they want to use that money for. If it goes towards an arena, again, that would be their decision, and our role in it is to support the community and help them find other sources of funding or secure bank financing if the need arises. But we will work with the community and explain to them what some of their options are.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Earlier in my Member’s statement I spoke about decentralization and the huge opportunity for us to grow the whole of the Northwest Territories. I know that we have lots of work ahead of us with phase one and phase two, and we still have lots of heavy lifting up until April 1st, but my questions are more specifically towards phase three of the devolution plan when we can start focusing on decentralization. Perhaps I can ask Mr. Premier about what’s the bird’s-eye view of phase three in devolution and decentralization. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The honourable Premier, Mr. McLeod.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank the Member for asking this very important question. As we’ve spoken about decentralization and devolution many times, we talked about the three phases. Phase one is where we decentralize a number of existing programs and services. Phase two is devolution, where we said we were devolved and then evolved, and as part of that we were able to move a number of positions out into the regions, something in the neighbourhood of about 90-some positions.
In the past, we’ve been talking about decentralization for a long time, as long as this government has been in existence, and we’ve successfully decentralized quite a number of positions, and we are going to do that again. Decentralization, or phase three, is a priority of this 17th Assembly. We are developing concrete policies and strategies for housing in the communities and office space in the communities, and we have identified the lead department, the lead Minister in the Department of Finance, and we will take a very active approach to decentralizing positions.
I’m glad the Premier is speaking about it being a planned and measured approach to devolution. I just want to get more about the planned and measured approach only because once we start establishing infrastructure like housing, more office spaces in the regions and the communities, then the plan is not just about plucking lives out of Yellowknife and sending them to the regions. I guess it’s about everybody being told up front that these jobs, these positions will eventually be in the communities. I know that there are lots of big deputy minister committees and everything on planning the move for April 1st, but at the same time, I just want to impress upon the Premier that we cannot lose the fact that we must grow the whole Northwest Territories.
That is exactly the approach that we’re taking. We feel that by moving programs and services out into the regions, we’ll be able to better serve the people of the Northwest Territories, and we have a very developed approach in how we do that and also in how we deal with affected employees. Also, we will be introducing… The Minister of Human Resources talked yesterday about our strategy for human resources in the regions, a Regional Recruitment Strategy, so we are approaching it on all fronts.
As we go through recruitment, I guess part of the strategy – I don’t know if it’s there – is that new employees must be informed that the potential for decentralization is there. Is that part of the Regional Recruitment Strategy as we move forward and hope to fill all these empty positions? Because I understand not all the Ottawa jobs are basically unfilled.
For sure, as we go forward with phase three, we will have a very detailed and structured plan so that nobody will be caught by surprise.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Menicoche
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know that in the past, there was some devolution work getting out to the communities, and during my last constituency tour, some of the smaller communities would still like to know more about devolution. Once we achieve, I guess, phase one, which is getting to April 1, 2014, making the transfers and doing all the legislation that’s there, I’m wondering if the Premier is looking at a second round of devolution to be explained to the communities and regions.
We have a Cabinet committee that will be working on decentralization, and at the appropriate time, will be going out and talking to people in the regions, because I know already when meeting with municipal governments and other organizations, they all have ideas on the kinds of programs and services that should be decentralized.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The Member for Range Lake, Mr. Dolynny.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Drowning is the second leading cause of preventable death for children under 10 years of age in Canada. We can, we must, we need to do what is right, and not what is easy, to prevent further tragedy at our territorial park beaches.
In reference to my Member’s statement earlier today, I wanted to ask the Minister responsible for territorial beaches to do the right thing and bring our lifeguards back.
Since many of us have not read the soon-to-be tabled report from the Lifesaving Society of Alberta, could the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment quickly walk us through some of the highlights that he shared earlier today in a press release, so that he can ease the minds of many concerned about water safety at our territorial beach parks? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. The honourable Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Mr. Ramsay.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We didn’t just react when the tragic occurrence happened at the Fred Henne beach here in Yellowknife earlier this summer. There is a process. We got the Lifesaving Society of Alberta to get involved and provide an audit at both Fred Henne beach and also the beach in Hay River. The report on the beach in Hay River will be coming out later this fall. Certainly, there are a number of recommendations contained in the report that will lead to a much safer beach and waterfront at Fred Henne Territorial Park. That is fundamental to all of this, is we want to ensure that we have, as much as possible, the safest beaches that we can here in the Northwest Territories.
The report by the Lifesaving Society of Alberta looked at a beach and provided recommendations for a beach that was unsupervised. That’s not to say that we aren’t going to be looking at the feasibility of putting lifeguards at Fred Henne beach next summer. That is something that I will commit to, to taking a look at. We are going to again employ the services of the Lifesaving Society of Alberta to help us with that study on lifeguards.
There is a lot more to it than simply putting lifeguards on the beach at Fred Henne. We have to look at the swimming area. It’s going to impact, potentially, the hours of operation, the access to that beach. Before we do that, we have some time here this winter to ensure that we get this right. We also want to have some public consultation take place on how the public feels if we have to look at reduction in the hours of access to that swimming area, the reduced swimming area. These are things that take some time. We are going to ensure, and I give my commitment again today to the House, that we are going to do everything in our power to ensure that that beach is as safe as possible. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, on behalf of all Yellowknife residents, I accept the commitment, but we also hope that there is action behind that.
Let’s start with an easy question for the Minister today. It has been documented, You Tubed and in the media a number of times now, the issue of the dangerous holes in the swimming area just 30 metres from the shoreline of Long Lake beach. We’ve heard that, due to shifting sand, they could be filled, but we have been encouraged that warning buoys in the water could be used.
Could the Minister once and for all tell the people of Yellowknife exactly how he is going to solve the issue of the holes? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, one of those ideas could be to reduce the swimming area. The Lifesaving Society, in conducting the audit, I believe there were divers out there who had masks and snorkels and surveyed the ground under the water at the beach. A lot of this they believe is caused by the way the lake moves and whether or not you fill those holes in one day, they may in fact be there a few weeks later.
There are ways we can mark those holes if they are there. We wouldn’t want to have a swimming area where there were these holes and opportunities for people to get into an area that was with water that was over their head. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, I think people are feeling a bit more comfortable that this issue will definitely be addressed in the summer of 2014.
If the Minister is not going to support beach lifeguards in the immediate future, it is clear from the current volunteer group, Lifeguards for Lodune, that liability is their main concern and continues to remain as their number one issue.
What is the Minister willing to do to assist this volunteer group? We have bona fide First Aid volunteers, policies, procedures and a soon-to-be board of directors. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, we are going to look at lifeguards, putting in proper lifeguard services at Fred Henne Park, and I’ve made a commitment to do that. If that is the case, I still believe there would be a role and a function for a group such as Lifeguards for Lodune to be involved, perhaps as safe water practice ambassadors or helping out in various capacities. That all remains to be seen, what role and function a group like that could have, but our anticipation is to continue the dialogue with that group and certainly we would like to fit them into the plans going forward in some capacity. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Dolynny.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the Minister’s commitment here. The true test of this Minister will be his willingness to defy the bureaucracy of the ivory tower and rule in a way that many remember him as a Regular Member.
Will this Minister commit to this House officially, and to the volunteers of Lifeguards for Lodune and to the people of Yellowknife, whether he works with the City of Yellowknife or not, to re-establish a Long Lake beach lifeguard program for the summer of 2014 and thereafter? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I have been in politics now for about 16 years and I do pride myself on being able to make the right decisions. In the case of having lifeguards at Fred Henne Park, I’ve committed to doing my best to ensure that we get all the answers. It’s not an issue of funding and it shouldn’t be an issue of funding. If it is going to make Fred Henne beach safer, there will be lifeguards at that beach next summer. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of ENR. I would like to talk about the situation in Norman Wells. I was reading through the Biomass Energy Strategy document. It is very impressive. I want to ask the Minister in regards to the programs that are offered in the alternative use of energy and fuel in the Northwest Territories, can the Minister state to the House in regards to the programs that are now offered? Is it somewhere in this document that they can help the residents and the businesspeople in Norman Wells to look at conversion that is needed in this year before October 31, 2014?
Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, Mr. Miltenberger.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There are a number of programs that are application-based. The ones delivered by ENR are the Alternative Energy Technologies Program, which is about $300,000 a year. Unfortunately, that program already has a waiting list. It has been a subscribed Energy Conservation Program, which supports reduced usage of electro heat energies and water. Maximum grant contribution is $50,000 available. We are operating with a budget of about $200,000 this year. The Biomass Energy Program has a broad range of support programs to help people to convert to biomass. It is a $400,000 fund. We, as well, provide funding to Arctic Energy Alliance through their Energy Efficiency Incentive Program that has a range of programs that are available anywhere from $50 to $4,500 depending on the issue. We have a Commercial Energy Conservation and Efficiency Program, which provides rebates to businesses to support commercial operations, that has a budget of $200,000. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Minister. It is quite an impressive list, the resource dollars that are allocated to these programs. The Minister did indicate that there were programs that were over-subscribed or some are on a waiting list and the numbers that are given don’t seem to be enough for what I’m going to ask in terms of helping out the residents and businesses of Norman Wells.
Can the Minister then make a request to the Ministerial Energy Coordinating Committee to top up the funding to help the people in Norman Wells? As I stated, the conversion is quite high in Norman Wells and we are looking for some support from this government to help them out with their energy solutions.
This issue is regularly on the agenda for the Ministerial Energy Climate Change Coordinating Committee and we’ll monitor those issues and those requirements. We recognize the unique nature of the challenges faced by the community of Norman Wells and the people who are converting. We will also continue to invest millions of dollars to make sure that our infrastructure, as well, is converted, but I will commit to the Member that that issue will be reviewed at MECC as we gather for our next meeting. Thank you.
I certainly appreciate the Minister’s willingness to have more discussions with your colleagues on this issue. Is there any type of schedule or programming for the Department of ENR, through Arctic Energy Alliance, to look at workshops or meetings in Norman Wells to look at the different types of programs that could be available to help with the residents? Like I said, there are 27 people out of 159 that are making this conversion and this would greatly help the town on the natural gas situation.
Yes, Mr. Speaker. In fact, there is a position in Norman Wells that is dedicated to assist people to navigate those very specific program areas the Member mentioned. I will make sure to have a conversation with the deputy minister and the superintendent in Norman Wells. They are already engaged, but we will make sure they are aware of the concern expressed by the Member in this House.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger, Final, short supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess I’m really happy with what the Minister is saying, because of the situation for families in Norman Wells and the businesses. Is there any type of indication from this government or through the Ministers as to the number of people who are willing to look at biomass energy or wood pellet or situations that will help them with their conversion? Is there any type of updated report that says, yes, we can do 10 families now or we have to wait until later on? Is there a status report? Thank you.
As it pertains to the conversion to biomass, people have made their own determination in many cases, businesses have made their own determination. There is a migration to that alternate heating source. There is, we understand development of a private industry there in terms of supplying pellets. In terms of access to these particular assistance programs for alternative energy changes, those are there. I will follow up with the staff, with the deputy, to make sure the folks in the region are aware of the Member’s concerns. All of that is happening as we speak and we will work with the individuals through the various programs we have available. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I will table the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change “Headline Statements from the Summary for Policymakers” from their fifth assessment of the physical science basis for climate change. I’d like to ask the Minister of Environment, would the Minister please confirm that this government accepts the latest report from the IPCC and that this government understands that “continued emissions of greenhouse gases will cause further warming and that limiting climate change will require substantial and sustained reductions on of greenhouse gas emissions” very soon? Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The honourable Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, Mr. Miltenberger.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Very clearly, this government is aware of the impact of climate change. We’re aware of all reports done by the IPCC. There is no debate from us whether those findings are valid or not. We’re spending millions and millions of dollars as a government to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change and global warming and we will continue to make those substantial investments as we balance a whole list of competing needs. Definitely there’s no debate on this side of the House on whether their findings are valid or not. Thank you.
I’m glad the Minister agrees with competing needs. That’s interesting. We are spending, of course, less and less each year on this issue. Could the Minister of Environment confirm that this government understands that greenhouse emissions are created when we burn fossil fuels like oil and gas, and if the oil and gas is left in the ground, they cannot create greenhouse gas emissions? Mahsi.
We have a major economic initiative, alternative energy-based initiative, which is the expansion of the transmission lines between Snare and the Taltson between 500 million to 700 million dollars. I consider that a very, very substantial investment. We are working throughout the North on expanding biomass, wind, solar. We are investing millions in that as well. We are spending millions upgrading our own facilities, converting to biomass. We’ve changed our guidelines for construction. Wherever you look, we are trying to lower our consumption and improve our energy efficiencies, work on conservation and we are a cold-weather jurisdiction, we are a cold-weather people and country. The fact of the matter is that for some time into the future, we are going to rely on non-renewable resources. At the same time, that does not deter us from working on the transition. Diamond mines are putting in wind, substantial investments in wind to cut their costs.
So we are well aware of the challenges. We deal with them every day and we are going to continue to invest in those alternative energy technologies and minimize our reliance on diesel and other petroleum products and, at the same time, recognizing that we still require them to have airplanes in the air, cars on the road and, in many cases, still to heat our houses. We have to have that balance between those factors and the ones we were just talking about.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Bromley.
Thanks to the Minister for that very long diatribe on something, but I assume that he understands when we burn fossil fuels, they release emissions, but if we leave the fossil fuels in the ground, they won’t release those emissions.
The Minister reported yesterday that he judged fracking developments in the Sahtu can be done sustainably, including environmentally so.
Could the Minister please provide the government’s estimate for the quantity of CO2 and other greenhouse gasses that will be released as a result of extracting and burning the oil and gas that is stored in the Sahtu shale oil deposit? Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Before we go on, I apologize to the Member for almost cutting you short one question, but the preamble and the answers are so long. The honourable Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, Mr. Miltenberger.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Of course, we’ll work with committee and this House to provide all the necessary numbers we require to make the most informed decisions in terms of the costs and benefits and the risk and rewards for the work in the Sahtu. The numbers and the requests the Member has made will be factored into that information that is going to be pulled together as we move forward. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Bromley.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will look forward to those numbers. Yesterday the Minister of ENR stated in our House that the government and ENR have already decided we can manage the risk from fracking. We know that increasing greenhouse gas emissions is against all the best possible scientific advice we can have. We know the impacts of climate change are already having soaring costs to the people of the NWT and the planet.
If Sahtu oil is proven, how does the Minister propose to manage the risks caused by fracking a very large but unknown amount of fossil fuels so they can be burned and the resulting greenhouse gases deposited in our planet’s atmosphere? How will the Minister manage this, from unsustainable to sustainable?
