Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources. It’s pretty clear that over the course of the past summer the NWT experienced the worst forest fire season in history. Water levels tend to fluctuate in terms of the mighty Mackenzie and other tributaries that flow into the NWT, plus we have seen anomalies in terms of the migration patterns of the wildlife.
My question to the Minister, as I said earlier, is that science is irrefutable and climate changes are affecting the Arctic regions in dramatic ways. Will the Minister elaborate on this government’s plans for reversing climate change? Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Nadli. Minister Miltenberger.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There are two things, two main approaches we need to take as we deal with the impacts of climate change.
First, we are going to have to adapt to the changing world, and the changes that are coming have been coming for decades and the changes that were needed to be put into effect are going to take decades to be impacted. In the meantime, we have been adapting to the permafrost issues that the Member has mentioned. We are adapting and paying for issues like low water, but at the same time we are investing millions, tens upon millions of dollars on alternate energy, changing our consumption patterns, looking at leading the country on biomass, investing in solar, investing in wind. The borrowing limit that we are talking about with the federal government is focused on two main areas. One is roads, the other is looking at the energy issues to bring down the cost of living and reduce our dependence on diesel. Those two areas have been centrepieces to just about all the work we’ve done. Adaptation has affected our roads; we had to replace all the piles in various houses, those types of things. We don’t argue with the science. We know it’s there, we live it every day, and every budget we’ve had in this House reflects that. Thank you.
I think one prominent point that I fail to hear from the Minister is the measurable gauge that every country in the world has been using and that’s the emissions of greenhouse gases and I didn’t hear that from the Minister.
I would like to thank the Minister for highlighting the major initiatives that this government has taken. I think we all, in the NWT, really enjoy the beauty of the NWT. We have very nice cultural areas, but at the same time very prominent are some of the special areas that we value. There are calving grounds and, more recently, the encroachment of invasive species that people bring up from other parts of the country. Minerals, oil and gas development threaten a number of sensitive ecological areas.
Will the Minister articulate the government’s position on protecting delicate ecosystems, such as the Peel Watershed at the Yukon-NWT border? Mahsi.
We have a Greenhouse Gas Strategy, as well, to address the Member’s initial comment on his second question. It is up for renewal this year. We are going to hit the targets we have in there. We are looking at modernizing and updating it to reflect the current realities.
When it comes to development, we have a very fundamental approach of sustainability and balance that’s required with protection of the environment and resource development. We have quite a rigorous environmental assessment and review process for all project applications where ENR, ITI and Lands work together collaboratively to administer the new responsibilities post-devolution that are going to see us make sure we address all the requirements and all our obligations. ENR, as well, is moving forward with the protected areas that were there pre-devolution and we are looking at concluding some of those and working with communities and regions on areas of specific concern and sensitivity.
In regards to the Peel Watershed, we are in the process of renewing and revitalizing our transboundary water agreement with the Yukon government. Thank you.
I would like to thank the Minister for his reply. Climate change is a big concept. At the community level, people are, in some respects, anxious in terms of its implications. At the same time, they want to see some mitigated measures that they can see at a practical level.
This government has not shown a clear commitment to sustainable, renewable energy sources in our small communities. With electricity prohibitively expensive, economic development becomes less viable.
What is the government doing to ensure that renewable and affordable fuel sources are available in our small communities? Mahsi.
I would argue that we have shown an enormous interest and support for alternative energy in the communities. In the Member’s riding, for example, we have been working very, very closely with the communities. In Fort Providence, for example, and Fort Resolution to formalize forest management agreements that is going to allow the business opportunity to put in a $20 million pellet plant, creating not only environmental benefits but a huge economic opportunity. We lead the country in biomass applications here in the Northwest Territories. We have put in a significant array in Fort Simpson. We are going to look at combining solar with diesel along with batteries in Colville Lake. The government facilities that Public Works is administering across the North in all the communities have biomass. We have rebate programs, incentive programs and we see industry, as well, with Diavik putting a significant array of wind which is going to cut their costs.
I would suggest to the Member that we should be recognized collectively for the work we have done in that area and we are paying very, very close attention and definitely putting our money where our good intentions are. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Nadli.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to thank the Minister for highlighting a lot of the initiatives that the 17th Assembly has accomplished. I think we could do more and it’s good that there has been a strong working relationship, especially at the community level.
I wanted to ask, in terms of this year’s budget, the ‘15-16 budget and going forward, what are some of the prominent and significant, perhaps, commitments that the Minister’s department will be focusing on? He has mentioned biomass initiatives, he has mentioned forest management agreements that are still in the development stages and looking forward to addressing the overall concerns in terms of trying to mitigate climate change and how those policies and initiatives could take on a prominent and significant form. Mahsi.
The budget lays out our ongoing commitment to alternative energy, to the rebate incentive programs, to working with communities, but I think the biggest commitment is there in the charrette, and the Premier referenced it in one of his earlier responses, that as we deal with our borrowing limit and we get the borrowing limit raised, one of the key areas we’re looking at, and the budget address says this, as well, that we know that energy issues, especially generation issues in Yellowknife and all the thermal communities are critical issues to bring down the cost of living, reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and be more environmentally friendly. We’re intending, once that borrowing limit is resolved in a favourable way, to put the very, very many tens upon tens of millions of dollars that are needed to start that process in a very serious way. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.
