Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Earlier in my statement, I highlighted the University of Waterloo and their work with communities, especially in regards to small communities that have a very traditional base economy and rely on it in terms of their consumption of traditional foods. Here in the Northwest Territories, I think there's been a particular focus on climate change, because, you know, we all understand and know some of the visible evidence that we're experiencing in terms of global warming and its impact on the environment, especially the wildlife. There are some studies that are attempting to understand the contaminants in the food chain. My question is to the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources. Can the Minister update and reassure this House that the GNWT is involved and has a clear role in the contaminants monitoring programs? Mahsi.
Masi. Minister of Environment and Natural Resources.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has a role in a number of areas. We have climate change. We have wildlife. We have other things that we're looking at, water, so I'm sure that would be something that we are looking into. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The barren land caribou in NWT has been significantly reduced. In the communities, we have challenges. The costs of goods are fairly high. Right now we're seeing the heavy beat of the mantra that we are in very dark economic times. What efforts are the Minister and his department making to continue to ensure that the traditional economy and the harvest of the traditional foods are promoted and enhanced?
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources is always willing to work with all Aboriginal governments and communities on the harvesting of traditional foods. We have a couple of programs that we use to assist the communities and the people and I'm sure we will continue to do that to assist the Members.
Earlier I asked my first question to the Minister, and again, I'll reiterate that question. Can the Minister reassure this House and the public that there are measurements and efforts being made by his department to ensure and reassure the public that the level of contaminants in the traditional foods that are consumed mostly by small communities is not at a level that the public should be alarmed about?
I'd like to reassure the Member that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources will work with the Department of Health to make sure that the contaminants, if they're coming into the food system, will be addressed through both departments.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Deh Cho.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to ask the Minister to outline, for this side of the House and the public: how will his department lead in terms of the framework of ensuring that discussions on contaminants and work with communities? Mahsi.
I will definitely be talking to the departments I related to this issue and we can get back to the Member on how we're going to proceed on that.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife Centre.
