Thank you, Minister Schumann. Any further questions Mr. Vanthuyne?
No further question, just a general comment. I would probably have to suggest then that this might be some of the challenges that the public has in understanding what is going on with the establishment of this park? Who in fact is the lead? Who is responsible for what? Is that we seem to be a little bit challenged in even identifying who can just simply be the voice of communication on the establishment of this park. That’s just something for the department to consider maybe in working with the partners, to try to establish one voice so that communication can be clear to the public. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Vanthuyne. Would Mr. Schumann like to comment on?
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I respect the Member’s comments, but I think that the briefing that we’ll offer will help clear up a lot of this stuff, and we’ll look forward to engaging with committee. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Schumann. Next we have Mr. Nadli.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just wanted to understand. Earlier I did mention the term Protected Area Strategy initiative and where it fits within the government at this point. I understand it’s been changed into conservation network initiative, so if I can get some explanation in terms of whether they’ve changed gears in terms of how the approach will be taken in terms of engaging and collaborating with communities.
Thank you, Mr. Nadli. Mr. Campbell.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, the Protected Area Strategy, again, is evolving now into what’s called GNWT Priorities for Advancement of Conservations Network Planning. Again, through that process there’s two key objectives there, and one of them is to develop this new strategy. We will no doubt pull in our partners and have those discussions on what this new strategy is going to look like for the Government of Northwest Territories. Again, there more likely will be some areas of the former Protected Area Strategy that will be reflected in this new renewed strategy. Again, we’re not there yet. We need to talk to all our partners on developing that strategy. In the meantime, the other piece of that plan, basically a work plan, this network planning initiative, is completing the existing candidate areas. Those candidate areas and working committees and of course we’ll continue to engage with those committees and, as we go forward, they’ll have to be of course evolved to be consistent with the new strategy. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Campbell. Any further questions, Mr. Nadli?
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I understand in terms of some background context, I think how PAS or conservation area networks are related was this concept of Y-to-Y, Yellowstone to Yukon, you know, establishing a network of conservation areas for wildlife habitat. My understanding is that was the founding initiative that drove the development of the PAS initiatives. I understand NGOs had a clear role in terms of ensuring resources and commitment and support were given to communities along with government. I just wanted some clarification whether the parties remain the same, as both levels of government involved, including the federal government, plus NGOs and communities? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Nadli. Mr. Campbell.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. The parties will most likely remain the same through this process as the previous PAS and the link to what the Member just mentioned there, the Y-to-Y as a form of protected area or a key piece, this new renewed strategy of course will be focusing on keeping ecosystem integrity in place. I’m not overly familiar with the Y-to-Y, but there’ll be no doubt the consistencies there because we expect the renewed strategy consistent with the old strategy, the commitments there, to go forward with that. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Campbell. Mr. Nadli.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. This will likely be my last question. There’s several strategies that are developed, including the conservation network initiatives, there’s the Boreal initiative. How integral will the Land Use and Sustainability Framework play in terms of ensuring that there’s consistencies with plans across the NWT? Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Nadli. Mr. Campbell.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. For us in the Northwest Territories, absolutely these initiatives fall under that Land Use and Sustainability Framework initiative. The overarching principles from the Land Use and Sustainability Framework guide these other initiatives similar to land use planning. Of course, the conservation network stuff, protected areas, we’ve seen it in the past, there is consistency and they complement each other; land use plans and conservation are… There’s renewed strategy. The consistency will be there going forward as well. I just need to confirm that the LUSF there is certainly the overarching document. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Campbell. Next, we have Mr. Nakimayak.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just getting back to what Mr. Nadli was talking about on conservation areas. I know there’s a few going on, and one in western Canada and one in eastern Canada as well too. The one in eastern Canada involves Canada, Greenland, the federal government, Nunavut. That’s just an example of how many different organizations, you know, can be sitting and negotiating on conservation areas. I hope that we don’t establish these conservation areas just to protect them from development, but also have the Aboriginal people... Like, there’s a lot of Aboriginal groups in my region. We use the ocean, we utilize that a lot, and then we’re looking at high seas fisheries regulations to prevent and regulate fishing by other countries in our waters. Pretty soon the polar ice cap is melting, the waters are opening up and I hope that we can continue to monitor, you know, with ENR and along with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, with the Government of Canada on this, to ensure that when we do start to negotiate for our territory and our regions that our Aboriginal groups are involved in every step of the way. Like Mr. Nadli says, it’s important to have as many groups as possible that have a stake in the region. The stakeholders in my region would be the Inuvialuit. I hope that the GNWT is playing a parallel role with the Inuvialuit to ensure that conservation is not just preservation, but actually conservation for the better of our environment and our people. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Nakimayak. Mr. Campbell.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Through practically all of our initiatives there is a collaborative approach. Certainly in some of these other initiatives absolutely we want to ensure that we continue that collaborative approach. If there’s links again to some of the other processes, we certainly want to have that discussion. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Campbell. Mr. Schumann.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I think that this is another initiative that the department’s bringing forward and it’s working its way through the system. I think this is something we would gladly bring to committee on a briefing and have a good discussion with everyone and get them up to speed on where we’re at, so we’ll offer that too. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister Schumann. Any further questions, Mr. Nakimayak?
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just a general comment. I appreciate the work that the department’s doing to collaborate with Aboriginal groups on conservation. Thanks, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Nakimayak. Committee, any further questions on page 79? Environment and Natural Resources, departmental total, $90,315,000. Are we agreed?
Agreed
Thank you, committee. Thank you, Minister, and thanks to your witnesses for appearing before us. Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses from the Chamber. Thank you.
We’ll begin with consideration of the Department of Health. I’ll turn to the Minister responsible for the department for opening comments.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I’m pleased to present the 2016-2017 main estimates for the Department of Health and Social Services. The total proposed budget for the department is $414,234,000. Overall, the department’s estimates propose an increase of $7.3 million or 1.8 per cent over the 2015-2016 main estimates. These estimates continue to support the objective of limiting expenditure growth in order to sustain the long-term sustainability of the fiscal framework.
Highlights of the proposed budget include:
forced growth of $12.9 million;
subsets of $9 million;
funding for initiatives totalling $5.3 million;
reductions of just under $2 million.
The proposed Department of Health and Social Services estimates continue to support the priorities of the 18th Legislative Assembly, to support the priority of making strategic investments in transportation infrastructure and workforce development and utilizing partnerships with northern and Aboriginal businesses. The budget includes $1.9 million for the new Hay River Regional Health Centre set to open on June 11, 2016. I am pleased that the budget also includes proposed funding of $501,000 to implement the new Mental Health Act. This act will support the Legislative Assembly’s priority of focusing on mental health and addictions by ensuring that services are delivered locally with culturally appropriate methods. Finally, $1.1 million in new funding is proposed for the operation of the new wing of the Jimmy Erasmus Seniors Home in Behchoko. Mr. Chair, that concludes my opening remarks.
Thank you, Minister. Recognizing Mr. Testart.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that we report progress.
Thank you, Mr. Testart. Committee, there’s a motion before us. The motion is non-debatable. Question’s been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Motion is passed.
---Carried
We’ll now rise and report progress. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Tabled Document 50-18(2), Main Estimates, 2016-2017 and, Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of the Committee of the Whole be concurred with. Thank you.
Masi. Do we have a seconder? Member for Hay River South. Motion’s in order. To the motion. Question’s been called. All those in favour? All those opposed?
---Carried
Orders of the day for Monday, June 13, 2016, at 1:30 p.m.:
Prayer
Ministers’ Statements
Members’ Statements
Returns to Oral Questions
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Acknowledgements
Oral Questions
Written Questions
Returns to Written Questions
Replies to Commissioner’s Opening Address
Petitions
Reports of Standing and Special Committees
Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills
Tabling of Documents
Notices of Motion
Notices of Motion for First Reading of Bills
Motions
First Reading of Bills
Second Reading of Bills
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Tabled Document 50-18(2), Main Estimates, 2016-2017
Report of Committee of the Whole
Third Reading of Bills
Orders of the Day
Masi, Mr. Clerk. This House adjourns until Monday, June 13th, at 1:30 p.m.
---ADJOURNMENT
The House adjourned at 5:06 p.m.
