Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of ECC. So the waste resource management strategy and implementation plan which was released in 2019 identifies three types of waste to focus on. As the Minister mentioned earlier, used oil, tires, and electronics. So why were these three types of waste chosen as the ones to focus on? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Yellowknife North. Minister of ECC.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the Member for the question. These three items were primarily chosen because they're already segregated in landfills across the NWT. Many of the electronics and electrical devices that are sold worldwide currently contain large amounts of plastic. Modern day tires contain synthetic rubber at a rate of about 24 percent, which is a plastic polymer. So that is why that was added to the list. And used oil is certainly an issue across Canada and as part of the environmental effort, finding ways to recycle that is certainly a high priority. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So earlier I spoke about extended producer responsibility, which the Act, the Waste Reduction Act, gives us powers to do. So can the Minister explain what might happen to products like used oil, tires, and electronics if producers have to take responsibility for them? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, one of the key priorities in being successful with this type of work, and these types of programs, is certainly by working with the producers in how this would look going forward. But I think another really important area that we need to consider as a government is, you know, not trying to reinvent the wheel here. There are many programs across Canada and around the world that already exist to help us deal with some of these environmental waste items. So working and looking at what programs are out there that we could adapt that would fit within the context of the Northwest Territories would certainly be a way forward. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So how is the department engaging with producers who might make these types of products, distributors who are bringing them into the NWT, or even local businesses who are selling them? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I said earlier, you know, we want to work collaboratively with the producers in developing the regulations and the programs around this and ensuring that we're also engaging with the stakeholders through the segment. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister of ECC. Final supplementary. Member from Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So if there's a local business or a non-profit that's interested in taking these products and -- or taking waste products and creating something new out of them instead of having them go into a landfill, is any startup funding available from either ECC or other departments to help them get a project like that off the ground? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm very happy to say yes, that there are a couple of funding options that I can currently reference right at this time. So ITI provides a SEED funding option that, you know, they're always anxious to support this type of activity and new entrepreneurial opportunities within the Northwest Territories. And there's also the waste reduction and recycling initiative through the Department of ECC that has funding available to support this type of activity. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister of ECC. Oral questions. Member from Yellowknife Centre.
