Jay Macdonald

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the Member for the question. Since I last spoke of this item in the House, Mr. Speaker, I've had the pleasure of meeting with several Indigenous governments to discuss the topic. Primarily, in early March, I met with the Chief Sanguez and Chief Betsina and my staff and their staff at the YKDFN to discuss this exact topic. And at the end of that meeting, both sides have committed to ensure that our officials are going to work together and discuss the issues as we move forward. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, yes, the department has a longstanding relationship with Sir Wilfred Laurier University and supports research in many aspects of the Department of Environment and Climate Change. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, again, the decrease is the result of a one-time supp for a carryover from 2023-2024. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the department is currently working with the federal government on funding for the boreal caribou. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on the national level, the GNWT endorses the Canadian Council of Ministers of Environment's strategy on zero plastic waste, which aims to reduce the harmful environmental impacts of plastic waste. Canada has also played a key role in moving toward the development and adaptation of a United Nations plastics treaty, which this work is expected to wrap up at an international level in 2025. Once the UN plastics treaty is ratified, we anticipate that any outcomes and commitments will be incorporated into the future work of the Canadian Council of Ministers of...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, as I indicated there is an initiative, the project finance for permanence, which is an initiative between Indigenous governments and the federal government. Related to that in relation to the Department of Environment and Climate Change, there is a bilateral nature agreement that is in the discussion phase right now that would support that work. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. They are planned activities, and they are worked around engagement of different academics that show areas of interest. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the tools that the Member is speaking of, in the way of satellite detection or remote sensing, is just one of the tools in the toolbox that is used to fight fire. Typically by the time you can actually see that fire on that fire map, it's to a size that is beyond the ideal size for initial attack. So primarily when you're talking about the initial attack phase of what you fight or what you don't fight, there are many contributing factors. Weather forecast, proximity to communities, availability of resources, all of these things are factored in at the time. And...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the Member for the question. The GNWT currently has three waste diversion programs. The single use retail bag program, which was the first of its kind at the provincial/territorial level in Canada. Since the program's inception in 2010, it's estimated that we've prevented more than 84 million bags, or 422.1 tonnes, from being used and discarded. We also have the beverage container program, which on average diverts 141 tonnes of plastic waste each year. And plastic components of electronics and electrical items are returned through our electronic...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, that's a yes. My apologies.