Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, my question today is for the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources. Madam Speaker, in the recent cleanups of the communities, we witnessed a lot of plastic garbage bags in our communities by the Northern Stores. I want to ask the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources if there is any type of incentive or partnership with the Northern Stores to have some incentive that the plastic bags could be recycled or put somewhere? They’re destroying the land. I want to ask the Minister if he would look into something that would make a decision to not have these plastic bags all over the communities and on our land. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, Mr. Miltenberger.

Return To Question 49-15(4): Recycling Program For Communities In The North

Michael Miltenberger

Thebacha

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The Member raises a good point and I will look into it, as he has requested. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 49-15(4): Recycling Program For Communities In The North

Norman Yakeleya

Sahtu

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Would the Minister also look at this in terms of working with the other departments in supporting this initiative, especially the school children? Would the Minister commit to a time frame where we could expect some good news from this initiative? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 49-15(4): Recycling Program For Communities In The North

Michael Miltenberger

Thebacha

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, we have a recycling initiative that’s going to be taking effect November 1st. I share the Member’s concern that littering in our communities is probably one of the most unsightly and stoppable issues that are before us and it’s a personal choice and an education issue. It’s an issue that plagues every community I’ve been in, my own included, where no matter how often cleanup is done, the next day there are bottles and cans and plastic bags and wrappers. It’s something that communities have responsibility for and that every person has a responsibility for that uses those substances. So we’ll work with our colleague departments and the communities, but the big issue is going to be to get folks not to throw the garbage on the streets, in the ditches, in the lots. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 49-15(4): Recycling Program For Communities In The North

Norman Yakeleya

Sahtu

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, the issue again is will we be helping our people to help themselves in terms of keeping the land clean? Would the Minister look at considering bringing forth a policy that would support the communities, support keeping our land clean where they would also encourage business such as Northern Stores to have some form of incentive to bring back the plastic bags, the pop cans, the chip bags so they don’t get thrown all over the streets in the small communities? As much as you want to volunteer the people, there has to be some incentive. Would the Minister commit to some type of policy that would see this type of action get done in the communities? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 49-15(4): Recycling Program For Communities In The North

Michael Miltenberger

Thebacha

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, the fundamental incentive is the love everybody has for the land and the need and desire to have a pristine environment in our communities and outside our communities. That goes, once again, to people making the individual choice to take their last drink of pop and throw their can in the ditch or throw their garbage bags or shopping bags outside or in the garbage. We have a program coming into effect November 1st, which will encourage and put funds to help communities set up recycling programs to start recycling bottles and cans and hopefully to broaden out over time to recycle other materials, as well. I appreciate the Member’s concern and I am committing to him that we will work to make sure that that program is fully implemented in all the communities over time. On the broader issue of having people respect the environment and not throw their garbage down, that’s an education issue that we will work with him and with Education and all the other departments that are involved at the community level. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Final supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 49-15(4): Recycling Program For Communities In The North

Norman Yakeleya

Sahtu

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I appreciate the Minister’s commitment to get the recycling program done over time in all the communities. Would the Minister look at having this program be supported by the smaller communities where they can be part of the program even though they may not have a recycling program in the communities or have the machinery to support this? Is there anything they can do in terms of getting the program off the ground and start making communities aware of the situation and have a clean environment for all people?

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 49-15(4): Recycling Program For Communities In The North

Michael Miltenberger

Thebacha

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I will go back and talk to the department to make sure they’ve taken every reasonable step, and then some, to talk to all the communities about putting in a proposal to access the resources to get a recycling plant going in the communities and look at what other options there are. If it’s not a full-blown recycling operation, maybe there is a first step required. Thank you.