Debates of October 27, 2006 (day 17)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are to the Minister of the environment and it's in regards to the many issues facing the Northwest Territories in terms of resource development, the enormous pressures from every corner in terms of on the environment, on water, on our wildlife. I'll just ask the Minister if he could indicate to us his sense of the role that proper stewardship of the environment has to play as the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Honourable Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, Mr. McLeod.

Return To Question 213-15(5): Approach To Transboundary Water Issues

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Given that question, I take it the grace period for this new portfolio is over. Mr. Speaker, I've taken a look at the number of issues across the board, I listened to the Member as he spoke the other day about the concerns for the environment, for the air, for the water, for a number of different things that are affecting our wildlife, and I also heard very clearly today when the Member mentioned there are issues that don't recognize boundaries. I've been having discussions with our staff in the last couple hours about how do we approach this, and I'm going to take the opportunity to take a good look at what work has already been done. I have seen some of the work in terms of plans and action plans that were drafted by the previous Minister. I think there's a lot of it that is very comprehensive. I am of the opinion that we can't operate with issues being looked at in isolation. We have to look at cumulative effects; we have to look at what's on the horizon in terms of development; and I would like to work towards developing a broad outlook of how we approach this thing so a big picture approach is taken. Having said that, we also have to look at what resources are available. So there's a lot of things that we're working on and trying to digest in short order, and we'll be keeping the Members informed as we progress. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.

Supplementary To Question 213-15(5): Approach To Transboundary Water Issues

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. One of the most fundamental issues is the one of water that I spoke about earlier as well, and I referenced the Mackenzie basin board. I would like to ask the Minister, as he goes through his briefings and looks at the role of the board and the issue of water, whether he would consider as Minister of one of the involved jurisdictions, the other ones being Alberta, B.C., Saskatchewan, the Yukon, and take the lead in terms of bringing together the Ministers for the first time to talk about the issue of water as it pertains to the Mackenzie basin board? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 213-15(5): Approach To Transboundary Water Issues

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm not sure if I've been a Minister of ENR long enough to say I will get the committee to take the lead. The issue of water is something that I am also concerned about as are the rest of the Northwest Territories residents. We have a number of transboundary issues that we have to resolve. We are talking with Alberta to try to come up with an agreement on how to deal with water. B.C. is another jurisdiction; Saskatchewan. There are a number of areas that we have to work out agreements. I'm not comfortable enough right now, with the amount of time that I've spent in this department, to commit to that. I certainly would consider it though, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.