Bob Bromley

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The NWT is a fantastic place to live. People that were born here love it and visitors who come for a few days end up spending a lifetime. Yes, some people are leaving, but my sense is that many are leaving reluctantly.

But an increase in population should not be a goal on its own. We should not look at every resident as a cash machine or as part of a funding formula. Rather, a decreasing population is an indicator. It shows we are failing to meet our people’s needs.

First of all, spending to build our numbers by 2,000 over five years is a waste of resources. Most...

Yes, I would very much appreciate that and I realize that that sort of level of estimate would be good. I don’t want to make this too onerous. I’d also appreciate learning how long this situation has existed. When did we enter this agreement that started at the 2.2 percent escalation rate and, also, is this an agreement that expires? Is there an end date to this? Thank you.

Thank you. I think I understand that. Perhaps I could ask the Minister to provide what total additional amount has summed up to over the last decade of additional costs that we are taking on because of the failure of the federal government to transfer payments at the rate that the real world is dictating and we have to suffer.

Okay, so just so I’m understanding this, there are other expenses that are covered elsewhere for these two categories. Is that correct and how do we fund them?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just to follow up on that, the hospital care and medical care for status Indians and Inuit, a couple pieces of revenue there. Is that not the Non-Insured Health Benefits revenue contribution?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to start by noting that, of course, this motion is in response to the crystal clear and unanimous voices of our Aboriginal partners, who between them constitute the greater part of the residents in the Northwest Territories. It’s in response to the many residents who have similarly spoken clearly through groups like Alternatives North, the unions and Ecology North and as individual citizens. It is in response to the Chamber of Mines who have nervously, though perhaps belatedly, acknowledged that the regional boards are indeed working well.

We could put forward a...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thanks again to the Minister. It sounds more and more positive. We know that our forestry officials are highly qualified, so I assume we will be applying best practices as we develop our forest management plans.

The logical next question is Forest Stewardship Council certification is now the best known standard for sustainable forest products.

Will our wood pellets be able to take advantage of the FSC certification as we market them both here in the NWT and abroad? Mahsi.

Thanks to the Minister. That sounds like a very interesting project. I’d love to hear another announcement before the end of this session as we had yesterday with the Fort Providence people.

Some people are wondering how a pellet mill will compete with pellet mills in BC and Alberta that seem to have cheaper power, cheaper labour and practically free access to sawdust from onsite lumber mills. So, basically if we’re going to export wood pellets – and that’s basically what I’ve been hearing – what is our competitive advantage here? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize Bob Wilson, a long-standing member of the Weledeh riding. Welcome to the House. I’d also like to recognize a couple of hardworking Pages, Linnea Stephenson and Harvey Fells, and thanks to all of the Pages that are serving us here today.

That’s all I have. Thank you, Mr. Chair.