Bob Bromley

Mr. Speaker, I have serious concerns about this agreement, and I know I speak for many Northerners as I describe these concerns to you. But before I do, I want to acknowledge and thank the Premier and his staff who have worked so hard, and in many cases joyfully, to develop this agreement.

This deal provides too little money to take over a regime that is already inadequate and underfunded. The annual funding transfer to run these programs falls $20 million short, even of the estimates that we developed in looking at devolution a decade ago. We walked away from that deal in part because the...

There were additional facts that the Minister put forward, and I’m quoting verbatim from the unedited Hansard here. The Minister also said that there was a big distinction between the MGM application and ConocoPhillips. The Minister said, “The ConocoPhillips application is very comprehensive. It covers a whole host of areas, which is one of the reasons there was a different decision made by the Sahtu Land and Water Board when they looked at the MGM proposal. It didn’t have the same depth and level of comprehensiveness as the ConocoPhillips one does.”

Well, in fact, there were others interested...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question today is for the Minister of ENR, the Minister of Environment. I’d like to follow up on questions I had the other day about fracking.

In the unedited Hansard of June 3rd, on page 24, Minister Miltenberger said we are of the opinion that if, in fact, ConocoPhillips complies with everything that they’ve promised plus the extensive list of mitigating factors put forward by GNWT, this project could proceed, other than meeting those commitments by ConocoPhillips and addressing the concerns raised that we have supplied to the Sahtu Land and Water Board.

Conoco did...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s time to take the next formal step in the development of our arts industry and culture through the creation of a professional fine arts school. As the Economic Opportunities Strategy report pointed out, people want increased government emphasis on the arts. The sector is broad-based, including literally thousands of producers in the NWT. It gives back huge multipliers in spending and employment, far higher than, for example, the oil and gas industry. People, and especially youth, prosper more fully in all realms of life when they receive arts training. It makes...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m glad to finally get that commitment. These are the Minister’s words, and the record. The vast improvement in the application, as the Minister claimed, doesn’t hold up. The conditions that the Minister suggested would be adopted by ConocoPhillips and the Sahtu Land…(inaudible)…don’t hold up.

What action does the Minister see is needed here in light of these facts to protect the public interest, the clean air, water, and health of the wildlife and their habitat that this Minister is responsible for? I’m looking for accountability here.

I’m not sure if the Minister is saying that this is, in fact, incorrect. I’m sure, in fact, that these are facts. They are contrary to what the Minister has said, and that’s my point.

The Minister also claimed that the Sahtu Land and Water Board would adopt these, and in fact, the Sahtu Land and Water Board also rejected the terms and conditions that the GNWT put forward in these areas, so this is further evidence that there is a need for an environmental review here.

Could I get clarity on what the Minister is saying here? Clearly, his statements were wrong, as per the record, as this is on...

Mr. Speaker, I am still spotting residents of Weledeh here, but one that really caught my eye was, in fact, my wife, Marianne.

---Laughter

It is great to see you in the House. I would also like to recognize Chief Eddie Sangris and past chief Peter Liske, who are in the House today from Weledeh. Also Rick Edjericon has been mentioned. Welcome, Rick. Mike Byrne is here today. I think I saw Greg Loftus up there, Baptiste Foisey, Andrew Robinson and I would like to especially recognize Suzette Montreuil, not from Weledeh, but I know she’s a super worker on behalf of the public interest and welcome...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thanks to the Minister again. I know this Minister is interested and supportive of the gardening and food security issues. Many of the issues gardeners face relate to the lack of understanding and agricultural knowledge of ITI staff that gardeners must apply to or expect support from. As a consequence, highly qualified and experienced public gardeners and NGOs are stepping into the lurch only to be undermined by a lack of equally sound and knowledgeable support from government.

What will the Minister do to ensure this timely and quality support is available from ITI now...

Thanks for that commitment from the Minister. I will note that in two weeks from now the days start getting shorter. Unfortunately, there’s more. As of today, well into our brief but intensive growing season, YKDFN is still waiting for approval on the basic supplies. No word back on buying seedlings, seeds and equipment. Surely ITI wouldn’t have placed the first order if it weren’t going to approve the remainder. It’s June 4th and the season is running on.

Will the Minister commit today to blowing out this log-jam and getting this garden project approved now? This community can’t afford another...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize Cathie Bolstad, a resident of Weledeh and well known by everybody, I am sure. Also, Elizabeth Portland with Ecology North and Natural History Group and other roles, and any other residents of Weledeh. Mahsi.