Bob Bromley

Thank you, Minister. I would like to ask the Sergeant-at-Arms to escort the witnesses into the House, if committee agrees. Does committee agree?

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. Minister Miltenberger.

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Committee, once again, we’re on page 13-17, Environment and Natural Resources, activity summary, environment, operations expenditures summary, $8.662 million. Agreed?

Page 13-30, Environment and Natural Resources, activity summary, land and water, grants and contributions, contributions, $265,000.

Thank you for that information. So this is not a special allocation or anything like that. This is core funding that’s part of the regular core funding. That’s fine. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions, as I mentioned in my statement earlier today, are for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. I want to follow up. Obviously, MACA has continuously refused progressive action on building standards, actions that will demonstrably benefit everyone both in terms of costs and adaptation to climate change. I’m wondering, Mr. Speaker, what has the Minister done to ensure this common sense measure is incorporated as one of the core tools in the new Greenhouse Gas Reduction Strategy. Thank you.

I appreciate those comments. I wonder if the Minister would eventually, I assume after six months or something or a year, have experience. I don’t know how fast experience will accrue on administering this new amendment, but I’d be very interested in what sort of, how smoothly it goes and if there are any kerfuffles along the way. I just think it would be something committee would be interested in. I just float that out there for the Minister to consider, comment on, if he wishes.

I want to mention the water and sewer services that are delivered through the regional operations. I note that the...

Mr. Chairman, again, it is those that are cash strapped, but there is obviously an additional part to it. Is it where there are not management problems perceived, those are the ones that would get the cash? Is that correct?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Is there an outdoor focus on these dollars or would the Minister consider putting an outdoor focus on these dollars? That would help focus these dollars on other healthy initiatives that we have. Thank you.

Mr. Chairman, I got that $640,000. That is 2010-11 and $250,000 for 2011-12. What is the basis for allocation of those dollars?