Kevin O'Reilly

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Could the Minister provide some detail, then, on what that work is going to be? Part of the issue here is there is this agricultural strategy implementation funding that is sprinkled across a whole bunch of departments, and I am not sure how it is being coordinated. What is this funding going to accomplish? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Merci, Monsieur le President. Earlier today I discussed the draft NWT Energy Strategy. Public comments closed on the draft on January 3, 2018. We do not have a "what we heard" report, and no indication of what the next steps are going to be. Can the Minister of Infrastructure tell us what the next steps are for the NWT Energy Strategy and the target dates for these steps? Masi, Mr. Speaker.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. So what is the total contracting budget, then, for water regulatory? If it is reduced by $50,000, what is left? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Has the department thought about whether there's any value in having an MOU that sets out rules and responsibilities with regards to the staffing arrangements? Has there been any consideration of an MOU or some kind of an agreement that would set out roles and responsibilities more clearly than an annual contribution agreement? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Yes, I don't want to turn this into a big debate. I started off my remarks complimenting the hard-working staff in this department; there are just not enough of them to get the job done. That is my point here. I haven't really received much to make me any more confident that anything is going to change in 2018-2019 with this department. Look, I support the work that they are trying to do. They just don't have enough money to get it done.

I don't have any further questions for the Minister on this part, other than to try to encourage him to get his department more resources to...

Merci, Monsieur le President. One of the commitments made in the mandate of the 18th Assembly was to create a Northwest Territories Energy Strategy because the previous one expired in 2015. A draft NWT Energy Strategy was finally released to the public on September 25, 2017. It would be fair to say that very few of the standing committee's comments were incorporated into the draft.

The strategy proposes a confusing array of energy targets as follows:

A 25 per cent reduction of GHG emissions from electricity generation;

A 10 per cent reduction of GHG emissions from road vehicles;

A 40 per cent...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am talking about, I guess, a review of the effectiveness; not just the expenditures, but a value-for-money audit or something along those lines of our fire suppression program, whether there might be other ways to do it more effectively. Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Since the decision was made to dispense with opening comments, I have a few opening comments on this particular activity item because this is sort of the corporate heart of the department and where policy, planning, legislation, communications, and so on, take place.

First off, I want to recognize that there are lots of great staff within the department, very hardworking, and many that I worked with before I became an MLA. I know that they continue to do a great job, but the problem is they don't get the resources that are necessary to do the job the way that it should be...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I can see where this could lead to some potential difficulties. If our government comes before the Inuvialuit Water Board seeking a water licence at some point, it puts those staff in a really difficult situation. Has there been any discussion with the Water Board in terms of transferring the staff to the administration of the board itself as is the case for the other land and water boards? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Yes, I'm quite concerned about further reductions in other parts of the department. I don't want to have to go back and re-live what happened with our discussion in corporate management and how I don't believe the department has the capacity to carry out what it's trying to do.

Look, does the Minister of Finance, as well? Is this something that he can take to the Financial Management Board and get them to just leave this extra $1 million reduction for ENR so that they can get the work done that's required? Thanks, Mr. Chair.