Kevin O'Reilly

I guess I do agree with the Minister in that the North Slave Resiliency Study did recommend against investing in solar, wind, and biomass. Hydro, yes, we can probably spend a lot more money on that too perhaps, but we’ve already made a significant investment in Arctic Energy Alliance as the delivery agent for a variety of very successful energy conservation and retrofit programs over many years now. What impact will the recommendations from the North Slave Resiliency Study have on this investment that we’ve already started through the Arctic Energy Alliance and its programs?

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Just wanting to go back to the Minister’s introductory remarks for the department, and there was a line in here that ENR “will continue to collaborate with Aboriginal governments, comanagement boards and neighbouring jurisdictions to protect and conserve our barren-ground and boreal caribou populations and their habitat, as well as other wildlife species.” There has been some public concern expressed about resource development in calving grounds for barren-ground caribou herds, and those calving grounds are found in Nunavut. What is the position of the GNWT with regard to...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I have some questions about the future of renewable energy in the North Slave region and I’ll ask them of the Minister of Public Works and Services. I’d like to start with the North Slave Resiliency Study. I cannot see in the study where climate change models may have been used to predict water levels. Analysis seems to have been based on the past 30 years of data. Can the Minister confirm that the North Slave Resiliency Study did not consider climate change and then no predictions were made of future water levels? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I’ve noticed that, on this page, the caribou strategy work, there was $627,000 expended back in 2014-15 but nothing last year and nothing in the budget for this year. Is there some other place in the budget where work related to caribou is found? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Sorry. One more. I just didn’t know where to ask this question in other sections. We are supposed to be talking about water, but I understand the department is also developing some air quality regulations. Just wondering if the Minister can provide a bit of a status report of where that work is at. Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I appreciate the work that is going to be done this year. I am wondering about the next couple of years after that. Is there a longer term plan or commitment from the department to continue to expand the hydrometric network? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

No. I do want to thank the Minister for that reassurance. If it’s just re-commencing where we left off, I’m more comfortable with it. I think that invitation from committee is probably on its way, may be on its way already, so I’ll look forward to getting that briefing. Thanks, Mr. Chair. One other question about this in general though, if I may. As part of this package on the conservation network action plan… I think that’s what… I don’t know if I got the title right. As part of that package, I guess we’re looking at having an overall strategy for conservation areas throughout the Northwest...

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I did have a question on the page. I just couldn’t see where it could get raised anywhere else. Water regulatory line, under program detail, there is fairly significant reduction there of $200,000. I think that is money for the department to get engaged or involved in water licensing. I note that the Jade Project is likely to enter into water licensing during this financial year, so I just want to make sure that we actually have the capacity and the capability to continue to engage in that and a number of other water licensing proceedings. Can the team explain the reduction...

I don’t think so. Maybe I can just ask for a general comment. There’s sort of big changes from 2015-16 to 2016-17. Presumably these are the result of the end of a research program, a funding arrangement, that sort of thing. I just want a general answer from the department. Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. The Water Strategy Action Plan, there is a reduction there of… I am not going to try to do the math in my head. $116,000 my colleague tells me. What is the reason for that reduction? Thanks, Mr. Chair.