Michael Miltenberger

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We’ve taken that discussion in the House. The Member also put in written questions that we are looking at responding to. We are having the discussions. Once we’re through this budget process, we’ll be able to pay more attention to the matters of the day. I have been thoroughly occupied here in the House, so there hasn’t been a lot that’s happened out of my office other than the initial contact with the department at this juncture. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Monday, March 11, 2013, I will move that Bill 4, Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures), 2013-2014, be read for the first time. Thank you.

For further clarity, with respect to the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment:

$600,000 to increase funding identified for the tourism industry for increased investment in tourism marketing activities.

A transfer of $100,000 identified for energy policy initiatives to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to increase funding to the Energy Efficiency Incentive Program.

With respect to the Department of Health and Social Services:

An additional $330,000 to establish midwifery services in Hay River. The total amount to be allocated in 2013-2014 for this initiative is $470...

Thank you, Madam Chair. Over the last few weeks, Members of the Legislative Assembly have been working hard on reviewing the departmental budgets for the 2013-14 fiscal year. This review started with the review of the departmental 2013-14 business plans last September and consideration of the 2013-14 Main Estimates in Committee of the Whole during the current session.

As part of their review, Members of his House have recommended amendments to the 2013-14 Main Estimates:

With respect to the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment:

$600,000 to increase funding identified for the tourism...

Thank you. The Member has quoted a number of technical issues at some length and I don’t have it before me. So I will get in gear and I will take that question as notice. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Member is correct; there is still work being done on the framework and looking at how we would structure and fund such a fund. Thank you.

Mr. Chair, firstly, we work with the Government of the Northwest Territories where we have a huge interest in alcohol education, through Health, through Active Living, through all of those other programs. As a commission, we label all of the bottles. We have the bags that are marked. We do posters. We do ads about responsible drinking, as well, as I indicated, to try to make sure that what we are doing is supportive and ties into the work that has been done by government departments such as Health and Social Services and Education. Trying to really push, for example, not having pregnant...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. At this point we are contributing $250,000 a year and there is a 20-year period where we can’t touch the principal.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would agree that we want to, in the coming year, as we look at increasing the amount of money we’re going to put into infrastructure, have a serious discussion how much of that money, that extra $50 million a year goes into energy infrastructure. We will be coming forward, as I have indicated a number of times now and the Premier has also made reference. We are going to come forward with a number of major initiatives, one tied to hydro in the North and South Slave focusing mainly initially on transmission and then we are, as well, going to lay out what we think is a...

That’s correct, Mr. Chairman.