Michael Miltenberger

I must confess, I’m not sure if it’s put to use in the winter months. I know it’s installed predominantly and specifically for taking advantage of giving us an added tool during fire season.

The answer to that request is yes. In those areas where we have settled claims and agreed to co-management processes, it’s built in and required and we work very effectively together. In the Deh Cho we have an arrangement, as well, on a more informal basis, but an arrangement and commitment to work with the communities and the Aboriginal governments on issues affecting wildlife. We will be working with communities as it pertains to the issue with the moose.

We’re taking advantage of an emerging technology that gives us this capacity, tied into some of the more conventional existing technology. It just enhances our capacity, mechanically or technologically, without necessarily having people on the ground.

I don’t have the date of the last survey but, as I indicated, there will be another survey done because of the concern about the low numbers of moose and just to check the overall population and numbers. That information, of course, will be shared fully with the residents as well as the Members of this House.

Madam Chair, there’s nine of these detectors strategically located throughout the Boreal Forest that give us a network and grid for when lightning strikes to map the tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of lightning strikes over the course of the year. The majority of them are located in the southern part of the territory and then there are some up the valley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to take a brief opportunity to acknowledge and recognize the Pages from Fort Smith: young Mitchell Kearley and Jarod Tuckey, and the very hardworking mother of Mitchell, Ms. Melanie Kearley. Thank you for coming to Yellowknife and I hope they’ve enjoyed the experience.

Nine, Madam Chair.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document, entitled Natural Resources Conservation Trust Fund Annual Report, 2011-2012. Thank you.

The Giant Mine site is not part of the devolution negotiations. It’s going to be separate and apart from that process.

In terms of the questions the Member’s raised on behalf of his constituents, let me restate the offer that I would be more than happy, and willing and interested to come to committee with the officials that have been at the table to talk at great length about the decisions made, the detail that would address some of the many concerns raised by the Member. While it may not bring us to consensus, it would at least show that we are there, we are fully participating. This is a...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We do recognize that this whole project, and all the steps taken and everything proposed are a subject of great debate and there is no unanimity. There is a requirement, at the end of the day, to make the best decisions possible to try to move this project forward, remediate the site and get the job done on an issue that has been with us now for, literally, decades.