Michael Miltenberger

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is a complex issue, as the Members know. Late in the last government, we passed a revised and revamped Greenhouse Gas Strategy that set new targets. There’s built-in review periods built into that strategy that we will look at as we go forward. We also know, for example, that one of the planned projects has been deferred further, which is going to contribute to greenhouse gases, which is the Mackenzie Gas Pipeline. So while it’s still a critical project, it’s not imminent on the horizon.

At the same time as we talk about standards, we have to look at the tens of...

The Wildlife Act discussions have been going on for well over a decade, into the last century, so I can recollect it all the way back to the 13th Assembly. This will be done and is being done independent of devolution. Even if there was no devolution, the Wildlife Act would go forward. It’s been identified as a priority by nearly all the Aboriginal governments, by this government, by people in the Northwest Territories as long overdue. They will be compatible at the end of the day. They reaffirm the respect and recognition of Aboriginal rights, both the Wildlife Act and the work being done...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There is a major gathering planned for the early part of November where the working group members are going to come into town, and hopefully the Aboriginal leaders, to have a discussion amongst themselves, and then with ourselves and myself as Minister and the department officials, to look at the issue of the conferences the Member talked about. We’re hoping, at that point, to come to consensus on the way forward.

We’ve been working, as well, with the stakeholders, the Wildlife Act advisory group, and the feedback they’ve provided us, and we want to be able to respond to...

Thank you. I recently returned from a meeting of the Environment Ministers and over supper we were talking about whatever success Canada has in terms of managing their emissions. My observation, which was agreed to by all the folks around the table, was that the federal government in fact has benefitted from the work of the subnational provinces, territories, states, and the Northwest Territories is a perfect example.

We’ve spent tens of millions of dollars; we’re doing ground-breaking work on things related to biomass, alternative fuels like biomass, its application across the land, the use of...

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following two documents, entitled Interim Public Accounts of the Government of the Northwest Territories for the year ended March 31, 2012, and 2011-2012 58th Annual Report of the Northwest Territories Liquor Commission and Liquor Licensing Board. Thank you.

There is no such anticipation at this juncture. Our involvement is for a lot of the ancillary land and commitment to try to assist to the extent that we have with the $27 million. At this point, that is the extent of our commitment and there are no indications as Finance Minister, nor am I aware of any at this point that would require any further contribution on the part of the territorial government.

We have committed to that amount of money. This is a federal responsibly. In fact, as we take over devolution, the signed devolution to take over land, water and resource development, Giant will be a separate issue that will stay under the purview of the federal government. At this point, the hope is, the plan is that that money will be sufficient. If there’s any more money required, once again, this is a federal responsibly.

Madam Chair, may I also ask the Minister of MACA to elaborate further on that particular point, please?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to take this opportunity to update the Members on our fiscal situation.

I tabled the first budget of the 17th Legislative Assembly in May, just five short months ago. Our commitment to protect programs and services has not changed, and our strategy of limiting new expenditure growth to ensure surpluses has become even more important as global economic instability persists.

While our economy is recovering slowly from the global slowdown, we remain vulnerable to uncertain economic conditions. Statistics Canada’s latest estimate shows a 2 percent decline in the NWT...

Thank you, Madam Chair. There are two key points. The infrastructure money under the New Deal, it was a five-year arrangement and it’s currently up for review and discussion with the Association of Communities and the communities about its adequacy, and after this first five years, are there changes, do things have to be adjusted.

As we’ve demonstrated through the business planning process we’ve identified because of, if I can use the Sahtu as a very specific case, because of the pressures that are there with the increased exploration and pressures on infrastructure and demand that we’ve made...