Michael Miltenberger

As the Minister of ITI proceeds with the work on his Economic Development Strategy, there will be a consultation of the nature that the Member has raised.

I would also point out that I referenced the suite of programs and opportunities that are there related to traditional pursuits. There are programs that deal with the northern fishery, there are processing opportunities, we have a Manufacturing Policy, we have a Business Incentive Policy.

The work we’re doing long-term with all the energy initiatives are all geared towards trying to lower the cost of living in communities. One of the biggest...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There is a range of existing initiatives across government. The Minister of ITI is looking at an Economic Development Strategy. We’re talking about, as well, and I reference in my address, the fur and trapping programs that we’re trying to encourage people to put money into the hands of trappers to get kids, young people on the land. We have the seed funding that is available through ITI. There’s a range across government.

More importantly, I would ask the Member – even though it’s not my position to ask questions in this House – if the Member has specific suggestions...

Mr. Speaker, there are three key components to a broad territorial-wide Energy Strategy that I believe in the coming life of this Assembly. One of them is the one the Member has talked about, which is the Hydro Strategy. We are visiting that. There are also significant opportunities, for example in places like Deline to put in power in a very environmentally sustainable, friendly way. The Solar Strategy will help us address the crushing diesel costs in the thermal communities. Then we have the broader issue and the pressing issue of sorting out the Inuvik long-term energy needs.

All of these...

Thank you, Madam Chair. The Member is correct in terms of his comment about having to make tough decisions. We identified that and identified that in the budget address yesterday as well. The next two years are going to require our fiscal discipline and resolve as a collective to meet the targets that we’re trying to set out for ourselves.

We are committed and will have the ongoing discussion about the Inuvik gas situation.

While overall I agree with the Member that from a high level the overall indicators for the economy in the Northwest Territories are good, it’s not that evenly spread. There...

Thank you, Madam Chair. I appreciate the Member’s comments on how we’re structured and how we rely on the federal government and some of the challenges we have.

I would point out when it comes to the development of our budget, we are one of two unique jurisdictions in the country where all MLAs are involved in the budget process in extensive detail from start to finish. In other systems where there are party politics, nobody would have seen this budget until yesterday or the day before when we walked through the door of the House, and it would have been dropped on the table and then you’d be...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This budget comes three months into the fiscal year. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all Members of the Legislative Assembly who worked individually and collectively to contribute to the interim appropriation for the current fiscal year.

We have started the 17th Legislative Assembly with a difficult fiscal reality and Members worked hard to help build this first budget of the 17th Assembly. We appreciate the advice of the standing committees during the recent business plan discussions. We are reviewing and considering the committees’ recommendations, and...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document, entitled “Northwest Territories Main Estimates 2012-2013.”

In fact, I was, if my memory serves me correctly, the Minister of Finance at the time as we dealt with the very many bumps in the road that were there with the Deh Cho Bridge. We’ve managed our way through that, I think, in a very constructive way. The project is nearing completion.

The Member has indicated that he has had indications and he has had some sources tell him things. I don’t know who those people are. I can tell him and can tell you in this House and the people of the Northwest Territories, we have a project that is nearing completion, that once it is built everyone will stand up...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think our first priority as a government and Legislature is in fact to put all our efforts into making sure that the bridge gets concluded, that it gets opened and operating and generating the revenue that has been budgeted for and will provide that service to Northerners as well as help lighten our fiscal burden.

The questions the Member has raised have been discussed. Has there been a formal debriefing? Has there been a formal forensic review and post-mortem? No, there hasn’t at this point. In due course when the project is, in fact, concluded and up and running...

As I indicated just in the previous response, the Premiers and the Council of the Federation have put the Finance Ministers from the provinces and territories to work under the chairmanship of Premier Selinger from Manitoba, who has many, many years – he’s one of the longest serving Finance Ministers in Canada – to work, to review those issues raised by the Members and others, as well, so as a collective we can come up with the best understanding possible and agree hopefully on a way forward and be able to have a sound basis to engage the federal government in any discussion that may be...