Michael Miltenberger

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It’s a carry-over. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to update Members and NWT residents on our territory’s economic and fiscal outlook.

April 1, 2011, marked the start of a new fiscal year. The measures included in our 2011-2012 budget are now being implemented, including over $1.3 billion in operating expenditures and more than $155 million in planned capital investments. These expenditures will be used to deliver needed public services and infrastructure to NWT residents and will continue to support our economy.

There is good news to report on the economy. In April the NWT employment rate rose...

Bedbugs do not spread disease and are not considered a public health hazard in terms of spreading disease. There are ways to deal with them. There are eradication methods, pest control systems in place to help deal with those type of infestations. We will work with, as I indicated, communities, businesses, building managers, to assist and make sure the proper steps are taken with properly qualified pest control folks.

Once again I apologize to the Member for not catching the question the first time. It’s a very good, important question.

In the life left in this Assembly we have a number of priorities, as I indicated in my fiscal update. One of the key ones for us, of course, is going to be to get clarity on our borrowing limit. We also, like other jurisdictions, would like to know what’s going to be in the budget. We understand that they’ve committed to taking $11 billion out in terms of their efforts to fight the deficit and debts that they have as a federal government. We hear already that programs are...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. As we have indicated, and I will reiterate for the Member as per his request, we are confident that we will meet the deadlines and get the work on the ground and make sure that this infrastructure is delivered as laid out. Thank you.

There are the two sites: the tank farm and the power plant. I will get the information, I will get an update, I will share that with the Member and then I’ll seek his feedback to see about if what’s being proposed looks like it’s going to meet the requirements or if there are other things that need to be included.

We would be happy to share the results of that evaluation. We’ll do it through the Social Programs committee.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. There have been extensions given and we’re confident that as a government that we’ll be able to put all these funds to use in the timelines allotted. Thank you.

When I look at the list that ENR has and that the Government of the Northwest Territories has responsibility for, there are five in Fort Resolution that I have on a list here. As well, I think there are two in Lutselk’e. Thank you.

We know that there’s added time to travel, that in some cases now we will need possibly additional fuel. We will have to look at alternate landing sites. We have to look at the recommendations of the report that was just released, to assess some of those recommendations. I’m sure they have potential financial impacts. We’re going to look at those, as well.

The bottom line is, there are decisions that have been made in Alberta by the Government in Alberta, by the City of Edmonton, that are within their jurisdiction and authority. They have made those. Now our responsibility is to collectively...