Michael Miltenberger

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am here to present Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 2010-2011. This document outlines a net increase of $8.437 million in operations expenditures for the 2010-2011 fiscal year.

The major items in the supplementary estimates include:

$4.370 million for the Department of Health and Social Services to fund the cost of insured services to non-NWT residents, which will be fully offset by recoveries from other jurisdictions for services for their residents.

$1.766 million for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment to fund the projected...

I will commend the Member for taking full advantage of the niche opportunity that appeared as I am as well a personal recipient of some of the bags that he’s put out as Member for Yellowknife Centre. I think he’s to be commended for that. We know just on the plastic bags alone, that we’ve eliminated millions and millions and millions of bags from the environment and replaced them with reusable bags that have a much greater life expectancy and are reusable. I think it’s a very good step and I know the Member fully supports that.

Thank you. I would suggest it’s had a marginal and probably positive impact on the overall broad cost of living in the Northwest Territories. This is entirely a voluntary fee. People do not have to use plastic bags or buy bags at the store. As well, we also know that we are extending the life of our landfills, which has a significant cost for all of us who are dealing with Municipal and Community Affairs. You look at the cost of maintaining landfills and putting new ones in place, it is significantly less burden on the environment, as the Member himself pointed out in his comments, where you...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A recent report commissioned by the Gwich’in Tribal Council has raised some questions about certain financial aspects of the devolution agreement-in-principle. The Government of the Northwest Territories does not agree with most of the conclusions of this report. We remain confident that the financial provisions of the devolution AIP are fair and reflect the best deal available. I rise today to set the record straight and address some of the confusion this report may have caused.

First of all I would like to point out that devolution is not just about money, it is about...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. There’s been active involvement by the Member for Nunakput as well to make sure this project says live and on the rails. The intention is to be looking at establishing a tower this coming construction season and move this project forward, once again with the assistance of the Member for Nunakput to make sure we can have the community support needed to bring this project to fruition. Thank you.

I don’t believe so. I’d have to commit to get that clarified.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Housing Corporation pays the government rate which is not the same as the subsidized rate. It’s the full cost of power.

Yes, Mr. Chairman.

Oh. I just read 3.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document entitled Environment and Natural Resources Framework for Action 2008-2012: Status Report to December 2010.