Michael Miltenberger

Mr. Chairman, we have heard the Member’s concern. I have noted it and we will be considering that as we do the work in the coming months. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am here to present the 2011-12 main estimates for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. The plan proposes total operational expenses of almost $67.5 million for the upcoming year, an increase of 2.6 percent.

The mandate of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources is to promote and support the sustainable use and development of natural resources and to protect, conserve and enhance our environment for the social and economic benefit of all residents.

A range of activities is proposed to uphold this mandate and I would like to take this...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This year the money that we’ve committed is about $17 million across the various energy initiatives. I think there’s one more year left after that. We’re looking at partnerships, of course, and the 17th Legislative Assembly will have to determine their ongoing commitment to this area and the kind of money that’s going to be available to put into it. In some of the cases, as we pointed out with our review of the supplementary appropriation, there have been some deferrals because work wasn’t ready and when the work is ready, the funds will be made available, in some...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. That issue will remain within the purview of the Department of Fisheries. We will be there, as ENR, because it’s related to what we do, but the authority and mandate would be with the Department of Fisheries. As well, our own public health people will be monitoring the outcome, as well, to determine if they have a role to play depending on what the findings are. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, we have embarked on a process that will result in a Greenhouse Gas Strategy. We are listening to the feedback we get in this House and other venues and making note of that. We want to have the best, most comprehensive process possible so that we end up with a product that will have some meat, some substance that will address specifically recommendations going forward, targets we want to achieve and hit and how we are going to do that. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The installation of woodstoves brings with it a number of safety requirements and insurance requirements. One of the reasons, in recognition of that issue, funding was given to the Arctic Energy Alliance to help them assist and make sure we could get that level of care brought in to where stoves are being installed so they are put in safely and they would stand the test for insurance purposes as well. Thank you.

While I appreciate the Member’s concern, with the benefit of hindsight we know now that the numbers were not as low as where contemplated at the time that these actions were taken, so I don’t see a way to look back and rewrite history. I take the Member’s concern. I guess the only other offer I could make to the Member is if he has specific instances that he wants to share, not in this forum, but if he wants to, we can have a discussion further about any individuals where there may be extenuating circumstances. But as a general rule and practice, I mean, that was then, this is now, now that we...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Truly, the Member’s glass is half empty as it pertains to this issue. If I could just very briefly touch on the fact that, in the life of this government, we put $60 million into alternative energy, into biomass, hydro, solar strategy, Water Strategy, wind, geothermal. I think we have done very good work in recycling. We have redone building standards. We have projects all over the place on the ground in our own buildings in communities. We have worked with all of the communities to look at energy plans. We as well committed to redoing the Greenhouse Gas Strategy. That...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. That’s just the grants and contribution portion. I’ll ask Ms. Magrum to give us where the rest of it is.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I thank the Member for making this clear on the record. We are very sensitive to the concern about how we work with the animals, how we do it. I point out that traditional knowledge and western science in this case I believe have to be compatible and we want the best all-around knowledge that we can get. We’ll make note of the fact that the Member has raised concerns on behalf of his constituents. Thank you.