Michael Miltenberger

If there were public meetings, we’ll have to see the best forum to respond. There were public meetings held in every community. As well, there have been e-mails and representations by individual groups and individuals themselves. We’ll have to see what the most effective way is to publicize this. Unless the Member is suggesting somehow that we do a blanket response to everybody and maybe publish in the paper or some such thing, I’m not sure what the Member has in mind.

Thank you. As I’ve indicated in this House previously, the proof will be in the pudding, as it were, as we come forward with a draft or the bill for first and second reading that will lay out the result of all that work, all the many iterations, the improvements, amendments and adjustments that have been made and are currently being finalized so that that fact can happen. Thank you.

Thank you. I don’t know if I would agree with the assessment that there was a breakdown of our systems. We definitely know that there was a decline in the various caribou herds.

We will address some of that through the Wildlife Act. The vehicle that will probably provide a better form for that is going to be the Barren Ground Management Strategy that’s coming forward and the need in this part of the country to look at a multiparty board or arrangement to look after the number of herds that are in this part of the country. Go from east to west with the Beverly Qamanirjuaq, the Ahiak, the...

Mr. Speaker, we have legal counsel with us every step of the way on this piece of legislation looking at all issues, all amendments, changes when concerns are raised to look at the interpretation, make sure that whatever is put into the bill complies completely. Thank you.

Thank you. As Minister of Finance I caught the keyword of “funded.” The issue is going to be to address, through the management, the conference process to see and make sure that everybody is represented. As a public government, the Government of the Northwest Territories, we are charged with representing the interests of Northerners at that table as well. There are options to make sure we have representation from non-Aboriginal harvesters and, we believe, mechanisms to do that. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We will pull that information together. It will be on the ENR website and, where possible, as we discuss that with the Member for Frame Lake, where one of the other Members will look at direct responses as well to those people or organizations that made specific representations. Thank you.

I was remiss, Mr. Speaker, as well, to point out that there is a recent initiative called BizPaL that was structured and put in place to, in fact, help small businesses navigate through government and deal with government. In regard to his specific question, I will commit to the Member that we will put that issue on the next agenda for the Refocusing committee. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The primary initial focus of the Program Review Committee has been on identifying efficiencies within government, things like the proposal to build an office building in Yellowknife, the work that’s been done on the pupil/teacher ratio on the inclusive schooling, on the medical travel, and a host of other areas. Thank you.

This process in its entirety has cost well nigh onto $2 million.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Once again, I don’t necessarily agree with the Member in terms of the restoring of confidence. There was a very public, long-term process, very expensive and exhaustive, and we will demonstrate that we’ve been listening, when you look at the bill. That’s the comfort that we’re going to provide people. Not everybody will be happy. This is a consultative process. We’re a consensus government. There’s lots of compromise, but this bill, compared to the bill that is currently there -- 32 years old -- is going to be a huge improvement. It’s long overdue. It’s going to reflect...