Michael Miltenberger

The Minister of ITI is also the chair of the Ministerial Energy Coordinating Committee which provides oversight to this area as well as all the other energy initiatives that we have underway. As well, we have spent a lot of time trying to build a market with our investments in biomass with the schools, the jails, the health centres that are all going onto biomass. The encouragement with communities to do energy plans as well as individuals to switch to pellet stoves. Those combined factors and the Minister of ITI wearing two hats. I as well, as the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources...

The Member points out a key challenge and that is the issue of access to a sustainable supply. We’ve been working at concepts that would allow partnerships with aboriginal governments, with the landholders of the area, possibly with the concept of the wood marshalling yard, for example, but that’s one of the challenges. The other one is you want to make sure you’re located close to the supply. Some of the best timber that we do have and best forests for a viable pellet industry, for example, would be in the Deh Cho. There is a market right here in Yellowknife, and in the South Slave it is very...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It gives me great pleasure to be able to recognize Mr. Sonny McDonald, esteemed elder, one of the greatest carvers that we’ve had in the North, and a friend and constituent from the mighty constituency of Thebacha.

The government is not contemplating now or I don’t anticipate in the future getting into the pellet manufacturing business, but what we would see doing is what we have done and continue to do through ITI and economic development support programs we have is to hopefully get a proponent that would be able to partner up with an aboriginal government that has access to supply and be able to have a business venture that would be viable and stand-alone when it comes to looking at the pellet industry. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have been doing a number of things. As we look at the biomass sector, we have a fledgling market being built and we are looking at value-added down the road. We’ve proceeded with and continue to do inventories in the South Slave and the Deh Cho. Up the Valley we’ve been looking at areas such as fast-growing willows in terms of potential supply for biomass. We’ve brought in consultants to look at, in fact, the viability of setting up our own industry to create the pellets. As well, we have this concept of a wood marshalling yard that we’re looking at for certain parts...

Mr. Speaker, October 18th to 24th is Waste Reduction Week in Canada. This week is an opportunity to provide residents with information about the environmental ramifications of wasteful practices and to encourage all of us to reduce, reuse and recycle.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has organized a number of activities to celebrate Waste Reduction Week. Random acts of greenness include a clothing swap, a cell phone and rechargeable battery recycling opportunity, a litterless lunch workshop and potluck, daily waste reduction tips, and ideas on how to reduce, reuse and recycle...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It gives me great pleasure today to recognize Ms. Betty Villebrun, president of the Northwest Territories Metis Nation; Ken Hudson, president of the Fort Smith Metis Local; and Paul Harrington, president of the Hay River Metis Local. Welcome and thank you for coming to the Assembly. I don’t often get a chance to recognize folks. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, the business we do in the south is tied to, of course, the fiscal year which ends March 31st and starts April 1st for the new budget. The budget for the House will be passed and approved and we will start the flow April 1, 2011.

This I know is an issue of great concern to many of the members of the communities outside of Yellowknife where harvesting and hunting are significant activities. As the Member is aware, discussions have been held in relation to the business plans and Strategic Initiatives committees and work that’s being done. The intent is, having travelled with the Member to the communities in his riding where we heard in almost every community about as we look to live off the land and we look for other opportunities other than may be available through some of the caribou herds that are in decline, the need...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, two years ago the world economy experienced a downturn unprecedented since the Great Depression. The turmoil touched everyone including Canada. The NWT economy shrank in 2009. Employment fell by 5.2 percent and mineral exploration by 80 percent.

We are encouraged by the fact that the positive signs of growth observed earlier this year appear to be confirmed. Forecasts of NWT economy are predicting growth in 2010-2011 fuelled by a rebound in the diamond industry. The Conference Board of Canada forecasts that our economy will grow by 4.8 percent this year and...