Michael Miltenberger

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We are currently fully engaged, of course, in the Wek’eezhii process. At the same time, we recognize the need to have a parallel process with the Akaitcho and the Yellowknives. There have been meetings this week and every week preceding this week as well with our very senior ADM, with the chief or a dozen elders. Today is basically their elders’ summit to talk about the steps ahead to come up with an arrangement that we can have in place for this coming hunting season, as well as map out the plan forward for a longer term as we plan for the Bathurst herd and it will be...

Mr. Speaker, for many years, going back to the last century, Northerners have increasingly voiced their concerns about water and all the things affecting water. The message to us has been clear: we must take the steps necessary to protect our water.

The 15th Assembly heard the people and shared their concern. In 2007, the 15th Legislative Assembly declared in part that all people have a fundamental right to water.

The 16th Legislative Assembly built on that motion and directed that a made-in-the-NWT water strategy was a priority and needed to be developed. For the past 28 months, we along with...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, that Bill 11, Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2010-2011, be read for the third time. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, that Bill 11, Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2010-2011, be read for the second time.

Mr. Speaker, this bill makes supplementary appropriations for infrastructure expenditures for the Government of the Northwest Territories for the 2010-2011 fiscal year. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, that Bill 11, Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2010-2011, be read for the first time. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Many good things come out of Fort Smith and one of those good things has joined us in the gallery today: Mr. Whitford.

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I haven’t done a full count, but it is my bet that there is no other Northerner that has had as many jobs tied into this Legislature as Mr. Whitford, as an MLA, as a Minister, as a Speaker, as the Sergeant-at-Arms and as our Commissioner all tied into this Legislature and the place that he has devoted a lot of time that he has upheld the honour of and that he truly loves dearly.

I, as well, over the years, since I came here in 1995 have taken...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document entitled List of Interactivity Transfers Exceeding $250,000 for the Period April 1st, 2009 to March 31st, 2010.

Thank you. We have, firstly, there’s been an enormous amount of work put into this whole issue. There is a significant incentive, the ban is in place and will stay in place until we have something to replace it with. So the plan is -- and the parties are all aware of this -- that we want to apply ourselves to come up with an agreement. There have been very strong signals, not only signals, but so far the cooperation of the Yellowknives and we intend to keep working with them along with the Wek’eezhii and the Northwest Territories Metis to come up with a plan. While it may be an interim...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Many people had a hand in the developing of our Water Strategy, Northern Voices, Northern Waters. We have some of these fine folks in the gallery today and from INAC I’d like to recognize Teresa Joudrie, director of Renewable Resources and Environment; Sevn Bohnet, technical coordinator; Tricia Melander-Forde, senior communications officer; Carole Mills, former manager, water resources division, now working for the Government of the Northwest Territories; and with the GNWT we have our stalwart deputy, Mr. Gary Bohnet; Mark Warren, assistant deputy minister of ENR; Megan...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Later today I will be tabling the NWT State of the Environment Report – 2010 Special Biodiversity Edition. The report celebrates the value of biodiversity and is part of the Northwest Territories contribution to the 2010 International Year of Biodiversity.

The State of the Environment – Special Biodiversity Edition presents the latest findings on the status and trends of biodiversity, ecosystem integrity and the status of traditional knowledge, growing trends in the sustainable use of biodiversity and trends in threats to biodiversity. The report is in collaboration with...