Michael Miltenberger

Mr. Speaker, I will discuss this issue with the departmental officials and we will be able to have a position paper on what we think is possible, if anything, and the issue of options if there is a plan to proceed. But I will commit by this fall that we will have something on this item. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, we have committed, as a government, $60 million to look at alternative energy. We have worked with communities. We have worked with individuals to put out notices to make sure people check their tanks, make sure they check the fittings so they are not leaking, check the age, and make sure they are located properly. We are focusing all of our attention on moving to alternate energy. This type of rebate program could possibly be considered, but it wouldn’t strike me as an alternative energy initiative. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, as well, would like to take this opportunity to first recognize and thank all the inductees for all the work they’ve done, those that are with us and those that are not, and all the people that are here with them. But specifically, I’d like to acknowledge and recognize my wife, Jeri; Vicky Ruben, the wife of Jerry Ruben who was just inducted into the Hall of Fame today; his lovely daughter Ashley Ruben; my baby brother Jean-Marc; and Brent Kaulback and his wife, Marilyn, from Fort Smith. Thank you for coming.

Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Thursday, May 20, 2010, I will move that Bill 11, Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures) No. 3, 2010-2011, be read for the first time. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following two documents: GNWT Traditional Knowledge Annual Report 2009-2010 as well as the GNWT Geographic Tracking of Expenditures: Expenditure Data for the Year Ended March 31, 2007. Thank you.

We can talk about the process. I would suggest that we have set a whole host of targets in terms of actual conversions to biomass, both within government and outside of government. We’ve targeted money, we’ve targeted resources, and we’re looking at projects across the land as it pertains to biomass and a host of other alternative energy ways mainly through the annual business planning process. Now, if there’s a need to put those numbers into a different form and possibly add to them, of course, we would be willing to have that discussion with committee. Thank you.

I’d just like to point out that it’s two different bargaining units, but all the program standards, all the other health programs and criteria are all consistent. The issue comes back very simply to, especially given the current recession and the circumstance we have been managing our money, of not having the… If we had $11 million free that we could do things with, would this be the issue that we would all collectively agree, of all the list of things we have to do, that this is where we want to put the money? So the issue comes back to having the availability of the necessary resources...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The information I have indicates this was a two-phase project. They’re into the second phase. I’d have to commit to get that detail of exactly the condition, what happened that contributed to the money being required for the flooring, but they’re into the second phase of completing the project. So I’ll commit to get that information. Thank you.

With your indulgence again, I’d ask Minister Michael McLeod to speak to the broader system of capital planning through Public Works and Services.

From a program point of view, there are benefits to having everybody under one bargaining unit. From a fiscal perspective, our estimates are that it would cost in the neighbourhood of up to $11 million additional to transfer all the employees into the bargaining unit and deal with all the related issues such as pensions and superannuation. Thank you.