Michael Miltenberger

Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories has followed up in writing on the McCrank report. A number of weeks ago we were in Ottawa. We met with Minister Strahl to talk about the issue of regulatory reform. We talked about the board appointments, a clear definition of mandates, clearing up policy overlap. Where there are grey areas, we avoid things like the Giant Mine. We met again in Calgary a week or so ago. We raised the same issue very well and passionately by myself, by Minister McLeod, by other northern folks that were there. It is a political issue. The federal government...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Deh Cho, that Bill 2, Forgiveness of Debts Act, 2009-2010, be read for the second time.

Mr. Speaker, this bill authorizes forgiveness of debts owed to the government and public agencies. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I don’t often get this opportunity, but I would like to acknowledge two of the Pages that are serving in the House today, two fine upstanding young men from Fort Smith: Mr. Kyle Payne and Mr. Randall Maidl. I thank them for their work that they have done and they have been good ambassadors for the community of Fort Smith. Thank you.

This issue is being looked at. It has also been dealt with in Yellowknife, where the rates are 160 parts per million for residential and 340 parts per million for industrial, when they looked at areas like the old Con Mine and such. So I don’t think we should get ahead or predetermine the outcome of the work of the consultants and the stakeholder committee. I just want to reassure the people that this is being looked at. All the appropriate people are involved and we are looking forward to the results of that work. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the attempt to deal with what has been identified as naturally occurring incidents of arsenic in the soil, there has been a working group struck. There have been consultants brought in to examine the issue, to do the testing. There are meetings going on this month. Work has been done, things are being analyzed as we work towards getting enough information to determine what next steps should be in terms of remediation and other steps. Thank you.

Yes, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Speaker, the longer-term plans and the formal training for folks will, as well, be built in and reflected in the various business plans. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There would be information contained on that in the business plan that was presented to committee. Thank you.

That may be a step that we would want to consider first, though I would suggest we have some discussion as a Legislature to see what our thinking is and have our own plan so that when we stand up to the federal government to ask them to do something, we know clearly what we’re doing back home and how we think that should be better reflected on the national stage. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Department of Transportation will be looking at issues related to roads. We also have a broader mandate with some marine, as well and making sure that there’s consultation. With the communities, we recognize very clearly that there are some key communities that are going to be targeted by shoreline erosion, and significant dollars have already, over the years, been spent there. As the polar ice cap melts and they say the water levels are going to rise and the severity of storms increases, it’s going to be an issue that’s going to require more and more attention.

I...