Michael Miltenberger

Yes, Mr. Speaker, I will ensure that by this time tomorrow that I am conversant on this issue and able to engage in a meaningful discourse with the Member. Thank you.

The one fund that we’re aware of is there’s a billion dollar Green Fund that the federal government has money for. It’s project-based. Once again, once the criteria is clear, we believe that we have a number of projects that may be eligible. We’ll have to get in line with every other province and territory across the land, but we believe we have two things: we have our share and we have projects that we think would be considered, by the federal terminology, as shovel ready. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, the intent of the Biomass Strategy is to do a number of things. One of the key areas we are interested in, of course, is lowering the cost of living in the small communities. We’re looking at heating; generation and distribution of electricity are two main areas. We are of the opinion that there is great potential and there is technology that is currently in existence. We know that the Member’s community of Jean Marie River has been very active in this area. We are very interested, should the budget be approved, to move forward to find a smaller community that could be used as a...

Mr. Speaker, I will make a commitment on behalf of my colleague, the Minister of MACA, that he would be looking at how this money would flow, working with the City of Yellowknife to make sure that we can access each and every one of these pots even though they may be project-based or would have to compete with other communities and provinces from across the country. Yes, we will make sure that we work with the City of Yellowknife to see what is possible. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We are still waiting for the detail of how these many pots of money are going to roll out. Some are clearer than others. The Building Canada Fund, for example, is an existing program where we’re compressing the time frame. This Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, along with their Green Fund and a host of other smaller pots of money that we may be eligible for, we’re still awaiting the detail to see what’s possible for us in terms of the conditions and criteria, how they apply to us as a Territory and how they may possibly apply to municipalities.

We’d be prepared to look at that whole issue, as I indicated, with the Member, myself, and the deputy, recognizing that the budget is currently before the House. While there may be some latitude, we may also want to consider how we would best address this through the upcoming business planning process, which will be starting once this particular budget is passed. I am willing to commit to sit down with the Member to look at this issue in its entirety.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the budget that’s currently before the House, there is some money to train Northerners in the area of environmental monitoring mainly focused on the regions that are going to be directly impacted by the proposed pipeline. How the money is going to be allocated has not been finalized, as far as I’m aware, but there is that money in addition to, of course, recognizing that the broader issue of environmental monitoring, especially of the water, is mainly a federal jurisdiction. But we are starting to invest money in there because it’s such an important issue. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. At the risk of disagreements with my Cabinet colleagues, I will as well support the motion. This is a trial period. I appreciate the concern of Mr. Bromley. I was once a traditionalist too.

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I have accepted the reality of the IT generation that is upon us. So I will support this motion. Let’s see how it works. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I will look at this. I’ll talk to my colleagues and we would be more than willing and ready to share the government’s position on what’s being proposed for the upgrades to the Navigable Waters Act. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I’m aware that this act is being updated; it is very old. There are some things that we believe are of benefit to us. I’ve heard the concerns raised on the radio and I’ve seen the press release by the Member of Parliament, but at this point I don’t have much more detail than that. I know the Minister of Transportation has been looking at this and has been dealing with that issue. Thank you.