Michael Miltenberger

I want to reassure the Member that this position would be able to provide some support in that area. There also is in Sahtu a fairly sophisticated, I think, well-versed, well-experienced group of people that work in the communities and the various boards that are there. So, between us all, we will be looking to make sure that we understand clearly the technical nature of all the applications that are submitted, and this water person will be one of the folks that are key in that regard. Thank you.

Thank you. We have one of the supplementary appropriation requests before the House has the final supplementary request, which will bring to a close the fire season costs and then we’ve, as well, engaged in a comprehensive review that is still underway in terms of the fire season and its impacts that were discussed yesterday when we were looking at ENR’s budget. One of the key areas being looked at is the administration and finance side. Thank you.

The Member is correct; this individual will be part of a broader water team that exists in the Government of the Northwest Territories. We’ve invested, over the last five years or so, millions of dollars in setting up community-based water monitoring initiatives and stations and in the Member’s constituency as well. Where the testing is going on, results are being collected. To address some of the issues the Member has talked about, we’re very aware of the concerns of the folks in Good Hope, for example, and this person will be an added resource to work with all the other resources we have...

Thank you, Madam Chair. The borrowing plan, which will be debated and approved in the House, is a key part of the bill that’s currently being reviewed by committee. So that will definitely be there. I’m assuming it will receive the full support of the Legislature. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I have with me Ernie Campbell, deputy minister; and Susan Craig, director of finance and administration for ENR. Thank you.

It could be both.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Great Slave, that Bill 43, An Act to Amend the Borrowing Authorization Act, be read for the third time. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thanks to the Member for his offer of working with us in the community. We will be following up. Thank you.

A lot of work has been done in this area and we’re in the process of getting a document ready to bring to Cabinet and then on to committee that will show all the work that’s been done across the Northwest Territories. In terms of the ecological representative areas and the mapping and inventory that’s done, I would ask the deputy, Mr. Chairman, with your approval, to add a little bit further to that, if he would. Thank you.

As far as I’m aware, all the communities have their fire protection plans, and it’s just an issue now between the communities and ENR and individuals in looking at implementing them. Once again, we are fiscally challenged, as well, so we don’t have a big, significant amount of money put aside that’s going to allow us to go and take on that full cost of going to every community in the boreal forest on our own as an ENR initiative. Thank you.