Michael Miltenberger

I appreciate the Member’s comment. I think if you look at all the things we’re doing as a government, we’re doing, I think, a very significant amount of work as it pertains to climate change. However, I take the Member’s point and we would look to the advice, as we move towards transition, to the Member, to committee as to their suggestions as to things that should be flagged. We will look at this to make sure there is a more fulsome reflection of the things we are doing. We are fully committed to doing a whole host of things as a government and ENR in terms of the climate change, the...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have with me Deputy Minister Ernie Campbell and director of finance and admin Susan Craig. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. That is one of the issues that have come up during the ensuing discussions post-fire season, and it’s one of the themes in terms of the education, prevention and preparation. Yes, we are following up on it. We do it as a matter of course, but there’s added emphasis on it now this year, both in the communities getting individuals to fire smart, take their matters that they can into their own hands, and then we will try to be there as well. So, yes, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Chair, as we move forward then through the subsequent phases, we will be working in arrangement with the public to make sure that folks have a clear idea of where we’re going. We’ll have a capacity for feedback. The timelines are very tight that we’re aiming for, which is before summer to have, hopefully, a northern position between ourselves as public government of the Northwest Territories and the Aboriginal governments that are involved in parks about the size of the federal footprint location and what type of potential northern tools would be there. As we move forward, the issue that...

Mr. Speaker, this Legislative Assembly has a vision of strong individuals, families and communities sharing the benefits and responsibilities of a unified, environmentally sustainable and prosperous Northwest Territories. Achieving that vision requires a balanced approach that advances our economic, environmental and social priorities. This government is moving forward on all those fronts.

I would like to take a few moments to speak to the Mackenzie Valley Fibre Link Project. On January 12, 2015, the government took the first step towards removing the limitations of our current communications...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Maybe I wasn’t quite as clear as I could have been, but the intent is to move to a 10-year moving average. We haven’t done that yet. That says when we move into next year’s budget that’s what we’re going to be looking at doing as we come forward with the budget plans.

In regards to the $118,000, I’ll ask the deputy to clarify that one particular issue. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I thank the Member for his comments in regards to the morel mushroom situation. Our plan A is to come forward in time for passage in the May/June session with a very small amendment to the existing Forestry Act that will give us authority to manage the morel mushroom situation. At the same time, over the longer term, the plan is to come forward and bring renewal or redoing of the Forestry Act to bring it into the 21st century. That will be a longer term project that will take place in the life of the 18th Assembly.

Plan B is if we can’t get that small, modest amendment...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I thank the Member for his comments. In regards to the fire crews, I’ll let the deputy speak to that.

As well, I appreciate the comments about the Take a Kid Trapping. Those programs will continue to provide a high level of service in that regard.

In regards to the half-time position, at this point there are no plans to increase that to a full-time, but we will make note of the community’s interest in that area and will ask the deputy to speak to the fire crews. Thank you.

I do, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.

Thank you. I will commit to provide all the most current information to the Members before the end of the week. Thank you.