Michael Miltenberger

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the natural resources, clean air, water and wildlife found in the NWT make us the envy of numerous jurisdictions. Protecting these elements is of the utmost importance to the economic, social and cultural sustainability of our territory.

Two key pieces of legislation are planned to help achieve these goals: an updated Wildlife Act and a new Species at Risk Act. Both pieces of legislation have been under development for a number of years by the Government of the Northwest Territories land claim organizations. Progress has reached an impasse over how the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following documents: NWT Protected Areas Strategy Annual Report, 2004-2005; the 2004-2005 Annual Report of the Western NWT Biophysical Study; and the NWT Diversity Action Plan Report Two: Gap and Overlap Analysis and Recommendations for Future Actions.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the Member's statement yesterday he pointed out very clearly the debate between community services and enhancing those as opposed to building and focussing a lot, or almost extensively on the type of residential facilities and anywhere in between, as the discussion has unfolded. That's part of the issue that we're looking at. Clearly where we're up and down the valley, there's concern about the impending development of the proposed pipeline. We also have to sit down, now that we know for sure that there's been a commitment to the $500 million that is going to...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'll make sure I highlight that point about don't consult any more and get down to work when the Member next comes forward. Mr. Speaker, we have made a significant investment with dozens and dozens of positions and wellness workers and mental health workers across the land. We have made significant investments and we're going to continue to do that. The Member has stood up in this House and said let's take another approach with some on-the-land programs and a concept that he has contributed about 20 words to. I'm saying if the Member has a specific proposal and...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the next week or so we're going to be finalizing and sending out a document for feedback in regards to next steps when it comes to alcohol and drug treatment and mental health treatment, as well. We'll be looking for feedback from the Members. We'll be sending it out far and wide across the land, to authorities, to chiefs and band councils and to cover all the whole spectrum of stakeholders. As well, if the Member has a specific suggestion or proposal he'd like to make, we're always prepared to, as the Member knows, work with him to see what is...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in fact, I shared that information with the individual in question since I spend a lot time in the airport, as does he. We had a chance to talk about this, but yes I appreciate the Member’s concern and we are going to be making every effort as well to recognize the efforts of the Speaker on this because it's a very, very important issue for everybody. We are pushing very, very hard with Public Works and with our own training to make sure we are ready to go late October or early November. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the catchment area that’s there for Hay River would be the area of service. That includes people from Fort Resolution, Kakisa, Enterprise, possibly Providence, should the need arise. Yes, we have an idea of those individuals currently requiring dialysis, as well as trying to identify those who may become candidates down the road based on indicators we have at this time. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As a system, the Government of the Northwest Territories has made a significant investment in setting up local authorities with representatives from the communities to administer almost 80 percent of the government’s or our Health and Social Service budget. Once again, I appreciate the Member’s concern. While it’s an option we’ll consider, our primary concern is still to try to work with the regions and the communities to ensure that these very valuable resources are supported the best way possible. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’d be pleased to do that. I’ll make that commitment that we’ll sit down and I’ll talk further with the Member and we’ll work with the Inuvik Health and Social Services Authority to make sure that we can try to address the issues. I’d also like to point out that we did add out of some of the federal money we had another $100,000 a year to the shelters. The five shelters we fund and the shelter directors got together and, I believe, agreed that Inuvik was one of the shelter’s that should get that money as opposed to some of the other ones, but I will...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I can appreciate the Member’s concern that he wants to ensure the system is fair, especially for the small contractor. But it would be problematic where volumes are very high like Yellowknife where they are processing hundreds of thousands of beverage containers to have individuals sitting there counting one can, another can. I think they’ve come up with ways through the recycling processes across the land in terms of weight and what that’s equivalent to in terms of the number of cans and such. So we will make sure that the process is fair, that it’s...