Robert C. McLeod

Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I could sit here all day and disagree with the Member, and he will disagree with everything I say, but I totally disagree with him, and I take offence to the fact that he says that this department cannot get the work done. That, to me, is not thinking very highly of the capacity of the people that we have there. They obviously feel that they are able to get the work done.

He has mentioned a couple of things, and I appreciate him doing my homework for me. I thank him for that, but the work on the Climate Change Strategic Framework, we are nearing completion...

No, it's not true, Mr. Chair. My understanding is it's the same rate.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. I am sure we have done some work. I am not exact. I will confirm that, as to looking at comparable water rates, and we will see. We will do some research. I will commit to the Member that we will do some research and see what our rates are compared to the other jurisdictions, and then we will plan a course of action from there. I will commit to getting that information. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, my understanding of this is that this is application-based, and it has been fully subscribed to the last few years. So, if the Member's communities come forward with a proposal, then I am sure it is one that we will look at, and, if there is funding available, we will put some funding toward it. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the Member is correct. There is a legal requirement for 65 per cent, and we're at 66 per cent, but that number changes as we get some new previously burnt areas coming back on stream. I have to add our 1 per cent is actually quite large compared to the other jurisdictions, but his point is well taken.

The $150,000, we're just trying to get the number here as to what's left in the budget, but I can inform this House that we are working with Environment and Climate Change Canada for funding under the Federal Species at Risk Act. These funds will be used to...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, if the list won't do, then I can sit here and read it out and take up some of committee's time.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, Mr. Chair; the answer is yes. We do have a training plan and we have the appropriate resources to carry out that plan. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, we would want it to come over. We're in the early stages of a discussion with them. I'm sure one of the topics of discussion will be: we want the money to come over with it. We're in the early stages of the discussions and, if we have any information to share, I will be happy to put in in the form of a letter or an email to committee and just say this is where we are at. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, this is just our contribution through ENR to help do some of the FireSmarting. There are other pots of funding that they are able to access to complete the work, I believe through MACA. They get some funding through MACA, and then I believe through the small community employment fund that there are some opportunities there that have been identified by some of the smaller communities as a good way that they could use that fund. This is just ENR's contribution to the FireSmarting program. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, we all share the Member's concern with the state of the caribou herd in the Northwest Territories. Again, this is another area where traditional knowledge would play an important factor, because who knows the caribou better than the people who have been living off them for hundreds of years?

There had been an opportunity there, and I think it's one of the reasons that as we do caribou surveys and Deputy Dragon spoke to before, the Boots on the Ground program. Again, that's taking advantage and using a lot of traditional knowledge, and good caribou management...