Wendy Bisaro

Thanks to the Minister. I can appreciate that the department is reviewing, but I guess I’m really disappointed that as part of review we have to go backwards in order to do a review.

In a recent letter to the NWT Seniors’ Society, the Minister stated that the department recognizes the multi-year contribution agreements provide a certain degree of funding security. If that’s the case, I’m wondering why the Minister cannot, as a matter of policy, use multi-year contracts with NGOs like the NWT Seniors’ Society. Thank you.

I hope that is July of this year. Maybe I could get that clarified.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m really pleased today to have a constituent in the gallery. Ms. Jenni Bruce is a constituent from Frame Lake. Welcome, Jenni.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I think my colleague should have asked the Minister if he was going to get his answer in the fullness of time, hopefully sooner than that. I do have a question with regards to recycling and the deposit that is paid on milk containers. This has been brought up before and I would like to ask again, whether or not, I guess maybe not whether or not but when the Minister will agree with a full refund of the deposit on milk containers to try and keep the price of milk as low as possible. Thank you.

Mr. Chairman, thanks to the Minister for that. It is good to hear that it is going to be considered. I hope that doesn’t fall off the table, because it is entirely possible we will discover sites long after we have signed a devolution agreement.

My last question has to do with security. We have recently amended the Commissioner’s Land Act to require security for developments. Can the Minister comment on the likelihood in the future that we will have a development without asking for that kind of security and without asking a company to put up security for cleanup costs at the end of the life of...

Mr. Chairman, if there is a development on Commissioner’s land, is the deputy minister saying that it is now a GNWT responsibility to clean it up either pre or post devolution? Thank you.

Thanks to the Minister. I guess my question then is should there be a formal request to this government for funding? Would the Minister consider it as seriously as possible within the parameters of our current fiscal situation? I guess I’m asking will there be some financial support for this project at some point in time if the City puts forward an ask? Thank you.

Thanks for that confirmation. If there are fewer applications and even if we only have three for this current fiscal year at $40,000, we’re still under the $200,000 that is available. I’m wondering whether or not the department has considered paying actuals to the communities that do encounter expenses beyond their communities. Yellowknife, for instance, does spend money for ground ambulance and highway rescue outside the city boundaries; down on the Ingraham Trail, for instance. I’d like to know whether or not the department has ever considered paying actuals to a maximum sum. I could see...

One other question on this page in regard to the Healthy Choices Initiative, I understand it supports after school physical activity programs, which I think is great and my understanding is also that it was quite well used last year. But I am somewhat concerned, and I’ve mentioned this before at other departments, that we have programs related to healthy activities for children and youth in several departments and I wonder whether or not we have the proper coordination of these programs. You know, MACA is spending $615,000 here and Health spends $400,000 elsewhere. My understanding is that...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m struggling with the Minister’s evasion of my question and he’s taking it quite literally that I’m talking only about the Wildlife Act. I’m asking what percentage of lands within the total area of the NWT is liable to be open and accessible for economic development. If some 50 percent or 45 or 55 percent of our lands are being withheld for conservation or environmental protection or whatever, Protected Areas Strategy, what effect does the Minister feel this is going to have on our ability to be a growing and economically vibrant Territory?