Wendy Bisaro

Thanks, Mr. Neudorf. I didn’t hear any reference in Mr. Neudorf’s answer to, basically, commercial businesses. I guess I would like to know, when he’s referencing things like the combined services building and so on, those are basically government buildings, so is there an intent to use the land that’s now been opened up with the bypass road? Is there an intent to allow for commercial enterprises, private businesses to establish themselves out there and, if that’s the case, how is the department evaluating the disruption to the Yellowknife market that that may cause in general? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister of Finance. I spoke in my Member’s statement about the possibility of establishing an NWT green fund and referenced the Federation of Canadian Municipalities Green Municipal Fund. That fund has proved extremely successful for communities across Canada. It’s been used for sustainable community activities and, as I mentioned in my statement, some of those are sustainable community plans, feasibility studies, field tests and implementing capital projects. I’d like to ask the Minister whether or not we have legal or procedural...

Thanks to the Minister. I would agree with his assessment. I don’t think there would be a lot of buy-in. I guess I would just ask, at this point, if that report is dusted off and some of the recommendations are going to be put in place, if the Minister would be sure to involve Yellowknife Members and the City of Yellowknife.

I have another question in regard to the Yellowknife Airport as well. There’s a reference to commercial land development in the airport environs here in Yellowknife. I wondered if I could get an update on where that is at as well. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it’s no secret that the well-being of communities holds a special place in my heart. My time spent in local governance as a school trustee and city councillor laid the groundwork for that. So when considering GNWT activities I often see things through a municipal lens, and I did just that yesterday as I pondered the Environment and Natural Resources’ budget and listened to the government’s plans for climate change and greenhouse gas targets.

In order to meet an aggressive greenhouse gas target -- one that we don’t yet have, I must admit -- this government...

Just one last question to do with the numbers on page 13-17. The climate change, in the program delivery details it lists climate change as $6.8 million give or take. In grants and contributions is some $5 million, which seemed to basically refer to climate change. I just wonder if the Minister could advise if that’s correct. Most of that $6.8 million for climate change, is it going to be... Sorry. Is the $5 million in grants and contributions identified under that climate change figure of $6.8 million?

Thanks for that information. Just to follow up, I wasn’t quite sure what you were referencing as going to be happening in this next fiscal year. I note that there’s some money in grants and contributions for communities and regional governments. So you’re talking about fleshing out the plan and expanding it. Is that work only going to be done by the GNWT or is there some money available for the communities to do some of this work as well?

Just a last question on this area. The work is going to be done you said in 2010, you’re hoping to have it done by 2011. Are you talking the beginning of 2011 or middle or end of the year? Can you give us a rough idea as to the time frame for the work to set these targets and set up this plan? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have a couple of questions relative to climate change and greenhouse gas emissions. I’d, first of all, like to talk about greenhouse gas emission targets. I know that the business plan talks about that we want to be 10 percent below 2001 levels by 2011. That target is fairly modest I guess I would say. I’d like to know from the Minister if there has been any consideration or if there’s going to be any consideration in this next fiscal year to increase the intensity of that reduction. Will we be able to set more stringent targets, I guess, for ourselves? Has that been...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the offer from both Ministers to have a briefing. I think it is something that absolutely is necessary. It will certainly forestall the lack of feeling that we are being left out over here on this side of the House.

I wonder if I could ask the Minister how the response was filed without any input from Regular Members. What was the rationale for that? Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I am a little nonplussed, I guess, by the Minister’s response that he would choose to ignore the request of a standing committee. I want to quote from the letter that was sent to the Hon. Robert R. McLeod sometime in January. The date is not evident here, but from the chair of the Standing Committee on Social Programs, and the chair said, “committee members are very interested in the recommendations made in the JRP report on the Mackenzie Gas Project and want both the opportunity to provide input in the development of a response and an opportunity to review the response before it...