Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yesterday, during oral questions, I brought to the attention of the Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development the need for a recycling program for beverage containers in the Northwest Territories. The Minister indicated willingness to do a paper outlining the different elements that would be necessary to start major recycling effort.
The less we put into the landfill sites, the fewer problems we will face down the road.
Mr. Speaker, the transportation system in the NWT is sufficiently developed to permit the return of recyclable beverage containers. With the exception of a few communities, all are reachable by winter road or the regular highway system. For the exceptions, barge services are usually available. With cooperation from transportation companies and local governments I am sure solutions would be easily realized.
Mr. Speaker, any system we implement for the return of non-alcoholic beverage containers will be better than what we have presently. It may require money now but will save the environment and cost to future generations of Northerners. Mr. Speaker, for the record, I raised this issue yesterday and today on behalf of a constituent in Hay River who is interested in being a proponent for a facility to handle these containers in Hay River. I would appreciate any assistance to that potential proponent from the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
--Applause