Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have a number of comments, which I will tailor to the report as well as to the Minister's opening comments. First, I would just like to quickly point out that this department has been the source of a significant amount of interest since the start of the 14th Assembly. There has been, in the last four years, a significant number of changes in the department. There are concerns about the mandate and the ability to carry out the very divergent parts of the mandate.
Mr. Chairman, this brings me to the issue of the beneficial outcome I see as being there if in fact we took the time, after four years since the department has been amalgamated from at least two others, to see how things are working. I still think there is a benefit to doing that.
This issue as well has been discussed with the federal auditors, in terms of how do you do a value for money audit and this kind of review. I still think that is something we should consider.
I am glad to hear about the revenue-neutral beverage container recovery program, which I think was committed to last year. It is a big issue. The amount of cans and bottles that are consumed in this Territory is significant.
The greenhouse strategy, Mr. Chairman, is a good initiative, but as the Energy Alliance, in their briefing to us pointed out, it is only one piece of a very critical, broader strategy. When we look at the numbers they used, $270 million that is spent on energy provision, it is far greater than the numbers that were provided by the government, which was about $30 million, which was just their direct cost.
I have a real concern that Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development should be leading the way in providing direction to start this kind of strategy. It took two years to develop in the Yukon. The greenhouse strategy on its own is good, but it is only one piece. I am going to be pursuing this issue in the House and in committee as well, simply because of the magnitude and importance of the issue and the amount of money involved.
The tourism area is undernourished. There is no doubt of that. It would be beneficial to see if money could be moved there. On a more structural level, the concern I have had since the 13th Assembly is the decision that was made in the 12th Assembly to get rid of all the regional tourist associations, leaving only two central operations in the east and west. I think we have paid a price for that. If we talk about supporting the regions and communities, we seriously have to look at re-instituting some sort of mechanism that will allow communities and regions to come together in areas of common interest and plan out their strategies.
It cannot be done effectively, and I think this has been demonstrated, out of Yellowknife. Some things possibly can, but not that. I will be encouraging the government to look at that support.
One of the key concerns in the area of economic development is the many processes the department has in place for allocating money through grants and contributions. The concern of coordination, effectiveness, potential double, triple, quadruple dipping of different funds all from the same department...the lack of coordination and the fact that there are so many pots. I am speaking specifically about the DevCorp, the BCC, Community Futures...while I appreciate there is one in Fort Smith, there is finally going to be one set up in Fort Smith, there is a broad area that has to be looked at.
Of course, the department itself and the money it has for economic development, it is scattered. If there was no overall review of the department on the economic development side, I think there was a benefit to come up with a review and a possible broad strategy of how we are going to look at being more effective and efficient in the disbursement of the millions of dollars that are given away in grants and contributions to make sure it is accountable and effective, and it is above board. There is no chance of any kind of political interference or involvement. I think that is a key area.
The human resources area we have touched on fairly thoroughly in the House, Mr. Chairman. I am not going to review those particular areas of affirmative action and the need for a human resource plan.
If I could move to some comments on the Minister's opening remarks, I as well, support the issue of getting an adequate forest inventory. I recall raising this issue a number of times in the House in the 13th Assembly. It is very hard to plan without information, in terms of timber permits and development of the forest sector, if we do not know exactly what the magnitude is and the type of resource that is there. I think it is critical that we pursue that, because there is going to be a growing demand as world consumption and paper products continue to expand. There is going to be northward pressure on that very valuable resource, which takes a long time to regenerate. Very easily, in the South Slave, you can cut down jackpine for firewood that are 100 to 150 plus years old. It is not a product you can afford to waste.
Mr. Chairman, I would also like to briefly touch on the area of the diamond production, specifically the secondary diamond industry. I think every community outside of Yellowknife would like to see efforts made for secondary development in communities other than Yellowknife. Yellowknife has received exclusive benefits so far, but there are other communities who have the workforce and training capabilities, educational facilities, costs of living, costs of operations that definitely put them in the ballpark for consideration.
Mr. Chairman, I would hope if the Minister chooses to respond to my general comments, that he would address some of the broad areas, like the economic ones. I would like to point out as well that I recognize the department does a lot of good work. In Fort Smith, it is a very important part of the community on the forestry side, on the economic side...I think, like the Minister and his staff, I am interested in how we improve the system. There are many people who work very hard to deliver the services they do, the fire centre, the forest management centre. I would like to acknowledge their contributions, not only in Fort Smith, but across the Territory. It is a service we rely on very heavily.
I look forward to the more detailed discussion and the comments of my colleagues. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.