Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you. Yes, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Mr. Braden.

Could I confirm what that amount is, Mr. Chair? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Miltenberger.

Fifty thousand dollars.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Mr. Braden.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. That is all in this area. Thank you very much.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Page 12-21, total contributions, $460,000.

Total grants and contributions, $460,000.

Page 12-22, 12-23, information item, environmental protection, active positions.

Page 12-24, 12-25, activity summary, forest management, operations expenditure summary, $29.114 million. Mr. Lafferty.

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I would like to ask a question on the contract services since there is a huge decrease of almost $2.5 million. Coming from an isolated community, there is a demand for equipment whether it is fire equipment or firefighting equipment or even the vehicles in the communities. Over the summer when I was back home in one of the communities, I think it was in Gameti, I just visited the firefighters there, their own little group. They were sharing all their concerns. Before, they used to have vehicles in a community. They can transport equipment and whatnot, but they don't have that anymore. They are using all their old equipment. Some are beyond repairable. When a fire breaks out, they have to hitch a ride with a chopper. This is just not acceptable in the communities where we should have equipment ready for these firefighters because some are even volunteering.

In Gameti, there is a forest fire, and all of a sudden Whati, there was a big forest fire on a big island. They just left the fire going because there were some cutbacks in funding. They couldn't send out a crew. Our crew was ready from Gameti, Whati and Behchoko, but they were waiting for a call from Fort Smith; headquarters, I guess. That call didn't come through so they just left the fire going. That has been a huge issue in the community since the fire, since the summer, since the Tlicho annual assembly. It was raised then that this is really...We talk about the decline in caribou. This main source of food is all being burnt. Even the breeding grounds are being destroyed. Also, the migratory path is in that area, too, where it is all being destroyed and we just left it and watched it happen. I was going to raise that issue in this House, but it could still happen anyways.

I think something needs to be done in this area. I don't like to see a decrease in fire suppression because this is probably not just my community. There are other small communities that are requesting this as well. Why is there a cut in that area where it is badly needed in the communities? Whatever happens here would have to be related back to the communities. We have heard over and over that there needs to be an increase in forest fire suppression funding, if the Minister can elaborate on the contract services. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, if you go from the 2005-06 mains to the 2006-07 mains, the numbers are basically the same. There is $16.771 million to $16.653 million. The revised mains for 2005-06 were a result of supplementary appropriation under fire suppression. We have a budget that is set. When we run short or run out because of fires, then we come back to Cabinet with a supplementary appropriation, and then they cover it off. So there is no change to the base budget. It is just based on what kind of fire we have. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Mr. Lafferty.

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. I'm not really too satisfied with that answer because, back in 2005-06, it was $18 million. Even 2005-06, $16.7 million and it is still going down. So I am still concerned about that. Every time we see a supplementary, then there are a lot of heads shaking at the committee meeting. I think we really need to focus in this area. The department needs to anyways, because the Minister and his department will certainly hear from the communities on this particular issue.

Mr. Chair, I have already touched on it where a decision comes from Habatsa, they call it Fort Smith headquarters where the budget has been allocated to what they call North Slave. It is in the Monfwi district. In Monfwi, if there is a fire in the region, then there is a call that goes through Yellowknife. It goes back to Smith and it goes back to Yellowknife and then down to the community. By the time that decision comes around, the land is destroyed. I think the decision needs to be more clearly communicated. The communication dialogue should be within the region where it is not really there. A major decision is being made in headquarters. We, around this table, always talk about regional decision-making but it is always at the headquarters whether it be Yellowknife, Smith or with the headquarters. I think that delegation needs to be turned over to the regional management because we are capable. We had RWED. We still do, with a different title, though, in the communities that can easily take over that decision making. They know the areas. Those decisions can be made quickly instead of watching the lands being destroyed. It is an eye sore when you go out on the land to go out hunting and there are no trees out there. There is a story behind it. Every land you go to, there is a story why this happened. Certainly, I don't want to see that anymore. That is why I am just stressing this fire suppression. I think we really need to refocus in that area. Mahsi, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Mr. Bailey.

Thank you, Mr. Bailey. Mr. Lafferty.

Just a quick note, Mr. Chair, before my time is up. Somewhat I agree, but I disagree with the way the policy is structured where we talk about the people, the community and the property. I fully support that initiative, but at the same time there is wildlife that we have to take into consideration. We are destroying the land. We are destroying the wildlife. There are cabins that have been destroyed. There has been compensation. There are still some that are outstanding, but we have to keep in mind that there is wildlife out there that we are destroying. Here we talk about decline in caribou. It has a huge impact on their food. If we don't see caribou, it means that their food is all burnt and they are going to a different country.

I would just like to have that on the record, Mr. Chair. It is a big concern in my riding. Also, it has an impact on other small communities in the North. This really needs to be stressed that we really need to refocus on fire suppression because there is a decrease in funding. I also would like to highlight the policy that we are going by should really focus on the wildlife, as well. Mahsi.