Thank you,

Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Miltenberger.

Mr. Chair, that money stays in the fund, and as well we intend to come forward once again with a business planning process with what we’re going to be suggesting as the next steps for this program in terms of things we’d like to look at, such as plastic bags and cardboard and other areas where there’s a need for us to look at recovery and recycling.

Just for clarification’s sake, on the Beverage Container Program, the $179,000 stays in that Environment Fund. If it does, I’m just wondering why we would show it in our budgeting exercises as revenue. When it stays in the fund, maybe we shouldn’t record it like this. I’m not sure.

Thank you,

Mr. Ramsay. Call on Ms. Magrum.

As long as it’s not going back into general revenue, that’s fine.

Thank you,

Mr. Ramsay. I have nobody else on the list, so we’re on page 11-10, information item, Revenue Summary.

Department of Environment and Natural

Resources, Department Summary, Revenue Summary, information item, approved.

Moving on. Page 11-12. Corporate Management, and 11-13, Activity Summary, Corporate Management, Operations Expenditure Summary: $10.094 million. Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. In regard to the area and in regard to corporate costs, these payments and these commitments, there’s an issue that’s come up out of the Inuvik office of relocating the office to Shell Lake.

I think that as a

government we all know there is no resource office in Inuvik. There used to be. The community sold that property. Again, you know, we have harvesters who still depend on that activity. A lot of these individuals basically come to town, sell their furs and put a little money in their pocket. Also, for people in the communities who go to Inuvik and whatnot, you know they expect to provide that service. For most people who get service in the

Inuvik region, it’s usually in the downtown core. Yet the government is now in the process of deciding to relocate out to Shell Lake. I notice under Infrastructure Acquisition Plan you have some $300,000 for that, and a total estimate of $310,000.

I’d just like to know exactly: have you taken into consideration the effect of that service not being in the Inuvik downtown core where individuals who can’t afford…? You know, to go to the airport in Inuvik you’re looking at almost $30. This Shell Lake is ten kilometres out of Inuvik. For these individuals to have to go running out there to get service from this government — why is it that we’re having to relocate that to another area? I’d just like to ask the Minister where is that decision, and also what’s the $300,000 for in regard to the Shell Lake bunk house?

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Minister Miltenberger.

Thank you,

Mr. Chairman. The Member raises a concern that is a concern with us as well. As part of the relocation of the main operations to Shell Lake, we will be setting up a storefront operation. We’re either going to negotiate an arrangement with ITI or one of the aboriginal governments to have an officer available to address the issues raised by the Member for Mackenzie Delta. I’ll ask the deputy minister once again, with your indulgence, to speak about the $300,000.

Thank you, Minister. Mr. Bohnet.

Can the Minister elaborate on exactly how many people you’re talking about moving out to Shell Lake and exactly what type of program responsibility those people who are going to be moving out there have?

The intent is to move basically the regional office that the Gwich’in own downtown out to Shell Lake. We will set up, as I indicated, a storefront office to make sure we still have a clear, visible and easily accessible presence in the downtown of Inuvik.

Well, I believe most of the supervisor positions are in the downtown core. If you want to

talk to someone from Housing or Transportation or Public Works or MACA, they’re all right downtown. I mean, if I drive to Inuvik and I want to talk to somebody, I just go downtown and walk down the street.

I think it’s more than just having a storefront operation. You want to be able to talk to people and ensure that programs and services are being delivered, not simply that you have a storefront. My issue is around the whole move itself, of moving to a federal infrastructure that has been in Inuvik going back 50 years.

The upgrades at $300,000…. I think at the end of the day they’re probably going to cost you a lot more than $300,000 by way of safety codes, electrical codes and basically looking at the overall costs in regard to dealing with heat exchange systems and ventilation. I think there’s a lot more to this building than simply saying it’s going to cost $300,000. Again, I’d like to ask: why is the superintendent of the department moving out to Shell Lake? So he can go fishing?

The move was for operational reasons. The building they were in was very cramped. I was in there a number of times.

I’ve been out to Shell Lake as well. They made a very good case about using existing government resources, recognizing the fact we still have to have a presence in downtown Inuvik, which we will do. Then it made more effective use and more permanent use of a facility that has lots of infrastructure but was only used for part of the year. They looked at their needs. It was checked to make sure it met all health and safety concerns. So we’ve proceeded with that. They’ve budgeted to do that. The work the deputy talked about was already in the books and was just to maintain the buildings that were being used for fire crews to acceptable standards.

I understand that the building you’re vacating also has a lab fixture inside of it. I’d like to know what’s going to be the status of the lab that’s there in regard to that responsibility the department’s presently taken on, where they do provide that out of that facility. Where do they go?

The whole existing operation, except for the storefront operation, is being relocated to Shell Lake, including the lab.

Do you have any final count on how many people will be relocated to Shell Lake? It sounds like, now, the whole department’s moving out there. Can you give me the numbers and the different program responsibilities of the employees who are moving out there?

Mr. Chairman, the Deputy is counting in his head here about ten positions. But just to be on the safe side, I will commit to provide the information to committee that lays out the current staff inhabiting the office building in Inuvik and all the positions that are there that will be relocated to Shell Lake.

Thank you, Minister. I’d just like to break in here. This committee is well known for its hard work. But it’s even harder work when it’s not based on a full stomach. There is sustenance available, so I’m going to call a short recess while we take care of that need.

The Committee of the Whole took a short

recess.

I’ll call the Committee of the Whole to order. We are on page 11-13, Corporate Management, Operations Expenditure Summary: $10.094 million. Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. In regard to the lease property in Inuvik that the department of environment presently occupies, I’d just like to know exactly when you are intending to move out of that location and exactly where you are in regard to your lease commitments for that office space.