Mr. Chair, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources promotes and supports the sustainable use and development of natural resources to protect, conserve and enhance the Northwest Territories environment for the social and economic benefit of all residents.
Through these proposed main estimates, the department is requesting a total of $60.8 million for the 2009-2010 fiscal year. This is a 6.9 percent increase over last year.
The residents of the Northwest Territories want sound and wise management decision-making on
the sustainable use and development of natural resources that will ensure the protection, conservation and enhancement of our environment for the social and economic benefit of current and future generations.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources recognizes that sound decisions are based on open and inclusive discussion. We will continue to work collaboratively with aboriginal governments, communities and the public in making resource management decisions.
As Members have stated in this House, energy conservation and reducing energy costs are high priorities for many residents. During 2009-2010 the department will spend $3.3 million to develop alternative energy supplies and investigate the potential of emerging technologies such as biomass and geothermal energy. An additional $1.6 million will be used to install wind turbines in Tuktoyaktuk.
This investment in alternative energy sources and technologies will help reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and support our efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the Northwest Territories. These include investments in hydro by this government. Implementation of the NWT Hydro Strategy includes funding for specific mini-hydro projects in Whati and Lutselk’e as well as the proposed Taltson Hydro Expansion Project.
Another $1.8 million has been dedicated to other initiatives which will enhance the Energy Efficiency Incentive Program and expand programming offered by the Arctic Energy Alliance through the establishment of three new regional-based positions to provide basic education awareness and advice on energy conservation.
Climate change remains a serious issue for the NWT. During 2009-2010 the department will implement the NWT Climate Change Adaptation Plan and work with partners to develop initial regional climate change scenarios. This work will assist other GNWT departments, communities and regional governments address adaptation problems. Coordination and delivery of actions contained in the Greenhouse Gas Strategy will also continue.
ENR strives to provide wise stewardship, management and protection of our natural resources and environment.
A number of actions will be taken to support the Managing This Land Initiative to ensure our environment and forest and wildlife resources can sustain present and future generations.
1) A large part of the department’s budget, about
$27 million, is spent on the prevention,
detection, monitoring and suppression of wildfires and the management of forest resources in the Northwest Territories.
2) During 2009-2010 the department will be
undertaking a program review of fire operations. One of the key components of this review will include working with communities to assess how the current program defines ‘values at risk’ and how this information is used in decision making.
3) Work will also continue on the development of
new comprehensive legislation that will provide the tools necessary for ensuring the sustainable management of our forest resources.
The development of community wildland fire protection plans fosters improved public safety while making better use of existing fire suppression resources. During the 2009-2010 fiscal year the department will work with the communities of Fort Smith, Fort Providence and Norman Wells to finalize their community protection plans. Tsiigehtchic and Kakisa have also been targeted to develop FireSmart community interface protection plans.
Almost $1 million will be spent to implement actions contained in the NWT Barren Ground Caribou Management Strategy and to develop a NWT Wood Bison Management Strategy and management plans for the Mackenzie, Slave River Lowlands and Nahanni bison herds. Surveys will be conducted this summer to get new population estimates for several caribou herds, including the Bathurst, Cape Bathurst, Bluenose-East and Bluenose-West herds.
Another $1 million has been earmarked for the enhancement of environmental stewardship. This includes developing a new Wildlife Act, implementing the new Species at Risk Act and finalizing the NWT Water Resources Management Strategy and the land use framework.
These initiatives will guide our actions in protecting all species, water supply and quality as well as GNWT participation in land and governance issues. They will also help to increase northern control over land and resources.
Traditional knowledge is a major element of environmental stewardship and resource management in the Northwest Territories. During 2009-2010 the department will implement the ENR Traditional Knowledge Implementation Framework. This will formalize our efforts in incorporating traditional knowledge in our decision making and allow us to better track and celebrate its use. ENR is the lead department for the GNWT in traditional knowledge implementation.
As the success of the Beverage Container Program illustrates, residents are more than willing to participate in programs that will help keep their communities clean. Starting this spring, the department will be distributing reusable bags in NWT communities to encourage people to limit the use of single use plastic and paper bags. A 25-cent environmental fee for single use retail bags will be established by the fall of 2009. Work will begin on investigating the feasibility and approaches to establishing an electronic or e-waste recycling program for the NWT.
The department intends to advance our waste reduction programs during 2009-2010. A number of options are being considered on how best to add milk containers to the Beverage Container Program. In addition, a paper products diversification program will provide funding for communities and businesses to investigate and implement actions to deal with paper.
As Members know, environmental issues are high on the agenda of NWT residents. Creative initiatives, such as the interdepartmental Green Team, being led by ENR, will help to ensure these issues remain front and centre. To this end, the department will continue to work with federal and territorial departments and agencies, aboriginal governments, communities and other stakeholders on these issues.
I am confident the main estimates for Environment and Natural Resources will address many of the concerns residents have about protecting our environment for present and future generations.
Mr. Chair, I would like to thank the Members of the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure for their comments and suggestions during the review of the department’s business plan.
I look forward to the committee’s comments today and I am prepared to answer any questions Members may have. Mahsi cho.