This is page numbers 4503 - 4526 of the Hansard for the 16th Assembly, 4th Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was i'd.

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Once again, the Member and I are aiming for the same goal. I have been suggesting and saying right from the start that, yes, we have to do these broad strategies. Yes, we have to have that long and intense debate about targets, standards. In the meantime, we should be doing things on the ground and we shared the information with the Members about the dozens of initiatives that Public Works has taken in its mandate for retrofits. We are doing some very innovative things with ground source heat pumps. We have initiatives with wind, we are moving on the mini-hydro with Lutselk’e, in addition to the mass amount of work I think we are doing with biomass. We are getting things on the ground.

People in the residential sector are buying into this process. In the industrial sector, they are too, because a lot of the big buildings are government buildings. There are contracts that go with that. We started the work to look at the secondary value-added industry with biomass production. So we’re trying to hit all these initiatives on the go, but we want to get things on the ground and I believe that we are doing that.

Just on the government ones alone, we showed the thousands of tonnes of greenhouse gas savings and the savings in terms of actual dollars that will be put into a revolving fund that will allow for the retrofits to continue. So I think we can demonstrate in almost every sector that we have work underway as we still try to do the broader planning. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Your final supplementary, Mr. Bromley.

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don’t want to take away from the work that we are doing. As enormous as the Minister makes it sound and as modest as I feel it is, I don’t want to take away from that. I will note that we have a 10 percent reduction target for the GNWT, which is one-twelfth of the NWT. One-twelfth times one-tenth, that’s one one

hundred-twentieth of the greenhouse gas emissions in the Northwest Territories. So it’s pretty modest. We know that’s way out of date and typically small. So I’m hoping we are getting going on that strategy

Let me just say, will the Minister commit to bringing forward a multiyear costed plan for consideration prior to the next business plans with real targets that can be evaluated from year to year? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

As he talks about our modest efforts and what he sees as miniscule goals and targets, we do have a project, just one project that I’ll point to which is the Taltson Hydro Project that could reduce our overall greenhouse gas emissions by 15 percent. We know we are already saving thousands of tonnes just with the work the government has done, let alone all the things that are going to come into play. We’ve committed to and we are going to start the process in April 2010 to renew the Greenhouse Gas Strategy with a full intent to have a final product by April 2011. It will speak to a lot of the issues the Member talks about. As well, we will look at the second edition, basically, of the Biomass Strategy and is refined and is more practical in terms of its application. Those issues the Member talks about will be addressed. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Time for question period has expired. Item 9, written questions .The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.

Wendy Bisaro

Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I request unanimous consent to return to item 6, recognition of visitors in the gallery.

---Unanimous consent granted.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery (Reversion)
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery (Reversion)

Wendy Bisaro

Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake

I appreciate the indulgence of the House. I was so excited to have a visitor in the audience earlier that I forgot to thank my Page. I would like to express my appreciation for Mikelle Wile who’s been here serving with us for the last several weeks. Thank you.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery (Reversion)
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery (Reversion)

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Item 10, returns to written questions. Item 11, replies to opening address. Item 12, petitions. Item 13, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 14, tabling of documents. The honourable Minister responsible for the Public Utilities Board, Mr. Bob McLeod.

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Yellowknife South

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document entitled Public Utilities Board of the Northwest Territories 2009 Annual Report. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to table the Aklavik Community Economics Sustainability Development Plan. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Item 15, notices of motion. Item 16, notices of motion for first reading of bills. Item 17, motions. Item 18, first reading of bills. Item 19, second reading of bills. Item 20, consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters: Bill 2, Forgiveness of Debts Act, 2009-2010; Bill 4, An Act to Amend the Child and Family Services Act; Bill 5, An Act to Amend the Commissioner’s Land Act; Bill 7, An Act to Amend the Summary Conviction Procedures Act; Bill 10, Exemptions Act; Minister’s Statement 47-16(4), Transfer of the Public Housing Rental Subsidy; Committee Report 5-16(4), Report on the Review of the 2008-2009 Human Rights Commission Annual Report, with Mr. Krutko in the chair. By the authority given me as Speaker by Motion 12-16(4), I hereby authorize the House to sit beyond the daily hour of adjournment to consider the business before the House.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

I’d like to call Committee of the Whole to order. We have several items to deal with: Bills 2, 4, 5, 7, 10, Minister’s Statement 47-16(4), Committee Report 5-16(4). What is the wish of committee? Mr. Groenewegen.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, today we would like to deal with the bills in numerical order. So Bill 2, Forgiveness of Debts... Well, let’s just say Bill 2, 4, 5, 7, 10 and then moving on to Committee Report 5-16(4), Report on the Review of the 2008-2009 Human Rights Commission Annual Report. Thank you.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Does committee agree?

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

With that, we’ll take a short break and begin with Bill 2.

---SHORT RECESS

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

I’d like to call Committee of the Whole back to order. Prior to the break, we agreed to begin with Bill 2, Forgiveness of Debts Act, 2009-2010. At this time, I would like to ask the Minister responsible for the bill if he has any opening comments.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Mr. Chairman, I am here to present Bill 2, Forgiveness of Debts Act, 2009-2010. This bill requests authority for the forgiveness of certain debts listed in the schedule of the act.

Pursuant to Section 25 of the Financial Administration Act, the forgiveness of a debt or obligation to the government exceeding $1,000 must receive Legislative Assembly approval.

When a debt is forgiven, no further collection action shall be pursued. The forgiveness of certain debts being proposed in this act will not require a new appropriation. Allowances for doubtful accounts were charged to an appropriation at the time it was determined that collection of the debts was considered unlikely.

The accounts being recommended for forgiveness are the result of bankruptcy, compromise settlements or are in the public interest. In cases where a compromise settlement is reached, the following factors have been considered:

the possibility of future recoveries;

the cost to continue legal action; and

the value of security associated with the debt.

That concludes my opening remarks. I would be pleased to answer any questions Members may have.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Thank you, Mr. Minister. At this time I would like to ask the chair of the standing committee which reviewed the bill if he has any comments. Mr. Menicoche.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Kevin A. Menicoche

Kevin A. Menicoche Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Standing Committee on Government Operations reviewed Bill 2, Forgiveness of Debts Act, 2009-2010, at its meeting on December 9, 2009. The committee would like to thank the Minister and his staff for presenting the bill. Following the committee’s review, a motion was carried to report Bill 2, Forgiveness of Debts Act, 2009-2010, to the Assembly as ready for Committee of the Whole. This concludes the committee’s general comments on Bill 2. Individual Members may have comments or questions as we proceed. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. At this time, I would like to ask the Minister if he will be bringing in any witnesses.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Yes, Mr. Chairman.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Does committee agree?

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.