Page 13-33, Environment and Natural Resources, information item, Environment Fund. Mr. Yakeleya.

I have an issue on this one here with the recycling program. I have a concern from a constituent in the Sahtu that talks about the recycling program and the consumer is specifically in Tulita. For the past several months, there was nowhere in Tulita to return the recyclables and they are paying for the environmental fee, environmental fee upon purchases and that they are paying recycling fees and there is nowhere to get their portion of it refunded. They want to ask the department to see if they can help open up a recycling depot to help the people out. This constituent feels so strongly about that that they are asking the department to instruct the Northern Store to stop charging the fees upon purchase of these recyclable items or let the people know that this is disrespecting the people in the process. Something has got to give, so I look forward to the Minister’s leadership to deal with this issue and see how we could satisfy the consumers where there is no recyclable depots that can open and to location within the community within a short time frame. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Minister Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The intent is to have an inspection and folks go in, in the next few weeks to sit down with the community to see what options are available. The current arrangement is having its trials and tribulations and we want to make sure that we have a suitable location. We also have a full sea can that is almost full that is going to be hauled out over the winter road. So we appreciate the Member raising this issue with us and we hopefully will have it resolved in the next few weeks. Thank you.

Sometime in the first week in March, I would hope that I would follow up with the community of Tulita to see if this issue has been resolved and that people in Tulita can go to a depot and get a refund. I certainly hope that there are some alternatives in place. The Northern Store is charging fees that we, in the community of Tulita, are paying extra fees and there doesn’t seem to be any support mechanisms to help them out with these extra fees. So I would leave it in the good hands of the Minister that he has stated that in a couple of weeks, hopefully, these options can be sorted out and the community can go to a depot that will have these refunds looked after, so I will take the Minister’s word on this day here and I will check in two weeks from now.

We will make every effort to have it done as soon as possible within March, but in March it will be done.

I again take the word of the Minister. In March I dare to ask him which day in March, so, I hope the Minister is going to follow through strong with his department. Hopefully before the closing of the winter road so I will leave it in his good hands. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Next on my list I have Ms. Bisaro.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I think my colleague should have asked the Minister if he was going to get his answer in the fullness of time, hopefully sooner than that. I do have a question with regards to recycling and the deposit that is paid on milk containers. This has been brought up before and I would like to ask again, whether or not, I guess maybe not whether or not but when the Minister will agree with a full refund of the deposit on milk containers to try and keep the price of milk as low as possible. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Mr. Bohnet.

Thanks to Mr. Bohnet. I guess my next question then, would be, and maybe I missed the answer already, but when is this review going to be done and when might we see the results of it? Thank you.

I hope that is July of this year. Maybe I could get that clarified.

Committee, we are on page 13-33, Environment and Natural Resources, Environment Fund. Agreed?

Thank you, committee. Page 13-34, Environment and Natural Resources, information item, work performed on behalf of others. Agreed?

Thank you, committee. Page 13-35, Environment and Natural Resources, information item, work performed on behalf of others, continued. Agreed?

Thank you, committee. Page 13-37, Environment and Natural Resources, information item, work performed on behalf of others, continued. Agreed?