Again, I just wanted to mention something I mentioned earlier, and that is the government has made a commitment to look at decentralization and the possibility of moving some positions. I think before we begin looking at one position here or one position there, it would be in our best interest to look at it collectively and in a comprehensive fashion before we make decisions just to one-off moving a position here or moving a position there.

In our review of the position of the permafrost geologist, it was best situated here at the NTGO, and that’s the geoscience office. It’s a permafrost geologist position, and with the other scientists and geologists that are located at that NTGO office there would be some synergy there and opportunity for them to get together. We have to remember this position, even if it is located in Yellowknife, would be hard to hire a person of that calibre. We’re hoping for the best. We’re hoping we can go out and find somebody to fill this position, but in Yellowknife even we’ll be challenged to find a person to fit that position here in Yellowknife. So we’re going to be challenged at the best of times in recruiting for this position. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Ramsay. I’m just noting the clock and I believe we’ll be taking just a short recess and returning to page 12-17.

---SHORT RECESS

Welcome back, committee. Welcome back to Mr. Ramsay, Ms. Magrum and Mr. Vician. We are on page 12-17, Industry, Tourism and Investment, activity summary, minerals and petroleum resources, operations expenditure summary, $6.802 million. Mr. Bouchard.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that the committee defer further consideration for the activity summary of minerals and petroleum resources under the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment main estimates 2012-2013 on page 12-17 at this time.

Thank you, Mr. Bouchard. We’ll just give a second for the motion to be circulated.

A motion is on the floor.

Question has been called. Motion is carried.

---Carried

Thank you, committee. Consideration of activity summary under the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment on page 12-17 has been deferred. Page 12-18, Industry, Tourism and Investment, activity summary, minerals and petroleum resources, grants and contributions, contributions. Mr. Bromley.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’m wondering about the Mackenzie Valley development contributions, $715,000. I wonder what is our contribution to the Aboriginal Pipeline Group given that all the other proponents are closing their offices and shutting down on a temporary basis, at least. What is our contribution to the APG?

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Mr. Ramsay.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. That remains at $300,000.

This is a group of very capable people and we want to see them be successful, but obviously, in terms of the MGP, that won’t be for some time now. What analysis did the department do to continue with that support in lieu of what we know is the current situation and the responsibility to our taxpayers to put our money in the most appropriate places where demands are greatest for success?

Perhaps I’ll go to Deputy Minister Vician to explain that.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Vician.

Thank you, Mr. Vician. Mr. Bromley.

Is it the understanding of this department that the MGP will not be going ahead for several years, likely late 20-teens, 2020?

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Mr. Ramsay.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. That would be unknown at this juncture.

Thanks for that interpretation of everybody pulling out. I’m sure that’s getting some chuckles across the territory on a very serious subject. Given that the MGP will not be pulling forward, is this just blind support that we freely give away taxpayers’ money on an impossible venture to which there will be absolutely no progress possible for the next few years? Or are we requiring some response for those dollars such as they become experts in biomass and start doing some biomass projects or something like that? Obviously, they’re based, I believe, in Inuvik and there are serious energy issues there and we’re talking about renewable energy as one option. What are we doing? Is this blind support, no questions asked? Here’s $300,000 of taxpayers’ money despite so many demands?

The Government of the Northwest Territories has supported the Aboriginal Pipeline Group in the past and we’re continuing to support the APG. It’s important that we do that. I don’t believe it’s going blindly. I believe it’s supporting the potential advancement of the Aboriginal Pipeline Group. When the Mackenzie Gas Project does go ahead, they will own one-third of that pipeline and it will be the big piece of the capacity building for Aboriginal groups in the Northwest Territories. Our support of the APG is integral to that advancing. With the MGP, we’re optimistic that it will see the light of day, and it’s a matter of when, not if.

The issue is that we know the when does not include the next number of years. So this I view as close to insanity and certainly irresponsible use of taxpayers’ dollars. I wonder if the Minister would commit to giving us a full accounting for the dollars that we’ve given the Aboriginal Pipeline Group this current year or last year and if we can expect that to occur for this fiscal year for this $300,000.

We’d be pleased to provide that to the Member. Last year we gave APG $300,000 and we can certainly get an accounting of that $300,000 for the Member.

Just on the Resource Predevelopment Program and the Aboriginal capacity building and community consultations, could I get a breakdown of what those are for as well?

Yes, we can supply that to the Member.