Thank you, Madam Chair. I guess the big focus for me, as most Members will probably know, is the situation we’re going through in Inuvik in the energy initiatives with finding a gas solution. Earlier today I had questions for the Minister of ENR here, talking about the $100,000 that he mentioned in his budget address to advance the LNG solution. Currently with our gas shortage, our community relying on synthetic gas, the synthetic gas storage in the community, which only lasts five days, and all the other concerns such as transportation on the highway. At times when the highway does shut down for possibly a week or so, and we don’t have the proper storage right now for that propane or mixture gas and it would affect a lot of residents and businesses. So I’m glad to see that there’s work being done in that area. I would like to get a little more information as we move forward, and keep apprised of the developments with what’s being in the discussions here.

Obviously, if we do find some energy initiatives that would lower the cost for residents in Inuvik, it would also offset possibly other costs in other departments: income support, possibly getting more human resources, jobs, things like that. So there’s a rippling effect into finding this solution for the gas shortage in Inuvik.

Also, continuing to look at biomass initiatives in the community and other communities, as well, in the Beaufort-Delta region. Something that has come by our desk is some of the work that the Arctic Energy Alliance has done specific to diesel communities, and some possible solutions since 15 percent of our residents in Inuvik also rely on diesel fuel, and also the government switching over. Finding solutions that would cut down the costs for residents, but also for the government in the long run, and looking at some of those studies that have

been done and possibly putting those into the works.

I’m going to keep my general comments short today, just to get into detail. Also, in terms of what happened last summer with the fire suppression and the big fires that happened in Inuvik, I’m glad to see that there are investments into the fire suppress. There’s $2.5 million that I think will prepare our suppression crews and our fire departments within ENR to adjust the issue and be ready.

The other big one here is the Wildlife Act. There’s a lot of hard work that’s been going into this. My discussions around the table with the working group members, with the beneficiaries, with Aboriginal groups that they see that the work that’s being done there, the consultations back and forth is something that they want to see become reality and get this bill passed.

Other than that, my main focus in ENR is finding some good energy initiatives not only for Inuvik but for the high-cost communities that rely on diesel and the coastal communities of the Beaufort-Delta region, and as we move forward, looking at some other solutions. Also the key activities that the Minister mentioned here, such as protecting territorial waters, mitigating and adapting to the climate change impacts, improving environmental stewardship, and collaborative work with the Aboriginal Governments. The work that’s being done in that area, I look forward to seeing, and listening to discussions, and hearing the updates and where we move from there.

Just a few general comments, Madam Chair. I look forward to this department continuing to work and looking to find solutions for Inuvik, as well as the community of Norman Wells that is kind of in the same solution that we’re in at the same time. Thank you, Madam Chair.