Debates of March 1st, 2017

This is page numbers 2075 - 2114 of the Hansard for the 18th Assembly, 2nd 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 work.

Topics

Oral Questions

Members Present

Prayer

Yellowknife Airport Evolution

Progress Statement - Education and Training

Canada's Outstanding Principals: Education, Culture and Employment Milestone Statement

Commitment to Action on Climate Change

Protection of the Bathurst Caribou Herd

Dead North Film Festival

Proposed Carbon Pricing Charette

Impacts of Climate Change on Transportation Systems in the Sahtu

Northern Carbon Pricing Regime

Deh Cho Boreal Caribou Study

Member's Statement on Inuvialuit Water Board

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Inuvialuit Water Board

Inclusive Schooling Funding

Northern Carbon Pricing Regime

Proposed Carbon Pricing Charette

Industrial Activity Green House Gas Emissions

Protection of the Bathurst Caribou Herd

Notification of Northern Carbon Pricing

Proposed Carbon Pricing Charette

Tabled Document 307-18(2): Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Committee Report 4-18(2): Report on the Review of the 2014-15 Public Accounts Tabled Document 308-18(2): Follow-Up Letter for Oral Question 505-18(2): PeopleSoft Public Service Human Resource Reports Tabled Document 309-18(2): Follow-Up Letter for Oral Question 606-18(2): Status of Transboundary Water Management Agreements

Tabled Document 310-18(2): We Can Do Better: Housing in Inuit Nunagut Report of the Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples, Senate of Canada, March 2017

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Tabled Document 261-18(2): Main Estimates 2017-2018, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Deferral of Corporate Management Activity

Tabled Document 261-18(2): Main Estimates 2017-2018, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Deferral of Environment Activity

Tabled Document 261-18(2): Main Estimates 2017-2018, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Deferral of Water Resources Activity

Tabled Document 261-18(2): Main Estimates 2017-2018, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Deferral of Further Consideration of the Estimates for Environment and Natural Resources

Report Of Committee Of The Whole

Orders Of The Day

Committee Motion 70-18(2): Tabled Document 261-18(2): Main Estimates 2017-2018, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Deferral of Corporate Management Activity, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 2103

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Dr. Kelly. Ms. Green.

Page 2103

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Chair. What I understand is that there are two different things going on. One is a review of the financing of the program and the other is a review of the implementation of the program, and we will get some kind of a report on that in the next short while. Is that correct?

Page 2103

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Ms. Green. Minister McLeod.

Page 2103

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Chair. As soon as we complete the work, we will be sharing that with committee. Thank you.

Page 2103

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister McLeod. Ms. Green.

Page 2103

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm wondering if the department has at its fingertips any indication of the uptake on this program, whether in fact consumers who produce the electronic waste are using the recycling opportunities that exist. Thank you.

Page 2103

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Ms. Green. Dr. Kelly.

Page 2103

Dr. Kelly

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Over 76 tonnes of electronics have been collected under the program since it was launched in February 2016.

Page 2103

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Dr. Kelly. Ms. Green.

Page 2103

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I want to give the department some unsolicited advice that they promote this figure, both as a way of showing that this program works, and also to encourage people to use this program. That seems like a significant amount of waste that might otherwise have just gone into landfills, where of course they are very problematic because of the heavy metals they contain. Those are all my questions. Thank you.

Page 2103

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Ms. Green. Minister McLeod.

Page 2103

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

We appreciate the Member's comments and we will look to do a better job at promoting ourselves. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Page 2103

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister McLeod. Committee, any further questions or comments? Mr. O'Reilly.

Page 2103

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I was just reflecting on the Minister of Finance's response to my earlier questions around the capacity of the ENR. Just so we're clear, I guess, what I'm looking for is I want to know what kind of capacity there is within ENR with regard to climate change, greenhouse gas emissions, how many staff they've got, how they collaborate with Public Works and Services and Finance. It sort of sounded to me like Finance is going to take over the lead on carbon pricing and that's fine. They are bean counters, but I'm interested in making sure that the people that know something about greenhouse gas emissions actually are engaged and involved in designing a carbon pricing system.

My questions were with regard to the capacity of the ENR, not Finance. We are going to get to that department a little later. I hope that helps clarify what I was after in that. I'm looking to the Minister for a response wearing his ENR hat, not Finance. Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Page 2103

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister McLeod.

Page 2103

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, my apologies to the Member. He was asking about the capacity of the ENR and I kind of said we would go through and look at Finance because they were the lead, and I knew that wasn't the end of it, so I was actually being prepared for him to come back with the same question. I will defer to Ms. Kelly. She will talk about the number of people we have in there and the working group that ENR is a part of, but I can assure the Member that Finance is not off doing this on their own. We are, as we should be, seeking advice from the expert, but I will have Dr. Kelly elaborate a bit more. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

February 28th, 2017

Page 2103

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister McLeod. Dr. Kelly.

Page 2104

Dr. Kelly

Thank you, Mr. Chair. To my knowledge, there has been no reduction in the capacity in the climate change group. In fact, we have added an interim position to the climate change group to help with developing the work behind the Climate Change Strategic Framework. We have also been in discussions with the federal government. There is some funding available for adaptation and we've looked to see if we can address the capacity issues through that funding as well.

Internally, we work closely with Public Works and Services. As you may have seen if you were at the engagement sessions, we were there jointly, ENR and Public Works. We also work very closely with Finance, Transportation, MACA, Education, Culture and Employment at the ADM level and at the working level on climate change related issues, including the Pan-Canadian Framework and the Climate Change Strategic Framework and energy work that's been going on. So it's at multiple levels that we're working together throughout the government on these issues. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Page 2104

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Dr. Kelly. Any further questions, committee? I see none. Mr. Vanthuyne.

Committee Motion 71-18(2): Tabled Document 261-18(2): Main Estimates 2017-2018, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Deferral of Environment Activity, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 2104

Cory Vanthuyne Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I move that this committee defer further consideration of the activity, environment under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Main Estimates 2017-2018 on page 71 at this time. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Page 2104

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. Vanthuyne. The motion is on the floor and being distributed. The motion is in order. All those in favour? All those opposed?

---Carried

Thank you, committee. That brings us now to page 75, Environment and Natural Resources, forest management, operations expenditures summary, total activity, $39,803,000, with information items on page 74 to page 77. Committee, please identify the page you have questions on. Any questions from committee? Mr. Thompson.

Page 2104

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Can the Minister tell us how this department and Municipal and Community Affairs work together to work with firebreaks around communities? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Page 2104

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Dr. Kelly.

Page 2104

Dr. Kelly

Mr. Chair, Environment and Natural Resources and MACA work together with communities in developing emergency preparedness planning. Specifically, ENR works on fire-smarting our community; preparedness plans related to fire management. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Page 2104

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Dr. Kelly. Mr. Thompson.

Debates of March 1st, 2017

Topics

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