Indigenous and Northern Affairs Committee on Nov. 3rd, 2009

Evidence of meeting #35 for Indigenous and Northern Affairs in the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was north.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

Northern Territories Economic Development: Barriers and Solutions

Committee Business

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Virginia Poter Director General, Canadian Wildlife Service, Department of the Environment

Michael Wilson Executive Director, Environmental Assessment, Department of the Environment

Bill Fisher Director General, Western and Northern Canada, Parks Canada Agency

David Burden Acting Regional Director General, Department of Fisheries and Oceans

Shari Scott Director, Internet Policy, Broadband Canada: Connecting Rural Canadians, Department of Industry

John Connell

Wade Spurrell Assistant Commissioner, Central and Arctic Region, Department of Fisheries and Oceans

12:55 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Bruce Stanton

Okay. So it would be two.

12:55 p.m.

Conservative

Greg Rickford Conservative Kenora, ON

I just want to make the committee sensitive to the fact that a few of us are from really big ridings, where those special points are golden, as the saying goes. We require those to get to, in my case, more than 25 communities that are not accessible by road; I can't appreciate a visit there, nor can my constituents. I know that one of my colleagues is in a more critical situation than I am with respect to this.

I just put it on the record. There may be more work to do outside of this committee, but I want folks to be aware of the tremendous challenges that we face going....

12:55 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Bruce Stanton

And we realize that.

I would just say that when we authorized the trip, particularly the trip to the Northwest Territories and the Yukon, the cost of not doing it on points was about an additional $50,000.

1 p.m.

Conservative

Greg Rickford Conservative Kenora, ON

I respect that, Mr. Chair.

1 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Bruce Stanton

It likely would have resulted in us not getting the trip authorized.

So there's where we are. That's what--

1 p.m.

Conservative

Greg Rickford Conservative Kenora, ON

I'm just concerned about one of my colleagues, who may have to walk back to Labrador.

1 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Bruce Stanton

We would never allow that to happen, I'm sure.

With that, members, merci beaucoup for your attention today.

Witnesses, again, thank you very much for your tremendous responses and presentations.

Merci beaucoup.

The meeting is ajournée.