Bob Bromley

That’s good. I think I’m finally seeing some light here. Does the Minister have any idea what the first bit of capital construction, what size of project we’re talking about here for ’14-15?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. So we completed the technical and operational. We are now in block planning. I am not familiar with that term, but I am assuming it has something to do with the layout of where particular aspects of medical care are delivered that are related to each other and so on in the hospital. Was it a Class B design? I missed the letter on the class of design where we are at. I understand we are looking for a Class B estimate. Maybe they are different before we go ahead.

The last part that I am a little bit unsure of is the intent for the following year to actually start...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just had a couple of questions on the plans for Stanton Territorial Hospital. This is my sixth year as MLA and we have been planning for this facility every year that I have been here. I am wondering what exactly we are proposing to plan in 2013-14, our sixth year of planning. What plans are completed? What plans are left yet to be done before we actually start to put boots on the ground to give this really keystone health facility for the NWT health system the comprehensive renovation that it so clearly and desperately needs? Thank you.

Thanks again to the Premier. An even sadder state of affairs indeed. Apparently we are expected to pass mirror legislation to adopt the federal regime as our own at the time of devolution and will be resourced just for those responsibilities, is my understanding. So here again the federal government is ransacking the environmental protection regime in anticipation of devolution without our input or approval, leaving us to try and shore up the regime later with our own resources.

Can the Premier remind me why devolution is a good deal and what resources we’re going to use to bring environmental...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Premier following up on questions that I had during the spring session and are with regard to the changes in federal laws, environmental laws in particular. I had previously asked the Premier questions on the major changes underway in that area – withdrawal of habitat protection in the Fisheries Act, collapse of our regional land and water boards into one, creation of artificial mandatory deadlines for completion of assessments, and so on. The Premier said he had belatedly written the feds inquiring about the Fisheries Act changes, but I’ve...

Thanks again to the Minister. I’m very happy to hear that that analysis is being done. I also asked and pointed out where there were some possible federal resources for putting, say, 1 percent of the space available on the ground floor level so that the public and visiting public can experience northern art. That did not include the sale of art but it did include the performance, some small performance venues and this sort of thing. Has the Minister pursued those opportunities?

Yes, I’ll leave it at that, Mr. Chair, and I look forward to the briefing that the Minister has proposed, should committee take him up on that offer. Thank you.

What other energy efficiency measures are being taken with this building? I understand the structure of it; it is a nice block which is a nice sort of energy efficient start, but we know that our electricity rates are soaring, and I am just wondering if there are efficiencies being gained in that area as well as effective use of the heating that we do put into the building. Thank you.

I guess I might be interested in exploring that with a little more time, but maybe I’ll just ask, is it anticipated that it will be rolled out across the territory comprehensively all at once, sort of thing, if digitally we have that capacity and so on? Thank you.

Thanks for the Minister’s comments there. I have a couple of questions. Does the city know the timing within which they need to respond to the government for the potential to pursue things? What sort of deadline was given to them? The other two buildings are Stuart Hodgson and the Laing. Would they also be part of Yellowknife community energy system according to the folks of the city if they came back with a positive response to government questions?