Kevin O'Reilly

Merci, Monsieur le President. I want to thank the Minister for that. And I think we have a difference of opinion on how much was accepted. But the real way to look at that would be to actually get it released. So it sounds like the Minister's game for that.

So one of the provisions of the revised Fiscal Responsibility Policy is on affordable debt and states, "to ensure that the extent of its debt and borrowing including debt associated with P3 project is within its means to repay and that debt servicing payments do not adversely impact programs and services."

So can the Minister tell us what...

Merci, Madame la Presidente. I move that consideration of Tabled Document 94019(2), Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 2, 20232024, be now concluded, and that Tabled Document 94019(2) be reported and recommended as ready for further consideration.

Thanks, Madam Chair. Can I just get a sense of how much money was lapsed in the 20222023 fiscal year on the capital side? Thanks, Madam Chair.

Yeah, thanks. Yeah, the number that kind of sticks in my head is the cost for the whole project was something like about $3.4 million. But does that ring a bell with anybody, any of my friends over there? Thanks, Madam Chair.

Merci, Monsieur le President. I want to thank the Minister for that. This may be an internal document, but it's public interest. I've raised this numerous times in the House, and it does involve expenditure of public monies as well. You know, this government has taken a keen interest in large infrastructure projects; it seemed part of Cabinet's mandate. GNWT's going to increasingly become a proponent in environmental assessment. And this Project Assessment Policy seems to be aimed at controlling the presentation of evidence and expert opinion that is not consistent with Cabinet's views.

So can...

Thanks, Madam Chair. I move that this committee defer further consideration of Tabled Document 94019(2), Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 2, 20232024, at this time. Mahsi, Madam Chair.

Yeah, okay, that's good to know. Can we not kind of include a little more detail in the sups where, you know, where a project's actually taking place in the future? Thank you.

Merci, Monsieur le President. Well, that's the good news. I'm just kind of waiting for the bad news now, but. In response to the written question I submitted in the House in March, the Minister said there would not be any public engagement work with Indigenous governments on the review of the policy. We have, you know, public engagements on such mundane matters as renaming the old Stanton Hospital, a product survey, you know, for liquor and cannabis, but we're not going to ask the public about how GNWT should be involved in environmental assessment of major projects? I just don't get it.

Can...

Okay. Clearly, I'm not an accountant. This funding was authorized in 20212022. The project is not done. And here you've got a public call for people to express their views on this and closing this year. Why is the authorization to carry over the money from 20212022 to future years? Thank you.

Yeah, okay. I don't think I have anything further. Thanks.