Kevin O'Reilly

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I was really pleased to hear the Minister say there is going to be a new visitors centre on the Liard Highway for my colleague, the honourable Member for Nahendeh. Where in the budget can I find capital allocation for a new visitors centre in Yellowknife? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. That is what I expected, was that those aircraft had bumped up 2016-2017. When we cast our minds forward into future years' expenditures for ENR, back on page 5, for 2019, it is only $544,000, and then nothing for 2020-2021. I know it is often difficult to predict capital expenditures into the future, but surely there must be some sort of a regular replacement cycle and things for vehicles and buildings and stuff like that. Why is there not a more substantial investment from ENR and into the future? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I have no further questions.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. However, when I see on page 5 that the 20192020 total planned infrastructure investment is $698,000, that is sort of a fairly clear figure. What is that money for? There must be some sort of predictions or totalling of some projects that would equal that amount. Can the Minister or his officials provide any details? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thanks to the Minister for that commitment. Would the Minister be prepared to do that with other federal infrastructure programs? I am not asking to be deluged with initial proposes, but, on this side of the House, we just do not know what is going on a lot of times with what our Cabinet colleagues are doing in terms of submitting proposals. Is the Minister prepared to make that commitment on other federal funding programs, big infrastructure ones? I do not need everything.

Merci, Monsieur le President. Earlier today the Minister for Infrastructure made a Minister's statement about federal infrastructure programs. Folks on this side of the House, we often do not really know what our Cabinet colleagues are doing with regard to these programs, so it was a helpful update. I am just wondering, he mentioned in his statement that there is an initial proposal that has been submitted to the Low Carbon Economy Fund. Can the Minister just shed a little bit of light about what is in that proposal so that we have a better understanding? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

That is a great figure from the Minister. That is exactly what the Regular MLAs asked for in the last budget, but you did not top it up. Glad to hear that there might be more available from the federal government, but as the feds come in, we want to make sure that we do not use that as an excuse to start to withdraw our funding. Will the Minister commit to at least maintaining our funding level for the Arctic Energy Alliance as new federal funding might become available?

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Yes, I think this is actually in big caps that Yellowknife needs a new visitors centre, so I look forward to the Minister bringing forward the supplementary appropriation or to start some sort of a planning process on this ASAP. The talk on this has been going on for far too long. That is a comment, and I do not expect a response from the Minister because I have not really gotten one so far. Thanks. Bye.

Merci, Monsieur le President. My questions are for the Minister of Infrastructure, who is also responsible for the Arctic Energy Alliance. As I said in my statement, when program funds run out before the end of the first quarter, we obviously have a good program that needs to be better resourced.

As Regular MLAs, we had requested during the last budget more money for the alliance. Now that our prediction of inadequate funds has come true, can the Minister re-profile funds so the alliance can approve the applicants on its waiting list and publicize the availability of programs to those who did...

Thanks, Mr. Chair. When the plan is developed, is the Minister prepared to bring forward a supplementary appropriation to put the appropriate amount of capital in there to support the tourism sector in the capital and as a launching pad for folks to go to other communities, as well? Thanks, Mr. Chair.