Michael Miltenberger

We’re engaged in discussions with the Government of Canada over the potential that they could be filing for bankruptcy, and abandonment of the mine could lead to an agreement to transfer the mine to Canada.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We fully agree with the Member about the need for the government, especially in the smaller communities but across the economy as a whole, the territory as a whole, especially given the fact that we’re now into a second recession in the last eight years, to use our infrastructure dollars to help stimulate the economy. We did that in 2007. We borrowed to our limit to make sure that we had as much infrastructure go into the ground as possible, and I think we did over a million dollars in a few years. We still see that as a critical way forward, especially infrastructure...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise to, of course, make the case that there is no point of privilege. What we are dealing with here is the fourth year of a drought. We are dealing with the circumstance of extreme weather that has put enormous potential burden on the people of the Northwest Territories at a time when the Assembly wasn’t in session or wasn’t with committee sitting. Yet, we had indicated clearly in the letter of August 31st that we would be bringing this forward for final decision in this House.

As the government, we are required to act in the best interests of the people of the...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just note and thank the Member for his comments and evidencing his pleasure and being pleased with Highway No. 7, Trout Lake chipsealing, Highway No. 1 north of Wrigley needing work but still thankful for the work on Highway No. 1 and Trout Lake and the fact that he likes the way that contracts can be used to stimulate the economy.

With regard to the community hall, that’s a possible gas tax project the community could look at where they have capital money.

The seniors home is a housing issue. I don’t have detail to speak to that, but I would assume the intent would...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have with me Sandy Kalgutkar, deputy secretary to the FMB; Mr. Paul Guy, deputy minister, Public Works and Services; and Mr. Russ Neudorf, deputy minister of Transportation.

I am here to present the Capital Estimates, 2016-2017 of the Government of the Northwest Territories. These estimates represent $292 million in appropriations for government and $28 million for community infrastructure investments in the 2016-2017 fiscal year.

These estimates do not include appropriations for housing infrastructure proposed by the NWT Housing Corporation in 2016-2017, totalling $22 million. The appropriation for these investments will be sought during review of the 2016-2017 Main Estimates by the 18th Legislative Assembly. The NWT Housing Corporation’s proposed 2016-2017...

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following two documents, entitled “Northwest Territories Capital Estimates, 2016-2017” and “GNWT Response to CR 16-17(5): Report on the Review of the 2013-2014 Public Accounts.”

We, as the government, are looking at how we make sure that our revenues and expenditures, on a going forward basis, stay the same, that our expenditures do not exceed our revenues and that we don’t start borrowing money for programs that we anticipate and plan for what has been determined and demonstrated to be a flat economy with revenues going down. So, we have an obligation as we look to making sure that the 18th Assembly is provided with the best information possible, to pull together all that information for the consideration of the 18th Assembly.

I want to point out that it’s anticipated...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Member is getting way ahead of himself on this particular issue. There is going to be no budget that’s done by this government. The only budget we’re dealing with is the capital plan budget before the House, and what we will be providing is a transitional document that encompasses a whole range of activities that Members are aware of, and the incoming government and Assembly then will make their own determination once they get their briefings. The fiscal forecasts, the issues and challenges before them and opportunities and decisions will be made to exactly what...

The operative word at this point is it “could.” There are court proceedings that are underway; there’s discussion between the governments as well as following through the process as it’s laid out for this type of proceedings. That is part of the discussion that has to be resolved.