Michael Miltenberger

This report was done in November when the budgets were pretty well set. There was, as well, significant internal review, assessment, debate, discussion going back and forth about what was exactly the best way to proceed. When we finally reached that consensus, we had missed that window. So we identified, as have Members and the public, significant shortcomings in our communications system. So, if this money is not voted on and it doesn’t get approved, it would be about another year to potentially get the resources to work to do the improvements that are needed today. Thank you.

These numbers are set on a methodology that’s negotiated with the UNW, but I’ll ask the deputy to provide more information. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I stand here dressed in purple with my nice flower on and it’s a special day for seniors, I was expecting a few softballs from the Member, but apparently no consideration will be given to the fact that I’m a poor senior too.

With regard to his question, the rates are set by the PUB. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. With devolution there were two funds. There was one-time transition money to help us over the course of the year to get up and running and then there was implementation funding where we negotiated a global figure, $65.3 million a year tied to our formula that will increase as our formula increases and goes into our A-base. It’s out of that $65.3 million that these positions are being funded from. That money will go into the A-base. It’s not coming out of existing government expenditures, nor will it. That funding is covered there. Then the issue is, just to quickly...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have with me the deputy minister of Finance, Mike Aumond; and Sandy Kalgutkar, our deputy secretary to the FMB. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I’d have to see that quote that has been attributed to me about putting flea collars on moose. I have no recollection of saying something of that nature. However, be that as it may, the concern that the Member raised is, are we going to work together with communities and hunters and the users of the land and ENR to make sure that we keep an eye, and if there is a tick infestation that we identify that. We take the steps necessary to see that we remediate the situation to the best of our abilities. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just with regard to the nature of the funding, this is coming out of implementation funding to the A-base, so it will be ongoing. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am here to present Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures) No. 1, 2015-2016. This document proposes an increase of $11.3 million in operations expenditures for the 2015-2016 fiscal year.

The more significant items included in the proposed supplementary estimates are:

a total of $4.6 million for the Department of Transportation associated with runway service improvements at the Yellowknife and Inuvik airports, of which $1.6 million is offset by a lapse in the prior year;

$2.4 million associated with various departments to provide...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We routinely monitor moose populations and we look at a general health insect infestation, and the one tick that we were paying close attention to see hopefully that doesn’t migrate north, of course, is a tick that causes lime disease. At this point, we don’t believe that particular black legged tick is in the North.

In terms of other ones, we rely on the moose surveys and feedback from hunters. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. This funding is coming from transitional funding tied to devolution, and there are two things at play here. One is we have taken over about $63 million worth of new programs and services that we’ve integrated into the government with many new responsibilities, mandates and authorities. We’ve integrated them into the Government of the Northwest Territories. As well, we have a communication infrastructure that’s 20 years old and in need of enhancement prior to devolution, even more so now after devolution. We’ve taken on, for example, significant regulatory functions. We...