Michael Miltenberger

I would suggest that the budget that we bring before the House and its component pieces with the various departments and the $1.5 billion we do have captures what money we have available to deal with the pressures. We have identified, for example, in terms of infrastructure, we have about a $3 billion infrastructure debt that we build up for various reasons. A lot of that is going to be to deal with some of the issues that are tied directly to climate change.

There’s a clear line relationship. We have $1.5 billion in the government to manage. We know that there are things that we could easily...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is a complex issue, as the Members know. Late in the last government, we passed a revised and revamped Greenhouse Gas Strategy that set new targets. There’s built-in review periods built into that strategy that we will look at as we go forward. We also know, for example, that one of the planned projects has been deferred further, which is going to contribute to greenhouse gases, which is the Mackenzie Gas Pipeline. So while it’s still a critical project, it’s not imminent on the horizon.

At the same time as we talk about standards, we have to look at the tens of...

The Wildlife Act discussions have been going on for well over a decade, into the last century, so I can recollect it all the way back to the 13th Assembly. This will be done and is being done independent of devolution. Even if there was no devolution, the Wildlife Act would go forward. It’s been identified as a priority by nearly all the Aboriginal governments, by this government, by people in the Northwest Territories as long overdue. They will be compatible at the end of the day. They reaffirm the respect and recognition of Aboriginal rights, both the Wildlife Act and the work being done...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There is a major gathering planned for the early part of November where the working group members are going to come into town, and hopefully the Aboriginal leaders, to have a discussion amongst themselves, and then with ourselves and myself as Minister and the department officials, to look at the issue of the conferences the Member talked about. We’re hoping, at that point, to come to consensus on the way forward.

We’ve been working, as well, with the stakeholders, the Wildlife Act advisory group, and the feedback they’ve provided us, and we want to be able to respond to...

Thank you, Madam Chair. The funding that goes to communities is a base-plus formula. So as the base is tied to, everybody gets the same basic amount and then the rest is on a per capita basis. So as the new population numbers come through, they are factored in. I’ll ask Mr. Williams if he wants to speak any further about how often we adjust those population figures. Thank you.

Yes, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Madam Chair. In regard to the concern about deferred maintenance, what has happened over the years, at least that I’ve been in this Legislature and yourself, Madam Chair, is whenever there were fiscal pressures and reductions in the past, capital was cut, often because it was the least painful. It didn’t require layoffs and you could hit some of the targets and protect programs and services.

In addition, just a general financial condition that we operate in, for example, since 2008 with the recession, money has been a lot tighter. So will we ever get completely out of deferred...

Thank you, Madam Chair. At the witness table we have deputy ministers Mike Aumond, Finance; and Mr. Paul Guy, Public Works and Services.

I’m here to present the 2013-14 Capital Estimates of the Government of the Northwest Territories.

The estimates outline appropriations for government and community infrastructure investments of $123 million for the 2013-14 fiscal year. This amount includes $75 million for GNWT capital projects, $12 million for projects funded through the federal government’s Building Canada Plan, $28 million for contributions towards community infrastructure projects, and $8...

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following two documents, entitled Interim Public Accounts of the Government of the Northwest Territories for the year ended March 31, 2012, and 2011-2012 58th Annual Report of the Northwest Territories Liquor Commission and Liquor Licensing Board. Thank you.

There is no such anticipation at this juncture. Our involvement is for a lot of the ancillary land and commitment to try to assist to the extent that we have with the $27 million. At this point, that is the extent of our commitment and there are no indications as Finance Minister, nor am I aware of any at this point that would require any further contribution on the part of the territorial government.