Robert C. McLeod

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River South, that Bill 31, Supplementary Appropriations Act (Operations Expenditures), No. 2, 2017-2018, be read for the second time. Mr. Speaker, this bill makes supplementary appropriations for operations and expenditures for the government of the Northwest Territories for the 2017-2018 fiscal year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River South, that Bill 31: Supplementary Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures) No. 2, 2017-2018, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we can do some analysis. However, in 24-7 continued operations where shift work is required, if you notice a pattern, there does seem to be some sick leave but that's working 24-7. The health and wellness are in the workplace are a key initiative of the NWT, and this includes raising awareness about the GNWT Employee and Family Assistance Program as well as providing a variety of education sessions on health and wellness related topics. There was also a suggestion earlier in this Assembly about the concept of having Shane Days as well.

We haven't hired more full-time staff, but we have introduced full-time relief positions to provide coverage where needed. Relief employees say they are an important part of the GNWT, and their use is a very important part of ensuring that vital programs and services are provided to the residents of the Northwest Territories without interruption. As of December 31, 2016, the GNWT has had 374 relief employees, and overtime is authorized for operations required as necessary to support our programs, services, and delivery. In the Member's statement, he quoted the number of departments that do...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Thebacha, that Bill 32, Supplementary Appropriations Act (Infrastructure, Expenditures), No. 2, 2017-2018, be read for the second time. Mr. Speaker, this bill makes supplementary appropriations for infrastructure expenditures for the Government of the Northwest Territories for the 2017-2018 fiscal year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Thebacha, that Bill 32: Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 2, 2017-2018 be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following two documents entitled "Inter-Activity Transfer Exceeding $250,000 (April 1, 2016 to March 31, 2017)" and "Report of Special Warrants Issued (January 31 to May 24, 2017)." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned before, there are a lot of relief positions that we have and there is some overtime that does happen within the health authorities. Part of that can be attributable to the fact that it is a highly stressful job and there are times when the regular workers can't make it in so they have to call a relief person in. There was a study, in my understanding, done a few years ago, I think, by Health and Social Services on the amount of overtime that was being used across the health authorities in the Northwest Territories. My understanding is there...

Yes, it is. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair I am here to present Supplementary Estimates, (Operations Expenditures), No. 2, 2017-2018. This document provides for an increase of $10.6 million to the operations budget.

Major items in these supplementary estimates include:

$4.4 million for the New Canada-NWT Agreement for French and Aboriginal Languages. These costs are fully offset by revenues from the Government of Canada.

$1.4 million for the Great Slave Lake Commercial Fishery Revitalization initiative.

$1.2 million for the runway surface repairs at the Inuvik airport. An offsetting amount was lapsed in...