Robert C. McLeod

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the format for each workshop included an invitation meeting during the day and then there will be an open session during the evening of day one. The regional Chamber of Commerce, they were invited to participate at the workshops.

The evening event is open to all residents and businesses including chamber staff, board members, local business, and community residents. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I am here to present Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 1, 2017-2018. This document provides for an increase of $3.5 million to the 2017-18 infrastructure expenditures budget.

These estimates include the transfer of funding to the Department of Infrastructure, from the Department of Public Works and Services, and the Department of Transportation. This transfer will ensure the Department of Infrastructure has a full appropriation authority, starting April 1, 2017, to make capital investments in 2017-18, that were previously approved for...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I am here to present Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 2, 2016-2017. This document provides for an increase of $28.4 million to the 2016-17 operations expenditures budget.

$22.9 million of these supplementary estimates is for the Department of Health and Social Services to provide additional funding associated with the higher-than-projected utilization of health programs, such as: hospital and physician services provided to NWT residents in southern jurisdictions; the residential placement of NWT adults and children in southern facilities so...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the expected start-up date is 2017. As for the exact time, I'd have to maybe confirm that and share that with Members, but it is 2017. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Yes, I do, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife South, that Bill 19, Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures), 2017-2018, be read for the second time. Mr. Speaker, this bill authorizes the Government of the Northwest Territories to make appropriations for operations expenditures for the 2017-18 fiscal year. It also sets out limits on amounts that may be borrowed by the Commissioner on behalf of the government, includes information in respect of all existing borrowing and all projected borrowing for the fiscal year, and authorizes the making of...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Department of Public Works and Services is responsible for overseeing the funding of the Arctic Energy Alliance. I will work with my counterpart to see what type of incentives that they have and what they will continue to provide. I will work with the Minister of Infrastructure to see what their plans are to continue this program.

In the other previous meetings that they have had, the same format was used for all six workshops that they have had across the Northwest Territories. There is an opportunity, I think, through some written submissions that they can make their issues known. There is an opportunity in the evening sessions, as well, to make their issues known there again.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the Member’s point is well taken, and we have seen these supps come forward for higher costs than usual. I have committed, I believe, during our briefings, to work with the Minister of Health and Social Services to see if there are ways that we can build a bigger base in the Health and Social Services budget, which he had no issue with. We will do that. That way, when we come forward with supps, we would hope that they won’t be as large as they are now. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I'd like to direct that to the Minister of Health and Social Services. Thank you, Mr. Chair.