Robert C. McLeod

Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. We have provided a table to committee to try to respond to a number of questions that were asked during our briefing. The ENR money, wildlife studies include barren-ground caribou and grizzly bears, so it's just some wildlife studies that are going on. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

It would have to be a case-by-case basis. I can't make a commitment right now that we would specifically buy from a northern manufacturer. If there was one here and they gave us a price that was competitive, then we would seriously have to consider that. For me to say that we are going to strictly buy from a Northern supplier, I think, is premature. We need to work with them, make sure they have a price that is competitive and one that we can work with. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. I am here to present Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 4, 2018-2019. This document provides for an increase of $16.7 million to the 2018-2019 operating budget.

The major items included in these supplementary estimates are:

$4.5 million for increased costs related to the Income Assistance Program;

$3.3 million for costs associated with operationalizing the new Stanton Territorial Hospital;

$2 million for insured hospital services provided to individuals who are not residents of the Northwest Territories. These expenditures will be fully offset...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. As they do their assessment, and as Minister Cochrane said, they do have some money available to them to do some of the work required. However, if it comes to a point where they may not have the money to do some of the work required, then they would come forward to Minister Cochrane, and she would bring it forward to FMB in the form of a supplementary, and we would have to look at it then. They do have some money to help with maintenance. The bottom line is, if there is additional help that is required, such as the roof, then they would come forward to the GNWT.

That is something that I will consider. If we have folks within our department who are able to navigate their way through and understand what type of permits, licensing, or approvals might be needed, if we have that kind of knowledge, I don't see why we wouldn't be able to provide that kind of assistance to those who are trying to navigate their way through to see what they actually have to do to meet all of the regulations.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. To install equipment, first you must purchase it, and I think that is one of the reasons. Well, that is the reason we have the new supplementary appropriation, is that the equipment needs to be purchased. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Member makes a good point. I am not sure what happened in 2009, but if there is a report that was done, then I am sure that that helped guide some of the decisions that were made, but recently it had been determined that the roof needed to be repaired. I think we may have taken steps to try and complete as much deferred maintenance as possible. It is not about laying blame, here. It is nobody's fault. This is something that happened that we need to look past yesterday and deal with for the children of tomorrow. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My apologies, colleagues. I would like to recognize my family up in the gallery; my three grandchildren, Rylan, Reese, Kullen, and my wife, Judy. Today is kind of a special day, because my daughter Kimberly, it is her birthday, turns a year older today. This is one of the reasons that I chose this particular day to do this because it is an important day for me. It is a day two years ago that changed my life forever. Thank you.

[Microphone off] including increased scope of work, design and procurement issues, and limited contract approval in a couple of the regions have resulted in higher than anticipated material and construction costs or project delays. Delayed installation of playground equipment in the schools is scheduled for summer 2019. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Through you, I would like to defer to Minister Cochrane.