Robert C. McLeod

The action work plan to carry out the objectives for the implementation of the socio-economic strategy draft plan has been prepared. The project team already reports on socio-economic performances to the Giant Mine Oversight Board annual report and remains committed to continue to do so. Feedback from stakeholders have informed the key performance indicators. Targets will be presented to the working group in April for discussion. I think the Member's short question was: would we be able to share a copy of this draft plan? I will follow up on that. If there are opportunities there to share it...

Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. I do appreciate the opportunity to respond, and I note the Member's objection. I assured Members that there was no money being diverted from any other programs that ENR offers, and the money that's going towards this is to do our work on the wildlife. It's not going into the actual construction of the road, and I think we've made that quite clear. As I've directed my department to do, I have asked them to come forward. We have done some budgetary exercises for some of the work we need to do on the caribou as a result of the discussions with the Tlicho Government and...

Thank you. Forced growth, I believe, is taken into account, and the number that I have is $1.7 million in forced growth in 2019-2020. 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.

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.

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...

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. 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.

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. 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.