Tom Beaulieu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize Chief Edward Sangris of the YK Dene First Nations, and I would like to also recognize Pascal Erasmus, who has been my constituency assistant for the last year. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that consideration of Tabled Document 511-18(3), Capital Estimates 2020-2021, be now concluded and that Tabled Document 511-18(3) be reported and recommended as ready for further consideration in a formal session through the form of an appropriation bill. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I don't have any further questions on this particular item. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I apologize for calling the infrastructure contributions a "carry-over." The Minister was referring to it correctly as a surplus. So, considering that they are not carry-overs and they're surplus, then am I correct to understand that they could accumulate surplus for years and years and, at some point in the future, use the capital? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm hoping that the rate changes a bit. That's about 50 percent. We have actuals of $126 million. I'm wondering if the Minister of Finance could advise us if that is something that he has discussed with the various departments responsible for delivering our infrastructure and our capital. I'm wondering if there's a plan to ensure that we're not carrying over $200 million worth of capital at the end of this fiscal year 2020-2021. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Kam Lake, that Committee Report 39-18(3): Standing Committee on Priorities and Planning Report on Transition Matters be received and adopted by the Assembly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have served 12 years in the Legislative Assembly. For people who don't realize how long that is, I will tell you a little story.

Many years ago, I was fortunate enough to work with a well-known MLA named Tom Butters, and Mr. Butters said to me, "I want you to go to Kugluktuk, and go talk to the MLA up there about housing." One thing led to another, and Mr. Peterson and I had a discussion about many things, one of which was the length of time that MLAs spend in the Legislative Assembly.

This, I would say, was in about the mid-1990s at that time, maybe a little bit...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would support the motion even if it is just for the co-drafting. As many of the organizations have signed on to devolution, they also want the responsibility to be able to co-draft for their governments. Right now, what's in place, and solidly in place, are technical working groups. The technical working groups get together, the governments, the Indigenous governments, the GNWT, and they draft legislation through that process.

As we've seen in the Forest Act, the Indigenous governments are not happy with that, and this would just ensure that they get an opportunity to...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I think that the size of the project or the size of the development will determine the size of the security. Security can come in various forms. It doesn't have to be cash up front. It doesn't have to be cash put in the bank. It can be a letter from the bank, and it can be a letter that the bank writes to say that the credit is available for clean-up should it be necessary. A letter of comfort bonds, whatever. My belief is that there are more than 600 contaminated sites in this area alone. Across the territory, there are probably a lot more, and we shouldn't allow that to...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Committee wishes to consider Bill 42, An Act to Amend the Petroleum Products Tax Act; Bill 43, An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act; Committee Report 31-18(3), Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on the Review of Bill 46, Public Land Act; and Bill 46, Public Land Act. Thank you, Mr. Chair.