Wendy Bisaro

I move that consideration of Tabled Document 45-17(4), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 2012-2013, be now concluded and that Tabled Document 45-17(4) be reported and recommended as ready for further consideration in formal session through the form of an appropriation bill.

---Carried

So I guess the next question I have is: What is the Premier’s, what is the government’s expected outcome from this public engagement and consultation that is going to happen over the next two months?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I wanted to ask a question about this special warrant. It would seem to me that we should have had a better understanding of the costs of our winter roads. We should have been able to gauge ahead of time that we were going to have this expense. Why did we need to do a special warrant for this particular work?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I mentioned, my questions today are addressed to the Premier, and I want to follow up on my statement and try to give voice to some of the concerns that I’m hearing from my constituents and some of the concerns that I have myself. When we were deliberating the budget, and also this week, between last week and this week, I’m hearing conflicting statements and getting conflicting information about where we’re going in terms of post-devolution final agreement and this consultation. I’d like to ask the Premier if he could elaborate for me and my constituents just what...

Okay, so if we’re out money, is it money that is recoverable? If we are paying interest on it, who are we doing the favour to and can we get the money back from them? Thank you.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I wanted to ask a question here under the health services programs. The funding for projected increased costs for the provision of health care services to non-NWT residents, I just want to totally understand this. This is a lot of money; it’s $4.7 million. This cost is for the provision of health care services to people who don’t live in the NWT. I gather that it is recoverable from the jurisdiction where these people live. I’m struggling to understand how we could underestimate such a large number. Maybe I can get an explanation from the department. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. Committee, we’re on page 5 of the tabled document, 2013-14, Supplementary Appropriation No. 1, (Infrastructure Expenditures), Transportation, capital investment expenditures, highways, not previously authorized, $60 million, total department not previously authorized, $60 million.

Thanks. Just one last question. How many people are required to construct this road? How many PYs are going to employed over this five-year project? Thank you.

Does the Minister want to guarantee that, on budget? Rhetorical question. Thanks.

So one of the other statements that was made, by either the Minister or the deputy minister, was that geotechnicals will be finalized in the coming months and that’s one of the unknowns for me, and I think it’s one of the unknowns at the moment for the department and for the project. So I haven’t heard it said, in terms of geotechnical, there are concerns from certain Members that the terrain that we’re working in can be very difficult, we’re dealing with permafrost and I’ve heard it said that we are dealing with...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, as several of my colleagues have done before me, I want to highlight the Electoral Boundaries Commission and the consultations that are currently in progress across the NWT.

The Electoral Boundaries Commission is established every eight years to review our NWT electoral boundaries and ridings. The commission considers the populations of our current ridings and determines if all ridings are equitable. It recommends possible changes to the Legislative Assembly, and the Assembly then debates the issue and does or does not make changes to the NWT Elections Act.

The...