You may proceed with second reading, Mr. Lafferty.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, that Bill 23, Tobacco Damages and Health Care Costs Recovery Act, be read for the second time.
Mr. Speaker, this bill pertains to an action of the Government of the Northwest Territories against the manufacturer of tobacco products for the recovery of the cost of health care benefits caused or contributed to by a tobacco related wrong. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Bill 23 has had second reading.
---Carried
The honourable Minister of Justice, Mr. Lafferty.
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to waive Rule 69(2) and have Bill 23 moved into Committee of the Whole. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
---Unanimous consent granted
Bill 23 is moved into Committee of the Whole for consideration today.
Item 20, consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters: Tabled Document 53-16(6), Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 2, 2011-2012; Tabled 54-16(6), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 2, 2011-2012; Bill 9, Wildlife Act; Bill 10, Northwest Territories Heritage Fund Act; Bill 15, An Act to Amend the Deh Cho Bridge Act; Bill 16, An Act to Amend the Motor Vehicles Act; Bill 17, An Act to Amend the Territorial Parks Act; and Bill 18, An Act to Amend the Public Utilities Act, with Mr. Krutko in the chair.
I’d like to call Committee of the Whole to order. We have Tabled Documents 53-16(6) and 54-16(6), Bills 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 18, 22, 23. What is the wish of committee? Mrs. Groenewegen.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The committee wishes today to deal with Tabled Document 53-16(6) and Tabled Document 54-16(6), both supplementary estimates. Thank you.
Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Okay, with that, we’ll take a short break and then begin with Tabled Documents 53 and 54.
---SHORT RECESS
I’d like to call Committee of the Whole back to order. Prior to the break we agreed to deal with Tabled Document 53 and 54. At this time I’d like to ask the Minister responsible for the bill if you have any opening comments. Minister of Finance, Mr. Miltenberger.
I am here to present Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 2, 2011-2012. This document outlines an increase of $11.807 million for capital investment expenditures in the 2011-2012 fiscal year.
There are four items in the supplementary estimates:
$9.5 million for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment to advance funding approved for the Sir Alexander Mackenzie and Samuel Hearne Senior Secondary School replacement project, from 2012-13 to the 2011-12 fiscal year.
$1.729 million for the Department of Transportation to record previous contributions provided by the federal government for predevelopment costs associated with the Deh Cho Bridge project.
$369,000 for the Department of Transportation for a snow blower for the Yellowknife Airport, which will be fully offset by a contribution from Transport Canada under the Airports Capital Assistance Program.
$209,000 for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment for leasehold improvements to the Francophone Affairs Secretariat office, which will be offset by a transfer of funding from operations expenditures.
I am prepared to review the details of the supplementary appropriation document.
Thank you, Mr. Minister. At this time I’d like to ask the Minister if he’ll be bringing in any witnesses.
Yes, Mr. Chairman.
Does the committee agree that the Minister brings in his witnesses?
Agreed.
Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses in.
For the record, Mr. Minister, can you introduce your witness.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have with me the acting deputy minister of Finance, Sandy Kalgutkar.
Thank you, Mr. Minister. Welcome, witness. At this time I’d like to open the floor for general comments in regard to Tabled Document 53-16(3), supplementary appropriation. General comments. Does the committee agree to detail?
Agreed.
Can we move to page 5, Education, Culture and Employment, education and culture, not previously authorized, $9.709 million.
Agreed.
Total department, not previously authorized. Mr. Bromley.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just a quick question. Given that we’re advancing this project ahead of schedule, is there any opportunity for savings on infrastructure costs here? Thank you.
Deputy minister.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. By advancing the project, we are going to experience some savings. There is a $3 million contingency fund that we are going to be targeting for the demolition costs and any environmental liabilities. Thank you.
That’s good to hear and I hope the Minister will keep us apprised on that. Thank you.
More of a comment. Total department, not previously authorized, $9.709 million.
Agreed.
Transportation, capital investment expenditures, airports, not previously authorized, $369,000.
Agreed.
Highways, not previously authorized, $1.729 million.
Agreed.
Total department, not previously authorized, $2.098 million.
Agreed.
Does committee agree that we have concluded consideration of Tabled Document 53, Supplementary Appropriation, No. 2, 2011-2012?
Agreed.
Mrs. Groenewegen.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chair, I move that consideration of Tabled Document 53-16(6), Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 2, 2011-2012, be now concluded, and that Tabled Document 53-16(6) be reported and recommended as ready for further consideration in formal session through the form of an appropriation bill.
The motion is in order. To the motion.
Question.
Question is being called.
---Carried
Tabled Document 53 is now concluded.
As we agreed, we are now dealing with Tabled Document 54-16(6), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 2, 2011-2012. At this time I’d like to ask the Minister if he has any opening comments. The Minister of Finance, Mr. Miltenberger.
I am here to present Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 2, 2011-2012. This document outlines an increase of $14.310 million in operations expenditures for the 2011-2012 fiscal year.
The major items included in the supplementary estimates are:
$6.012 million for a special warrant approved on June 29, 2011, for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to fund the shortfall for forest fire suppression due to a severe forest fire season in 2011.
$2.296 million for the Department of Executive to support transition and implementation activities related to the Devolution and Resource Revenue Sharing Agreement-in-Principle. This amount will be partially offset by revenues of $1.171 million from the federal government.
$4.910 million for the Department of Health and Social Services to provide contribution funding to the Beaufort-Delta Health and Social Services Authority and the Stanton Territorial Health Authority for extraordinary costs that contributed to the 2009-10 and 2010-11 deficits in these authorities. This amount will be fully offset by accumulated operating surpluses in other health and social services authorities.
$725,000 for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to support negotiations with respect to transboundary water agreements, which is identified as a priority under the NWT Water Strategy.
I am prepared to review the details of the supplementary appropriation document.
Mr. Minister, just to be on the public record, could you introduce your witness, please.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have with me Sandy Kalgutkar, acting deputy minister of Finance.
Thank you, Minister. Welcome, witness. Any general comments in regard to the supplementary appropriation bill? Mr. Ramsay.
