Thank you, Mr. Chairman. There are opportunities over the life of the fund for communities to apply for assistance in a number of project areas. Thank you.
That’s exactly my point. I believe the program before, we were looking at seven years. Now I believe it’s been shrunk down to two or three years. That’s why I’m asking. Is it now possible for those communities who are now in the planning stage and basically having to come forward with an engineered building design of a road system being able to access this Building Canada Fund under the same premise as to their the gravel sources?
I will refer the question to Minister Michael McLeod.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. May I have Mr. Michael McLeod respond.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Building Canada Fund was set up to run over the course of seven years. We have put in three budget years of submissions. There are still four years. The Member is correct, of course, that the federal government has indicated their desire to fast-track the programs. There has been no agreement reached yet. That is still something we are looking at in terms of additional funding or funding at the end of fast-track in two years. There is some concern that fast-tracking with the amount of money we have, given the resources we have, would really be a challenge. We expect we can do it, but it would make things very difficult. So we would like the opportunity to discuss with them if there’s going to be a new source of funding at the end of two years or would we be better off to look at dealing with a three-year or a four-year budget to make it more accommodating. The decisions are still far from being made and the discussion is ongoing. Thank you.
Mr. Chair, knowing that we had seven years and I think that four years is probably more reasonable than the two years the federal government are asking for. For me, that’s the issue, is that we have to ensure that those communities that are working on a similar project which basically we are expending money by way of engineering design, that we should try and find a way that we allow for those projects to be treated in a similar manner as this project. I’d just like to get some assurances that the project, especially the one in Aklavik, will be coming forward by way of some capital expenditures, hopefully by this fall. I know they are developing a report and I think they’re hoping to have it ready by April. I’d just like to know exactly when will those other potential projects be seeing the light of day by way of the capital for these different departments.
Mr. Chairman, as I indicated, we have submitted year three for consideration by the federal government. We have not submitted anything...We have and had submitted a tentative plan outlining what we would do to fast-track, however, that has not been agreed to yet. There are still a number of communities that have indicated they want to come forward and MACA has been dealing with those along with the NWT Association of Communities. So there is some discussion ongoing regarding community projects. Thank you.
We’re on page 15, total department, not previously authorized, $3 million.
Agreed.
Thank you committee. Do you now agree that consideration of Tabled Document 17-16(3) is concluded?
Agreed.
Thank you. Mr. Beaulieu
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that consideration of Tabled Document 17-16(3), Supplementary Appropriation No. 3, 2008-2009, be now concluded and that the Tabled Document 17-16(3) be reported and recommended as ready for further consideration in formal session through the form of an appropriation bill.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. A motion is on the floor and it is being distributed now. The motion is in order. To the motion.
Question.
Question has been called.
---Carried
I’d like to thank the Minister and your witnesses and ask that the Sergeant-at-Arms escort the witnesses from the Chamber.
What is the wish of the committee for the next consideration? Mr. Beaulieu.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move to report progress.
---Carried
Can I have the report of Committee of the Whole, please, Mr. Bromley.
Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Tabled Document 11-16(3), NWT Main Estimates 2009-2010, and Tabled Document 17-16(3), Supplementary Appropriation No. 3, 2008-2009, and would like to report progress, with two motions being adopted and that consideration of Tabled Document 17-16(3) is concluded, and that the House concur in those estimates and that an appropriation bill to be based thereon to be introduced without delay. Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of Committee of the Whole be concurred with.
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Motion is on the floor. Do we have a seconder? The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Abernethy.
---Carried
Orders of the day for Tuesday, March 3, 2009, at 1:30 p.m.:
Prayer
Ministers’ Statements
Members’ Statements
Returns to Oral Questions
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Acknowledgements
Oral Questions
Written Questions
Returns to Written Questions
Replies to Opening Address
Petitions
Reports of Standing and Special Committees
Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills
Tabling of Documents
Notices of Motion
Notices of Motion for First Reading of Bills
Motions
First Reading of Bills
Second Reading of Bills
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Tabled Document 7-16(3), Ministerial Benefits Policy
Tabled Document 11-16(3), Northwest Territories Main Estimates 2009-2010
Committee Report 2-16(3), Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures Report on Matters Referred to the Committee
Bill 1, An Act to Amend the Historical Resources Act
Bill 3, International Interest in Mobile Aircraft Equipment Act
Bill 4, Public Library Act
Bill 5, Professional Corporations Act
Bill 7, An Act to Amend the Student Financial Assistance Act
Report of Committee of the Whole
Third Reading of Bills
Orders of the Day
Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Accordingly, this House stands adjourned until Tuesday, March 3, 2009, at 1:30 p.m.
---ADJOURNMENT
The House adjourned at 7:32 p.m.
