Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Thebacha, that Bill 17, Northwest Territories Intergovernmental Agreement on Resource Revenue Sharing Agreement Act, be read for the first time. Thank you.
Bill 17 has had first reading.
---Carried
Item 19, second reading of bills. Item 20, consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters, with Mrs. Groenewegen in the chair.
I’d like to call Committee of the Whole to order today. What is the wish of the committee? Ms. Bisaro.
Thank you, Madam Chair. We would like to deal with Tabled Document 44-17(5), Tabled Document 45-17(5), Tabled Document 51-17(5), Tabled Document 52-17(5) and, if we have time, Bill 5. Thank you.
Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Is committee agreed?
Agreed.
Thank you. Might I take this moment to remind Members that we are having a group photo taken in the Great Hall at the break and then we’ll have a very brief break after that since we kind of already had a break. We’ll resume shortly. Thank you.
---SHORT RECESS
I’d like to call Committee of the Whole back to order. According to the list provided earlier by Ms. Bisaro, we’re going to start with Tabled Document 44-17(5), Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 4, 2013-2014. With that, we’ll go to the Minister for opening comments. Minister Miltenberger.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am here to present Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 4, 2013-2014. This document provides for an increase of $3.553 million for capital investment expenditures in the 2013-2014 fiscal year.
The more significant items in this supplementary estimate include:
$2.75 million for the Department of Public Works and Services to advance funding from 2014-15 for the early completion of the Yellowknife General Purpose Office Building.
$453,000 for the implementation of a new Mineral Information Tenure System to support the administration of the NWT Mining Regulations as part of the transfer of responsibilities associated with devolution. The net impact on government operations is nil as these costs will be offset with funding received from the federal government.
I am prepared to review the details of the supplementary estimates document.
Thank you, Minister Miltenberger. Minister Miltenberger, do you have witnesses that you would like to bring into the House.
Yes, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. Does committee agree? Sergeant-at-Arms, if you could please escort the witnesses into the Chamber.
Minister Miltenberger, if you could introduce your witnesses to the Chamber please.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have with me Deputy Minister Mike Aumond and deputy secretary to the FMB, Mr. Sandy Kalgutkar.
Thank you, Minister Miltenberger. Mr. Kalgutkar and Mr. Aumond, welcome back to the House. Committee, General comments. I’m hearing detail.
Agreed.
Committee, if I can get you to turn to page 5 of Supplementary Appropriation, 2013-2014, No. 4, (Infrastructure Expenditures). Public Works and Services, capital investment expenditures, asset management, not previously authorized, $2.750 million.
Agreed.
Total department, not previously authorized, $2.750 million. Mr. Bouchard.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just a question on this Yellowknife general purpose office building, I understand this is money to continue the project. The project is ahead of schedule. I am assuming, and maybe if I could just get clarification, we’re on budget as well.
Thank you, Mr. Bouchard. Minister Miltenberger.
Yes, Mr. Chairman, the project is. Thank you.
Any further questions? Sorry, folks. Supplementary Appropriation, No. 4, (Infrastructure Expenditures), Public Works and Services, capital investment expenditures, asset management, not previously authorized, $2.750 million. Total department, not previously authorized, $2.750 million. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Thank you, committee. Turn to page 6. Education, Culture and Employment, capital investment expenditures, education and culture, not previously authorized, $100,000.
Agreed.
Advanced education, not previously authorized, $150,000. Ms. Bisaro.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just have to make a comment here. I think almost invariably every year we see leasehold improvements or spending of some sort on the Lahm Ridge Tower, and albeit I appreciate that this is restructuring of a business services division or strategic and business services division within ECE, and I think it was overdue, and I think the restructuring is positive, I have to comment on the fact that we’ve probably spent more on this building in the last 10 years than the building is worth, so albeit I approve this expense, I had to make a comment.
Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Minister Miltenberger.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We’ll make note of the Member’s comment and thank her for her comments.
Any other further questions? Again, Education, Culture and Employment, capital investment expenditures, education and culture, not previously authorized, $100,000.
Agreed.
Advanced education, not previously authorized, $150,000.
Agreed.
Total department, not previously authorized, $250,000. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Thank you, committee. Page 7, Transportation, capital investment expenditures, highways, not previously authorized, $100,000.
Agreed.
Total department, not previously authorized, $100,000. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Thank you, committee. Page 8, Industry, Tourism and Investment, capital investment expenditures, minerals and petroleum resources, not previously authorized, $453,000.
Agreed.
Total department, not previously authorized, $453,000. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Does committee agree we have concluded consideration of Tabled Document 44-17(5), Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 4, 2013-2014?
Agreed.
Thank you, committee. Ms. Bisaro.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that consideration of Tabled Document 44-17(5), Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 4, 2013-2014, be now concluded and that Tabled Document 44-17(5) be reported and recommended as ready for further consideration in formal session through the form of an appropriation bill.
Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. We’re just going to circulate that motion. Committee, the motion is in order and the motion is not debatable. The motion is carried.
---Carried
Committee, we’re going to continue on with Tabled Document 45-17(5), Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 2, 2014-2015, with opening comments from the Minister. Minister Miltenberger.
