Debates of May 11, 2011 (day 5)

Date
May
11
2011
Session
16th Assembly, 6th Session
Day
5
Speaker
Members Present
Mr. Abernethy, Mr. Beaulieu, Ms. Bisaro, Mr. Bromley, Hon. Paul Delorey, Mrs. Groenewegen, Mr. Hawkins, Mr. Jacobson, Mr. Krutko, Hon. Jackson Lafferty, Hon. Bob McLeod, Hon. Michael McLeod, Hon. Robert McLeod, Mr. Menicoche, Hon. Michael Miltenberger, Mr. Ramsay, Mr. Yakeleya
Topics
Statements
Speaker: SOME HON. MEMBERS

Agreed.

Agreed. Committee, let’s move along to page 9, Public Works and Services, capital investment expenditures, asset management. Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. In regards to the office records centre warehouse in Inuvik, $489,000. I thought the facility was almost completed, so I would like to know what type of work do you have to do for almost $5 million.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Mr. Kalgutkar.

Speaker: MR. KALGUTKAR

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Again, the revised ‘10-11 budget for that project was $14.2 million. We’re carrying over about $4.8 million. There is a contract in place and it is anticipated that the work will be completed during the summer of 2011. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Kalgutkar. Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Do you have any idea exactly when we will see the grand opening of the facility? Is it going to be September 31st, just before the election?

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Minister Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I don’t have a set date for the official opening, but when we do get one, I’d be happy to share that information with the Member. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Miltenberger. Mr. Krutko, any further questions? Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. My other question is in regard to the YK Airport, the wood pellet boiler, $660,000. Just going ahead in regard to the following page, I noticed there’s one point something million for the same facility. So I’d just like to know, it’s on page 13, the combined services building, $1.026 million. I’m just wondering, is that the same capital expenditure and how close are we, again, to completing the construction of that combined services building at the airport?

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Minister Miltenberger. Mr. Kalgutkar.

Speaker: MR. KALGUTKAR

Thank you, Mr. Chair. It’s my understanding that the YK combined services building is substantially complete and will be ready for occupation during the ‘11-12 fiscal year. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Kalgutkar. Any further questions, Mr. Krutko?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Again, the question I had is this is a brand new facility and again we are making an investment for the wood pellet boiler again for 600-and-some thousand, but being a brand new facility you’d think this would have been built into the design and construction of the facility, and not to have to come forward with a supp in which the capital expenditure was already made. I don’t know why you couldn’t find the money within to do that, than have to come forward for a supp. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Minister Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’ll refer that question to Minister Michael McLeod. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Miltenberger. Minister Michael McLeod.

Mr. Chairman, there are two questions I think being posed here. First of all on the dollars identified here for a little over $1 million as to what it would be for, the building and the site works are substantially complete for this facility. We anticipate we’re going to have an official opening sometime before the end of the summer and more than likely it would be sometime in August. However, there are some deficiencies that cause this to have a carry-over and there’s still other associated work that needs to be addressed.

This carry-over is required to meet our commitment and rectify some of the work that was done. This project is virtually complete and these dollars earmarked here are for the final work that is required.

The pellet boiler is a project that is managed under Public Works and it did not come forward as part of the building design. It was not part of something that was addressed at the time of drafting. It was recognized as discussions moved forward. However, it was felt if the budget was going to be pulled back, if the redesign was going to happen, it would have delayed the project by at least a year and it was decided that the project would move forward with the agreement that an alternate energy source would be included at a later date and that’s what’s happening here.

The $600,000 is being brought forward as a supp to put pellet boilers to offset some of the costs. We expect a five-year recovery for the investment that’s being made and we think it’s a good deal. We would have had to put in the propane system regardless, to have a backup, and these dollars could have been and should have been, as the Member indicates, part of the initial construction. However, it was brought in too late to meet the deadline. So we think it’s a good investment. We’ll recover the cost over a five-year period and we’d like to move forward on it. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister McLeod. Next on my list, Mr. Bromley.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I just wanted to say that I think that’s a sound investment following up on this item. A five-year payback sounds very reasonable to me and that’s not even mentioning the gains in greenhouse gas reductions. I’m wondering if the Minister would know what the payback period is for the Elizabeth Mackenzie School wood pellet boiler. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Minister Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’ll ask Minister Michael McLeod to respond to that.

Thank you, Minister Miltenberger. Minister Michael McLeod.

Mr. Chairman, this facility is a little different and the discussions with my staff indicate that the payback would be a little bit longer. We anticipate it will be around seven years to have this payback. We think it’s still a good investment and worthy of moving forward with.

Thank you, Minister McLeod. Okay, we’re on page 9, Public Works and Services, capital investment expenditures, asset management, not previously authorized, $9.199 million.

Speaker: SOME HON. MEMBERS

Agreed.

Agreed. Technology Service Centre, not previously authorized, $170,000.

Speaker: SOME HON. MEMBERS

Agreed.

Agreed. Petroleum products, not previously authorized, $1.345 million.

Speaker: SOME HON. MEMBERS

Agreed.

Agreed. Total department, not previously authorized, $10.714 million.

Speaker: SOME HON. MEMBERS

Agreed.

Agreed. Moving along to page 10, Health and Social Services, capital investment expenditures, health services programs, not previously authorized, $12.187 million.

Speaker: SOME HON. MEMBERS

Agreed.

Agreed. Community health programs, not previously authorized, $908,000.

Speaker: SOME HON. MEMBERS

Agreed.

Agreed. Total department, not previously authorized, $13.095 million.

Speaker: SOME HON. MEMBERS

Agreed.

Agreed. Moving along to page 11, Justice, capital investment expenditures, court services, not previously authorized, $430,000.

Speaker: SOME HON. MEMBERS

Agreed.

Agreed. Community justice and corrections, not previously authorized, $90,000.

Speaker: SOME HON. MEMBERS

Agreed.

Agreed. Services to public, not previously authorized, $358,000.

Speaker: SOME HON. MEMBERS

Agreed.

Total department, not previously authorized, $878,000.

Speaker: SOME HON. MEMBERS

Agreed.

Let’s move along to page number 12, Education, Culture and Employment, education and culture, not previously authorized, $19.005 million.

Speaker: SOME HON. MEMBERS

Agreed.

Advanced education, not previously authorized, $865,000.