Debates of May 15, 2007 (day 7)

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Education and culture, not previously authorized, $4.082 million. Mr. Pokiak.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I just have one question regarding Mildred Hall in Yellowknife for $1.076 million. I thought at that time last year that all the renovations were completed. Can the Minister explain?

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Madam Chair. The amounts here identified are for capital carry-overs, so the work that was not completed at the time would be carried over. There is some work that is left to be completed under Mildred Hall. As well, for further information, because it is not our asset, that’s why we find it under operations, not capital carry-over. That’s later on in this document.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Education and culture, not previously authorized, $4.082 million. Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you. Madam Chair, the capital infrastructure for community libraries is $50,000. Is that all the government can come up with for infrastructure for community libraries in the North here? Is this right across the Northwest Territories? Thanks.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, this is a fund provided through Education, Culture and Employment and I am told yes it is, that is it. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I have seen some of the libraries in our communities and I know some of the people who work hard and they are certainly pushing people to volunteer or support their community’s libraries. We have initiatives such as literacy programs and to support our children and certainly have money there for our community libraries, and $50,000 for a community is something I am hoping the Minister would look at improving or increasing in terms of really putting the meat to the bones in terms of literacy programs.

Some communities have really nice community libraries and some are in pretty rough shape, a shambles. I know $50,000 is not much, it’s peanuts to support our community library, so I would ask that the Minister would give some explanation as to how this $50,000 got in here. I think that’s quite alarming to see this in here to support our community libraries. I would like to ask that to the Minister, Madam Chair.

Okay. Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, this fund, as we look more into the detail, this fund is actually as we repair schools or renovate or put new schools in place, part of the capital program is for library function in that facility. The $50,000 is actually part of a carry-over for the Tulita school library. So it’s in part of the package and will be part of that. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Education and culture, not previously authorized, $4.082 million.

Agreed.

Thank you. Advanced education and careers, not previously authorized, $692,000.

Agreed.

Moving on to page 19, income security, not previously authorized, $3.594 million.

Agreed.

Total department, Education, Culture and Employment, operations expenditures, total department, not previously authorized, $8.429 million.

Agreed.

Thank you. Transportation, operations expenditures, corporate services, not previously authorized, $475,000.

Agreed.

Airports, not previously authorized, $165,000.

Agreed.

Highways, not previously authorized, $583,000.

Agreed.

Ferries, not previously authorized, $355,000.

Agreed.

Road licensing and safety, not previously authorized, $27,000.

Agreed.

Total department, not previously authorized, $1.605 million. Mr. Yakeleya.

Madam Chair, I would like to ask the Minister…I have met with some of my constituents, specifically the people in Norman Wells. In terms of the airport studies and feasibility studies on the extension of the runway in some of the small communities in the North, I didn’t see any type of initiative here. Is this something that has already been undertaken in terms of the year 2010. That’s the deadline that NAV Can has given us in terms of complying with the regulations for airports. I want to ask that to the Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, the Department of Transportation with this supplementary request has not requested any funding to do any work in that area. If they are, it would be under their normal business plan process. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Total department, not previously authorized, $1.605 million.

Agreed.

I just want to point out to the Members that the air has now been turned off in the building, so we should proceed quickly.

---Laughter

Industry, Tourism and Investment, operations expenditures, not previously authorized, corporate management, $17,000.

Agreed.

Madam Chair, I will use up as little air as possible. I move that this committee recommends that the funding for the review of electricity regulation, rates and subsidy programs in the amount of $150,000 under the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment, operations expenditures, not previously authorized on page 22, be transferred to the activity Executive offices within the Department of the Executive. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. The motion is being circulated. I will wait until Members all have a copy of it. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Question.

Mr. Braden.

Madam Chair, the context of this is this is an absolutely essential initiative. In fact, we had a motion just yesterday that discussed items very much related to this. So here we are, it’s reflected to at least some degree, if not a very large degree, in this supp. There is $150,000 earmarked for a review of electricity regulation rates and subsidy programs. Madam Chair, by and large, our assessment in committee is this is an initiative that deals with very high level policy, very likely legislation and some fairly significant financial commitments over time. We felt that it would be far more appropriate that it is handled within that branch of our government that does deal with these higher level initiatives than in Industry, Tourism and Investment, which I think is largely a program function department. So that is the reason for this recommendation, Madam Chair. It has a significant impact on the operations and expenditures of this government and I think is better handled in the auspices of the Executive department, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. To the motion.

Question.

Question is being called. All those in favour of the motion? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Okay. Industry, Tourism and Investment, operations expenditures, energy, mines and petroleum resources, not previously authorized, $3.365 million.

Agreed.

Economic development, not previously authorized, $430,000. Ms. Lee.

Just a question, Madam Chair, the Take a Kid Trapping Program. I am wondering if this is accessible by schools. I know that in Yellowknife, YK1 does do this program. I am not sure if they do it under their own funding or they are accessing other government programs. I see that this is a new initiative. I would like to know who is the client base that this program is aimed at. Thank you.