Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and actually it’s not so much the answer on page 7-26 that I was after. It’s about where does it show up basically in the revenue stream and noting that the TSC chargeback falls through on many pages, it does note the consolidated amount, but it doesn’t show up under Public Works revenue and it doesn’t show up under Finance revenue that falls into the general revenue. So I was just curious where the stream actually ends up. So we have great coordination and a wonderful spreadsheet on page 7-26, although we’re not there yet, of course, I recognize that, but that’s irrelevant. It’s a matter of where does the money show up even though that line shows up on all of these particular pages. Ultimately that’s the question, which is where do we find where that revenue goes back into the system? What page is that? Whether it’s in this department or any other department, there’s got to be a corresponding line item somewhere within this budget.
We’ll take it under advisement and I’ll ask the Member to reiterate that question when we get to 7-26. Mr. Hawkins, continue.
Tough. Okay, that’s fine. I guess seeing how it was brought up, the National Building Code, by a previous Member, although he does represent – and I appreciate that – certain idealism that probably isn’t shared by very many people here, I will ask the department have they adopted the National Building Code and if not, why not. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Minister Abernethy.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. The GNWT has accepted and utilizes the National Building Code.
Thank you. That wouldn’t be the whole National Building Code would it?
I’m not sure I understand what the Member means by that.
Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. Mr. Hawkins, can you clarify your question, please?
Has the GNWT fully adopted the complete National Building Code? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. We’ll turn it over to Mr. Guy for a response.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. The responsibility for the adoption of the Building Code resides within the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs in the office of the fire marshal. In terms of buildings constructed by the Government of the Northwest Territories and in particular the Department of Public Works and Services, all buildings we build are built in accordance of the requirements of the National Building Code. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Is it a fair assumption to say that certain particular parts of the National Building Code have been adopted by Public Works and maybe with the knowledge of the deputy minister, certain sections of the National Building Code have been adopted by Municipal and Community Affairs, but not the whole National Building Code?
It’s my understanding that the regulations in the office of the fire marshal require that all buildings over 600 square metres be designed and constructed in accordance with the Building Code by an architect registered in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I thank the DM for that detail. During some of the assertions about building above and beyond the National Building Code, I heard the phrase that we had met or beaten those objections by the Minister repeatedly. Would he be willing to share some of those examples here today?
One example that comes to mind is the Inuvik school project. I believe it exceeds the National Energy Code. It’s in the area of 40 to 44 percent. That is my recollection. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I guess the next question is: Has Public Works investigated the process and certainly the cost required to meet or exceed that objective of 25 percent? Then, in consideration, they must extrapolate in the 40 percent that there will be significantly more costs. Has Public Works taken this into consideration in meeting and beating the National Building Code by 25 percent? Have any qualified opinions as to how stressful on our financial pocket it will be if we try to exceed it to 40 percent? Thank you.
I don’t believe we’ve taken a look at what the costs would be to change our standard from 25 percent to the 40 percent. But in the case of any specific building we are designing, we do an energy analysis or an energy workshop as part of the design process to see what the cost benefits would be of each of the various elements that we would incorporate into the design and construction that building would contribute to its overall energy performance. So that’s taken into consideration and that’s how we ended up to where we got to with the example I said in the case of the Inuvik school. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I recognize that the more you exceed it in certain cases, you also decrease the operational cost. Is that type of analysis taken into effect on these energy observations? Would the deputy minister agree that it costs more to build a building the further we increase that percentage?
There’s no doubt that when you put more insulation on the building, more elements in the building than required by perhaps a code or a standard, then you’re going to have increased costs. What we’re looking at is optimizing and achieving the littlest lifecycle cost over the life of the facility and that’s part of the analysis that’s taken place when we do those energy workshops or analysis on a building that’s being designed or proposed.
From the experience and expertise the deputy minister carries, is it likely that we could end up pricing ourselves out of the market of affordability if we continue to strive to 40 percent of the Building Code? Thank you.
Minister Abernethy.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Not necessarily. We do a cost analysis on a case-by-case basis to see what the addition of these improvements will be. If the cost exceeds the benefit or the cost benefit of doing it, then we wouldn’t necessarily go up to that standard. We don’t build to 40 percent. We build to achieving the 25 percent, but we have been working to go beyond that and we have gotten higher. As an example, the school in Inuvik. But we had to do the cost analysis on it to show that the benefit over time would pay for those improvements, and that’s what it showed and that’s what we did.
Thank you, Minister Abernethy. One final supplementary question, Mr. Hawkins.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate the last part. I see that the Minister has become a maven at construction. I would ask that any research or discussion paper on building standards be considered by all Members, not to take one Member’s enthusiasm behind this. I just want it confirmed that it would come to committee long before anything like this is considered.
When I was responding to Mr. Bromley, I would say that we would take it to committee. It would have to be considered by everybody, reviewed by everybody. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister Abernethy. Mr. Menicoche.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that we report progress.
---Carried
Could I have the report of Committee of the Whole, please? Mr. Dolynny.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Your committee has been considering Tabled Document 3-17(3), Northwest Territories Main Estimates 2012-2013, and would like to report progress. I move that the report of Committee of the Whole be concurred with.
Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. Is there a seconder to the motion? Mr. Bromley.
---Carried
Mr. Speaker, there will be a meeting of the Standing Committee on Priorities and Planning at the adjournment of the House today.
Orders of the day for Tuesday, May 29, 2012, 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
Relies to Budget 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 3-17(3), Northwest Territories Main Estimates 2012-2013
Tabled Document 2-17(3), Commissioner’s Opening Address: Creating the Conditions for Success
Bill 1, 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, May 29, 2012, at 1:30 p.m.
---ADJOURNMENT
The House adjourned at 6:09 p.m.
