I’m glad the Minister said all of the report there. I’d also like to see if we know if it’s possible before we leave. I’m not too sure what the officials would, but he’s the Minister and he could make it happen. So I look forward to his leadership on having this report come to this side so we can see it in the near future. I want to thank the Minister on that process we’re going to be going through.
I want to also ask the Minister, in regard to the infrastructure, I’m glad that we’re talking about the $28 million. The price of doing business in the communities further north and in the smaller, isolated communities has gone up, even in Yellowknife, where we still have the $28 million that we had five years ago. The gas, the oil, infrastructure, maintenance and all that have gone up and $28 million hasn’t. We haven’t seen an increase on a yearly basis. That’s an area of concern that I’m not too sure what the Minister could do to seek support from the federal government or somehow that if this is an area that we could see an increase.
As I’ve said before, the operation and maintenance funding is a real concern for my communities, especially with the type of infrastructure on the water plants or even operations in the sewage area, the costs are going up. The costs are going up quite extensively and it’s hitting their pocketbooks, so then the communities are left with some very challenging questions as five important projects, because of the funding and because of the maintenance, we can only do two or three projects and we can’t do the other ones. That becomes a concern.
It’s been raised by members in the Sahtu communities to me. Fort Good Hope is even looking at a new water treatment source because they do not trust the Mackenzie River. They have seen a lot of contamination in that water and they’re very, very scared and they want some safety for themselves. Some of this very basic infrastructure such as water, contaminated areas need to be cleaned up. The communities are left with some very challenging decisions.
Mind you, they deal with what they have to work with and that’s the money that’s given to them by the communities by the Minister of MACA and they do their best. They’re always looking at other areas where they could serve the people as much as possible.
I’m not too sure if there is a question in there, Madam Chair, but I just wanted him to know about this funding here and will we see some increase.
Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. I didn’t really hear a question there, but I’ll go to Minister McLeod, if he wishes to comment.
Thank you, Madam Chair. The number has been fairly consistent for a number of years. We have been fortunate that we’ve had huge federal government investment in our infrastructure and our O and M needs to catch up with that. We need to look at that. As well, every year they get the gas tax money which allows them to do water treatment plants. They have the ability to finance a lot of the projects. We’ve had some communities that have stepped up to the plate, showed some real leadership and went out, financed and managed their whole project, and they’ve come in probably a lot cheaper than we would have been able to do it.
As well, we’ve been having discussions with Canada in the last little while. We’re not quite sure what kind of new program they might come out with. We’ve had some discussions with Minister Lebel and Minister Fletcher, and they’ve spoken to… They’re looking at trying to find another funding source to replace some of the money they’ve been giving us over the last… We’re looking forward to hearing what comes out of that, and maybe we’ll have an indication in the upcoming budget. We don’t know. But they went across country and we laid out some of our concerns as far as some of our challenges go and they took note of all that. We’re looking forward to see what they roll out next.
But as far as our numbers go, $28 million is the figure that we give to the communities from the Government of the Northwest Territories as well. They’ve had access to a number of federal government funding pots over the last number of years, which has really helped the communities go a long way as far as their infrastructure goes. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister. Next on the list, Mr. Blake.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I’d like to commend this government for continuing to operate through the formula funding agreement. Through my past experience, I know how fortunate the communities are to have this funding available to the communities to make their own decisions on how they want to spend this money and I hope we can continue to do this.
That said, a few concerns that I do have are along the lines of the water treatment plants. Over the next number of years we’re going to see development up on the Peel River watershed possibly, and Aklavik is downstream on the Peel River from the Peel River watershed. I’m very concerned about some of the chemicals that may be used, if that is their way of taking the minerals out of the ground up there. I think we need to start planning ahead and possibly look at a water treatment plant from one of the lakes up in the mountains possibly near Willow River.
Also, the same thing in Inuvik. I’m very surprised for the size of a community like Inuvik that they’re drawing water from Hidden Lake. I’ve seen that lake firsthand and that lake is very small in comparison to the community, and it really surprises me. They do draw their water from the river in the winter, and also during the spring, I believe, pump water into Hidden Lake. I think we need to start planning of drawing water from a lake like Campbell Lake. You know, that’s very good drinking water with a gravel bottom.
The same thing in Fort McPherson. They are drawing water from a deep water lake, and I know a lot of residents are concerned the water level on that lake is dropping at a rapid pace. I think we may need to look at the other lakes that draw into the deep water lake to ensure that we have good water flow.
The other thing was our schools, as I mentioned.
With that said, I would just like the department to keep going with the formula funding. With that said, thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Blake. I didn’t really hear a question there, but I’ll go to the Minister for comments.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I appreciate the Member’s comments. That’s one of the things that we’ve been most pleased with, is the communities’ ability to do good quality projects and put a good product on the ground.
As far as water treatment plants, I mean, the community, again, has that ability to decide where they want to draw water from if it fits within their fiscal framework and the monies that they’re allocated. They’re the best at knowing where their water sources are from. I do know for a fact that while Inuvik has been using Hidden Lake pretty well since the beginning of Inuvik and they are looking at, I believe, a secondary water source a little further up, and they are planning on building a new water treatment plant using their own funds.
Again, I appreciate the Member’s comments and I am a firm believer that the communities do make good quality decisions as far as their infrastructure needs and priorities are. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister McLeod. Mr. Blake, anything further?
Nothing further, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Blake. Committee, nobody else on the list. Are we agreed we are concluded Municipal and Community Affairs, activity summary, regional operations, infrastructure investment summary, total infrastructure investment summary, $28.002 million?
Agreed.
Thank you, committee. We’ll return to page 4.2, Municipal and Community Affairs, department summary, infrastructure investment summary, total infrastructure investment summary, $28.002 million. Are we agreed?
Agreed.
Thank you, committee. Is committee agreed we have concluded the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs?
Agreed.
Mr. Menicoche.
Madam Chair, I move that we report progress.
---Carried
I will now rise and report progress. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Your committee has been considering Tabled Document 64-17(3), Northwest Territories Capital Estimates 2013-2014, and would like to report progress. Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of Committee of the Whole be concurred with. Thank you.
Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Do we have a seconder to the motion? Mr. Yakeleya.
---Carried
Mr. Speaker, orders of the day for Friday, October 19, 2012, at 10:00 a.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 64-17(3), NWT Capital Estimates 2013-2014
Bill 2, Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act, 2012
Bill 8, An Act to Amend the Securities Act
Report of Committee of the Whole
Third Reading of Bills
Orders of the Day
Accordingly, this House stands adjourned until Friday, October 19, 2012, at 10:00 a.m.
---ADJOURNMENT
The House adjourned at 5:43 p.m.
