Thank you, Mr. Chair. I’m just noticing that there’s a decrease in the Beaufort-Delta Divisional Education Council of six positions. Can I get an idea of what’s going on there? Why are we losing positions with the education council? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Moses. Mr. Lafferty.
Mahsi, Mr. Chair. Every year we go through these changes. It’s all based on FTEs, enrollment total and if that changes then obviously the budget changes and that reflects on the total enrollment. Mahsi.
Can I get a breakdown of which communities are being affected with loss of positions? Thank you.
Mahsi. It’s not actually positions. It’s full-time equivalency. If the enrollment is down it goes back to the school boards and they decide where. It’s up to the school boards to decide how many teachers or janitors or teacher assistants to be hired. So, it’s based on the actual overall budget that we provide to them. Maybe if I can get my deputy to elaborate a bit more because she’s involved with the FTEs and enrollment. When the enrollment numbers go down, my team has to work with all the school boards. Mahsi.
Thank you, Minister Lafferty. Ms. Eggenhofer.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, caution needs to be exercised because these numbers are full-time equivalents. They don’t equate one FTE to one PY and education authorities have considerable flexibility in determining the number of staff they hire with the funding that’s provided to them. So, one needs to exercise caution not to say there is a decrease of eight or six PYs. It’s a decrease of FTEs that may not have resulted in the same reduction in positions. Thank you.
Thank you, Ms. Eggenhofer. Committee, again, we’re on page 80, education authorities, programs and services, active positions, information item. Any questions?
Agreed.
Thank you, committee. Page 81, Aurora College, programs and services, information item. Ms. Bisaro.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Quick question here. Members and committee have asked the Minister a number of times if we could have a bigger involvement in Aurora College and in knowing about what they’re doing with their budget. I believe we were advised, I believe the college budget came out in the fall, November or December perhaps. I would like to ask the Minister if a copy of that budget could be provided to Members. Thank you.
Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Minister Lafferty.
Mahsi, Mr. Chair. Most definitely we can provide that information. Mahsi.
Thank you, Minister Lafferty. Committee, we’re on page 81, Aurora College, programs and services, information item. Any questions?
Agreed.
Thank you, committee. Page 82, lease commitments, information item. Any questions?
Agreed.
Page 83, work performed on behalf of others, information item. Any questions? Mr. Bromley.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I see that Right from the Start for our early childhood development programs, funding is being provided by Chevron – Chevron – to purchase the materials required to fulfil the commitments the department has in early childhood education. I would like to ask, why is the department going to a multi-national fossil fuel company, an industry that is at the greatest foundation threat to civilization ever, for money?
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Minister Lafferty.
Mahsi, Mr. Chair. When we first talked about iPads for new parents, we sought out potential investors, key partners on this very important matter. There was a request by Chevron. The funding is available to purchase iPads. It’s not only Chevron. We have done this with others from the private sector, the business sector, as well, over the years. My view is that it’s an investment into our overall educational system where there are key partners.
As the Minister of Finance stated, our financial situation now is very tight within our overall territorial budget and we have to explore these areas of opportunity. So, Mr. Chair, we are in the process of having all these iPads at the end of this month be distributed to the parents, the new parents, so they have access to the different programs. In the fall of this year, the remaining iPads will be distributed to all parents, the new parents. It is an investment from the corporate sector, similar to what we have done with Rio Tinto, BHP and others that we have partnered with over the years. This is nothing new that we are exploring. There will be others, as well, down the road. We are always open to these types of investments so we can have very important initiatives on the way into the communities. Mahsi.
What is the investment from this multi-national company that’s partly responsible for the greatest threat to civilization that we are choosing to partnership with, this public government is choosing to partner with? What are the contributions that we are on our knees for, despite our responsibility to fund these programs from tax dollars for our public this year and next?
Chevron has made a total commitment of $410,000 towards these different iPads for new parents. We as a department are contributing $750,000 towards this initiative, as well, as our contribution. This is an initiative that has been in the works for a number of years now. Finally it’s here, so we are moving forward at the end of this month and in the fall, as well, for new parents. Mahsi.
This is a complete injustice. Putting logos, companies like this, looking for partners like this to put into the homes, at the dinner table, logos, at an impressionable age aimed at children in their early years when they are most impressionable, a fossil fuel company, the basis of the greatest threat to our civilization, when in fact we are a public government responsible for providing education through our tax revenues. If Chevron is to contribute, if any company is to contribute to the basic fundamental provision of required services like education and health, et cetera, in Canada, they should be doing it through taxes. Why are we not taxing these fossil fuel companies according to what we should be for the damage that they do and the requirements that we have for public education?
Taxing them is a different subject. There is funding available to us. As I stated, it’s not only Chevron. There are other companies that came forward. A basic example would be the multiplex and others. I think, in my view, we need to take advantage of these potential investors. As I stated before, there will be plenty more that will be up on the horizon and we need to work with them. We need to work with all stakeholders across the Northwest Territories. Any opportunities that they provide to us as a true partnership, then we need to take advantage of those opportunities.
Again, I’m absolutely disgusted that we would be partnering with entities like this when we are responsible for providing these basic services from our own revenues. I completely disagree with this and I would ask the Minister to closely examine the basis of this partnership and others such as this and the impacts. I would ask him to research the impacts of putting logos from multinationals like this into the homes of our youngest and most impressionable as supposedly part of our early childhood development programs.
We will be closely monitoring those areas to the best of our ability within my department and there will be other departments that I’m sure will be doing the same thing as well.
Nothing further.
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Committee, again, we’re on page 83, work performed on behalf of others, information item. Mr. Yakeleya.
Mr. Chair, I’d like to ask about the Older Workers program and if the Minister could share with me the projects that may have impacted in the North here and if he can do some with me on a region-by-region basis. This is a good program. It’s targeting older workers and it’s very creative. I’ve seen some of the work and it has involved some of the elderly people. This program has somewhat of an impact on the old-agers who are receiving pensions from the federal government. Sometimes it cuts into their program, so I just wanted to know also if this has been an issue from our communities on implementing this program. It’s a good program. I like it. I just want to make sure that some of the challenges to it are removed and we can use these services and knowledge of the older people in our communities.
Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Minister Lafferty.
Mahsi, Mr. Chair. Over the years we’ve been working with the federal government on having an identified Older Workers funding program. We just signed off an agreement with the federal government just recently in April 2014 for a three-year agreement. It is being spread out to the communities and it is those individuals who are 50-plus years of age, 55 years of age and older that can access this funding. So far we’ve implemented nine of the NWT communities as a start, Tuktoyaktuk, Fort McPherson, Inuvik, Aklavik, Ulukhaktok, Deline, Hay River, Fort Smith and Behchoko. I will just remind you that this is just the beginning and we want to spread out to other communities such as the Sahtu region, the Deh Cho and others. We will be exploring those areas. This is the money that’s from the federal government and we want to take full advantage of it to be spread out to all 33 communities as best as we can.
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Mr. Yakeleya.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I look forward to the additional information the Minister can provide to us just to continue supporting this program in our communities in our region.
I just want to conclude that from the support that we received from oil companies, I know that in the Sahtu with the breakfast food program, I know Husky Energy has contributed to their communities for a breakfast program, and I want to state for the record that some of these oil companies have done some good in our communities such as the breakfast program for the families. As children, they don’t know. Food is food. They don’t know which food is coming from where. The oil companies also contribute to the communities for hand games and other functions, search and rescue for our loved ones who are lost in the Mackenzie River, building of a cultural moose skin boat.
I just want to be very careful and tell this government here that if we’re going to look at something, I guess we need to look at all industry, not just companies such as fossil fuel companies. We need to look at mining companies, look at technology companies, look at fast food restaurants. Everything. We need to look at everything if we’re going to do it.
I know there are some very strong feelings for some people on oil companies, but we need to be careful, especially in our region where we depend on them. I’ll leave it to the good people on this side here of the government to look at how we go about it, because Mr. Bromley is right that young kids are very impressionable. We’ve seen some of the stuff that we’ve given in school or whatever, especially with sports…(inaudible)... I just want to state to the department that our industry in the Sahtu is oil and gas and they’re not all bad. We certainly benefit from them supplying our school, also for additional support in education and food.
I wanted to make a comment. I don’t need a response from the Minister. That’s all I wanted to say.
Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. I’m sure the Minister appreciates that comment and we’ll treat it as such.
Committee, we’re on page 83, work performed on behalf of others, information item. Any questions?
Agreed.
Thank you, committee. If I can get you to turn to page 57, Education, Culture and Employment, department total, $309.786 million. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Thank you, committee. Does committee agree that consideration of the Department of Education, Culture and Employment is completed?
Agreed.
Thank you, committee. Minister Lafferty.
Mahsi, Mr. Chair. I’d like to say thank you to the Members. This is the last budget process for Dana Heide and Gabriela Eggenhofer. I would like to thank them and wish them the best of luck. They will be retiring in 2015, so mahsi cho.
---Applause
Thank you, Minister Lafferty. Again, on behalf of the committee, I would like to thank them for their hard work and dedication over the years. We enjoyed working with you, Ms. Eggenhofer and Mr. Heide, and thank you for joining us and, of course, Mr. Lovely. Thank you, Minister Lafferty.
Sergeant-at-Arms, if you could please escort the witnesses.
Committee, according to committee’s wishes earlier today, we are going to continue on with Public Works and Services. With that, we are going to turn it over to the Minister responsible for opening comments. Minister Beaulieu.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am pleased to present the 2015-2016 Main Estimates for the Department of Public Works and Services. Overall, the department’s estimates propose an increase of $5.1 million, or 4.4 percent, over the 2014-2015 Main Estimates. These estimates continue to support the objectives of limiting expenditure growth in order to sustain the long-term sustainability of the fiscal framework.
Highlights of the proposed estimates include:
an interdepartmental transfer of $6.1 million associated with the consolidation of the government’s energy functions, along with associated positions within the Department of Public Works and Services;
the creation of two new positions in Fort Smith, one as part of the final phase of government-wide implementation of procurement shared services, and one to support the IT support services required for those health authorities transitioning to the Technology Service Centre;
the continued investment in operations and maintenance for new and aging building infrastructure to ensure its availability in the delivery of government programs and services will continue to be a focus for this department in 2015-2016.
The proposed Department of Public Works and Services’ estimates continue to support the priorities of the 17th Assembly. Specific activities in support of these priorities include:
assuming responsibility for coordinating, developing and managing energy policy, planning, conservation, alternative energy solutions, energy service delivery and monitoring programs. Consolidating these activities within the Department helps support:
the development of comprehensive energy policies and strategies; and,
improving efficiencies in the planning and delivery of energy programs and services.
continuing with the focus on energy and the efficiency programs in support of our priorities of effective and efficient government and building a strong and sustainable future for our territory. With the consolidation of energy functions in Public Works and Services, we expect further opportunities to improve upon our success of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and operational costs as well as new avenues to share this knowledge with the public and private sector businesses.
By the end of 2014-2015 our annual savings in utilities directly associated with the department’s energy efficiency activities is expected to grow to $1.7 million dollars a year.
The Deferred Maintenance Program remains an essential part of this department’s overall strategy to address the building infrastructure essential to the delivery of our government’s programs and services. This program continues to be coordinated with the capital planning process, energy conservation investments and our regular Preventative Maintenance Program to maximize its effectiveness. The current backlog is calculated at $290 million, which has reduced significantly from the $470 million identified in 2007-2008.
As infrastructure projects in progress today are completed they will replace aging buildings such as the hospital in Hay River, the old health centres in Fort Providence and Fort Resolution as well as the surplus student accommodations in Inuvik.
While the department anticipates continued pressure on deferred maintenance in 2015-2016 and beyond related to the normal aging of our asset base, investment in the Deferred Maintenance Program coupled with the timely disposition of surplus assets is projected to reduce the current deficit to $277 million.
It is through these and other department activities that Public Works and Services will continue to provide its many clients with the high quality of services they have come to rely upon and assist the GNWT and the 17th Assembly in achieving its goals.
That concludes my opening remarks. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister Beaulieu. Minister Beaulieu, do you have any witnesses you’d like to bring into the Chamber?
Yes, Mr. Chairman, I do.
Thank you, Minister Beaulieu. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Thank you, committee. Sergeant-at-Arms, if you would be kind enough to bring our witnesses into the Chamber.
Minister Beaulieu, if you could be kind enough to introduce your witnesses for the record.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. To my immediate right is Paul Guy, deputy minister of Public Works and Services. To my immediate left is Steve Lewis, director of corporate services; and to my far right, Laurie Gault, director of Technology Service Centre.
