Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Blake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In follow-up to my Member’s statement, I have a few questions for the Minister of Housing.
As I mentioned, there are elders who are patiently awaiting the opening of a new elders home in Aklavik, and I would like to ask the Minister if they are on schedule. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Blake. Minister of Housing, Mr. McLeod.
Thanks very much, Mr. Speaker. We’re very pleased with the progress on the new Joe Greenland Centre in Aklavik, and I can report to the Member that it is on schedule and they’re looking at planned completion of June of this year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
That’s good to hear. How soon can we have our elders moving into that facility? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
As I said, we plan for completion in June of this year. There would always have to be some work done as to inspections and making sure that it’s ready for the elders to move in. But, again, the completion date is in June and I’m assuming it would be shortly after that that the elders can start moving in. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
We also have plans for a new facility in Fort McPherson. I’d like to ask the Minister, how soon can we expect the construction of this building and has it be awarded yet? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The contract has been awarded for the construction of the seniors centre in Fort McPherson. We have planned for completion in December of this year. So, they would be doing a lot of the construction this summer, and if it goes according to plan, it should be completed by December of this year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Blake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That’s good news. There are a lot of elders in the communities who are awaiting these new facilities here. It also gives us an opportunity for other people who are on the waiting list for up to three years. That’s really good to hear, and I’m sure they’re really waiting for this availability. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Blake. No question. Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I just wanted to ask the Minister of Transportation some questions. Once again it’s about Highway No. 7. We did a tour in December. I’d like to ask the Minister about completing the chipseal work that’s been long overdue from kilometre zero to kilometre 20. When will that be completed? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Minister of Transportation, Mr. Beaulieu.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The intention is as soon as possible to get the construction started again on that road. My understanding is that section was already awarded last year and it was not completed. It will be completed this year in addition to the other work that we are planning on under the Building Canada Plan. Thank you.
I am very pleased to hear that. The sooner they get it done, the better. The Minister heard the residents complain about the dust. As well, from kilometre zero to 32 towards Fort Liard, is there any further planned rehabilitation work after kilometre 20 for this year? Thank you.
The plan is to reconstruct the highway from 20 to 38. I believe that takes us to the chipsealing being finished right to Fort Liard. Also the intention is to try to do some resurfacing in some of the heavy truck areas between Fort Liard and the Nahanni Butte turn and concentrating on an area from kilometre 111 to 130 and a complete reconstruction of a narrow part of the highway that is around 169, 170. Thank you.
I am pleased to hear that. Would that include some dust control as well? Mahsi.
That was a major complaint, as the Member indicates, when we were in Fort Liard. We are going to also be doing some dust suppression in the areas where they were considered to have the greatest amount of issues with dust on Highway No. 7.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. We also heard about the great big dip around kilometre 169 or 161, that area. What is the plan to remediate the dip at that point? It’s quite dangerous. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
We’ll be reconstructing that area. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following three documents, entitled “Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 4, 2014-2015,” “Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 2, 2015-2016” and “Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 1, 2015-2016.” Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Item 15, notices of motion. Item 16, notices of motion for first reading of bills. Mr. Ramsay.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Tuesday, June 2, 2015, I will move that Bill 56, Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act, 2015, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
WHEREAS Section 61 of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act permits the appointment of an Information and Privacy Commissioner by the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, after the approval of the appointment by resolution of the Legislative Assembly;
AND WHEREAS the Legislative Assembly considers the appointment of an Information and Privacy Commissioner essential to exercise the powers and perform the duties under the act;
AND WHEREAS the term of the Information and Privacy Commissioner expires on October 30, 2015;
AND WHEREAS the Legislative Assembly is of the opinion that the appointment of an Information and Privacy Commissioner should now be made to be effective on October 30, 2015;
NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Kam Lake, that pursuant to Section 61 of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, that Ms. Elaine Keenan Bengts be reappointed for a term of five years as Information and Privacy Commissioner;
AND FURTHER, that the appointment be effective October 30, 2015.
Thank you, Mr. Blake. The motion is in order. To the motion.
Question.
Question has been called.
---Carried
Item 18, first reading of bills. Item 19, second reading of bills. Item 20, consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters: Tabled Document 246-17(5), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 4, 2014-2015; Tabled Document 247-17(5), Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 2, 2015-2016; and Tabled Document 248-17(5), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 1, 2015-2016, with Mrs. Groenewegen in the chair.
I’d like to call Committee of the Whole to order. What is the wish of committee? Ms. Bisaro.
Thank you, Madam Chair. We would like to consider two of the supplementary appropriations that were recently tabled, Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 4, 2014-2015 and, time permitting, Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 2, 2015-2016. Thank you.
Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Thank you. We will reconvene after a brief break. Thank you.
---SHORT RECESS
I’ll call Committee of the Whole back to order. Committee, we agreed to first look at Tabled Document 246-17(5), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 4, 2014-2015. I would like to ask the Minister responsible, Minister Miltenberger, if he has opening comments.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am here to present Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 4, 2014-2015. This document proposes an increase of $25.337 million in operations expenditures associated with a non-cash expenditure for a one-time increase to the total environmental liability in response to changing accounting standards that became effective for the 2014-15 fiscal year.
I am prepared to review the details of the supplementary estimates document.
Thank you. Minister Miltenberger, would you like to bring witnesses into the Chamber?
Yes, I do, Mr. Chair.
Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort in the witnesses. Committee agree?
Agreed.
