Thanks, and I want to thank the Minister for his response and I would encourage the department that when they do reach out to talk to the mineral industry about these guidelines that they be inclusive and include other interests including Aboriginal governments, environmental organizations, and so on. Thank you. I look forward to getting the information from the Minister.
Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Are there any other further comments or questions on this section? Seeing none, we will continue the review. Department: Lands. Appropriation authority required, $7,579,000.
Agreed.
Continuing on. Department, Municipal and Community Affairs. Appropriation authority required, $34,924,000.
Agreed.
Department, Public Works and Service. Appropriation authority required, $30,966,000. Mr. O'Reilly.
Thanks, Mr. Chair. There's a lot of eager beavers here today.
---Laughter
While we're on this department, I just want to ask about the first quarter funding for energy solutions, which I believe also includes Arctic Energy Alliance and our own work as a government on energy conservation, energy efficiencies, and so on. I'm just wondering what rough portion we're looking at spending in the first quarter of 2016-2017. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister McLeod.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. For the interim, PWS has identified $2,920,000 to be spent.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Mr. O'Reilly.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I guess what I'm trying to sort out here is that we're not looking at making any cuts to energy conservation, energy efficiency programs that are offered through Arctic Energy Alliance or even our own internal programs for energy efficiency within the government in the first quarter. I just want to get that assurance from the Minister. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister McLeod.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, for the Arctic Energy Alliance I think there's $720,000 in grants and contributions.
Thank you, Minister McLeod. Mr. O'Reilly.
I appreciate the response from the Minister. I'm not sure I got an answer, though. I guess I'm seeking some assurance that this is a business-as-usual interim appropriation for the first quarter, and that it doesn't reflect any cuts or changes to programs that are offered through Arctic Energy Alliance or energy conservation initiatives that we would do ourselves in-house. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister McLeod.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, this interim budget is business as usual. We have the process of the business planning review and the main estimates budget that's going to be tabled in May/June. But for the exercise we're going through today it is business as usual. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister McLeod. Mr. O'Reilly.
Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I appreciate the assurance then that the Minster has provided, that there's no changes or cuts that are being proposed to energy efficiency and conservation programs from the department. Maybe just one general comment if I may, that next time we have interim appropriations, which may not be for another four years, past my life, or all of our collective lives, that if there are significant variations that fall below the 25 per cent, it would be helpful to get those explanations provided to committee. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Your comment is noted. Any further questions or comments on this section? Seeing none, we will continue with the review. Department: Public Works and Services. Appropriation authority required, $30,966,000.
Agreed.
Page five. Department, Transportation. Appropriation authority required, $26,717,000.
Agreed.
Mr. Blake.
Nice try.
---Laughter
Thank you, Mr. Chair. In the Minister's opening comments, he highlighted some concerns about the Community Access Program under the department. I don't see any funds allocated. I know the department feels, or the Minister feels, that there's no projects going ahead in the first three months, but there are actually projects that communities want to do. A number of the communities don't have the funds available to take care of these costs. To take on a project for $60,000 or $80,000 and bear the cost over the first three months, it's challenging for communities. The majority of our small communities throughout the Territories depend on this Community Access Program, and we want to ensure that this funding is available for small communities. It creates a lot of small, short-term employment for a lot of our constituents throughout the territory and I just want to ensure that we have funding available to create those employment opportunities. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Blake. Minister McLeod, would you like to respond?
Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, with respect to Department of Transportation to ensure financial and technical assistance can be provided to rural and remote communities for any planned construction and maintenance of community access roads during the interim period, $250,000 will be transferred from the $14.744 million allocated for the Highways Division to the Community Access Program. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister McLeod. Mr. Blake.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. That sounds great. It brings me to my next question. Is that extra? Three months down the road when we do our budget, are we still going to get the other million as well? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Blake. Minister McLeod.
As Mr. Blake would say, nice try.
---Laughter
No, this is just an interim appropriation. We still have the business planning process to go through and then we will work with committee, get feedback from committee, as we develop our main estimates that will be tabled in May/June. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister McLeod. Mr. Blake.
Thank you, and thank you to the department to make that change there and we look forward to the first three months. Thanks.
Thank you, Mr. Blake. Further comments or questions? Seeing none, we will continue with the review. Department: Transportation. Appropriation authority required $26,717.00.
Agreed.
Mr. Thompson.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Can the Finance Minister provide us with a list of the amortization of the $20.42 million that's been allocated? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister McLeod.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. We can provide that. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Thank you. Seeing no further comments, we will continue. Government of Northwest Territories 2016-2017 interim estimates, operations expenditures. Total operations expenditures appropriation. Appropriation authority required, $518,478,000.
Agreed.
Does committee agree that the consideration of Tabled Document 2-18(2), Interim Estimates, 2016-2017 is concluded?
Agreed.
Mr. Beaulieu.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I move that consideration for Tabled Document 2-18(2), Interim Estimates, 2016-2017 now be concluded and that the Tabled Document 2-18(2) be reported and recommended as ready for further consideration in formal session through the form of an appropriation bill. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. A motion is on the floor. The motion is in order. To the motion.
Question.
Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Motion is carried.
---Carried
Thank you to the Minister and his witnesses. Sergeant-at-Arms, you may escort the witnesses from the Chamber. What is the wish of the Committee? Mr. Beaulieu.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I wish to report progress.
