Thank you, Mr. Testart. Minister.
Mr. Chair, the department is aware of this issue and we continue to work with the RCMP, looking at various models, but no final decision has been made. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister. Mr. Testart.
It's not really helpful I suppose, but are we to assume then we'll have status quo for the next -- for the life of this government or are we going to be looking at something -- I only say this because I know it's a complicating factor in our relationship with policing in the Northwest Territories. It was a perennial complaint at the RCMP and the business of court is sometimes frustrated by the lack of available RCMP members, as the department well knows.
I would like to see a more proactive stance than I guess we're not sure of what decision we want to make. And I appreciate that that's where we're at, but I would strongly recommend putting a bit more emphasis on how we're moving forward on this issue, as I am concerned that it's limiting police resources when we have able-bodied sheriffs who can do the work themselves if they were given the proper support and training. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Testart. Minister.
Yes, Mr. Chair, we are looking at options. The model that has been our model here for many years may not be sustainable. We are aware of the issue and we are in discussions or we will have discussions with the RCMP as to next steps. I'm not certain whether changes in legislation would be required. I realize there are other jurisdictions, including the one to our south, Alberta, where the Sheriff's Office does provide many of these services.
It would involve a considerable change, and necessitated change, in the training and support we do provide to the Sheriff's Office and may also require a change of legislation. We are aware of the issue. It's not as though we're stuck in the present situation forever and ever. Discussions at this stage I think are pretty preliminary with the RCMP and in the department. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister. Mr. Testart.
Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you to the Minister for a more thorough response, I appreciate that. Needless to say, whatever model we decide to take for providing court security services, there are occasions where Sheriff's officers are asked to do things that the act doesn't enable them to do. Is the department looking at correcting that through amendments to the various pieces of legislation that govern Sheriff's officers and their powers in the courtroom? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Testart. Minister.
I'm not sure I understand the question fully, Mr. Chair. I'm not certain which parties are asking the Sheriff's Office to do things they shouldn't do. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister. Mr. Testart.
Thank you, Mr Chair. The Minister could ask the Sheriff's officers for more, but essentially, there are times when there are RCMP officers who aren't available in the courtroom to deal with certain circumstances. If there's not a secure custody in the courtroom, then frequently RCMP officers aren't present. If that's the case, then all court security responsibilities fall on the Sheriff's officers. If they're required to detain someone who is convicted or required to arrest someone for good order in the courtroom, the current legislation, there's a gap in the legislation, it doesn't enable them to do that. Judges are requesting -- to be clear, judges are requesting this, and that is the difficulty there. I'm wondering if the department's going to correct this or is looking to correct this, as it could result in some trouble in the future for all parties concerned. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Testart. More of a forward-looking policy question than a budget question, but how do you respond, Minister?
Mr. Chair, I think we are aware of the complexity of this issue. Certainly the Member has raised an interesting and complicating point, which we are aware of. I think the best that I can say now is that we are aware of this issue and it may be that in the future we have to make changes in the training of people that are working in the Sheriff's office, and we may also need some legislation. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister. Mr Testart.
Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you to the Minister for answering a policy question during the budget deliberations. Our sheriffs do a very difficult job and they put their lives on the line to protect the public and it's good to see the department is taking these issues seriously. I look forward to see progress on this issue in the coming years. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Testart. Do we have further comments or questions? Seeing no further comments or questions from committee, I will call the page. Justice, total department, $127,092,000. Agreed? Does committee agree we’ve finished consideration of the Department of Justice?
Agreed.
Thank you, Minister, and thank you to your witnesses for appearing before us. Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses from the Chamber. Next, the Committee has agreed to consider the Department of Lands. I'll turn to the Minister responsible for the department for opening comments.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I am pleased to present the 2016-2017 Main Estimates for the Department of Lands. Overall, the department’s estimates propose a net decrease of $1,015,000, a decrease of three per cent from the 2015-16 main estimates, and a decrease of four positions. These estimates directly support the objectives of limiting expenditure growth in order to achieve the long-term sustainability of the fiscal framework. The estimates include $133,000 for one additional remote sensing analyst for the Western Arctic Centre for Geomatics in Inuvik. Funding for a new Western Arctic Centre for Geomatics was approved in 2015-2016 to provide geomatics services and research support for lands, resource, and infrastructure management. These services and research will provide the GNWT with more and better information to improve the stewardship of our lands and resources. We held the line on expenditure management with no forced growth other than northern allowance adjustments of $29,000.
We are further responding to the government’s fiscal pressures and fiscal strategy through ongoing reductions to the operating base totalling $1,052,000. The estimates include sunsets of $150,000 for one-time funding. The estimates include increased revenues of $460,000. We are proposing to modernize the rates for regulatory revenues, quarry royalties and land leases. In 2016-17, we have restructured to create the securities and project assessment division. This division is an amalgamation of the liabilities and financial assurance division and the project assessment branch to generate greater efficiencies and support further work in the area of securities. This will include working with boards and other GNWT departments to develop policies and procedures. There is no net fiscal impact from this amalgamation.
We have just completed our second year of operation since the department’s creation on April 1, 2014. There are a number of key accomplishments and changes that I would like to highlight. In the summer of 2015, the department held a ballot draw. The uptake on the ballot draw opportunity demonstrated a strong and growing demand for more recreational land use opportunities in the NWT. The department is now consulting on a draft recreational land management framework which will provide guidance on how the GNWT will manage recreational land in the future, including plans for making more land available for recreational purposes. The department is, and will continue to work towards making land available through fee simple title where possible
In March 2016, the department hosted a second Land Use Planning Forum to discuss and feed into the development of the land use planning strategic framework. In attendance were representatives from land see planning boards, and Aboriginal and federal governments, as well as from GNWT departments. The department led the GNWT’s response to Cantung Mine. The department ensured the clean-up responsibility was returned to Canada. It secured the leasehold interests in the Mactung property in order to protect and preserve GNWT security interests in the Cantung property. This protects the economic potential of the Mactung resource for future sale. Contribution agreements were finalized and funding arrangements were negotiated with the federal government for the establishment of the Surface Rights Board. Regulations were developed, leading to the Surface Rights Board becoming fully operational on April 1, 2016, which met legislated timelines.
The proposed estimates for the Department of Lands continue to support the priorities of the 18th Legislative Assembly, particularly under the environment, economy, and climate change, governance and accountable, and transparent government themes. Our legislative initiatives include developing a path forward for the Northwest Territories Lands Act and Commissioner’s Land Act which will involve policy development, procedures, and legislative amendments. Some of this work can be completed in the short-term, while other activities will require a longer timeframe.
The department is coordinating GNWT input on further regulatory work by Canada affecting lands and resources in the NWT and has provided input on five sets of regulations under development or amendment. The department continues to manage the inspections, compliance, and enforcement program with a focus on education and awareness. We also continue to work with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources through the cross-appointment of inspectors, and to respond to spills. As a new department, we continue to assess our resource allocations to ensure they are directed to the areas that will respond to the priorities of this 18th Legislative Assembly and to the areas where the need is greatest. We continue to work to ensure that devolved programs are being effectively and efficiently managed. This concludes my opening remarks, Mr. Chair. I look forward to Members’ comments and questions.
Thank you, Minister. Would you like to bring witnesses into the Chamber?
Yes, I would, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister. Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses into the Chamber. Would you please introduce your witnesses, Minister.
Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. I have with me to my right, Kate Hearn. She is the acting deputy minister for the Department of Lands. To my left I have Brenda Hilderman. She is the director of finance and administration.
Thank you, Minister, and thank you to the witnesses for appearing before us. We can start the consideration of the Department of Lands. Page 295 is a total department. We will first begin, however, on page 296 with the detail, lands revenue summary. Do we have comments or questions on page 296, lands revenue summary? I see none. We can move onto the information item on page 297, active position summary. Do we have comments or questions, page 297? I see no comments or questions. We will move onto corporate management. Corporate management beginning at page 299. We will first consider the active positions on page 300. Do we have comments or questions beginning on page 300? I see none. Back to page 299, corporate management. Mr. Vanthuyne.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'm just wondering if the department can give us a bit of an explanation on the significant jump in the travel expenditure from 2014 to 2015, and it seems that we're proposing the same amount as the 2015-16 budget. If we can get an explanation on the travel expenditures that would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Vanthuyne. Minister McLeod.
Yes, Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, just being formed in 2014-15, we didn't do as much travel as we would normally do, but I think in 2015-16 and 2016-17 you see the 124 because there is a greater demand for us to be out travelling, be out inspecting, and just having the presence out there. I think that's probably why you see the increase. I can anticipate a figure of this much going forward.
Thank you, Minister. Nothing further for Mr. Vanthuyne. Further comments or questions. Mr. McNeely.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just noticed on this page here you've got purchased services, and I assume that rise in there is probably due to some consulting/hiring charges, and if so can the Minister explain the increase? That'll be one of two questions. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. McNeely. Minister McLeod?
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the Member's referring to page 299 under purchased services. It's gone from $327,000 in 2015-16 in the revised estimates to $227,000 in 2016-17 main estimates, so it's actually gone down by $100,000, but for a breakout, I mean if the Member still wants a breakout then we can provide that. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister. Anything further, Mr. McNeely.
Yes, and thanks, Mr. Chair. I think there was something -- I've got the wife's glasses on or something here, but anyways that's the excuse I come up with. On the opening comments there, I notice that the Minister had mentioned that there's going to be some initiatives towards restructuring and initiatives taking towards that and the short-term, long-term is as well towards the Commissioner's Land Act and the Northwest Territories Land Act. Is there monies budgeted for that allowance to restructure our land admin?
Thank you, Mr. McNeely. Minister McLeod.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Member is correct that we are going to be looking at the acts because we have two acts that we're operating under right now. As far as having a line item for it, it's within the day-to-day operations of the division so there's no specific line item for it. If the Member's looking -- I'm not sure exactly what our budget is for that, but if the Member would like that information, I'm sure we could find it somewhere. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister. Mr. McNeely.
Well, I just think, Mr. Chair, it's a good initiative and it's part of the housekeeping on straightening out the Lands Act to reflect our new position as new lands owner underneath the devolution transfer. So I think that's good management and I was just wondering on the short term, are we going to be seeing any short term initiatives towards that say within the next 24 months? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. McNeely. Minister McLeod.
Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, we are looking at the two acts and if there's any amendments to either act which would strengthen our position then we'll be looking at making some amendments and in the longer term going towards legislation, but I think that's going to be an enormous piece of work. So if we can make any amendments to strengthen the acts to our benefit then we will do that in the short-term with a longer term goal of eventually amalgamating both acts. I'm not sure we'll see the amalgamation in the life of this Assembly but I'm sure we'll start some preliminary work. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister. Nothing further from Mr. McNeely. Are there any further comments or questions? I see none. I will call the page: Lands, corporate management, operations expenditure summary, activity total, $3,026,000.
Agreed.
Moving onto informatics. The activity totals on page 302. We'll begin discussing the detail on page 303. Comments or questions on informatics, active positions? I see none. We can move onto operations, expenditure summary on page 302. Comments or questions on page 302. I'll give committee a moment. I see no comments or questions. Oh, I see Mr. McNeely. Go ahead.
Yes, Mr. Chair, just going on page 301 on informatics. Could the Minister explain the whole initiative on that particular page there, 301? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. McNeely. Minister McLeod.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I think the activity description in page 301 is pretty well self-explanatory. It points out a lot of things that we're hoping to do and some initiatives that we want to undertake. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister. Mr. McNeely.
Yes, it seemed like it's a program. I get this sort of activity initiative here, but if it's including four different departments, are four different departments putting money towards this system or this support or this initiative?
Thank you, Mr. McNeely. Minister McLeod.
Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. It's fully funded under the Department of Lands budget.
