Thank you, Mr. Nadli. Mr. Guy.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, when we do these types of projects we work very closely with NTPC. The reason Aklavik was selected for this project is because NTPC has a major capital retrofit project committed to lifecycle repairs and upgrades on that plant. It was an opportune time to provide the supplemental funding for the renewable portion. In that particular project we are providing solar panels as well as some funding for a variable speed drive on the generator system to improve the efficiency of the generator and provide an alternative as a pilot to see if that technology will work in lieu of batteries and those type of systems. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Guy. Mr. Nadli.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'd like to thank the deputy minister for providing an explanation. If those decisions were merited on those two points, where would the community within this part of the NWT, say a community that's just off the road on the main transportation road from Enterprise to Yellowknife at the same time serviced by Northland Utilities, how could they be part of that initiative to try to get off diesel and perhaps consider a solar project? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Nadli. Mr. Guy.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. When it comes to provide supports to those private corporations that are in the utility business that would be sort of a policy decision that would have to be addressed again; current policy I don't think allows us to do that. The thinking has been investing in government assets and corporate assets. Going forward through the Energy Plan those are all things that could be considered. However, the test and the piloting of this technology is something that all utility providers across the North could be looking at, whether it's government owned or another government's Crown corporation or private sector utilities or even independent power producers like mines. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Guy. Mr. Nadli
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just wanted to clarify to see if I'm understanding this correctly. The government asked that the NTPC in a community providing perhaps power. In the case of Kakisa it's serviced, of course, by Northlands Utilities so it's not considered a government asset but Kakisa needs backup power. How would a community like Kakisa be considered for perhaps a solar energy project to try to create a decent backup system? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Nadli. Minister.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. So the priority for Public Works and Services has really been in the thermal communities because of the huge costs of transportation costs to get diesel into the communities so that they can function. But with the new energy plan that we'll be looking at we are considering assets for the southern communities as well. So I'm not committing to anything, but the new energy plan we'll be looking at things, for example, soliciting; is it viable to solicit the federal government to get an extra run from the Taltson. You know, those kinds of things will be reviewed within the energy plan and we will be looking at all alternative energies for all communities during that planning process. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister. Mr. Nadli.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. No further questions.
Thank you, Mr. Nadli. Any other questions from committee on page 377, department total? Seeing none. I'll call the page. Public Works and Services, department total, $119,711,000. Agreed?
Agreed.
Does Committee agree we have completed consideration of Public Works and Services?
Agreed.
Thank you, committee. Thank you to the Minister and your witnesses. Sergeant-at-Arms, please remove the witnesses from the Chamber. As we agreed, we will begin consideration of the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs. I turn to the Minister responsible for the department for opening comments. Minister McLeod, your opening comments.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I am pleased to present the 2016-2017 main estimates for the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs. Overall, the department’s estimates propose an increase of $723,000, or less than one per cent over the 2015-16 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
$1.578 million in reductions that the department was able to find without reducing core funding to community governments; and
$2.301 million in forced growth increases, primarily to support the increased cost of operations and maintenance, and water and sewer delivery at the community government level.
The proposed Department of Municipal and Community Affairs estimates continue to support the priorities of the 18th Legislative Assembly. Specific activities in support of these priorities include the continued implementation of the Accountability Framework for Community Governments. The Accountability Framework allows the department to more accurately identify supports required by community governments and to take steps to put those supports in place. The first Accountability Framework Annual Report will be tabled during this session of the Legislative Assembly. MACA will work with 10 community governments as part of a pilot program to install and launch computerized maintenance and asset management systems; remote monitoring systems will be installed in two additional communities, and opportunities for additional systems are being investigated; building local capacity for careers that focus on community governance through the development and delivery of on-line training for community government staff and elected officials. That concludes my opening remarks. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister McLeod. The Chair recognizes Mr. Beaulieu.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that we report progress.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Motion is on the floor to report progress. The motion is in order and non-debatable. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried. I will now rise and report progress.
Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Tabled Document 50-18(2): Main Estimates 2016-2017 and would like to report progress, and, Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of the Committee of the Whole be concurred with.
Masi. Do I have a seconder? Member for Deh Cho. Motion is in order. To the motion. Question's been called. All those in favour? All those opposed?
---Carried
Orders of the day for Friday, June 24, 2016, at 10:00 a.m.:
1. Prayer
2. Ministers' Statements
3. Members' Statements
4. Returns to Oral Questions
5. Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
6. Acknowledgements
7. Oral Questions
8. Written Questions
9. Returns to Written Questions
10. Replies to Commissioner's Opening Address
11. Petitions
12. Reports of Standing and Special Committees
13. Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills
14. Tabling of Documents
15. Notices of Motion
16. Notices of Motion for First Reading of Bills
17. Motions
Motion 21-18(2): Altering of Sitting for Monday, June 27, 2016
18. First Reading of Bills
Bill 5: An Act to Amend the Vital Statistics Act
Bill 6: Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act, 2016
Bill 7: An Act to Amend the Revolving Funds Act
Bill 8: An Act to Amend the Children’s Law Act
19. Second Reading of Bills
20. Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
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Tabled Document 50-18(2): Main Estimates 2016-2017
21. Report of Committee of the Whole
22. Third Reading of Bills
23. Orders of the Day
Masi, Mr. Clerk. This House adjourns until Friday, June 24, 2016, at 10:00 a.m.
---ADJOURNMENT
