Thank you Mr. Chair. I’ll defer to Mr. Guy.
Mr. Chair, as of today, there is no definitive way forward. We would like to meet with the community first to determine that. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Nagel. Mr. Thompson.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. That's actually good news. I just wanted to get it clarified on that, and I hope the department is able to keep me updated. I know the community will, but, if the department can, as well, on the process of this as they move forward on this project. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Thomson. Minister Schumann, do you want to add to that?
Okay. Mr. Beaulieu.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, on the Capital Asset Retrofit Program, I'd like to ask the Minister if the plan is to retrofit all GNWT owned buildings? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Minister Schumann.
I'll turn it over to Mr. Guy.
Thank you, Minister Schumann. Mr. Guy.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Through the Capital Asset Retrofit Program, we focus on the GNWT-owned buildings that are managed by the Department of Public Works and Services. There are approximately 800 assets in our database that we identify for these energy efficiency upgrades. We look at each building. We do an energy audit, a detailed assessment for the proposed scope of work that we would consider through the Capital Asset Retrofit Program. We prioritize it based on payback as well as what other work we have planned on that building. That's how we develop that list. So it is focused on the GNWT's own assets that are maintained by the Department of Public Works. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Guy. Mr. Beaulieu.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I wonder if the Minister could advise the House what the deferred maintenance situation is now. What is the deferred maintenance amount at this time?
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Minister Schumann.
It's about $212 million.
Mr. Nagel.
I think we have nothing further. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Nagel. Mr. Beaulieu.
I thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I am satisfied with those responses. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Minister Schumann.
No, thank you.
Mr. Nadli.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm just trying to understand the government's policy in terms of surplus buildings, just in terms of appraising the situation in Fort Providence. We did have at one time an old health centre that, I understand, has been decommissioned. So the Department of Health and Social Services, of course, did upgrade the building, so, from what we understand, the latest was that there's supposed to be an assessment in terms of whether there are hazardous materials contained in the building and perhaps consider a remediation plan of some sort.
So I understand that the department does play a role in this in terms of making that assessment, at the same time maybe making a decision at some point whether to offer it to other departments within the GNWT or, at the same time, maybe as an option to approach the community to look at maybe playing a role in terms of the future purpose of the old health centre in Fort Providence that still has life value in terms of making it of use at the local level. Maybe the Minister could clarify his role? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Nadli. Minister Schumann. Yes, go ahead, Mr. Guy.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Member is correct. The Public Works and Services is responsible for the disposal of surplus government assets. In the case of the old health centre in Fort Providence, the process would be the department would surplus that formally through sending a letter to the Department of Public Works and Services, which I think has recently happened. Although the new building was completed for a number of years, that building still had some remaining assets and files in storage in there that had to be addressed by the department. I understand that has now been completed and the building has been surplussed.
We have a disposal policy in place to go through for real improved property. Part of that process is doing an assessment of the hazardous materials so that there's full disclosure should we move forward with the disposing of it to another party. Then we have a process where we consider other government uses, other uses in the community, and so forth, to determine the priorities for disposal. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Guy. Mr. Nadli.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm just trying to understand the process. At which point would the community be approached in terms of considering whether it could be given to the community to perhaps take over responsibility in terms of maintaining the building? Is that perhaps the last step in the policy? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Nadli. Mr. Guy.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. We are aware of a number of interests in the community. In terms of the policy, they are about second or third down the list. We usually start with other government departments and other government agencies; however, in this case it's unlikely that we would see that type of use so the community would probably be one of the third or the fourth party. We're very early into the process, as I said. We've only recently received the formal surplus notice; however, we are aware of those requests from the community and we will be bringing them forward for consideration as we work through the process. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Guy. Mr. Nadli.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just out of curiosity, like how is the building being maintained currently? I understand there has to be at the very minimum and lighting in terms of operating a building. Is that still continuing and for how long. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Nadli. Minister Schumann.
I'll defer that to Deputy Minister Guy.
Mr. Guy, go ahead.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. We're funded for the maintenance on that building. We do minimal maintenance in terms of keeping minimal heat on to prevent it freezing up, doing the daily checks or whatever required, security checks, keeping minimal electrical power service in place, and once the building is removed, either demolished or transferred to another party, taken off the government's books. Then we would surplus that money through the business planning process that used to maintain it. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Guy. Mr. Nadli.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. No further questions.
Thank you, Mr. Nadli. Mr. O'Reilly.
Thanks, Mr. Chair. I see that the top item on PWS-3 is fuel delivery truck for Colville Lake. I understand that we installed some solar panels there and things are working over very well. What's the percentage of the energy supply for the community that's generated by those solar panels now? Thanks, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister Schumann.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I don’t have those numbers in front of me, but I believe it's approximately 15 to 20 per cent depending on the time of year and there are periods of the day, for example in the summer where they meet all of the immediate requirements for the community. But those solar panels do offset I believe it's about 15 to 20 per cent. In terms of the fuel truck, of course the fuel truck is being used to distribute heating fuel as well as I believe fuel to the airport for purposes there as well and as well as to the power plant. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Guy. Mr. O'Reilly.
Thanks, Mr. Chair. I appreciate the response, but I think I heard the words "I think." So could we get a commitment out of the Minister to provide that information to Regular Members? Thanks, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister Schumann.
Yes, we can do that.
Thank you, Minister Schumann. Anything further, Mr. O'Reilly?
No. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Okay, seeing no further questions on detail on PWS-3, we will go back to PWS number 2, Public Works and Services, asset management, infrastructure investments, $12,617,000. Agreed?
Agreed.
