Inclusive schooling, the funding is allocated for students who do need extra help in the classroom to offset some of the concerns and developmental concerns that we're seeing in some of our students. So initially it was there to provide assistance to help our students achieve better outcomes. So that's initially what the dollars were implemented for.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to ask the Minister if he would release up-to-date final summary documentation to advise all interested parties on how junior kindergarten is fully funded. Thank you.
Currently we've got information out there to all parents who are enrolling their four-year-olds into junior kindergarten. We're getting information out to the board chairs. We're meeting with superintendents to see the rollout of how junior kindergarten is going to look in 2017-18 school year, so we're working with the stakeholders to make sure that it's a smooth transition.
Obviously, we've still got to wait for some numbers of students who are being enrolled. As you do know, it is an optional program for schools, and they also have the option of a half day or full day, so some of the things that still need answers to. When we do have it we will share it with the House and the Committee.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions today are for the Minister responsible for the Power Corporation. We heard earlier today that the Minister alluded to the idea or fact that, when Northland Utilities is no longer going to be the distributor of power to the Town of Hay River, quite confidently, the Minister indicated to the House that Hay River rates will go down or be less.
Mr. Speaker, as a Yellowknife resident, the portion of our power bill that is responsible for or comes under NTPC, which is about 75 per cent of our power bill, has seen an increase of nearly 30 per cent over the last four years and is going to see an addition 8 per cent increase in the coming two years. How can the Minister so confidently suggest that rates in Hay River will go down while ours will collectively have gone up by a compounded rate of 40 per cent over six years? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Minister responsible for NWT Power Corp.
Mr. Speaker, once the arbitrator works out the price of the assets to be acquired in Hay River we are confident that that figure will, in fact, lead to a reduction of rates in Hay River. As everyone knows, all rates are, however, subject to PUB scrutiny. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you to the Minister for reminding us that all rates are subject to the PUB, because I've actually heard the Minister say in the past that it's not them that are responsible for the rates getting set; that it is, in fact, the Public Utilities Board. So it leads me to believe once again, while we're suffering in Yellowknife from never-ending increases in rates, how there can be such confidence in suggesting that the Town of Hay River is going to get lower rates when we know it's the Public Utilities Board, according to the Minister, that sets the rates. So how can he, once again, confidently suggest that they're going to get lower rates?
The rates set by the Public Utilities Board, of course, are set after consultation with the public and submissions by the public. We are very confident that, assuming the assets in Hay River can be acquired at a reasonable amount, and that is our belief, that once the PUB looks at that we are very confident that rates in Hay River will fall. Our estimate is they will fall between perhaps 15 and 30 per cent, somewhere in that range.
I'm considering now moving to Hay River, quite frankly. They've got a good golf course there, too.
Mr. Speaker, it seems like the Minister is pre-empting a little bit of the Public Utilities Board's work in making such strong suggestions. You know, I wonder, to some degree, if the Minister believes that the Public Utilities Board, in fact, even has a position in setting rates in the Northwest Territories anymore?
Yes, of course, Mr. Speaker, rates are established by the Public Utilities Board, an organization that is independent of the territorial government. The Member opposite made reference to the rates in Yellowknife. I'd like to point out and remind all Members that rates in Yellowknife were massively subsidized during two dry seasons, so it's not as though the citizens of Yellowknife have had to bear any additional cost as a result of that, and therefore, I am confident that the rates in Hay River will, assuming the arbitrator decides to allow the acquisition of the disputed assets at a reasonable amount, very confident that that will lead to a reduction of rates in that community.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to remind the Minister that a subsidy for the City of Yellowknife to the tune of $50 million is a subsidy for the territory because we know that the rates for the rest of the territory are based on Yellowknife. That said, we can see that the Public Utilities Board is basically a pawn to some degree, Mr. Speaker. The Minister already got rid of, at his discretion, the public representative board of the Power Corporation. He said that was to save $1 million. Why don't we just get rid of the Public Utilities Board, turn the Power Corporation into a fully GNWT-operated entity, and bring its business plan to this House on an annual basis for approval and for funding? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, there's a long tradition across Canada of Public Utilities Boards setting rates. It is an interesting proposal, what the Member opposite has suggested, however.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On this topic today, I attended a luncheon with the president of the Canadian Electricity Association, and there were some facts that he brought forward; namely, that the Conference Board of Canada believes that it will take $350 billion to renew electricity infrastructure and support the growing demand for energy. Does the Minister know what our current infrastructure deficit is in power infrastructure in the Northwest Territories? Thank you.
Minister responsible for NWT Power Corporation.
No, I'm not aware of that figure, but I can certainly look into this matter for the Member. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I would appreciate if the Minister could share that with us all. Does the Power Corporation have a plan to renew this infrastructure across the Territories?
Yes. Of course, the Power Corporation is aware that assets depreciate and, in addition, the government has been looking into a new energy plan and consulting with utilities. Mr. Speaker, again, I will look into this matter further for the Member opposite. I don't know if there's a figure out there as to what it would cost to replace the entire system, but again, I will look into it.
Also, in the process of acquiring the Northlands assets in Hay River, is the Minister, or the Power Corporation, or anyone, aware of the state of that infrastructure and whether it needs renewal in the short to immediate term? Are we going to be taking on additional costs in renewing that infrastructure? Is the Minister aware if those questions have been asked?
Of course, all assets are depreciating, but one of the things that is going to be taking place as this matter goes to the arbitrator is there will be an evaluation made of those assets which, I assume, will take into account depreciation.
Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess what I'm getting at, there's a growing infrastructure need for power generation. Our rates continue to go up. Our rate base is not increasing, given our low amount of population. Is this government going to prioritize power generation, and starting with the Taltson expansion. We know they've gone to Ottawa. We know they've had those discussions with our federal counterparts. Have we made any progress on that, and is the Minister prepared to announce a Taltson expansion deal by the end of this Assembly? Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, I can advise that we have, of course, as the Member opposite mentioned, engaged with the federal government. Also, there have been preliminary discussions with officials in the Province of Saskatchewan. We are waiting for the federal infrastructure budget to see if we can access those funds for major development.
Time for oral questions has expired. Before I move on to written questions, colleagues, since our last sitting day, I have had time to reflect on the written questions filed on Thursday, February 9. Before I proceed with the written questions, I would like to take a moment to remind all Members to use this item appropriately.
According to Rule 44(1), written questions should be reserved for those questions "which would be likely to require a detailed or complex answer, or which would not reasonably be assumed to be within the present knowledge of the Minister." To quote former speaker Paul Delorey, "Written questions are not intended to be an indirect way of extending oral question period."
On one hand, to interpret this rule too stringently may have the undesired effect of curtailing full and open debate in this House and limiting the information available to Members. On the other hand, to interpret this rule too loosely may lead to the misuse of the privileges enjoyed by Members.
Colleagues, if you have any uncertainty about potential written questions, or other items, please do not hesitate to discuss the matter with either myself or my staff. As your Speaker, it is my duty to ensure that all written questions conform to the rules and practices of the House.
I will allow the written questions filed on Thursday, February 9, to stand, as I believe it is important for Members of this House to have the ability to seek important information from this government.
I remind all Members in these Chambers to pay close attention to the form and content of their written questions in the future. Masi.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Human Resources.
Can the Minister provide the latest available information on the status of public services staffing, specifically the number of full-time indeterminate positions vacant each month to date in the 2016-17 fiscal year by department or agency, and:
The number of active staffing actions to fill vacant indeterminate positions in each of these months;
The total number of hours and costs of overtime paid during each of these months;
The total number of hours and costs of overtime paid during each of these months in positions where backfill is required owing to the positions providing essential services, for example, nursing, corrections, highways maintenance; and
The total number of sick days for essential service positions referenced in question number three above?
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Written questions. Member for Yellowknife Centre.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment regarding funding for the implementation of junior kindergarten. The Minister has said that junior kindergarten will be fully funded, yet there are additional costs the government has not yet agreed to pay. Will the Minister provide an analysis of the additional funds schools will require to cover the cost of inclusive schooling for all grades starting with junior kindergarten, and:
Provide an analysis of the additional funding schools will require to cover the cost of busing children as young as three years eight months who need seat belts and extra adult supervision;
Provide an analysis of how implementation of junior kindergarten will accommodate existing programs that serve four-year-olds without jeopardizing the financial viability of those programs; and finally
Provide an analysis on assigning a subsidy to each four-year-old -- equivalent to the cost of fully funding junior kindergarten on a per-child basis -- for parents to spend on the program of their choice and a rationale for rejecting this option?
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to table a document from Grand Chief Herb Norwegian with regard to post-secondary cuts to the Education and Social Work programs. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Tabling of documents. Member for Nunakput.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to table a document from the Government to the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation: "Renewing the Comprehensive Land Claims Policy: Towards a Framework for Addressing Section 35 Aboriginal Rights."
As well, a "Statement of Principles on the Federal Approach to Modern Treaty Implementation." Modern Treaties are a key component of Canadian nation building. Also, "Cabinet Direction on the Federal Approach to Modern Treaty Implementation Roles and Responsibilities."
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I now call Committee of the Whole to order. What is the wish of committee? Mr. Beaulieu.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, committee wishes to consider Tabled Document 216-18(2), NWT Main Estimates 2017-2018 with the Department of Health and Social Services. Mr. Chairman, if we are to conclude the Department of Health and Social Services, we would like to get the Minister's comments on Industry, Tourism and Investment. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
We will take a short recess and begin with consideration of the document after. Thank you.
---SHORT RECESS
I will now call the Committee of the Whole back to order. We will continue with our consideration of Tabled Document 26118(2), Main Estimates, 20172018. Minister, would you like to bring witnesses into the Chamber?
