As I have said, we have already engaged with stakeholders on this very topic, and we are very confident that the LNG plant and the propane people will have sufficient storage to get the community of Inuvik through this transition.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Mackenzie Delta.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, you never know how long this freeze-up could last. It could be two months; it could be three months, depending on the weather. For some reason, the pipeline to Ikhil, for example, something happened to that. That would have an impact on the LNG storage that is in Inuvik. Will the Minister take a closer look at this operation, and possibly reinstate it? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have already had a close look at this. This is the reason we bring this forward as a reduction in the Minister's budget proposal, and I stand behind the department's decision to bring this forward.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Hay River North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Education has previously mentioned that Aurora College had a review of its programs. I assume there are outside agencies that also review these programs. I know in this House, we get to see the annual report which is tabled, as well as the public accounts. None of that really helps us hold Aurora College accountable.
I would like to know, with the reviews of the programs, what happens if the department finds that Aurora College is not living up to what they would like? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and yes, we do have third-party reviews by other partner institutions that, obviously, we work with. For instance, the Bachelor of Education program is reviewed by the University of Saskatchewan. The nursing program is credited and reviewed by the Canadian Association of School and Nursing, as well as the Registered Nurses' Association of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. The trades program, that is reviewed under the Apprenticeships Division within our department.
It is something that we always look at and look into in terms of reviewing the program, making sure that it is meeting the educational objectives, as well as making sure that students that are taking those programs have the opportunity to transfer to other institutions once they have completed, so we do outside reviews from other agencies when we are looking at these programs. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The Minister mentions the Bachelor of Education program was reviewed by the University of Saskatchewan, yet we see the 75 per cent dropout rate. We hear anecdotally from former students and people in the education industry that it is hard to find jobs. What comes of these reviews? I know the college can be told to do better, but is there any real consequence to failure by the college?
I agree with the Member that we do need to do a better job of making sure that Aurora College is accountable, not only to the department. It is public dollars that we are investing into Aurora College, so they can provide the programs as well as the services to meet the educational needs of our residents, our young adults, so that they can get into the career force and be part of society and working in their communities, hopefully.
We are working on developing an accountability framework currently with Aurora College, but we have also set up more scheduled meetings with the board of governors, as well as the president and the chair so that we can keep each other updated on work that is being done. This is the first time that the board of governors has also received mandate letters from myself to ensure that they are going in the right direction moving forward. There is a lot of work going on, and we want to make sure that any students who enter Aurora College programs do, in fact, come out with the education that they need in order to be able to get a job within our communities.
I hear that the Minister of this term, there are a lot of changes to the way that the government interacts with Aurora College. There are mandate letters for the first time, more meetings with the Board of Governors, a new accountability framework. It sounds like the department is aware that there is an issue. The problem is that government is good at taking half measures, but it is not very good at fundamental change. I think what we need here is fundamental changes to an organization that has been now entrenched in their ways after decades.
Is the Minister of the opinion that we need something beyond -- not opinion. How about this: Is there a plan in the future to look at the foundation of Aurora College to really get down to the function of the administration of what we want this to be? Is that in the works?
I know the reduction review that we are going through with Aurora College has sparked a lot of discussion and debate right across the Northwest Territories. It sheds light on some of the concerns that the honourable Member has mentioned in terms of the foundational structure of Aurora College administration. If that is a review that the government wants to go through, that is something that we would take a look at, and see what are some of our challenges and barriers within the Aurora College system that we are having high dropout rates in these two specific programs, and that our graduation rates are pretty low and have been historically low over the last few years, and how do we adjust fixing those, and also changing the direction of Aurora College so that we are meeting and providing program services to meet the in-demand jobs that we are going to see here in the Northwest Territories.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Hay River North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister mentioned that if that is the type of review that the government wants to go through; I will remind the Minister that he is part of the government. He is the head of the Education, Culture and Employment Department. The problem, I guess, with government, with half measures, is that you have to make decisions that are unpopular and might not get you re-elected, but you need eight years to make those decisions.
That is how you get real change done. I will ask the Minister if he will make an unpopular decision and commit to a foundational review of Aurora College. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I do agree; we invest a lot of money in Aurora College. We've seen with these two programs in particular that there were some challenges. We have low graduation rates. Once again, I do want to emphasize to any of the students who might be listening who are in these programs: focus, study hard to completion and graduation, because that was one of the indicators that brought these programs forward. I will talk with the departments about that foundational review. We'll have discussions. We'll sit down with the chair as well as with the president and see what the next steps in moving on that foundation review can be and what it will look like. Obviously, we're just going through that strategic planning process right now so we want to see what comes out of that first and then we can move into the next steps.
Mr. Speaker, I have a return to Written Question 15-18(2) asked by Mr. O'Reilly to the Honourable Bob McLeod, Premier, on January 31, 2017, regarding the Government of the Northwest Territories' Participation at the Association of Mineral Exploration BC Roundup in January 2017.
Can the Premier provide a list of all NWT Ministers and staff who travelled to Vancouver for the meetings and:
Total cost of travel including transportation, showing air travel by executive versus economy class; accommodations; expenses; and associated allowances;
Any related contract costs for the trip, particularly costs of conference registration, exhibitor staffing, any fees for consulting services outside of those provided by public servants, any funding by the GNWT Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment of the costs of other NWT representatives attending;
A description of hospitality events, including costs and numbers and names of persons attending; and
Procedures in place to track and report on accomplishments resulting from trip activities.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to advise this House that seven Ministers and 24 staff were in Vancouver at the time of the Association for Mineral Exploration BC Roundup. While attendance at the Roundup may not have been the primary reason for travelling to Vancouver, all seven Ministers and 24 staff attended one or more events at this year's Roundup. For example, on January 23rd I met with the Premiers from Nunavut and Yukon to discuss how we might work with Canada on the development of an Arctic Strategy and how all three territories can work together to develop a Pan Territorial Sustainable Development Strategy. provided the Legislative Assembly with details on both of these initiatives in my Minister's Statement of February 14th. Later today, at the appropriate time, I will table a list of the seven Ministers and 24 staff.
Mr. Speaker, as most Members are aware time is required to reconcile credit card statements and expense reports, but since only 21 days are allocated to respond to written questions, I am advising the House of the following predicted costs on the understanding that the final costs for Ministerial Travel will be calculated, confirmed and made public through the Ministerial Travel Report.
Total cost of air travel for the 31 participants was $35,350.47. All travel was economy class, except for seven legs of southern travel which had to be accommodated through business class travel when economy class travel was not available.
Participants' accommodations costs varied by lengths of stay, but have been calculated at a total of $32,239.46 for the seven Ministers and 24 staff. Other expenses for the 31 participants such as meals, incidentals and taxis totalled $21,182.95. No allowances were paid.
The GNWT paid $3,614.29 in Roundup registration fees and exhibition costs charged to the GNWT totalled $26,621. No consultant fees were paid.
The GNWT supported the participation of 14 individuals representing NWT Aboriginal governments in this year's Roundup, and contributed additional funding to the NWT Chamber of Mines. The contributions toward these "other NWT representatives" totalled $70,636.89.
The hospitality events hosted by the GNWT were a private Cabinet luncheon with industry and Aboriginal organizations, and a public coffee with Cabinet at the booth, costing a total $3,717.75. The Chamber of Mines used a portion of the GNWT contribution referenced above to host an NWT Night reception.
Mr. Speaker, to put all these costs in some context, I would like to advise the House that the GNWT's direct costs and contributions associated with the 2016 Roundup total approximately $137,000. The difference between the 2017 costs and the 2016 costs can be attributed to increased participation of Ministers, increased participation of staff and increased participation of GNWT sponsored representatives from aboriginal organizations.
As I said in the House on several occasions, mining is the engine of the NWT's economy and we cannot take our mineral potential for granted. Promoting awareness of NWT priorities and advocating for its interests on the national and international stage is an ongoing responsibility that Ministers and staff undertake by participating in a range of events, including meetings with other government leaders and dignitaries, representing the NWT at FPT and other intergovernmental meetings, and attending and presenting at conferences, trade shows, workshops and other events like PDAC, the Geosciences Forum, Opportunities North, Meet the North; and later this year the Anti-Poverty Roundtable and the Alternative Energy Conference. While the GNWT does not track specific results for any particular event, this is part of the ongoing work of promoting the interests of the government and people of the Northwest Territories that is common to all governments. Thank you Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to present a petition dealing with the matter of funding to Aurora College.
Mr. Speaker, the petition contains 224 electronic signatures of Northwest Territories residents, and, Mr. Speaker, the petitioners request that the Government of the Northwest Territories maintain funding to Aurora College in the 2017-2018 budget year and throughout the life of the current Assembly that is sufficient to allow the college to continue to offer all of its existing programs. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document entitled "Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Motion 26-18(2): Junior kindergarten." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Tabling of documents. Honourable Premier.
Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document entitled "Package of Letters of Support for the Mineral Exploration Roundup 2017."
Further to my returns to Written Questions 15-18(2) and 16-18(2), Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following two documents "List of Northwest Territories Ministers and Staff Who Attended One or More Events Associated with the Mineral Exploration Roundup in Vancouver January 2017" and "List of Northwest Territories Ministers and Staff Who Attended One or More Events Associated with the Northwest Territories Mission to Ottawa, November 2016." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Tabling of documents. Member for Kam Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have three letters I would like to table. One is from Ms. Karen Lapine-McFeeters, a third-year Teacher Education Program student. One from Her Worship Lynn Napier-Buckley, the Mayor of Fort Smith, and a member of the Board of Governors of Aurora College; and a letter from Chris Westwell, an actively engaged and concerned citizen. They are all in reference to the cuts at Aurora College. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Tabling of documents. Pursuant to section 21(1) of the Legislative Assembly Retirement Allowance Act and Section 11.1 of the Supplementary Retirement Allowance Act, I wish to table the Annual Report - NWT Legislative Assembly Pension Plans, March 31, 2016.
In accordance with section 21(1) of the Retirement Allowance Act and Section 11.1 of the Supplementary Retirement Allowance Act, I hereby table the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly Pension Administration Report - Retiring Allowances Act and Supplementary Retirement Allowances Act at March 31, 2016.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Thursday, February 23, 2017, I will move the following motion: I move, seconded by the Honourable Member for Great Slave, that, notwithstanding Rule 14, when this House adjourns on February 23, 2017, it shall be adjourned until Tuesday, February 28, 2017;
And further, that any time prior to February 28, 2017, if the Speaker is satisfied, after consultation with the Executive Council and Members of the Legislative Assembly, that the public interest requires that the House should meet at an earlier time during the adjournment, the Speaker may give notice and thereupon the House shall meet at the time stated in such notice and shall transact its business as it has been duly adjourned to that time. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Notices of motion. Item 16, notices of motion for first reading of bills. Item 17, motions. Item 18, first reading of bills. Item 19, second reading of bills. Item 20, consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and other matters: Bill 7, Bill 13. Committee Report 6-18(2), Tabled Document 261-18(2), with Member for Hay River North in the chair.
I'll now call Committee of the Whole to order. What is the wish of committee, Mr. Beaulieu?
Marci cho, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, committee wishes to consider Tabled Document 261-18(2), Northwest Territories Main Estimates 2017-2018, and we would like to consider the Department of Infrastructure. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
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I call the Committee of the Whole back to order. Committee, we have agreed to continue our discussion of Tabled Document 261-18(2), Northwest Territories Main Estimates 2017-2018, and we have agreed to consider the Department of Infrastructure. I would ask the Minister responsible if he has any opening comments. Minister.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am pleased to present the 2017-2018 Main Estimates for the proposed Department of Infrastructure. Overall, the department’s estimates, totalling $240.4 million, propose a decrease of $4.5 million or 1.9 per cent from the 2016-17 combined estimates of the Departments of Public Works and Services and Transportation.
These estimates continue to support the GNWT’s objective of ensuring a strong and sustainable future for the government and its programs by managing expenditures due to limited revenue growth.
The 2017-2018 Main Estimates include an increase of $2.9 million from the 2017-18 business plan reviewed by standing committee in September. This increase resulted from a $2.3 million increase in amortization expense for new assets being brought into service; $350,000 transferred to the department for leases formerly administered by the Department of Executive; and $253,000 for permafrost research and development activities along various sections of the highway system.
The 2017-2018 Main Estimates also include an increase of $1.5 million to maintain and enhance our transportation infrastructure through construction and maintenance of the Wekweeti winter road, operation and maintenance of the Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk highway, and through various highway and winter road contracts intended to improve transportation infrastructure in the Deh Cho region.
These increases are offset by reductions totalling $6.5 million resulting from the amalgamation of the Departments of Transportation and Public Works and Services.
The amalgamation will achieve future savings through improved efficiencies, such as eliminating duplicate services in the areas of finance, administration, and management of the vehicle fleet.
A priority for the department is the continuation of a decentralized service delivery model, which will be enhanced with the proposed establishment of a new regional office in the Sahtu to be headquartered in Norman Wells.
The department’s 2017-18 estimates will continue to support the priorities of the 18th Legislative Assembly. Specific initiatives include increasing the use of renewable and alternative energy in off-grid communities, engaging with the federal government to access funding for major renewable energy initiatives, like assessing ways to use the surplus power available in the South Slave region, and the ongoing development of the NWT Energy Strategy to support the priorities of this Legislative Assembly by reducing our reliance on fossil fuels, reducing the cost of living, and promoting a sustainable future for our land and people. The department will also provide $2.7 million to the Arctic Energy Alliance to support its work promoting the use of energy efficient technologies for residents, businesses, and communities.
The department will continue its investment in the Deferred Maintenance Program by upgrading and preserving our building assets such as workshops, offices, schools, and health centres. The Deferred Maintenance Program helps the GNWT to better target its capital dollars in support of its priorities by maintaining and extending the useful life of our existing asset base.
The exit of an established northern marine carrier from the Western Arctic shipping business made it necessary for the Government of the Northwest Territories to step in and secure its unique assets and keep them in the North. The decision to purchase the assets was only made within the last few weeks, so marine operations are not reflected in these estimates.
The department is currently researching and evaluating various business models so the government of the Northwest Territories can make the best use of these marine assets. Our residents, businesses, and communities depend on reliable marine transportation services to deliver their household goods and building supplies as well as aviation, diesel, gasoline, and heating fuels. To fund the planning and start-up of operations the department will be seeking supplementary appropriations in 2016-17 and in 2017-18 that will be fully offset by shipping revenues. Providing reliable and affordable marine resupply services to government and residents is one way the Department of Infrastructure is advancing this Legislative Assembly’s goals to address the high cost-of-living.
That concludes my opening comments, Mr. Chair.
