Debates of October 19, 2017 (day 3)

October
19
2017
Session
18th Assembly, 3rd Session
Day
3
Speaker
Jackson Lafferty
Word PDF
Members Present
Hon. Glen Abernethy, Mr. Beaulieu, Mr. Blake, Hon. Caroline Cochrane, Ms. Julie Green, Hon. Jackson Lafferty, Hon. Bob McLeod, Hon. Robert McLeod, Mr. McNeely, Hon. Alfred Moses, Mr. Nadli, Mr. Nakimayak, Mr. O’Reilly, Hon. Wally Schumann, Hon. Louis Sebert, Mr. Simpson, Mr. Testart, Mr. Thompson, Mr. Vanthuyne
Assembly Members
Topics
Bill 1: Western Canada Lottery Act
Bill 2: Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2017-2018
Committee Motion 10-18(3): Committee Report 1-18(3): Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures Report on the Review of the Chief Electoral Officer's Report on the Administration of the 2015 Territorial General Election, Supplementary Recommendation
Committee Motion 11-18(3): Committee Report 1-18(3): Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures Report on the Review of the Chief Electoral Officer’s Report on the Administration of the 2015 Territorial General Election, Supplementary Recommendati
Committee Motion 12-18(3): Committee Report 1-18(3): Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures Report on the Review of the Chief Electoral Officer’s Report on the Administration of the 2015 Territorial General Election, Supplementary Recommendati
Committee Motion 13-18(3): Committee Report 1-18(3): Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures Report on the Review of the Chief Electoral Officer’s Report on the Administration of the 2015 Territorial General Election, Supplementary Recommendati
Committee Motion 14-18(3): Committee Report 1-18(3): Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures Report on the Review of the Chief Electoral Officer’s Report on the Administration of the 2015 Territorial General Election, Supplementary Recommendati
Committee Motion 15-18(3): Committee Report 1-18(3): Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures Report on the Review of the Chief Electoral Officer’s Report on the Administration of the 2015 Territorial General Election, Supplementary Recommendati
Committee Motion 16-18(3): Committee Report 1-18(3): Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures Report on the Review of the Chief Electoral Officer’s Report on the Administration of the 2015 Territorial General Election, Supplementary Recommendati
Committee Motion 17-18(3): Committee Report 1-18(3): Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures Report on the Review of the Chief Electoral Officer’s Report on the Administration of the 2015 Territorial General Election, Supplementary Recommendati
Committee Motion 18-18(3): Committee Report 1-18(3): Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures Report on the Review of the Chief Electoral Officer’s Report on the Administration of the 2015 Territorial General Election, Supplementary Recommendati
Committee Motion 2-18(3): Concurrence of Tabled Document 2-18(3): Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 2017-2018, Carried
Committee Motion 3-18(3): Concurrence of Tabled Document 3-18(3): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 1, 2018-2019, Carried
Committee Motion 4-18(3): Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures Report on the Review of the Chief Electoral Officer's Report on the Administration of the 2015 Territorial General Election, Supplementary Recommendations and the White Paper on th
Committee Motion 5-18(3): Committee Report 1-18(3): Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures Report on the Review of the Chief Electoral Officer's Report on the Administration of the 2015 Territorial General Election, Supplementary Recommendations
Committee Motion 6-18(3): Committee Report 1-18(3): Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures Report on the Review of the Chief Electoral Officer's Report on the Administration of the 2015 Territorial General Election, Supplementary Recommendations
Committee Motion 7-18(3): Committee Report 1-18(3): Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures Report on the Review of the Chief Electoral Officer's Report on the Administration of the 2015 Territorial General Election, Supplementary Recommendations
Committee Motion 8-18(3): Committee Report 1-18(3): Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures Report on the Review of the Chief Electoral Officer's Report on the Administration of the 2015 Territorial General Election, Supplementary Recommendations
Committee Motion 9-18(3): Committee Report 1-18(3): Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures Report on the Review of the Chief Electoral Officer's Report on the Administration of the 2015 Territorial General Election, Supplementary Recommendations
Committee Report 3-18(3): Report on Motion 32-18(2), referral of Petition 6-18(2), elimination of time change in the Northwest Territories to the Standing Committee on Social Development
Member's Statement on Clean-up of Sacred Vent Hole of Tthenaago
Member's Statement on Climate Change Audit
Member's Statement on Consensus Government
Member's Statement on Disparity Between Employees of Local Housing Organizations and the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation
Member's Statement on Eulogy for Joseph Maurice Norn
Member's Statement on Giant Mine Remediation
Member's Statement on Government Strategies and Action Plans
Member's Statement on Highway Pedestrian Crossings
Member's Statement on Northern Manufacturing of Modular Homes
Minister's Statement 10-18(3): Climate Change Framework Next Steps
Minister's Statement 11-18(3): Implementation of the NWT Agriculture Strategy
Minister's Statement 12-18(3): Minister Absent from the House
Minister's Statement 8-18(3): Northwest Territories 911 Program
Minister's Statement 9-18(3): Supporting Families and Seniors across the North
Motion 2-18(3): Appointment of Conflict of Interest Commissioner, Carried
Motion 3-18(3): Appointment of the Equal Pay Commissioner, Carried
Motion 4-18(3): Extended Adjournment of the House to February 7, 2018, Carried
Motion 7-18(3): Setting of Sitting Hours by the Speaker
Motion 7-18(3): Setting of Sitting Hours by the Speaker, Carried
Motion to Receive Committee Report 3-18(3) and Move Into Committee of the Whole, Carried
Question 25-18(3): Moose Harvesting Concerns
Question 26-18(3): Modular Public Housing Units
Question 27-18(3): Hay River Pedestrian Crossing Upgrade
Question 28-18(3): Climate Change Audit and Strategic Framework
Question 29-18(3): Differences in Employment Terms Between Northwest Territories Housing Corporation and Local Housing Organizations
Question 30-18(3): Opportunities from Giant Mine Remediation Project
Question 31-18(3): Manufacturing Strategy in the Northwest Territories
Question 32-18(3): Governance of the Northwest Territories Power Corporation
Question 33-18(3): History of Social Housing in the Northwest Territories
Question 34-18(3): Modular Public Housing Units
Question 35-18(3): Energy Requirements for Giant Mine Remediation Project
Question 36-18(3): Modular Public Housing Units
Recorded Vote
Tabled Document 30-18(3): Grants and Contributions Results Reports 2016-2017
Written Question 1-18(3): Maintenance of Highway No. 3
Statements

Thank you. Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 2017-2018, Justice operations expenditures, total department not previously authorized, $582,000. Does committee agree?

Speaker: SOME HON. MEMBERS

Agreed.

Thank you, committee. Page 11, Municipal and Community Affairs. Comments or questions? I see none. Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 2017-2018, Municipal and Community Affairs, operations expenditures, regional operations not previously authorized, $264,000. Does committee agree?

Speaker: SOME HON. MEMBERS

Agreed.

Thank you. Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 2017-2018, Municipal and Community Affairs, operations expenditures, total department not previously authorized, $264,000. Does committee agree?

Speaker: SOME HON. MEMBERS

Agreed.

Committee, do you agree that this concludes our consideration of Tabled Document 2-18(3), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 2017-2018?

Speaker: SOME HON. MEMBERS

Agreed.

Thank you, committee. Mr. Testart.

Committee Motion 2-18(3): Concurrence of Tabled Document 2-18(3): Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 2017-2018, Carried

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that consideration of Tabled Document 2-18(3) Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 2017-2018, be now concluded and that Tabled Document 2-18(3) be reported and recommended as ready for further consideration in formal session through the form of an appropriation bill. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Testart. There is a motion on the floor. The motion is in order. To the motion. The question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed?

---Carried

The motion is carried. Thank you, committee.

We have next agreed to consider Tabled Document 3-18(3), Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 1, 2018-2019. I will turn to the Minister of Finance for opening remarks. Minister McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am here to present Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures) No. 1, 2018-2019. This document provides for an increase of $855,000 to the capital budget.

The items in these supplementary estimates are:

$1.255 million to advance projects associated with the implementation of junior kindergarten; and

A $400,000 decrease for the Syncrolift project at the marine facility in Hay River, which will be funded through the Marine Transportation Services Revolving Fund.

That concludes my opening remarks. I am prepared to respond to the committee’s questions. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister McLeod. Please take your seat at the witness table with your witnesses. Minister McLeod, you might as well introduce your witnesses one more time for us. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, to my right I have Mr. David Stewart, who is a deputy minister of the Department of Finance. To my left, I have Mr. Sandy Kalgutkar, who is our deputy secretary to the FMB. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister. Do we have general comments from committee? Mr. Testart.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I would like to ask the Minister about the $400,000 decrease for the Syncrolift project. This is something we discussed in our review of the capital budget estimates. I would like to know if the Minister could just explain how this $400,000 project appeared in the capital when it was supposed to be paid out of the revolving fund just for our clarification. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Testart. Can we wait until we are at that section? Would that be acceptable?

Yes, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Testart. If I have no further general comments on this, we can begin consideration at page 6. Education, Culture and Employment. Comments or questions? Mr. O'Reilly.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. This is, as I understand it, well, let's start with this: can the Minister explain what this additional appropriation is and what will it accomplish for junior kindergarten? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. This money was initially appropriated to go over three years. I am working with and getting feedback from committee. It was decided that we would make this money available to all the schools for their junior kindergarten in one year. ECE is currently working with the divisional education authorities in the Department of Infrastructure on an updated schedule to undertake required capital projects in 2018-2019. As far as the individual items of what the Member is referring to, we don't have that detail of information right away, but as soon as they come out with a plan, we will share it with the Members. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Mr. O'Reilly.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I appreciate the efforts of my Cabinet friends to move this up and try to get the work done within one year. That is something that I raise concerns about and I am really glad to see that they were able to respond positively and try to move this work up. I understand that there might be some capacity issues in terms of getting the work contracted and out the door and following up appropriately and so on. I take it, then, from what the Minister said that they are developing a bit of a plan to try to speed up that work. Any idea when they might be able to share some of the details of that with Regular MLAs on this side?

The reason why I ask that is I understand there are a number of projects and much of the work is to be done in smaller communities, which is good; it will help create jobs there, but also make sure that our new junior kindergarten students have access to safe playgrounds and school facilities and so on. Can the Minister keep us updated on this plan that they're developing to speed up the work? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Minister McLeod.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I will work with my Cabinet colleague from Education and soon as we have a concrete plan as to where the investments are going to be and what it's going to consist of, we'd be glad to share that with committee. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Mr. O'Reilly.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Just in the eventuality that the work can't all be done this year, it could be carried over into the next year?

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. I will just remind everyone to make sure your light is on before you begin speaking. Minister McLeod.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, that is correct. It can be carried over. Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. O'Reilly.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I do sincerely appreciate the efforts of my Cabinet friends to speed up that work. I just want to go on the record, because I don't often do that, thanking them for their hard work on that one. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, committee. Seeing nothing further, I will call this section. 2018-2019 Supplementary Estimate No. 1 (Infrastructure Expenditures), Education, Culture and Employment, capital investment expenditures, early childhood and schools not previously authorized, $1,255,000. Does committee agree?

Speaker: SOME HON. MEMBERS

Agreed.

Thank you, committee. 2018-2019 Supplementary Estimate No. 1, (Infrastructure Expenditures), Education, Culture and Employment, capital investment expenditures, total department not previously authorized, $1,255,000. Does committee agree?

Speaker: SOME HON. MEMBERS

Agreed.

Thank you, committee. Moving on to page 7. Mr. Testart had comments on this section. Mr. Testart.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I would like to ask the Minister to respond to my previous comment. Thank you.

Minister, do you remember Mr. Testart's previous comment?

We never forget. Mr. Chair, the reason that it's coming forward, and a negative supp, it was a timing issue. My understanding is the revolving fund wasn't quite set up in time. The capital budget had been approved by FMB, and then so once the revolving fund was set up, it would determine that we would put a negative supp in and have this $400,000 paid out of the revolving fund. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister. Mr. Testart.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you to the Minister for that response. I'm glad to see this is a timing error. It's important we follow through where financial authority is granted and where it flows from. My further question is: how much money is currently in the MTS revolving fund? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Testart. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, because it is brand new, we haven't done a full accounting on it yet, so as far as the actual what's in there, we'd have to pull that information together and share it with committee. Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Testart.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So my recollection is that the maximum amount of the fund is $35 million. Does the Minister believe that this will be sufficient and the current inflow of revenue is sufficient to fund future infrastructure projects, or will we ever be in the situation where we'll require additional funding from general revenue to pay for MTS operations or infrastructure? Thank you.

Thank you. Minister McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, we would like to think that, or we "believe" is probably a better word to use, that the MTS does well and there are profits realized at the end of the year. If there are any infrastructure investments that need to be made, we're quite confident that we should have the money in the account to cover them. If not, then we will have to cross that, when we get to it. Thank you, Mr. Chair.