I thank the Minister for that detailed response. Mr. Speaker, my second question for the Minister is: when can the Northwest Territories expect to see the Corporation roll out projects funded by the federal government's new National Housing Strategy?
The territorial government is hopeful that the National Housing Strategy will be finalized for the fiscal year 2018-2019. We are still in negotiations with the federal government on what the National Housing Strategy will look like for the Northwest Territories. We have, so far, a firm commitment that $36 million will be provided over 10 years. That's $3.6 million per year, and we're still negotiating further housing support that they can provide because, in my humble opinion, $3.6 million a year is not going to address our housing needs.
I appreciate the response. Mr. Speaker, with the economy slow as it is in Nunakput, it's hard to see anyone moving from outside the territory to the communities where there's no work, with market housing rentals still open, and some remain empty. Mr. Speaker, my final question for the Minister is: how will the Housing Corporation make progress in shortening the public housing waiting list in 2018-2019?
As a Minister, I am committed to addressing the wait list of people waiting for housing. It's a priority of my own. It's also a priority for all of the MLAs who have made a motion in the House to address 250 homes taking them out of core need; and so I am working diligently at meeting that figure and exceeding it is my goal. So, we have quite a few. Currently, and they remain in force, we have a CARE major program that gives up to $100,000 a year. We have a CARE minor program that gives up to $10,000 a year. We have a SAFE program that gives up to $10,000 a year, and with the SAFE program, you can even have arrears; it's about safety. We have a prevention and maintenance program that gives up to $3,000 a year for people to access services. Those are standard programs that we have and maintain, but new things that we've done is we've lowered the co-payment so that people under $60,000 no longer have to pay a co-payment. That that makes the programs more accessible.
We have a new rent supplement program for the market communities so that people who are renting rooms and are renting apartments, et cetera, can access a rent supplement to supplement the market rent. We're working with the non-government organizations, for an NGO, a rent supplement program similar to the Housing First model that is provided by the City of Yellowknife, so that more non-profits can work and get people into houses and provide the wrap-around support that is so desperately needed. We have a community housing support initiative that I really want to give kudos to. Well, first of all, it's for all municipalities or bands that are interested in working in partnership. They have to put something on the table and then we will provide, so it's a partnership.
I want to give kudos to Salt River First Nation who actually put labour and gave land, and we gave materials, and they have two beautiful homes that they've just given to members of their community. So, I want to promote that program for more governments to get on board, so we can work with them together. I can't solve this alone. We continue to the sale of public housing and we have a new lease-to-own public housing program, so that people who have been paying their rent -- so it's a reward of good behaviour, people who have paid their rent, people who haven't destroyed their homes, but can't get a mortgage, would be looking at a rent-to-own program.
We have a new home program, that is building big houses, so that we can accommodate some of the overcrowding in communities. That's a start. We have more to come, I think, Mr. Speaker, but I'm hoping that these programs will address some of the core needs that we have.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Mackenzie Delta.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have a few short questions for the Minister of Education. Now, Mr. Speaker, on October 11, 2017, the Minister committed to assessing the Moose Kerr School every year as part of the capital planning process. What did that work look like for 2017-2018 and 2018-2019? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And, yes, the Member is right. Within the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, we have a needs assessment, a 20-year needs assessment, and we review it on an annual basis and update it on an annual basis. As you know, within the department, we have to look after schools, colleges, learning centres, libraries, museums, and make a priority out of those infrastructures, not to mention looking at the priorities of other departments within this government. As the Member knows, any time we look at putting in additional space or make it a new school, the utilization rate or the enrolment rate has to reach 85 per cent. Aklavik currently is at 36 per cent, and I know that the Member has brought this up as a concern over the years since he and I have both been sitting in this House. However, with our most recent technical study evaluation, it was noted that the school is in good condition, and that extended the school life for 20 years. So, at this moment, there are no plans for replacement or renovations at Moose Kerr School. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The Minister answered a part of this question, but I'll ask it anyway: what is the department's current plan for Moose Kerr School?
As always, we are committed to looking at all of our assets and our infrastructure within all the areas that I mentioned earlier on a yearly basis and update them. Currently for this year, we are allocating about $223,000 for small capital funding, and that will be allocated for site demolition and removal for the hazardous portables and the creation of a play space for the students and the community.
We are also working with the hamlet to address some of the issues around safety for the students who are walking from within the community to the school; and also looked at possibly how we can make some improvements to the parking situation and those discussions are happening. Also, since 2008, we have made a lot of investments into Moose Kerr and just a little over $2.56 million since 2008. I can share with the Member what those improvements were and maybe he can share that with the leadership that have also shown some concern as well.
What major capital work is planned for Northwest Territories schools in 2018-2019?
We do have a few projects on the go. We're looking at a mid-life retrofit, including all major building systems within the Lutsel K'e Dene School; obviously, at Ecole Alain St-Cyr, we're still continuing to do work there; Mangilaluk School, in Tuktoyaktuk, we're putting some additions; the Charles Tetcho School, in Trout Lake, we are continuing to do some work there. That has been some of our major programs that we have got on tap here for 2018-2019. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Merci, Monsieur le President. My questions are for the Premier. Cabinet and GNWT staff traveled to Vancouver during the week of January 21-25, 2018, to attend the Association for Mineral Exploration Round-up. Can the Premier provide a list of all NWT Ministers and staff who traveled 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 consulting services outside those provided by public servants, and any funding by the GNWT Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment of the costs of other NWT representatives attended;
A description of hospitality events, including catering, speaker and other costs, and numbers of persons attending;
What analysis, if any, has taken place of the value for money of the GNWT participation at this event?
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Written questions. Member for Yellowknife Centre.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Finance. At the time the P3 arrangement was put in place for the Stanton Hospital renewal, the public was told the estimated cost was $750 million, with $350 million to be spent on construction, and $400 million to be paid for the operations and maintenance of the hospital over 30 years. Can the Minister please explain how the Stanton Hospital public private partnership was structured with respect to project costs and project financing, and:
With respect to construction costs only, does the GNWT still anticipate the final cost of the new hospital to be $350 million and if not, what is the current estimate of final construction costs?
What proportion of this total estimated construction cost is being financed by the GNWT and what proportion is being financed by BHP?
With respect only to the service component of this arrangement, what is the cost to the GNWT annually and the total cumulative cost over the 30-year life of this agreement?
Does any proportion of these service payments compensate or repay the BHP consortium for its investment in the capital infrastructure? If so, what proportion of these payments relate to actual operations and maintenance costs and what proportion relate to capital costs borne by BHP during the construction period?
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I have a return to written question 1-18(3) asked by the Member for Yellowknife Centre on October 19, 2003 to the Minister of Infrastructure regarding the maintenance of Highway No. 3.
Transportation infrastructure across the Northwest Territories competes with other high priority territorial programs for limited resources. With limited funding options available, new partnership opportunities and financing alternatives for capital project delivery have successfully been leveraged. The federal government's New Building Canada Plan has provided significant funding that has given the Government of the Northwest Territories the opportunity to continue to make ongoing system-wide improvements.
Major transportation infrastructure assets in the NWT are under a constant review and inspection process as part of the Government of the Northwest Territories asset management and life cycle management processes. Assessing and documenting risks, including those arising from climate change, along with recording the mitigating action taken form part of the overall record. The Department of Infrastructure accomplishes this through the use of a number of programs. The major programs that ensure we are allocating funding in the right areas include:
Bridge Management System (BMS);
Highways Surface Management System (HSMS);
visual inspections of our highways, right-of-way, bridges and culverts by trained regional and headquarters staff; and
the Department of Infrastructure's 20-year needs assessment plan, which focuses mainly on the rehabilitation of the existing highways and road transportation network.
In terms of maintenance spending formulas, the industry and national guideline is to reinvest 0.75 to 1.5 per cent annually of the cost of the asset back into the asset. For example, using this formula, if it costs $800,000 per kilometre to construct Highway No. 3, then we should be investing approximately $12,000 per kilometre each year into the highway. Utilizing both the operations and maintenance and the capital budgets, the Department of Infrastructure is currently meeting this guideline.
Mr. Speaker, the NWT highway and road system is continually assessed for safety and reliability utilizing a variety of tools that give us a quantitative assessment of the conditions of the highways and roads. From this, the priority capital and O and M expenditures are determined and completed within available funds. Highway safety, operational requirements and National Highway Guidelines are all taken into consideration when determining the priority of work to be completed. The formula of reinvesting 0.75 to 1.5 per cent annually back into the highways can be adjusted slightly based on special circumstances. This philosophy is applied to determine the priority of effort to all of our highways and roads.
Infrastructure works in partnership with industry, the federal government and universities to improve the existing transportation system and leverage new technologies and construction methods that deal with a variety of issues. Activities that reinforce our current inspection regimes (processes and training) for transportation infrastructure include:
Measuring our performance and the results of the inspections;
undertaking test sections with the various experts in order to develop new designs and measures to adapt or mitigate climate change for northern infrastructure;
continuing to work with other jurisdictions on research, development and best practices; and
completing updates on climate change risk assessments for our infrastructure.
The Department of Infrastructure takes into account all consolidated reports, test results and new techniques developed from research and development to deal with special circumstances, such as the effects of climate change and permafrost degradation. As previously mentioned, Infrastructure has the flexibility to make minor adjustments to the amount reinvested in a particular highway.
Mr. Speaker, between 2012 and 2018, the Department of Infrastructure will have spent approximately $18 million on the rehabilitation and rebuilding of different sections of Highway No. 3, between kilometres 239 and 339. Funding for this work came from Bundle One of the Provincial-Territorial Infrastructure Component under the New Building Canada Plan. Additional O and M work on Highway No. 3 includes the application of chip seal overlay on approximately 85 km of Highway No. 3 in 2018. It was recently announced that funding from Bundle 3 of the Provincial-Territorial Infrastructure Component of the New Building Canada Plan will enable a further $22.5 million to be spent between 2019 and 2023 for the continued rehabilitation and rebuilding of Highway No. 3.
Transportation Association of Canada guidelines are utilized to identify and warn highway users of road hazards. The North Slave Regional Highway Maintenance staff conducts road patrols a minimum of twice a week, looking for and documenting any deficiencies in the road surface. They observe the structure of the road, the comfort and safety of road users and the environment. During patrols, they are required to carry hazard marking signs such as "bump" tabs, delineators, flags, etc. to mark any road hazards identified during their inspection. Once they have completed the inspection, a report is made to the Supervisor/Manager to establish a repair plan. If the repairs are delayed, permanent signage is put in place. The public is advised of any large areas of hazard, such as washboard, loose gravel or slippery conditions through the road reports. Staff from the Transportation Division also conduct regular inspections of the entire NWT highway network and file reports to the respective regional office and headquarters. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Return to Written Question 2-18(3):
Mr. Speaker, I have a return to written question 2-18(3) asked by the Member for Yellowknife Centre on October 20, 2017 to the Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation regarding the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation modular units construction. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
In terms of modular versus stick-built construction, experience has shown that costs can be comparable in more northern communities due to shipping and transportation costs. Where a community can be accessed through the road system, savings are expected from a modular approach.
The original calculation of construction cost savings did include the payment of a cash advance to Concept Energy Services Ltd.
The amount of the advance was $1.34 million and was supported by the signed legal agreement requiring partial recoveries from subsequent progress draw payments as the work being completed. This advance has now been fully recovered from Concept Energy Services Ltd.
The NWT Housing Corporation provided Concept Energy Services Ltd. with the advance in order to assist with upfront material purchases.
This is consistent with practices in the modular home industry, where upfront capital is required. This advance was provided in accordance with Section 99 of the Financial Administration Act.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following 12 documents entitled "Follow-Up Letter for Oral Question 753-18(2) Portable Ultrasound Machine for Fort Simpson Health and Social Services Centre," "Follow-Up Letter for Oral Question 835-18(2): Regional Wellness Council Meeting," "Follow-Up Letter for Oral Question 873-18(2): Safe Houses for Victims of Family Violence," "Follow-Up Letter for Oral Question 889-18(2): Proposed Hay River Long Term Care Facility," "Follow-Up Letter for Oral Question 890-18(2): Prescription Drug Coverage for Mental Illness," "Follow-Up Letter for Oral Question 923-18(2): Elder Abuse," "Follow-Up Letter for Oral Question 932-18(2): Child and Family Services Audits," "Follow-Up Letter for Oral Question 933-18(2): Boarding Home Patient Services," "Follow-Up Letter for Oral Question 937-18(2): Nahendeh Residents Accessing Cancer Treatment," "Follow-Up Letter for Oral Question 6-18(3): Norman Wells Health Centre," "Follow-Up Letter for Oral Question 11-18(3): Dental Therapists," and "Follow-Up Letter for Oral Questions 41-18(3) and 47-18(3): Legislative Progress." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Tabling of documents. Minister of Infrastructure.
Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following six documents entitled "Follow-Up Letter for Oral Question 819-18(2): Yellowknife Airport Hours of Operation," "Follow-Up Letter for Oral Question 825-18(2): Status of Marine Transportation Services," "Follow-Up Letter for Oral Question 877-18(2): Condition of Highway 1 and Highway 7," "Follow-Up Letter for Oral Question 18-18(3): Mackenzie Delta Transportation Concerns," "Follow-Up Letter for Oral Question 27-18(3): Hay River Pedestrian Crossing Upgrade," and "Follow-Up Letter for Oral Question 39-18(3): Highway 4 (Ingraham Trail) Road Safety." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Tabling of documents. Minister of Justice.
