Debates of May 29, 2018 (day 31)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. My understanding is that the road to the site has been started. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Mr. Blake.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I will try to run the clock here. Just kidding. When can we see the project completed? It would be pretty exciting for this region to actually have a wind turbine in the community, and just to see how that affects the cost of living. It would be a good example for other communities, as well. When can we see this project completed? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Minister McLeod.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, my understanding with the folks who pay for power and that, I am looking forward to seeing what benefits there are from this particular project. My understanding is it's a three-year project. There is work to be done over the next three years. In looking into this further, there seems to be a lot more to it than I initially thought, and I thought they could get it up in one year, but it didn't work that way. It's my understanding it's a three-year project, and we're looking forward to seeing any benefits that might come from it. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Next, I have Mr. McNeely.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am just looking at the list and being mindful of green initiative allowances, as well as being mindful of the federal infrastructure dollars out there, and the time frame remaining in both governments, and the opportunity to access these infrastructure dollars federally. Given that, given the scope of the program, the guidelines, and my previous term as a board member to the NWT Power Corporation, along with my colleague on the other side, I am interested to see more work done on the Taltson application to substantiate a detailed business case there to see if it is going to be justifiable to forward at the next round for the federal dollars that are available.

I am overall, I would say, pleased with the initiatives undertaken on pages 14 and 15 for job creation, green initiatives, upgrading, capital asset purchase in Norman Wells where some equipment -- this is just my note to the Assembly: if we can, I would say be mindful. I've taken advantage of the infrastructure dollars opportunities that are there, and they will be there for a short period of time until the next federal elections and territorial elections. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. McNeely. Would the Minister like to respond? No response from the Minister. We're into round two. Mr. Beaulieu.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, of course, I'm very interested in the Taltson. I have made several Member statements on Taltson about the impacts. The negative impact of the Taltson Dam downstream on businesses, and downstream, essentially, that dam has killed the fur industry for the people of Taltson River. The least the government should be doing, if they're thinking of expanding this, is consulting with the people who were impacted. I have asked several times now that the government look at this, and if they are determined to proceed with this and they want to make it a little bit easier, maybe they should start off by consulting with the Aboriginal people who were impacted.

I have mentioned several times that the entire fur industry was shut down in the Taltson a few times. A few years, people went trapping in the spring, and there is no beaver or muskrat on the river, and that is what they do, spring hunt. Taltson River was a very prosperous river at one point prior to the Taltson Dam going in, and it sustained a lot of people. There are a lot of trappers who are not trapping. The economy evolves, but at that time, just about the entire Northwest Territories was based on the fur trade, and that is why the Hudson's Bay and the Northwest Company came north, due to the fur trade. There was a lot of fur coming out of the Taltson River at one point, and that all changed because of the dam.

I asked a simple question: would the government consult with the people who are impacted by the Taltson Dam so at least they know that somebody is listening to what they've got to say? So far, the responses I am getting from range from "No" to "We will if we have a project." Now, we have a budget. It is all planning, but there is a budget of $10 million for Taltson. We're asking questions. We are just saying, "Okay, we are going to check into it. We are going to study to see if it's feasible." I am asking the government to make sure that, before they proceed any further, they consult with the people of Fort Resolution, for sure, and also the people who were impacted as a result of the changes on a natural lake, the Lutselk'e people. That's my question to the Minister. Before proceeding any further, if they want support, then will they consult with the people of For Resolution and Lutselk'e? Thank you.

Thank you, and if we can keep the chatter down on the floor of the House while the Members are speaking. Minister McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I take the Member's point. My understanding is that original dam was built in the sixties, when people used to come in in their shiny airplanes and tell us what was good for us, then went ahead and did it anyway, but things have changed since then, and I think our government has evolved since then. It is respectful to consult, and I would think that that is what we would do.

The $200,000 is to build a business case; $150,000 of that is coming from the federal government, I must add, so $50,000 of our money. That is to develop a business case, and if talking to the folks who are going to be affected is part of developing our business case, then it is wise to do that.

I am not sure who is going to do the consulting, but I'm Finance Minister; I can make a commitment on their behalf. It is respectful, and I think that we would do that. We have seen cases in the past where they have come in and determined that this was a good project, and you're going to live with the consequences of it, but those days are gone, brother.

I think we need to respect the fact that we need to consult, because if you want to move projects ahead, like you said, then it's just respectful to talk to the people who are affected, and I commit that we will do that.

Thank you. Nothing further? Seeing nothing further from committee, I will call this section. Infrastructure, capital investment expenditures, asset management, not previously authorized, $46,986,000. Does committee agree?

Agreed.

Infrastructure, capital investment expenditures, programs and services, not previously authorized, $22,676,000. Does committee agree?

Agreed.

Infrastructure, capital investment expenditures, total department, not previously authorized, $69,662,000. Does committee agree?

Agreed.

Thank you, committee. Moving on to page 16, the Department of Justice. Mr. Testart.

Thank you. North Slave Correctional Centre Security Retrofit. We are still looking at this project. What is the status of it? Thank you.

Thank you. Minister McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, my understanding is the contract is in place. I am not sure if we have had any discussions with the contractor as to a completion date, but I will follow up with the appropriate department. June? The end of June is the completion date. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Mr. Testart.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. My understanding from some of my constituents is that the exercise yard is currently in use. I know this is an operational concern, but I am wondering if this project still needs to be completed to bring the facility into full operation. Is the Minister aware of that at this point? Thank you.

Thank you. Minister McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. If I could redirect the question through you to the Minister of Justice?

Minister Sebert.

Yes. As you have heard, the project is hopefully to be completed by the end of June, and I understand that inmates will have access to the larger exercise yard beginning this summer. Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Testart.

Obviously, this appropriation speaks to the security deficit work that is being corrected. North Slave Correctional Centre Zone 1 Security Infrastructure. Can the Minister provide some details on that? Thank you.

Thank you. Minister McLeod.

Again, through you, Mr. Chair, I would like to go to the Minister of Justice.

Thank you. Minister Sebert.

I'm not entirely sure of the question. Again, you have heard that the project is hopefully going to be completed in June. Certainly, by the summer, they will have access. In fact, it is hoped that they will have access to the larger exercise yard, I see from my note here, in early June. That is the hope.

I am not certain what the balance of the question concerns. Thank you.

Thank you. Minister, I will let Mr. Testart repeat the question. Mr. Testart.

Thank you for the opportunity to clarify, Mr. Chair. On page 16 of the supplementary estimates, at the top of the page is North Slave Correctional Centre Security Retrofit, $541,000, and then, down the list, there is North Slave Correctional Centre Zone 1 security infrastructure, $617,000. I am asking if I can get an explanation of this $617,000 appropriation. Thank you.

Thank you for clarifying the question. Minister Sebert.

Thank you. I have been passed a note that there is a contract in place for the NSCC Zone 1 security infrastructure. Construction is under way. Anticipated completion by the end of July 2018.

Thank you. Mr. Testart.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Is that internal to the facility? I know that there was some work that was being undertaken to improve various internal infrastructure. I am just wondering if that is the same extent of the work that we have seen in previous budget documents. Thank you.

Thank you. I will direct this to the Minister of Finance. Minister McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, a contract is in place for this project, as well. Some of the particular details that the Member is looking for, we are trying to gather that information. If it helps, I can commit to gathering information and sharing it with the Member, but contracts are in place. I am not sure what their timelines are like. We will have to have a conversation with the contractors. I will gather that information through the department and share it with Member Testart. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Mr. Testart.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and that would be helpful. I am certainly not looking to question the specifics of these projects, other than to gain a general awareness of where the improvements are being targeted and, fundamentally, to know that they are going to get done in a timely fashion. The contract for the security deficiencies has not gone ahead, so I will be keeping an eye for the June date and the July date to ensure that they are done.

Just turning to court services, there is more money in here for the courthouse. Are these all carry-overs from previous years? Thank you.

Thank you. Minister McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the Member is correct. These are carry-overs. Again, as far as the detail goes, something that I think we have learned today is that some of the information that the Members are looking for, I don't have the level of detail provided to me. What I will do is I will have a conversation with all of the departments and ask them to provide me with a little bit more detail to some of the questions that Members are asking so that I am in a better position to defend their asks for the appropriations. I apologize for that, and I think we have also ironed out the process that we are going to use with committee. We will try to space this out a bit and provide them with a bit more detail. Hopefully, that will answer some of their questions before they come in here because they are aware of the detail.

I think there were a couple of lessons that we have learned today, but I will speak to my Cabinet colleagues about the information that the departments provide to us to provide to Members. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister. Yes, I see what you're saying. Those are some thin binders that you have got in front of you there. Anything further, Mr. Testart?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I appreciate that from the Minister, and I certainly appreciate that a great deal of effort goes into these reviews because it is a significant expenditure of taxpayer money.

Just on this, I don't have an issue with the work being done. I recognize that it's important, but, again, I have raised the concern on continuing to modify a rented facility, which is the courthouse. Can the Minister just confirm that we are still moving along with a planning study for a new courthouse building or a stand-alone courthouse building?

Thank you. Mr. Kalgutkar.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So, the Member is right. We are continuing and in the final stages of finalizing a business case on an alternative approach to providing court services in Yellowknife. We should hopefully have that done by the fall of this calendar year. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Mr. Testart.