Thank you, Mr. Chair. When Minister Schumann talked about, you know, the priorities and that, so can the Minister of Finance explain to us what the Mount Gaudet Access Road, what that money is going to be used for? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. Minister McLeod.
Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. The exact details, I don't have at my disposal, but I do know that part of it, I think, was for planning, studying, and construction of the 15-kilometre all-weather road from Wrigley north to Mount Gaudet Access Road. As for the exact details, I would have to make a commitment to the Member that I will have a conversation with Infrastructure and be sure we provide those. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister. Mr. Thompson.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I thank the Minister for the commitment. I have no further questions. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Seeing nothing further from committee, I will call this item. Infrastructure, capital investment expenditures, asset management, not previously authorized, $4,818,000. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Thank you. Infrastructure, capital investment expenditures, total department, not previously authorized, $4,818,000. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Thank you, committee. Do we agree that we have concluded consideration of Tabled Document 255-18(3), Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No.3, 2018-2019?
Agreed.
Thank you, committee. Thank you to the Minister. Thank you to the witnesses. Sergeant-at-Arms, you may escort the witnesses from the Chamber. Mr. Testart.
Mr. Chair, I move that consideration of Tabled Document 255-18(3), Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2018-2019, be now concluded, and that Tabled Document 255-18(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.
Question.
Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.
--Carried
Committee, we have next agreed to consider Tabled Document 256-18(3), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 2018-2019. Once again, I will turn to the Minister of Finance for any opening comments. Minister McLeod.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I am here to present Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 2018-2019. This document provides for an increase of $4.4 million to the operations budget.
The major items included in these supplementary estimates are:
$1.9 million for implementation activities directly related to the legalization and regulation of cannabis. These expenditures will be partially offset by funding from the federal government.
$1.2 million for compensation and benefits costs pursuant to the Standard Physician Contract, 2016-2021.
$728 thousand to support the delivery of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Plan. These expenditures are fully offset by revenues from the federal government.
$389 thousand for increased costs related to the Deline Self-Government Financing Agreement.
That concludes my opening remarks, Mr. Chair, and I would be pleased to answer any questions the Members may have. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister. Do you have witnesses?
Yes, I do, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister. Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses into the Chamber. Minister, please take your seat at the witness table. Minister, would you please introduce your witnesses for the record.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, to my right, I have Mr. David Stewart, who is the deputy minister of Finance. To my left, I have Mr. Sandy Kalgutkar, who is the deputy secretary to the FMB. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister. Welcome back to the witnesses. Committee, I will open the floor to general comments. If you have questions about the detail contained within the document, please save it for the appropriate page. General comments. I will begin with Mr. Testart.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Of the $4.4 million, how much of that is offset by federal funding? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Testart. Minister.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. $1.85 million. Thank you.
Thank you. Mr. Testart.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. What is the impact to the supplemental reserve for operation expenditures after, should this supplementary appropriation pass? Thank you.
Thank you. Minister.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. We have just under $14 million. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. Mr. Testart.
Just a point of clarification. Is it $14 million currently or $14 million after the supplementary appropriation? Thank you.
Thank you. Minister.
Yes, my apologies. I should have put in after supplementary No. 3, so it's $14 million after supplementary No. 3. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister. Mr. Testart.
Thank you. After the fiscal year, the supplementary reserve, does it get rolled back into general revenues and used to correct, let's say, deficit in the infrastructure; supplementary reserve? Is that the standard practice with these funds? Thank you.
Thank you. Mr. Stewart.
Thanks, Mr. Chair. I wouldn't characterize it as being rolled back in, but it's expenditures that aren't undertaken, so there would be that much cash left over in terms of the draw on our overall revenue. It would affect our overall cash position at the end of the year. It would just be that money would be left and we wouldn't have as large of negative cash position if we had that left over at the end of the year. Thanks, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. Mr. Testart.
Thank you. Nothing further.
Thank you. I see no more general comments. Does committee agree we move into the detail?
Agreed.
Thank you, committee. Please turn to page 4. Mr. Vanthuyne.
Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. Really, I just want to share a comment that I'm happy to see that the Government of the Northwest Territories is providing some additional matching dollars here as a contribution from the Government of the Northwest Territories towards the Arctic Inspiration Prize. I think this is an organization that does a lot of great work in supporting good concepts, good ideas, and a lot of successful initiatives that we have seen serve the Northwest Territories over the years. I'm happy to see that the Government of the Northwest Territories continues to make contribution to the Arctic Inspiration Prize and most grateful to Arnold Witzig and his wife, the philanthropic family who started our Arctic Inspiration Prize. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Vanthuyne. Executive and Indigenous Affairs, operations expenditures, Indigenous and intergovernmental affairs, not previously authorized, $50,000. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Thank you. Executive and Indigenous Affairs, operations expenditures, total department, not previously authorized, $50,000. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Thank you, committee. Please turn to page 5. Department of Finance. Seeing no comments or questions, I will call this item. Mr. O'Reilly.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. So, it looks like there are a number of, perhaps, communications efforts, positions identified on this page in relation to cannabis implementation. Can the Minister or staff give us a summary on what this is all about? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
