Debates of March 13, 2019 (day 70)

Thank you. Mr. Beaulieu.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I think the money is good. I am just wondering. I could almost say the thing again for the whole document, but just to put a point to it we have $705,000. We have maybe five organizations, separate organizations, or we could sign it with three organizations, I suppose, if the Akaitcho Government represents the three other governments that I spoke of earlier. So I guess, moving forward, considering again that this is an operations expenditure, the plan is to have that agreement in place, signed off, money transferred, expended by March 31st, plus, I guess, paying for the technical report in addition to that. I am curious to know if that is even possible, but I would like to just get a "yea" or "nay" on that from the Minister. Thank you.

Thank you. Minister Schumann.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. As I said, in early discussions with the Aboriginal governments, we are hoping to sign an agreement with three groups. The Akaitcho is one united group. They can designate whoever they want to have as a lead, or maybe multiple jurisdictions as a lead. The Metis Nation is a single unit, and the Salt River First Nation is a unit. We will sit down and figure out our work plan and our various planning studies in environmental and community support and wildlife stuff that we have to do on this project. This is what we have budgeted for this year. As I have said, we are looking forward to some federal support in the budget. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Nothing further from Mr. Beaulieu. Mr. O'Reilly.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. On the same page, there is $74,000 for Slave Geological Province Corridor. Can someone tell me what that money is for and whether it's going to get spent by March 31st? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Mr. Stewart.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. In terms of the O and M money for this activity, I believe it's related to a variety of activities to help prepare for the planning related to the Slave Geological Province, including some work done by ITI for economic impacts and those sorts of things, and then I think there is some work planned that may be by 20192020 by ENR related to wildlife studies as well as work being done by Infrastructure for activities that are not capitalized in terms of the Slave Geological Province. Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Mr. O'Reilly.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I am certainly confused by this. This money, is it going to be carried over? I didn't think you could carry over O and M. Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Mr. Kalgutkar.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. It is my understanding that the two departments impacted by 2018-2019 are going to be spending all their money. To answer the Member's question on whether we carry over O and M funding, if O and M funding does lapse, we have in the past carried it over into 2019-2020 through a supp process. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Mr. O'Reilly.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Is this the supp process, or is it going to come forward in a different supp? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Mr. Kalgutkar.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. If the departments are unable to spend all the $74,000 that could be approved in this supp, then whatever is left over and whatever is lapsed by the departments will be carried over into the first supp in 2019-2020. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Mr. O'Reilly.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I think we have a 2019-2020 supp, which is going to come up next. How can we be carrying over money into that one when this hasn't even been spent yet? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Mr. Stewart.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. If there was a need to carry over, there would be an additional supplementary appropriation in the May/June session. Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. O'Reilly.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. This funding is coming from the federal government. Is there a requirement for any matching funding from GNWT? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Mr. Stewart.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. The matching GNWT portion for 2018-2019 is $15,600 from ITI and $3,000 from Infrastructure on the O and M side. Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Mr. O'Reilly.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I am going to leave this one alone, but it is going to come back. It is Slave Geological Province Road money, I think, under the 2019-2020 supps. Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Further from committee? Seeing nothing, I will call this page. Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 4, 2018-2019, Infrastructure, corporate management, not previously authorized, $74,000. Does committee agree?

Agreed.

Thank you. Infrastructure, programs and services, not previously authorized, $2,072,000. Does committee agree?

Agreed.

Thank you. Infrastructure, regional operations, not previously authorized, $1,397,000. Does committee agree?

Agreed.

Infrastructure, total department, $3,543,000. Does committee agree?

Agreed.

Thank you, committee. Page 9, Justice. Comments? Questions? Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 4, 2018-2019, Justice, community justice and policing, not previously authorized, $113,000. Does committee agree?

Agreed.

Thank you. Justice, court services, not previously authorized, $145,000. Does committee agree?

Agreed.

Justice, policing services, not previously authorized, $213,000. Does committee agree?

Agreed.

Justice, services to government, not previously authorized, $10,000. Does committee agree?

Agreed.

Justice, total department, not previously authorized, $481,000. Does committee agree?

Agreed.

Committee, please turn to the final page, Municipal and Community Affairs. Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 4, 2018-2019, Municipal and Community Affairs, regional operations, not previously authorized, $1,070,000. Does committee agree?

Agreed.

Municipal and Community Affairs, total department, $1,070,000. Does committee agree?

Agreed.

Thank you, committee. Does committee agree this concludes consideration of Tabled Document 382-18(3)?

Agreed.