Thank you, Member for Yellowknife Centre. Minister of Health and Social Services.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I was not aware of the phone number and no one being on the other side of it. We do provide numerous numbers. We also have a website, www.hss.gov.nt.ca. That website contains the most up-to-date information on what to do to keep your family safe if you've been travelling or concerned that you may have been exposed to this virus.
I appreciate that answer from the Minister of Health, but it's simply not good enough. If somebody feels that they have symptoms and they require testing, a two-day delay can result in a lot more exposure between them, their families, and the public in a grocery store or any other place. Can the Minister make a commitment to have at least one number that everyone can call 24-7 to talk to somebody in person about their symptoms?
I will go back and look into this, because it is crucial. Communication is key in keeping everybody up-to-date and informed. This is something I will look at.
Another question I received on the weekend was: why is it that the health department has decided that, if and when a case is confirmed, the location will not be shared with the public? Can the Minister tell us why that is the case?
On Friday, when we did the press release with the Chief Public Health Officer, she did make that announcement. I don't know the rationale about why we won't disclose this, but it is something I can find out and get back to the Member.
Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary, Member for Yellowknife Centre.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think that this is really a key point. People will want to know, and they're going to be asking us, as Members, where this case is. From my point of view, it would be better to be able to provide factual information than for the rumour mill to crank up on social media, that it's in one place, another place, it turns out it's in 10 places that it's not. I would appreciate the response on this.
We know that we're asking tourists to self-isolate for 14 days. Are we reaching those people in languages other than English? Are we talking to them, for example, in Cantonese or in Japanese? Thank you.
I'm not aware that we are, other than our official languages at this time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Merci, Monsieur le President. I have three written questions today. The first written question: Contracts for work related to the Slave Geological Province. My questions are for the Minister of Infrastructure.
Please provide a list of all contracts entered into by GNWT for work related to the Slave Geological Province Road from September 1, 2015, to present, and:
Indicate the date of the contract signing, date of completion or anticipated completion, whether the contract was sole-sourced, the value of the contract, the general purpose or scope of work, whether there were any financial or scope amendments and a summary of same, the name and location of the contractor; and
In providing the list of contracts, indicate whether any of the contractors were or are registered under the Business Incentive Policy and received such consideration in the evaluation of bids or proposals; and,
What future actions are planned to maximize northern employment, training, and business opportunities in future contracts related to the Slave Geological Province Road?
Number two, Mr. Speaker. Pointed Mountain gas field compliance and reclamation. My questions are for the Minister of Lands.
The Pointed Mountain gas field near Fort Liard went into production in 1972 under British Petroleum Canada and stopped in 2001. The site was acquired in 2010 by Apache Canada and the name of the owner was changed to Paramount Resources in 2017. There currently a land use permit covering this site until June 4, 2022, but no water licence. A Government of the Northwest Territories inspection of the site was carried out on July 24, 2018, and on June 5, 2019 the owner was notified that the site was in violation of the Waters Act. What, if any, enforcement action has been taken against the owner of the Pointed Mountain gas field, and:
What, if any financial security is held for the Pointed Mountain gas field, including the form and amount of such financial security;
Whether there is a current and approved closure and reclamation plan for the site and all its facilities;
Whether there is a current cost estimate for the full and final closure and reclamation of the site and the amount of that cost estimate; and
If there is no current and approved closure and reclamation plan, and no current cost estimate for the closure and reclamation of the site, what further action does the Minister intend to take and when?
My questions are for the Minister of Lands. Section 3.1 of the Commissioner's Land Act establishes the requirement for the posting of security, the factors for determining security amount, for restoration of lands and for refund of security. Please provide a listing of the commercial and industrial leases on Commissioner's Land issued since February 15, 2011, including the lease number, general location, issue date, amount and form of security required, and:
Whether an exemption was granted under any leases from the requirement to provide security, including the reasons why the exemption was granted;
A general explanation of how the amount of security is calculated under this regime;
A general explanation of how the posting of security is managed and tracked under this regime; and
In instances where securities have been returned, the amount and reasons for the return of security.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document: "Interim Estimates (Operations Expenditures), April 1 to June 30, 2020". Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Tabling of documents. Minster responsible for the Northwest Territories Power Corporation.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following two documents: "Letter from the President of the Northwest Territories Power Corporation to Minister regarding the 2019-2020 Capital Spending Budget"; and "2020-2021 Corporate Plan - Northwest Territories Hydro Corporation and Northwest Territories Power Corporation." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that, on Wednesday, March 18, 2020, I will move the following motion: I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River North, that, notwithstanding rule 4, when this House adjourns on Monday, March 16, 2020, it shall be adjourned until Tuesday, May 26, 2020; and further, that at any time prior to May 26, 2020, if the Speaker is satisfied, after consultation with the Executive Council and Members of the Legislative Assembly, that the public interest requires that the House should meet at an earlier time during the adjournment, or at a time later than the scheduled resumption of the House, the Speaker may give notice and thereupon the House shall meet at the time stated in such notice and shall transact its business as if it had been duly adjourned to that time.
Mr. Speaker, At the appropriate time, I will be seeking unanimous consent to deal with this motion today.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am seeking unanimous consent to deal with the motion I gave notice of earlier today.
The Member is seeking unanimous consent to deal with the motion he gave notice of earlier today. Are there any nays? There are no nays. You may continue with your motion.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River North, that, notwithstanding rule 4, when this House adjourns on Monday, March 16, 2020, it shall be adjourned until Tuesday, May 26, 2020;
AND FURTHER, that at any time prior to May 26, 2020, if the Speaker is satisfied, after consultation with the Executive Council and Members of the Legislative Assembly, that the public interest requires that the House should meet at an earlier time during the adjournment, or at a time later than the scheduled resumption of the House, the Speaker may give notice and thereupon the House shall meet at the time stated in such notice and shall transact its business as if it had been duly adjourned to that time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you. Motion is order. To the motion. Motion has been called. All those in favour. All those opposed. Any abstentions? The motion is carried.
--- Carried
Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Nahendeh, that Bill 4, Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 1, 2020-2021, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Nahendeh, that Bill 4, Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 1, 2020-2021, be read for the second time. This bill makes supplementary appropriations for infrastructure expenditures of the Government of the Northwest Territories for the 2020-2021 fiscal year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I will call committee to order. What is the wish of committee? Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.
Marsi, Madam Chair. Committee wishes to consider Tabled Document 61-19(2), Interim Estimates (Operations Expenditures), April 1 to June 30, 2020. Marsi cho.
Does committee agree? Thank you, committee. We'll take a short recess and resume.
---SHORT RECESS
I will call committee back to order. Committee, we have agreed to consider Tabled Document 6119(2), Interim Estimates (Operations Expenditures), April 1 to June 30, 2020. Does the Minister of Finance have any opening remarks?
Thank you, Madam Chair, yes. Good morning, Madam Chair. Today, I am presenting Interim Estimates 2020-2021 for the Government of the Northwest Territories. The interim estimates provide the necessary appropriation authority to support the government's operations for the three-month period of April 1 to June 30, 2020.
The interim estimates will allow public services to continue to be provided until the main estimates for the fiscal year have been fully debated and approved by the Legislative Assembly. Interim estimates are not used regularly. They are a tool that can be used to allow the Assembly more time to finalize a budget, typically the first budget of a new Assembly. Interim estimates have been used by this Legislative Assembly most recently in 2016-2017.
During the May-June sitting of the Assembly, the review of the 2020-2021 Main Estimates is anticipated to resume, and, subject to approval at that time, these interim estimates will be superseded by the main estimates.
As Members know, these interim estimates had to be prepared quickly. This current sitting of the Assembly will conclude today, to allow Members of the Legislative Assembly and the territorial public service to focus its efforts on preparing for and responding to COVID-19. Departments worked together to bring these interim estimates before us today. These estimates include the following:
Amounts required for the first three months were used, as identified by all departments as part of the development of the Main Estimates 2020-2021 process. An exception to this approach was required to address contracts, grants, and contributions in a way that will ensure compliance with the Financial Administration Act, or the FAA;
Under the FAA, a department cannot enter into a contract or obligation without the appropriation to do so. Amounts for service contracts have therefore been fully allocated for the 2020-2021 fiscal year to ensure compliance with the FAA. The exception to this approach is the Territorial Police Service Agreement, for which 50 percent of the amount has been allocated in this interim appropriation, and
Similarly, in order to comply with the FAA, amounts for grants and contributions for organizations have been fully allocated. The only exceptions with respect to the full allocation of grants and contributions were for larger entities, such as education authorities, Health and Social Services authorities, and the NWT Housing Corporation. These entities have been funded based on their cash requirements for the interim period;
To address the anticipated high demand for health services, a 25 percent contingency has been added to the compensation and benefits for the Department of Health and Social Services, and to the portion of grants and contributions to health authorities allocated in this interim appropriation, representing $39 million;
To address any increase to the Income Assistance Program, a 25 percent contingency has been added to the Department of Education, Culture and Employment budget for this item, representing $1.8 million; and
To ensure sufficient appropriation for all departments to the end of the interim period, a 5 percent contingency has also been allocated, representing $41 million.
The proposed interim estimates total $872 million. These estimates also include $615,000 for a dialysis unit in Hay River within Health and Social Services Authority, and $600,000 for Indigenous language revitalization in Education Culture and Employment. This will allow for funding of these important matters during the interim period. That concludes my opening remarks.
Thank you, Minister. Do you have witnesses?
Yes, I do.
Sergeant-at-Arms, can you escort the witnesses to the Chamber, please. Minister, would you introduce your witness for the record.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I have Mr. Sandy Kalgutkar beside me. He is the deputy minister of Finance.
Thank you. I will now open the floor to general comments. Member for Frame Lake.
Thanks, Madam Chair. I would like to start offering my personal thanks for what I'm sure is really, truly a heroic effort on the part of our Finance staff working with other departments to pull together this set of interim estimates. I do personally want to thank them all for that work that they had to do over the weekend. I have one question, though. It's about the 5 percent contingency that the Minister noted in her opening remarks. I would like to know whether that 5 percent contingency includes contracts and grants and contributions. Thanks, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Minister.
