Committee, we will now consider the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs on page 10. Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 2020-2021, Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, public safety, not previously authorized, $4,594,000. Does committee agree? Member for Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I am looking at the increased funding for isolation centre costs. Can I just have an explanation of why we need an extra $4.5 million here? My understanding is that we actually were expecting to save about a million dollars a year from the projected budget due to having others pay for isolation costs. Can I just get some clarification on what is happening here? Thank you.
Thank you. Minister.
Thank you, Madam Chair. This is federal funding that is, in fact, helping us to support the isolation centre costs, so it is exactly that. It is specifically for the period from April to August 31st, so these would be the costs that were prior to the time -- sorry. Maybe the question is around where this is happening and where it's placed. It's under Municipal and Community Affairs because, up to August 31st, you will recall the COVID secretariat was not the coordinating entity for managing all of the costs. Yes, up to August 31st, this is money that is in fact offsetting the isolation centre costs until the COVID secretariat took over the management and coordination of that. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you. Any other questions? Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 2020-2021, Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, public safety, not previously authorized, $4,594,000. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 2020-2021, Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, regional operations, not previously authorized, $2,369,000. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 2020-2021, Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, support, recreation and youth, not previously authorized, $263,000. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 2020-2021, Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, total department, not previously authorized, $7,226,000. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Thank you, committee. Do you agree that we have concluded consideration of Tabled Document 349-19(2), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 2020-2021? Member for Frame Lake.
Thanks, Madam Chair. I just have a couple of general questions. Where does our supplementary reserve stand at as a result of this supplementary appropriation? Thanks, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Member. Minister.
Thank you, Madam Chair. We are in a deficit on what was being projected or held off for our supplementary reserve. We now have gone in for $16,801,000. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you. Member.
Thanks, Madam Chair. We are now $16 million over budget on the supplementary reserve. The extra borrowing is considered short-term borrowing? We have to pay interest on that. What is the cost of that extra borrowing? Thanks, Madam Chair.
Thank you. Minister.
Thank you, Madam Chair. We are estimating that servicing this portion of additional debt is approximately $60,000. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you. All right. Committee, do you agree that you have concluded consideration of Tabled Document 349-19(2), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 2020-2021?
Agreed.
Mr. Norn.
Yes, Madam Chair. I move that consideration of Tabled Document 349-19(2), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 2020-2021, be now concluded and that Tabled Document 349-19(2) be reported and recommended as ready for further consideration in formal session through the form of an appropriation bill. Mahsi cho, Madam Chair.
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
Tabled Document 349-19(2) will be reported as ready for consideration in formal session through the form of an appropriation bill. Thank you, Minister. I think the witnesses are going to stay in for the next one, as well. Just give me a couple of minutes to get my stuff ready. Committee, we have agreed to consider Tabled Document 348-19(2), Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2020-2021. Does the Minister of Finance have any opening remarks?
Yes. Thank you, Madam Chair. Very briefly, I am here to present Tabled Document 348-19(2), Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2020-2021. The supplementary estimates propose to reallocate $5.11 million from the Department of Health and Social Services' capital budget to an infrastructure contribution to Avens, a community for seniors, to ensure that the costs associated with the new laundry and kitchen facilities are correctly reflected in the public accounts. Of this amount, $2.5 million will be provided to Avens in the 2020-2021 fiscal period, with the remaining portion being accounted and provided for in the 2021-2022 fiscal period. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Minister. I will now open the floor for general comments. Are there any? Member for Frame Lake.
Thanks, Madam Chair. This does not affect our bottom line in any way; it looks like it's just an accounting exercise, so can somebody just explain to me why this wasn't considered an infrastructure contribution the first time around? Why didn't it show up in the capital estimates? Thanks, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Member. Minister.
Thank you, Madam Chair. It was a change of plans, as I understand it. Maybe I will propose that this go to the deputy minister, and then he can weave in why this matters from the accounting perspective, please. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister. Deputy Minister.
Thank you, Madam Chair. When it was initially approved, it was for an expansion of existing kitchen and laundry facilities, and because of the new Avens pavilion being constructed, they are now going to build a completely new facility. Because that facility is owned by Avens and operated by Avens, that is why the change in accounting treatment. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you. Are there other general comments? Seeing no further general comments, we will review the supplementary estimates by department. The committee has agreed to forgo general comments on each department. Does the committee agree to proceed to the detail contained in the tabled document?
Agreed.
The committee has agreed to begin with the review of the Department of Health and Social Services. Committee, we will begin on page 6. Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2020-2021, Department of Health and Social Services, operation expenditures, long term and continuing care services, not previously authorized, $2,555,000. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Thank you. Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2020-2021, Department of Health and Social Services, operation expenditures, total department, not previously authorized, $2,555,000. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Committee, we will turn to page 7. Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2020-2021, Department of Health and Social Services, capital investment expenditures, health and social programs, not previously authorized, negative $5,110,000. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2020-2021, Department of Health and Social Services, capital investment expenditures, total department, not previously authorized, negative $5,110,000. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Thank you, committee. Do you agree that you have concluded consideration of Tabled Document 348-19(2), Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2020-2021?
Agreed.
Mr. Norn.
[Microphone turned off] ...I move that consideration of Tabled Document 348-19(2), Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2020-2021, be now concluded and that Tabled Document 348-19(2) be reported and recommended as ready for further consideration in formal session to the form of an appropriation bill. Marsi cho, Madam Chair.
