Debates of June 3, 2022 (day 118)

Date
June
3
2022
Session
19th Assembly, 2nd Session
Day
118
Members Present
Hon. Diane Archie, Hon. Frederick Blake Jr., Mr. Bonnetrouge, Hon. Paulie Chinna, Ms. Cleveland, Hon. C. Cochrane, Mr. Edjericon (remote), Hon. Julie Green, Mr. Johnson, Ms. Martselos, Ms. Nokleby, Mr. O'Reilly, Ms. Semmler, Hon. R.J. Simpson, Mr. Rocky Simpson, Hon. Shane Thompson, Hon. Caroline Wawzonek, Ms. Weyallon-Armstrong.
Topics
Statements
Speaker: Mr. Mercer

The Member for Tu NedheWiilideh.

Speaker: Mr. Mercer

The Member for Range Lake.

Speaker: Mr. Mercer

The Member for Inuvik Boot Lake.

In favour.

Speaker: Mr. Mercer

The Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Speaker: Mr. Mercer

The Member for Hay River North.

Speaker: Mr. Mercer

The Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.

Speaker: Mr. Mercer

The Member for Deh Cho.

Speaker: Mr. Mercer

The Member for Hay River South.

Speaker: Mr. Mercer

The Member for Thebacha.

Speaker: Mr. Mercer

The Member for Kam Lake.

Speaker: Mr. Mercer

The Member for Frame Lake.

Speaker: Mr. Mercer

The Member for Yellowknife North.

Speaker: Mr. Mercer

The Member for Monfwi.

Speaker: Mr. Mercer

The Member for Great Slave.

Speaker: Mr. Mercer

Member for Nahendeh.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

The results of the recorded vote: 17 in favour, zero opposed, zero abstentions. The motion is carried.

Carried

Bill 54 has had third reading.

Third reading of bills. Minister responsible for Finance.

Bill 55: Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 1, 20222023, Carried

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, that Bill 55, Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 1, 20222023, be read for the third time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Minister. The motion is in order. To the motion. Member for Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I just want to let everyone know I will be voting against this infrastructure expenditure, Mr. Speaker. I think if you support building infrastructure in the Northwest Territories, then a supplementary appropriation which lapses $125 million is a very concerning sight. And I think if you believe that when the Assembly passes money and tells the GNWT to spend it and they don't, that's very concerning. And I know there's much debate about what exactly is being lapsed and will never come back versus what is being carried over and will probably make itself back on the project list in some sort of supplementary appropriation, but I want to give one tangible example.

This lapse is $1 million of deferred maintenance spending which the Department of Infrastructure didn't manage to spend, that will not be coming back. They have a fixed allocated budget for deferred maintenance and they didn't manage to spend $1 million of it this year despite our deferred maintenance backlog being $553, Mr. Speaker.

The department and the GNWT needs to get a plan in order that when we give them money for deferred maintenance, they spend it. And that's going to have to take some building capacity. It's going to have to take a lot of steps. But I think that is one particularly egregious example where I just can't support this infrastructure sups that takes $125 million out of our contractors in the North. And, you know, we said when we passed this budget, that it was the largest one in GNWT history. And well now with these lapses, that's no longer true, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Thank you, Member for Yellowknife North. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Speaker: SOME HON. MEMBERS

Question.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Question has been called.

Colleagues, pursuant to Rule 10.3(1), a recorded vote is required. The clerk shall call on each Member by riding name to cast their vote starting with the mover, those participating remotely, and those participating in the Chamber in the order of their seats. When the clerk calls on you, please state whether you are for, against, or abstaining from third reading.

Speaker: Mr. Mercer

The Member for Yellowknife South.

Speaker: Mr. Mercer

The Member for Tu NedheWiilideh.

Speaker: Mr. Mercer

The Member for Sahtu.

In favour.

Speaker: Mr. Mercer

The Member for Range Lake.

Speaker: Mr. Mercer

The Member for Inuvik Boot Lake.

In favour.

Speaker: Mr. Mercer

The Member for Yellowknife Centre.