Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, yes, absolutely. I mean, you know, we're all busy doing committee meetings and if the Member doesn't feel like this is warrants committee time, then we can perhaps provide an update through a letter or some sort of format. Thanks.
Thank you. Member for Frame Lake.
Thanks, Madam Chair. It's not that I don't want to hear my friends from Infrastructure, I just can't talk on behalf of the committee because we haven't even talked about it. So a letter with some information, and then I think committee could look at it and decide whether we want to, you know, get a briefing or something. But, no, I appreciate the Minister offering to share some more information on that with us, that's great. And I don't think I have any further questions on this activity. Thanks, Madam Chair.
Thank you. Corporate management, are there any further questions? Seeing none, please turn to page 262.
Infrastructure, corporate management, operations expenditure summary, 20232024 Main Estimates, $7,989,000. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Thank you, committee. We will now turn to energy and strategic initiatives, beginning on page 265, with information items on page 266 to 269. Questions. Member for Frame Lake.
Thanks, Madam Chair. Well, let's sorry?
Sergeantatarms, please switch out the witnesses.
Although we know our witness, we'll ask you to introduce for the record.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, and I appreciate the Members' patience while we flow each of the different assistant deputy ministers in. I have with me Robert Jenkins, who is the assistant deputy minister for energy and strategic initiatives. Thank you.
Welcome. Member for Frame Lake.
Thanks, Madam Chair. On page 265, the energy line, it kind of bounces all over the place, you know, as low as $9 million or about $10 million, as high as almost $20 million. Can someone explain to me what is happening here? Thanks, Madam Chair.
Thank you. Minister.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, as I mentioned in my opening marks, that we did have some funds that are moving back and forth between the energy section. I'm going to ask Ms. Lee to be able to speak a little bit more about the transactions. Thank you.
Thank you. Ms. Lee.
Thank you, Madam Chair. So there is some fluctuation, as the Member has stated, on the energy line there. And the main driver for that actually is updates to the appropriations for our LCELF program so our LCELF program being funded by the federal government. We do have to ensure that we have access and appropriations to utilize the LCELF funding. And because it is driven by application base, there are times where we would need to move the flow of funds in order to continue accessing that money. So we do see some fluctuations but really it is to maximize our ability to utilize LCELF funding. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Madam Chair. Member for Frame Lake.
Thanks, Madam Chair. So if I wasn't confused before, I am now. I know that LCELF is Low Carbon Economy Leadership fund. It's federal money. So what's the issue here we can't get the projects out the door? They keep changing the program? What's the issue here? Thanks, Madam Chair.
Thank you. Minister.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I'm going to start by just saying that this is an application base. And I'm going to ask Mr. Jenkins to just speak a little bit more about the Member's question. Thanks.
Thank you. Mr. Jenkins.
Thank you, Madam Chair. So the Low Carbon Economy Leadership Fund, so that's a fund that started back in 2018. It was originally for four years for $31.2 million. It was extended for an additional two years. And as the Minister mentioned, it's largely an applicationbased program for energy efficiency for buildings and other things. Really, uptake has been a challenge over the past few years and some of the variations in budgets, as the Member mentioned, is moving funds forward so we have the ability to utilize those funds and move them forward three years. And the program was extended for an additional two years but the amount of money from the federal government did not increase. So it was carried forward to those additional years. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you. Member for Frame Lake.
Okay, thanks, Madam Chair. Yeah, I think have some vague memory of some of this. There's kind of like four pots of money or something. And so is the I think we got the money. Is this, like, applicationbased by third parties and is it an issue of us you know, I don't know, maybe a combination of things COVID, supply chain stuff, people weren't applying, or do we need to better communicate what the parameters are of this, and maybe evaluate submissions faster? I'm just trying to understand where what the block or the barriers are. Thanks, Madam Chair.
Thank you. Minister.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, some of it is applicationbased and, you know, we've done more outreach to be able to look at the program. And I'm going to ask Mr. Jenkins if he can speak a little bit more to that. Thanks.
Thank you. Mr. Jenkins.
Thank you, Madam Chair. So there is six streams under the Low Carbon Economy Leadership Fund. And some of those are things like energy efficiency upgrades for public housing right through to things like active carbon sequestration in forestry. So there's different programs there. But largely there is a it is an applicationbased program. And we've been doing more outreach. We've been sort of cold calling different places. We've seen an uptake in some of the GHG grant programs for buildings and industry, and we've had some announcements now. We've got a number of projects that were announced last year on that. But it is an applicationbased program. We've been working hard to try to have people apply but at the end of the day, it has been a challenge through COVID. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Yes, thank you. Minister.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I just want to note too that this program, there needs to be application or applicant input as well to be able to contribute to this program. So, I mean, yes, we do offset it but, I mean, anybody applying to the program needs to be able to be a contributor as well. Thanks.
Thank you. Member for Frame Lake.
Yeah, okay, thanks for that. Maybe we should just give a lot of that money to Arctic Energy Alliance and they can get it out the door more quickly.
But I do have another area I want to explore, Madam Chair, and that's the federal government, federal minister of northern affairs recently announced that a regional study would proceed for the area between Yellowknife and the border with Nunavut. And I'm just wondering what implication that has for any work that might be done by the department on I think it's called the Tibbitt to Lockhart Road, or whatever you're calling it these days. Thanks, Madam Chair.
Thank you. Minister.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, for that project, we are still continuing to gather engineering and environmental information to be able to support the application. Thanks.
Thank you. Member for Frame Lake.
Okay, thanks, Madam Chair. How much is being budgeted for that in 20232024? Thanks.
Thank you. Minister.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, we're looking at around $9 million. Thank you.
Thank you. Member for Frame Lake.
Thanks. How much of that's carried over? Thanks, Madam Chair.
Thank you. Minister.
Sorry, can I ask the Member to repeat the question.
How much is that carried over?
Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I don't have that number in front of me. I might have to get back to the Member. Thank you.
Thank you. Member for Frame Lake.
Yeah, thanks, Madam Chair. I think a lot of it is. But when does the department expect to make a submission to, say, the land and water board for permits, licenses, to carry out that project? Thanks, Madam Chair.
Thank you. Minister.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, we're looking at in the year 2024. And if I can ask Mr. Jenkins to just speak a little bit more about that. I'm sure the Member won't be happy with me just throwing out a year so I think it's I think it would be appropriate for Mr. Jenkins to speak more.
Answer it really quick. Thank you. Mr. Jenkins.
Yes, thanks, Madam Chair. So the Minister's right, looking at 2024, with environmental engineering work occurring up to that point. Thank you.
Thank you. Member for Frame Lake.
