Debates of March 27, 2023 (day 150)

March
27
2023
Session
19th Assembly, 2nd Session
Day
150
Speaker
Frederick Blake Jr.
Word PDF
Members Present
Hon. Diane Archie, Hon. Frederick Blake Jr., Mr. Bonnetrouge, Hon. Paulie Chinna, Ms. Cleveland, Hon. Caroline Cochrane, Mr. Edjericon, Hon. Julie Green, Mr. Jacobson, 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
Assembly Members
Topics
Bill 76: An Act to Amend the Electoral Boundaries Act
Bill 80: Dental Hygienists Profession Statutes Amendment Act
Bill 81: An Act to Amend the Education Act, No. 2
Bill 82: Legal Profession Act
Bill 83: Liquor Act
Bill 84: An Act to Amend the Northwest Territories Business Development and Investment Corporation Act
Bill 85: United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Implementation Act
Committee Motion 380-19(2): Committee Report 40-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on Bill 61: An Act to Amend the Ombud Act – Statutory Officer Jurisdiction, Carried
Committee Motion 381-19(2): Committee Report 40-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on Bill 61: An Act to Amend the Ombud Act – Government Response to Recommendations, Carried
Committee Motion 382-19(2): Committee Report 43-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on Bill 63: An Act to Amend the Official Languages Act – Indigenous Languages Legislative Changes, Carried
Committee Motion 383-19(2): Committee Report 43-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on Bill 63: An Act to Amend the Official Languages Act – Indigenous Languages Legislative Changes, Carried
Committee Motion 385-19(2): Concurrence Motion – Tabled Document 881-19(2): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2022-2023, Carried
Committee Motion 386-19(2): Concurrence Motion – Tabled Document 882-19(2): Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 2022-2023, Carried
Committee Motion 387-19(2): Concurrence Motion – Tabled Document 883-19(2): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 1, 2023-2024, Carried
Committee Motion 388-19(2): Committee Report 44-19(2): Special Committee on Reconciliation and Indigenous Affairs Final Report: A Northwest Territories Approach to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and Negotiating Agr
Committee Motion 389-19(2): Committee Report 44-19(2): Special Committee on Reconciliation and Indigenous Affairs Final Report: A Northwest Territories Approach to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and Negotiating Agr
Committee Motion 390-19(2): Committee Report 44-19(2): Special Committee on Reconciliation and Indigenous Affairs Final Report: A Northwest Territories Approach to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and Negotiating Agr
Committee Motion 391-19(2): Committee Report 44-19(2): Special Committee on Reconciliation and Indigenous Affairs Final Report: A Northwest Territories Approach to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and Negotiating Agr
Committee Motion 392-19(2): Committee Report 44-19(2): Special Committee on Reconciliation and Indigenous Affairs Final Report: A Northwest Territories Approach to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and Negotiating Agr
Committee Motion 393-19(2): Committee Report 44-19(2): Special Committee on Reconciliation and Indigenous Affairs Final Report: A Northwest Territories Approach to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and Negotiating Agr
Committee Report 49-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations: Report on the 2021-22 Review of the Official Languages Act
Committee Report 50-19(2): Standing Committee on Social Development: Strengthening Community Supports, Lifting Youth Voices: Recommendations on Suicide Prevention
Member’s Statement 1469-19(2): Land Leasing Policies
Member’s Statement 1470-19(2): Youth Leadership Gatherings
Member’s Statement 1471-19(2): Alberta-Northwest Territories Transboundary Water Agreement
Member’s Statement 1472-19(2): Housing Northwest Territories Mortgage Arrears
Member’s Statement 1473-19(2): Review of Fiscal Responsibility Policy
Member’s Statement 1474-19(2): Aurora College Board of Governors
Member’s Statement 1475-19(2): Sport and Recreation Funding for Beaufort Delta Communities
Member’s Statement 1476-19(2): Alberta–Northwest Territories Transboundary Waters Agreement and National Water Strategy
Member’s Statement 1477-19(2): Improving Government of the Northwest Territories Procurement Policies
Member’s Statement 1478-19(2): Eulogy for Jack Lee Mouse
Minister’s Statement 339-19(2): Introducing the Department of Environment and Climate Change
Minister’s Statement 340-19(2): Accelerated Digital Adoption Projects for Tomorrow Fund
Question 1466-19(2): Sport and Recreation Funding
Question 1467-19(2): Aurora College Board of Governors
Question 1468-19(2): Tailing Ponds Spill
Question 1469-19(2): Alberta Tailing Ponds Spill
Question 1470-19(2): Review of Fiscal Responsibility Policy
Question 1471-19(2): Outstanding Mortgages
Question 1472-19(2): Procurement Review
Question 1473-19(2): Land Leasing
Question 1474-19(2): Audit Report and Unspent Funds on Internet Connectivity
Return to Oral Question 1404-19(2): Child Care Funding Supports for Teen Parents
Return to Oral Question 1411-19(2): Taltson Hydro Expansion Project
Return to Written Question 60-19(2): Physician Recruitment and Retention
Return to Written Question 61-19(2): Government of the Northwest Territories Sole Source Contracting under Procurement Criteria 1.8.2 (a)
Return to Written Question 62-19(2): Sole Source Contracting for Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority under Procurement Criteria 1.8.2 (a)
Return to Written Question 63-19(2): Use of Indigenous Fonts on Official Documents
Tabled Document 894-19(2): Northwest Territories Innovation Action Plan
Tabled Document 895-19(2): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 1423-19(2): Nunakput Court Travel
Tabled Document 897-19(2): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 1435-19(2): Dental Hygienist Regulations
Statements

Thanks. I'm probably straying a little bit far here but what was the original projected operating surplus then for 20222023?

Minister.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, let me see if Ms. Melanson might have that at her fingertips. I don't have it.

Thank you. Ms. Melanson.

Speaker: MS. MELANSON

Thank you, Madam Chair. The initial I do apologize, I just need to bring it up.

The initial operating surplus for 20222023 was $130,552,000.

Thank you. Member for Frame Lake.

Yeah, thanks. Well, I guess sometimes I wonder why I ask these questions but that's it. Like, so our operating surplus went from $130 million down to $4 million. I just so next year we're projecting $178 million, and it's probably going to end up way, way, way, way less than that. But, okay. I just wonder about these things. And I just don't like it quite frankly. Our ability to predict our finances doesn't seem to be very good. I don't know what else I can say, Madam Chair. I'm not very happy about this. Thank you.

Thank you. Are there any other general comments? Seeing no further general comments, we'll review the supplementary estimates by department.

Does committee agree to proceed to the detail contained in the tabled document?

Speaker: SOME HON. MEMBERS

Agreed.

Committee, we will begin on page 3. Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 20222023, Department of Education, Culture and Employment, operations expenditures, corporate management not previously authorized, $1,680,000. Does committee agree?

Speaker: SOME HON. MEMBERS

Agreed.

Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 20222023 Department of Education, Culture and Employment, operations expenditures, labour development and advanced education, not previously authorized, negative $2,269,000. Does committee agree?

Speaker: SOME HON. MEMBERS

Agreed.

Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 20222023, Department of Education, Culture and Employment, operations expenditures, total department not previously authorized, negative $589,000. Does committee agree?

Speaker: SOME HON. MEMBERS

Agreed.

Committee, we will now turn to page 4. Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 20222023, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, operations expenditures, corporate management, not previously authorized, $75,000. Does committee agree?

Speaker: SOME HON. MEMBERS

Agreed.

Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 20222023, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, operations expenditures, environmental stewardship and climate change, not previously authorized, $219,000. Does committee agree? Member for Frame Lake.

Thanks, Madam Chair. So what's the Deh Cho money actually going to be used for? Thanks, Madam Chair. And will it actually result in the Horn Plateau area being permanently protected? I guess that's my underlying question. Thanks.

Minister.

Madam Chair, Ms. Melanson has a brief description. I propose she provide it.

Ms. Melanson.

Speaker: MS. MELANSON

Thank you, Madam Chair. The additional funding will be used to fund meetings, community engagement, and negotiations towards the development of the establishment agreements for the Deh Cho candidate protected areas. Thank you.

Thank you. Member for Frame Lake.

Okay, thanks. Can I get some detail about which areas are going to be protected? Thanks, Madam Chair.

Thank you. Minister.

Madam Chair, I don't have that level of detail for the supplementary appropriation, but I can commit to providing that.

All right. Thank you for that commitment. Member for Frame Lake.

Thanks, Madam Chair. So I guess, again I'll ask, is any of this money going towards Edehzhie and permanent protection? We got some, you know, interim land withdrawal covering it. Is this going to help get this area permanently protected in some way? Thanks, Madam Chair.

Thank you. Minister.

Madam Chair, again, I don't have that level of detail of what the conservation approach might be. My understanding is that this is meant to help with the developing what candidate areas there are going to be. So I would leave that to a question for people over at employment ECC to provide further detail on, and I can obviously convey that to my colleague. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you. Member for Frame Lake.

Thanks, Madam Chair. I'm just trying to find a way to say nicely that it would be better if we could get better answers rather than push it off to some future point where we don't know whether the information is actually going to be made public or not. And I'll leave it at that. Thanks, Madam Chair.

Thank you. Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 20222023, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, operations expenditures, environmental stewardship and climate change not previously authorized, $219,000. Does committee agree?

Speaker: SOME HON. MEMBERS

Agreed.

Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 20222023, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, operations expenditures, forest management, not previously authorized, $300,000. Does committee agree?

Speaker: SOME HON. MEMBERS

Agreed.

Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 20222023 Department of Environment and Natural Resources, operations expenditures, wildlife and fish, not previously authorized, $585,000. Does committee agree?

Speaker: SOME HON. MEMBERS

Agreed.

Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 20222023, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, operations expenditures, total department not previously authorized, $1,179,000. Does committee agree?

Speaker: SOME HON. MEMBERS

Agreed.

Please turn to page 6. Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 20222023, Department of Executive and Indigenous Affairs, operations expenditures, directorate, not previously authorized, $290,000. Does committee agree?

Speaker: SOME HON. MEMBERS

Agreed.

Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 20222023 Department of Executive and Indigenous Affairs, operations expenditures, total department, not previously authorized, $29f0,000. Does committee agree?

Speaker: SOME HON. MEMBERS

Agreed.

Please turn to page 7. Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 20222023, Department of Finance, operations expenditures, directorate, not previously authorized, $681,000. Does committee agree?

Speaker: SOME HON. MEMBERS

Agreed.

Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 20222023, Department of Finance, operations expenditures, total department, not previously authorized, $681,000. Does committee agree?

Speaker: SOME HON. MEMBERS

Agreed.

Thank you. Please turn to page 8. Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 20222023, Department of Health and Social Services, operations expenditures, administrative and support services, not previously authorized, $3,107,000. Does committee agree?

Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 20222023, Department of Health and Social Services, operations expenditures, health and social service programs, not previously authorized, $25,263,000. Does committee agree? Member for Yellowknife North.