Thank you, Madam Chair. Yeah, I'm super aware of how long cost estimates last and quotes even. I mean, you're lucky sometimes if you even get three months out of a company after they've given you a quote, so. I guess I just would be very remiss if I didn't speak a bit further to this, and general projects around the Tulita area, and the very big feeling of lack of engagement that I hear from the community, including on this bridge. They I have Members of that community come to me on numerous occasions to ask for updates on what is happening there. And the mayor has told me he does not feel engaged and such and so and not just with this project, but with the health care centre which I missed in the earliest portion.
So to me, I'm kind of starting to feel like the Great Bear River bridge is going to be this nebulous it's going to be the Taltson of the next project because it's just going nowhere. So has the Minister or the department considered an alternative here, rather than building this bridge on treacherous waters and such, maybe going towards a ferry system instead in which they could then employ about 12 people seasonally on the ferry as well as creating a tourism opportunity. So I guess I'd just like to know are there other things being now thought of instead of this bridge that's never happening. Thank you.
Thank you. Minister of Finance.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I in the last few years of sitting here, I have not seen anything come across in the capital plans that would have considered as a ferry option, so I don't know what the full history of that might be. But I can tell you with respect to the other part of the question and public consultation, there actually have been some recent public consultations in the region around specifically the land and the access and the lead points on the bridge. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister. Are there any further questions under asset management? Seeing none. Member for Deh Cho.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I note that the Deh Cho bridge repair work is not listed in here. It's I think it's probably repair work but that's the one dealing with the cable failure. I'm just wondering if it's a bigger it's a bigger task than originally expected, if they have to bring in an expert from the United Kingdom, and what's the projected estimated cost to repair that project and what's the timeline? Mahsi.
Thank you. Minister of Finance.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, it is still you know, would certainly be my hope that we'd actually be able to get compensation for any repair work as a warranty on the bridge. Obviously that, or some form of insurance on the bridge. I don't have a final on that. The issues arose only just this summer. What and then the so the final completion of any repairs will be in June of 2024. But as I think the Member has previously mentioned or the Minister has previously mentioned, there was certainly work done adequate to ensure the safety of the bridge for continued usage and passage made between now and then. Thank you.
Thank you. Member for Deh Cho.
Mahsi for that. Also, infrastructure highways went into the community to shore up the riverbank where it was about five feet from the road the access road into the community. And what I noticed that they did there was they just compacted the fill in that area. And that's right next to the river where the ice when you look on the riverbanks of in that area there, the ice really chews up, you know, the the banks there pretty you know, a significant amount. And why did infrastructure just put compact fill, knowing that when you do stuff like that it's going to slump anyways once the ice hits it? If you can provide details on that. Mahsi.
Thank you. Minister of Finance.
Madam Chair, we're beyond my skill. I'll turn that one to Mr. Brennan, please.
ADM Brennan
Thank you, Madam Chair. Yeah, so there was some erosion of the banks last year with the ice there, and it was noted last year. We did send a team in to take a look at it from the operations side, and we did do some shortterm work on there by placing some fill until we can get some engineer studies completed to determine what we need to do that embankment going long term. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you. Member for Deh Cho.
Mahsi, Madam Chair. Has the department hired engineers, or they're using inhouse engineers and have they been to the community yet? What's the expected timeline for this type of work here? Mahsi.
Thank you, Member. ADM Brennan
Thank you, Madam Chair. Yeah, so we have not been into the community with our engineers yet so we don't have an anticipated timeline. We had hope to try to get something this year but with the all the activity around evacuations, wildfires, we never we never quite got to it. So it'll be a 2024 issue. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you. Member for Deh Cho.
Mahsi, Madam Chair. That's all I have right now. Mahsi.
Member for Hay River South.
Thank you, Madam Chair. And I'll just be brief here. I just want to make a couple comments, is that, you know, when I look at this part of the you know, the capital budget, it's a big chunk, and it's really meaningful to contractors in the Northwest Territories. They're relying on this portion of the budget to continue operating through this transition period of government and going forward as well. So I just want to make sure that you know, that government is aware of that and that this is needed. And the other thing as well is that, you know, we got to make sure that, you know, the Indigenous governments, you know, have a strong role to play in that part of it as well, to make sure that they are getting some of this work. And if they get that work, you know, I would be I would hope that they would actually joint venture if they're going to do that with northern contractors versus southern contractors as well. So I guess it's just more of a comment there just to keep it upfront that we want to make sure the work stays in the North and it actually happens to keep businesses alive here. Thank you.
Thank you. I didn't hear any questions in there. So I'll go to the next Member. Member for Monfwi.
Thank you. This is further to the Frank Channel bridge, Dehk'e. It says here the completion date is going to be 20262027. And now that we know that the contract was you know, the engineer contract was awarded that, you know, it's just been mentioned. So I just wanted to ask when is the actual work going to start for the construction of the Frank Channel bridge?
Thank you, Member. Minister.
Thank you, Madam Chair. So, I mean, this is right now in the 20242025 plan. So we are there's already crushing happening this year with significant expenditure for the 20242025 plan which, yes, is I mean, that's when it will begin. I don't know if the Member's looking for an exact month, I don't have that in front of me. If she'd like a month, I could see if ADM Brennan has that. Thank you.
Thank you. Mr. Brennan
Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes, so we did award a crushing contract for 20232024, the current fiscal year, and in 20242025 we're hoping that we will get the design work done and start on the actual procurement of those for the construction. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you. Member for Monfwi.
Yeah, another one too is that so who will be supplying all the materials for the constructions? Like, from the steel to the gravel and all that, you know, to build the to build the bridge? Like, I just wanted to know, because it should will it be supplied by the Indigenous government?
Minister of Finance.
Thank you, Madam Chair. So, again, at this point only the crush contract has been completed. That one is being done by a local community contractor. Anything on the Frank Channel bridge would have to go through the Tlicho Infrastructure Cooperation Agreement, which there's a presumption in a way that or an initial attempt to negotiate directly with the Tlicho government or subsidiary thereof. If there's an inability to reach conclusion, then even so, any outside agreement that may be reached would still then be subject to having provisions within it for employment and I believe also for procurement of some materials, goods, or services. So the point of which is, either way, whether it's a direct contract with the Tlicho or their subsidiary development arms or whether it's private, there are guarantees within that process to ensure that there's benefits directly to the community. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister. Member for Monfwi.
Thank you. Okay, the Frank Channel bridge is beneficial for everybody for the Northwest Territories. It's a busy, busy bridge, and I'm very grateful for that because it's going to be providing employment for the people in the regions. It's you know, like, and from Yellowknife as well too. So there's going to be a lot of people benefitting from that so, and that is part of North Slave region. And we are part of North Slave. And so there's nothing actually in the budget for Tlicho region alone. If Tlicho region alone was identified, there would be nothing. And we even had in there where Gameti want an allseason road. They did identify that. And Wekweeti identified that as well. And I really do support, you know, like, what they're asking for. But I just wanted to ask the Minister if there is a plan in place and if there is a plan in place, do they have do they have a date of when the actual work or if there was an agreement made with the Tlicho investment or infrastructure agreement or with the Tlicho government or with a tech or was there any agreement made? I just wanted to ask the Minister that.
Thank you. Minister of Finance.
Thank you, Madam Chair. So the Tlicho region, or the Monfwi riding, does is I can summarize they're getting $36,615,000 this year. It is actually 10 percent of the total capital estimates. And that is not including the territorial portion which may well include some of the highway work if that is deemed as territorial. So I can provide a breakdown. I only have that number right now; I don't have a breakdown.
And as for an agreement, I mean, again, I I'm not sure I'm entirely understanding the context but the Tlicho Infrastructure Cooperation Agreement does exist between the Tlicho government and the Government of the Northwest Territories. So, I mean, beyond and sorry, and just to confirm, Madam Chair, indeed the capital estimates, I'm saying the 10 percent that's going to Monfwi is it is it actually quite far and apart beyond the bridge, which although it is on Tlicho lands and so subject to the agreement, quite rightfully does have a tremendous impact and benefit to the whole of the territory. Thank you.
Thank you. Member for Monfwi.
Thank you. Yes, I know that with it would be nice if there was a Tlicho region. All the projects that they're going to be working on within this coming upcoming fiscal year identified, it would have been great because I think I know that my the people in my region, they would like to know. And there's a lot of we have a lot of people there with their own business that they would you know, if they were aware of some of these things, I think they would plan better because all we see in this budget is a small project, not large projects. And there's no other they don't identify what is being what is under the small project and large project, and there's no estimate. There's no numbers beside it at the budget. So that's why I ask because if we had that, it would have been great. And even, like like she just said, the $36 million, like, I would like to know what kind of project is that that's going into Tlicho region. You know, is it the school? Is it the health centre? You know, all our there's we have a lot of aging infrastructure in our communities, water pipe in Edzo. So it would have been it would be good if those were identified so then that people, they know. So that's all I wanted to ask. Thank you.
Thank you. Minister of Finance.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I will send a consolidation of the list of projects to the Member for Monfwi. I mean, part of the challenge, of course, is, for example, that there's, you know, a Housing NWT project that is taking place in the Monfwi region. There is, you know, runway and apron overlays at one of the airports. That's under infrastructure. There's the North Arm Park. That is under ITI. So each and every one of these projects is listed in the capital estimates with its budget and the location but because they're in the different departments, we organize by department, so you're seeing them in each department. But, again, Department of Finance can put together a list here, and I can send it to the Member so she can see them and then would have that crossreferenced ability.
My understanding under the Tlicho Infrastructure Cooperation Agreement is that the Tlicho government themselves do take a leading role in communicating and identifying contractors in those communities. Again, I may I may be overstating that. I don't mean to put them on the spot, but I think this is a part of the understanding is that they are the lead on their lands. So and then in addition to that, Madam Chair, there are contracting seminars that are run fairly regularly for contractors and the dashboard that we have for all of the details of what's coming up. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Minister. Are there any further questions? Member for Monfwi.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes, thank you. Thank you for the information. And it's good to know. And I just wanted to note that for next fiscal year, will the Minister commit to create, you know, our own Tlicho region, part of their budgeting, so that way we will know, you know don't include us in the North Slave because North Slave includes Yellowknife and, you know, Tu NedheWiilideh's riding, my neighbour, my colleague here. And then, you know, we need to get away from North Slave. We need to have our own region or our own so that way we will know, you know, how much is being spent to Tlicho region. And right now, it's at 20 percent but that's not, you know it doesn't say much for Tlicho region. So that's just more of a comment. Thank you.
Thank you, Member. Are there any further questions under asset management from Members? Seeing none.
Department of Infrastructure, asset management, infrastructure investments, $83,595,000. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Thank you. Next, turn to page 59 for energy and strategic initiatives with information items on page 60. Are there any questions? Member for Yellowknife North.
Thank you. I see we have some preconstruction engineering regulatory activities for Taltson Expansion preconstruction. Do we have a rough cost estimate of what we think the Taltson Expansion will cost? Thank you.
Thank you, Member. Minister of Finance.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, the Member might recall that a preliminary business case was shared with the standing committee and did have in it some initial cost estimates for both generation and transmission. More recent to that, as of May, a final business case was prepared. It does, however, first go to the MOU signatories who we are contemplating as being the partners on the project. I understand that Members may wish to have access to that. I don't have the ability right here to speak to that. So I'm not able to speak to the numbers that are in that cost estimate. But, again, I can assure the Member that that work has been done, along with quite a lot of other work to get us to the point where we are looking at doing some of the preconstruction. So engineering, environmental, and regulatory activities which is what is contemplated in the 20242025 plans. Thank you.
Thank you. Member for Yellowknife North.
Can I get an over/under on $2 billion? Thank you.
Thank you. Minister of Finance.
