Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I was very happy to accept an invitation from the Member to the community, to come see the school, when it works for community leadership, and I very much look forward to that. I can also confirm for the Member that there are currently six small capital projects in the 20-year capital plan for this particular school that will be completed between 2025 and 2030. Thank you.
Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Final supplementary. Member from Monfwi.
Okay, thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister commit to ensuring the school receives the retrofitting that it requires? Thank you?
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I committed, there are currently six small capital projects on the books for this school that will be completed between 2025 and 2030. And in addition to that, I can also confirm for the Member that there are currently planning funding approved in addition to the two that we're looking at in capital estimates right now, but for four additional schools in the territory. And those four that are getting large capital planning right now are Deninu School in Fort Resolution, Moose Kerr School in Aklavik, Alexis Arrowmaker School in Wekweeti, and MJ McPherson school here in Yellowknife. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Oral questions. Member from Mackenzie Delta.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister of MACA explain how MACA is communicating with community governments and Indigenous governments through regional superintendents?
Thank you, Member from Mackenzie Delta. Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So this review of the formula funding has been going on for a while. Before my time, it's been reviewed a few times. In 2014, it was part of the NWTAC who brought in all the community governments, did a review. They had representations from communities across the North as part of their review. That review was done. It was then decided that changes needed to start happening in order to make the funding more fair and equitable. And since August of this year, our regional superintendents have been meeting and offering to meet with community governments to explain the process and how we're starting to implement this. It's not final. It's to get feedback and to find out what the impacts and feelings are from the communities. So the regional superintendents have reached out to the community governments. Last I heard, I think it's 26 of 33 governments have been communicated to. So thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It's good news to hear that they've been communicating with the Indigenous governments. Can the Minister say whether MACA and its staff have held any other public meetings to engage the public prior to implementing their new funding policy? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The funding that goes to the communities is managed by the community governments. So the regional superintendents have been meeting with the community governments that have been receiving the funding. We have not had any public meetings. We send the funding to the community so that's who we've been meeting with. We are planning more engagements. As you are aware, we're going to meet with the committees here next week to go over it. So it is still an ongoing process. Hopefully, the rest of the communities get reached here soon. So we're still out there communicating and trying to get the information across. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My final question, can the Minister identify which communities were overfunded using the old funding model? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I don't want to throw any communities under the bus here, but I will say that we have roughly about six communities -- I think a little bit more -- that are overfunded by -- by over 100 percent they're overfunded. And, again, the goal is not to impact the communities, but the goal is to distribute the funding fairly and equitably based on services provided, equipment being used, infrastructure within the community. So there is a little bit behind it. Again, we're trying to get the information out there, work with the communities, but it is over six communities that are overfunded. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. Oral questions. Member from Great Slave.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm going to see if I'm going to follow in my colleague from Inuvik Boot Lake's footsteps of one question.
My question today is for the Minister of ECC. It's really good that we recognize that we're in -- the territory and the world is facing a climate crisis. I am curious, however, about the unfunded actions in the draft climate action plan, specifically those that address changing wildfire conditions, protecting communities, adapting housing assets, transportation, and increasing petroleum storage in our remote communities. Can the Minister explain what work is being done to secure funding for those crucial actions that will keep our residents safe and secure? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Great Slave. Minister of Environment and Climate Change.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the Member for the question. I think it's very clear that climate change has had a significant impact on the Northwest Territories over the last number of years, and certainly the rate at which climate change is happening at three to four times the national average.
The Government of the Northwest Territories Department of ECC is the lead on climate change action in the Northwest Territories, but we certainly can't do this alone. And I think the approach that we've taken as a government are using a coordinated interdepartmental approach so that we're working with all of the departments in addressing these concerns is the one way that we're collaborating and working on finding funding solutions to address these issues. Certainly, our work together in accessing funds through the federal government is key to the success of addressing the funding gaps within some of these items. So some of these items also would fall more directly on the Minister of Infrastructure and have, you know, certainly climate implications but I do have a little bit of information I can happily share with the Member.
So currently, the Department of Infrastructure is having discussions with Transport Canada and is undertaking an assessment there to see what can help to inform the transportation planning study and risks of resilience to the NWT's transportation infrastructure. So I think that's really a key area.
The Department of Infrastructure also is having conversations with Canada on financial supports for a high energy -- high Arctic fuel storage, an increased fuel storage project as part of the disaster mitigation and adaptation fund project, along with Housing, Infrastructure, and Communities Canada. And discussions are ongoing to consider the scope -- the revised scope, as we move forward. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister of Environment and Climate Change. Oral questions. Member from the Sahtu.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Following up on my questions -- or my statement to the Minister of Housing NWT on ensuring that our products get delivered for home construction and home occupancy, my first question to the Minister: What planning is underway to ensure home materials are in preparation for trucking during this winter road season? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Sahtu. Minister of Infrastructure -- oh, sorry, my fault. Minister of housing.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It must be Halloween because we're -- there's a lot of trip ups today, but that's okay. Thank you to the Member for the question.
It's important that we prepare for our housing projects over this next little while considering the low water levels. On the Mackenzie has presented many challenges for transportation. What we're planning to do with Housing NWT is work towards the winter road and be prepared for winter road transportation for housing materials and housing modular units. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thanks to the Minister for that reply.
My next question is the arrivals of materials to the final destination, is the Minister -- will be working with the local LHOs to ensure that the waybills and the product is being delivered? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, again, much of this work is ongoing. We have an infrastructure team within Housing NWT that works on design and also the rollout of housing infrastructure projects within the communities. So a lot of this work is ongoing. There's a lot of internal work and a lot of discussions with local housing associations to make sure that these projects are delivered on time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister responsible for Housing NWT.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My final question is that we have a one season annual approach to resupplying our communities, and earlier, we are hit -- we, the Sahtu, is hit with another increase in costs. Now we're going to see our power bills increase by 25 points over and above starting soon after the GRA is in the process. So viewing the additional costs and viewing the wood stove subsidies and the program offered to reduce costs on energy by Arctic Alliance, will the Minister work with my office to see if there's additional trucking loads that could supply wood stoves from southern suppliers to the Sahtu? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Something that Housing NWT does internally is work with communities on the loads going into the communities. I can have this discussion with the MLA, also with Housing NWT, to make sure that these loads going in are full loads and that we're utilizing all resources. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister for Housing NWT. Colleagues, before we get to continue with oral questions, we have lots of beautiful guests here. I'm going to turn to the Premier for -- since it's under his portfolio. Mr. Premier.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for using your prerogative to allow me to introduce to the House the government service officers from around the Northwest Territories who are here in town for training. These are the people at the frontline of integrated service delivery in the Northwest Territories. So we have with us today:
George Morin
Celine Proctor - Fort Good Hope
Patricia Voudrach - Tuktoyaktuk
Connie Villenuve - Jean Marie River
Tina Apples - Gameti
Cassandra Paul-Greenland - Aklavik
Elizabeth Romie - Whati
Irene Kodakin - Deline
Sharon Pekok - Hay River Reserve
Eddy McKay - Fort Resolution
Kimberly Stewart - Tulita
Ann Kochon-Orlias - Colville Lake
Albert Ruben - Paulatuk
Alayna Krutko - Fort Providence
Sarah Kallak - Ulukahtoak
Shandel McLeod - Aklavik
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Welcome.
I would like to welcome GSOs here. You guys do an amazing job. We're very fortunate, one of my former members, constituent -- well, I guess you're still my constituent, Connie Villeneuve and her better half -- or not her better half, Jonas Sanques for being here. I'm going to get in trouble now. Welcome. Thank you very much for the work that you do. You guys are a great asset by the government, and you got a good leader there, so thank you very much for being here today.
Oral questions. Member from Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Executive and Indigenous Affairs.
The review and recommendations on the city of Yellowknife Street Outreach program has been released this week, and the review noted that the program is currently being operated on a month to month basis on an annual deficit of $50,000 while the homeless population in Yellowknife is growing. So my question for the Minister is what are the next steps, now that this review has been released and with the recommendations -- what are the next steps for EIA in terms of engaging with the city of Yellowknife and figuring out the best role for the GNWT in supporting the Street Outreach program moving forward? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Yellowknife North. Mr. Premier.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I'm sure the Member can appreciate that we've been busy this week. I haven't had a chance to read the report myself. But I know that staff are reviewing it, and staff from EIA did contribute to the report as well. So after that review is done, I look forward to speaking with the department to figure out what the next steps are going forward. Because as I've said many times in this House, the Street Outreach is a valuable service, and when I'm in Yellowknife, I stay downtown and so I see their work on a regular basis, and I very much appreciate it. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Premier -- or the Minister of Executive and Indigenous Affairs commit to meeting with the city of Yellowknife on a priority basis to go over the recommendations? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have to follow up to see what the plan is. We want to build good relationships and partnerships with the city and with the local NGOs. And so I'm sure at the staff level, those conversations are happening, but I will ensure that those conversations do happen if that's not the case. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So one recommendation that came out of the review was to increase the kinds of outreach services that can be offered because 90 percent of the clients, it turns out, are from communities outside Yellowknife, and there's a need to link people with supportive contacts, people, and services from those other communities outside Yellowknife. Is this an area where EIA might be able to help coordinate and assist the Street Outreach program in making those connections to connect people with the people and resources back home? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And so EIA recently took over this file, and so the team is building capacity. I can't really commit the team to, you know, connect people in Yellowknife to services and people in the other 32 communities. That might be a bit much. But that being said, we will work with the population. We are working with the vulnerable population and the NGOs to see how we can best serve their needs and how we can do it in an integrated fashion. Thank you.
Mr. Premier. Final supplementary. Member from Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So, finally, the review found that one of the groups most eager to help is actually the Yellowknife downtown business community. So does executive and indigenous affairs plan to engage with Yellowknife downtown business owners to see what they might have to offer in terms of ideas and resources? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The engagement has begun. I believe there's a meeting scheduled with the local business community for November 4th. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Premier. Oral questions. Member from Frame Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier, I was speaking to the issues of cost overruns in our contracts procurement -- sorry, project management and budgeting. Mr. Speaker, does the Minister agree that cost overruns are not simply an anecdotal problem, but are part of a wider systemic issue in our government? Thank you.
Thank you, Member from Frame Lake. Minister of Finance.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I've rather made a bit of an effort here since the start of the Members' statements to try to figure out the reference that was made. Mr. Speaker, the best I can discern, if we're going to actually speak about data, that this came from Open NWT's data source; it's a reference that goes back to 2004 listing, 2,000 contract that is go back some 20 years. I will note the last three years have single digits in terms of the count of contracts that have had change orders and would suggest that, perhaps, the situation is not as dire as it used to be in fact.
Moreover, Mr. Speaker, I can certainly speak to the matters that are at hand for this government, and arguably could speak to the last government, but I certainly can't speak to, again, what might have happened in years gone by. So, Mr. Speaker, it's not, in my view, helpful to speak about something that is anecdotal, nor necessarily systemic, because each individual project I certainly can say that I've looked into when there's cost overruns, I've asked questions of individual departments when there's cost overruns, and at every instance there's a number of very specific challenges that often arise. One of the biggest ones of late has been inflation which has been a significant impact across this country in the last few years. Another one has been the price of gas which has been a significant impact over the last few years which impacts upon the supply chain. Last but not least, Mr. Speaker, is the impact of the labour impact which has had a significant impact over the last few years. Beyond that, individually, different contracts, different problems, have arisen. Certainly happy to speak to that. And moreover is simply the fact that the bigger the project, the more likely there is to be some cost overrun but not all the time.
Again, Mr. Speaker, until the wildfires hit, the Taltson overhaul was actually on track, on budget, and then the wildfires hit and here we are. So, again, happy to speak individually but not anecdotically. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you to the Minister for those -- that answer. Mr. Speaker, I think that the Minister is expressing some confidence but I would suggest that we do -- you know, and I've heard that Minister speak to -- and I know that she's committed to continuous improvement so, Mr. Speaker, are we reviewing our project management to look at how we can avoid excessive cost overruns? Are we implementing continuous improvement in our project management, learn from the mistakes that have been made in the past so that we can better manage our projects going forward and try and reduce the number of cost overruns? I do appreciate the Minister noting that reductions have started but let's keep going, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.
Yes, Mr. Speaker. Yes, Mr. Speaker, committed to continuous improvement. And, Mr. Speaker, I want to give a few examples quickly. I know it's question period and the clock is running down, but, Mr. Speaker, Inuvik wind has come up a few times. That is a problem -- project that's had a number of different problems arise over the course of it. I can say that the Northwest Territories Power Corporation intends to do a review of that, intends to do a lessons learned, to ensure that even if we can explain each individual challenge, each and every one of them we should be looking at to try to ensure we avoid it on the next go around.
Similarly, Mr. Speaker, I can also say again we are well aware that when the projects take longer from inception to completion, then you wind up in situations where the initial cost estimate simply doesn't match up the reality 5, 10, 7, 8, years later. Too many things can change. The better we can do to improve our planning processes, the better we will do to ensure that the costs at the end match the budget at the beginning. And I can say that that is ongoing work. That is very much the work that the Department of Finance is committed to, procurement shared services, and the Department of Infrastructure on each of these projects to do those lookbacks. So that's the long answer. The short answer is yes. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, similarly, to project management, are we reviewing how we budget for capital projects and how we might better estimate final costs for these large-scale projects? Thank you.
