Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, it's not a lack of understanding or, frankly, even disagreement. As I said, I was surprised -- surprise probably doesn't quite describe it. But certainly was surprised to learn that the federal government was cutting these programs that support communities that are most in need of being -- having alternatives to rely on fossil fuels that are least well able to find alternatives and because we are not connected to the grid, we are, you know, nonroad communities, so I'm more than happy to give all my reasons why I thought this was a not very intuitive choice. But I don't control the federal government or what they choose to fund or not fund.
I do want to assure the Member that under the Arctic Energy Alliance's series of some of the core programs, the alternative energy technologies program, biomass, commercial energy conservation, and efficiency as core funding to Arctic Energy Alliance, energy efficiency incentive program, energy rating services program, all of that funding is still there. It has -- the proposal that we have forward here is not to change that from 2024-2025. It's just that we are struggling in terms of finding the funding for other things that were previously funded under the low carbon economy leadership fund. And again, I certainly can ask but I -- right now, Ottawa is a difficult place to be going to do some advocating. There's obviously a bit of political change perhaps on the horizon, so we'll see what comes next and then adjust our strategy accordingly. Thank you.
Thank you. I'm going to go to the Member from Frame Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just pondering the answer a bit. Yeah, I hear what the Minister is saying. I know that it is difficult to obtain funding. And certainly, I did note that most of the core funding for Arctic Energy Alliance is still there, and I know it's tough when the federal government takes things away and that we can't always continue every single program the federal government gives us money for. But, again, would just note, you know, if we have to use territorial money for something particularly related to climate change, what I want to see that money going towards is programs like this that have that twin benefit of helping, you know, low income, particularly families, reduce their cost of living and reducing carbon, just noting that, you know, these are the things that impact people the most, and I think -- when I think about, you know, the implementation of the carbon tax over the years, it certainly was imposed on us, I think the most just way to deal with that and to handle that money would be to put it back in people's pockets and put it towards programs that help them reduce their costs and get off of these expensive heating sources. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you.
Sorry, I missed that last part. I'm going to go back to the Member from Frame Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. No, I was finished. If the Minister wants to respond, I mean, I was really just overemphasizing the point, but just wanted to, again, note my support for taking territorial money and using it to help territorial residents convert off of these expensive fossil fuels. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. I'm going to go to the Minister.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. So, again, Mr. Chair, for this year's budget, there's -- the core programs do remain there. With respect to future funding or future initiatives, obviously any future initiatives come through a business planning process for 2026-2027. And comments duly noted. Thank you.
Okay, thank you. I'm going to go to the Member from Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Okay, my first question: The item called Northwest Territories energy efficiency projects, it looks in the description that this only funds the Northwest Territories Power Corporation to do, like, internal projects related to its power plants. I also note that there used to be a funding program that was delivered, I believe by Arctic Energy Alliance, offering community governments money to do retrofits and often increase energy efficiency in their buildings. Has the government considered expanding its funding for energy efficiency projects beyond power corporation assets? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. I'll go to the Minister.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. So, Mr. Chair, I mean, yes, so this particular line item that was pointed to is specific to Northwest Territories Power Corporation to help integrate the programs and projects that may exist in communities. But, Mr. Chair, a lot of work does happen in the energy strategic initiatives division with respect to some of the planning. So, for example, the micro hydro that was mentioned earlier, the possibility of SMRs. You know, efforts in that space happen within this division, so the staff that are employed there through this proposed budget are the same staff that would be helping to do some of the initial scoping for projects like this. And, you know, the earlier and the more often that we can have conversations with communities, Deline's a good example, where they are -- they've looked to bring on additional assets which requires looking at what we can do at the power corporation but also can involve the department in terms of ensuring that when the pieces are being put together, what their energy requirements are going to be, what is available and, you know, what can the department do, what can NTPC do, what can NT Energy do, that does reside in this division. So, you know, it's not necessarily under individual -- these individual strings of programs or pots that you might find it. It may well be in the actual day-to-day functioning of the department and the staff there who are tasked with ensuring that we're advancing strategic and energy initiatives. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. I'm going to go to the Member from Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. And so currently, if there are community governments that want to maintain and upgrade their own buildings and assets, make them more energy efficient, is there somewhere that they can go for help finding money for retrofits? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. I'll go to the Minister.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Well, I mean, as a first point of call, I would certainly suggest that this division of the department is certainly one to speak to. I would also suggest the NT Energy folks who are the sort of strategic branch of NTPC is also a good point of call. As for any particular funding, sort of a funding pot, if I may, I might turn it to Amy Burt and see if she can point us to something quickly and if not, we'll take it under a commitment. Thank you.
Thank you. I'll go to the director.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. We do have the community renewable energy program. That is administered by Arctic Energy Alliance, so there is a hundred thousand dollars worth of funding there. Yeah, thank you.
Okay, thank you. I'll go to the Member from Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I want to turn the programs around electric vehicles. I know that one of the commitments in the business plan is to create, like, charging corridors, and there is still a little tiny bit of money under that line item for the electric vehicles fast charger corridor. However, this year, all of the money for the electric vehicles rebate program looks like has been eliminated. And, I mean, we -- committee heard previously that electric vehicle rebate program was one of the most effective programs for actually just reducing greenhouse gas emissions that we have. So I guess my question to the Minister is if we're not supporting people to change to electric vehicles but who do we expect is going to be using the charging corridor that we have spent a whole bunch of money and are continuing to prioritize if we don't have people with the vehicles to actually use the corridor? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. I'll go to the Minister.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. So, Mr. Chair, there was certainly at the time that our main estimates were being prepared still a federal program to support consumer choice than to try to incentivize consumer choice towards energy or EV vehicles. Mr. Chair, what we did commit to in our business plan, and what we are providing, is the corridor so that people can actually charge those vehicles. And I can say that from Yellowknife all the way to the Alberta border and over all the way to Fort Smith, there is, indeed, going to be an EV charging corridor. It will be complete this year and so while I can't necessarily provide public dollars -- any additional public dollars in this budget to sway people if they don't want to spend the additional money on an EV vehicle, electric vehicle, Mr. Chair, what we can do ensure that for those people who are making that choice that they actually can charge that vehicle. Because that certainly was one of the concerns that had been raised is that, indeed, folks wouldn't want to make this investment if they were concerned that they wouldn't be able to drive. So we have completed that side of it. Again, with respect to, you know, additional money, there's -- there are those -- you know, federal programs exist, and people making those choices regardless -- they may make those choices too if fuel prices remain volatile which is also out of our control. But, again, we have provided the infrastructure necessary to support those choices. Thank you.
Thank you. I'll go to the Member from Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Now, I know that owners of electric vehicles tend to be, you know, wealthier members of our communities, but I wanted to also highlight, so the program for the low-income program to address energy poverty, it's only $200,000. First, I wanted to ask is this based on applications that, like, individual people have to apply to get something under this program, or is it based on a certain project or a certain community that the government decides, okay, we're going to allocate this money this year to, you know, one project and one community. Can the Minister just clarify how that money is spent, how decisions are made to spend that money; is that application or on specific projects? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. I'll go to the Minister.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. So Mr. Chair, this is a program that is administered by the Arctic Energy Alliance. With respect to its individualized functioning at that stage, I'm not well placed necessarily to describe how AEA administers it. I'm happy to commit to getting that detail. We provide this fund, and I know there would be some expectations surrounding its use but, again, I'll have to make a commitment to bring that back here. Thank you.
Okay, thank you. I'll go to the Member from Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. And I would -- I appreciate that, and I would request too that the Minister helps us understand or finds out, you know, is the program fully subscribed. If it's based on applications, are we even coming close to meeting the demand, or is there a much higher demand but than we're able to satisfy with the $200,000 allocation? I'd appreciate that information coming back to us.
I was going to turn to questions about some of the bigger strategic energy infrastructure projects that this government is undertaking that I don't see specifically listed here under energy and strategic initiatives. So, for example, the Taltson Expansion pre-construction phrase, I know we see that we're receiving in revenues $7.1 million, I assume from the federal government, to keep working on that. I don't see specific mention of it in the energy and strategic initiatives. So is there any GNWT money also being spent on the Taltson Expansion work, the pre-construction work? Does it -- you know, are there staff that are listed in this section who are working on that project, or is it completely separate from everything we see here under energy and strategic initiatives? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. I'll go to the Minister.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. So, Mr. Chair, there certainly are staff within the division that are working on this from the assistant deputy minister through to folks who -- the director of energy, director of strategic energy initiatives -- I'll probably get his title wrong -- but folks have travelled recently with me to Lutselk'e to attend a steering committee. There -- I mean, when we see under the energy and strategic initiatives conversation benefits, those folks are working on the Taltson initiative.
With respect to money that is used to support the Indigenous governments from the watershed region and north and south of the lake with their traditional knowledge studies and assisting them with the capacity to attend steering committee meetings and to prepare for those steering committee meetings, that type of funding is fully funded by CIRNAC. That's the additional funding that we do see come in specific to Taltson. So it -- yeah, there's -- I guess in that sense, there's 100 percent funding from the feds to do the very project specific work, but staff within this division whose money -- or I mean whose functionality, if you will, does get funded here, and that is supporting the Taltson work as well as some of the other major capital projects. Thank you.
Thank you. Is there any other Member that is have questions? I'm going to the Member from Monfwi.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. You know, with the biomass here, biomass energy, I know there's a lot of communities -- with the high cost of living, there are some communities, especially fly-in communities that use diesel generator, it'd be cheaper in the long run. So I just wanted to ask the Minister if the department is working with communities, especially the fly-in communities where they would like to, you know, like or have an option to choose either the diesel generator and/or biomass for heating source. Because I know there's -- we have that in one of our communities, and I heard that it is very efficient. So I just wanted to know if the department is working with other small communities that maybe would like to change from using diesel generator to biomass. Thank you.
Thank you. I'll go to the Minister.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, yes, I can assure the Member, the House, that there is a lot of interest in this area. It is not only under the biomass energy line item which is a program, again, administered by Arctic Energy Alliance and which was fully subscribed.
Mr. Chair, there is also work that happens within our asset management division, and I know we'll get there at another point in time, but it is relevant to this question. There's that crossover here where this division does also support communities in their efforts. So we do have other funding that comes under the greenhouse gas grant program. We have our own capital asset retrofit. And so, for instance -- and the Department of Infrastructure, with our own forces, are able to support, for example, the Whati health centre, Behchoko's long-term care facility, for example, both switched over to biomass plants. So the short answer is yes, there's work happening in this space and that, again, there can be, then, the funds available through as to our department in kind and then whether it's with support to other federal funding arrangements that are working to support small communities with biomass. Thank you.
Okay, thank you. I'm going to go to the Member from Monfwi.
Thank you. Thank you for that information. It says here forced growth, Tlicho winter road contract. It's not lots, but forced growth, but that's from last fiscal year. Is it due -- can the Minister explain why Tlicho winter road contract is on forced growth? Is it -- I'm not too sure. Maybe it's -- because I know last year -- last winter season, we had a slow start due to climate change, due to the environment, and this year I know Gameti winter road is open on time but Wekweeti is still not open. So I just wanted to know why the Tlicho winter road contract is -- there's forced growth which -- and there's another -- on another section contract services. Contract services, there's lists that -- money allocated, it's list this year than previous year. So if the Minister -- and here we're doing forced growth, and then it's -- there's a reduction in contract services. If the Minister can explain why there's a difference between the two. Thank you.
Before I go to the Minister, I just want to point out that we're on page 283, strategic initiatives. But I'll just go to the Minister, and then I'll remind the Member we're on page 283. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, happy to answer it, Mr. Chair. I realize that the question will come, so we will just keep things moving. The Tlicho winter road contract has seen increases in the last couple of years, and I think the Member was already getting to the situation which is to say ongoing climate change conditions, ongoing supply chain challenges, ongoing labour force challenges, all of which are leading to increase in the costs of building the winter roads. We do rely on the contractor which does exist under the Tlicho Infrastructure Cooperation Agreement, and we do work with the Tlicho government as a partner on this, but as they experience challenges with their own costs, then that certainly will impact the cost that it is -- fall to the GNWT. And that -- if it's things that are unavoidable that meet the definition of forced growth, then that would be where this comes in.
There was a previous contract. That contract came up for renewal, and that's why you will see a change. So from what was under the previous contract to now, if there's a change in time -- and at times, when the contract is three years old and towards the end, if changes have happened, you can obviously also see it could come through for a supplementary appropriation. But when it's a forced growth, when there's an update to the contract, you'll see it come through as forced growth. Hope that's helpful, Mr. Chair. Thank you.
Okay, thank you. I'll go to the Member from Monfwi.
Thank you. Thank you. So with that in mind, with the climate change it's not just in my region, but it's all over where there's winter road exists, I -- yeah, winter road exists. So I want to ask the Minister if they are working with Tlicho government or community government of Gameti for a possible all-season road. Thank you.
Thank you. I'll go to the Minister.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. This has been raised now on a couple of occasions. There's not an active plan underway at the moment for any all-season roads beyond the Whati all-season roads that came in -- or the Tlicho all-season road that came into use just a few years ago. So, again, at this moment in time, no. But, again, I know it's been raised. What I would say the next major road in that area is probably with respect to the planning around the SGP, the Slave Geologic Province area, and I've heard suggestions that maybe there'd be a spur off of that, but this is all very much really just an initial planning stage or initial scoping stage. Thank you.
Okay, thank you. I'm going to go to the Member from Monfwi.
Thank you. And then in -- according to the budget here that we have, staffing reduction. Can the Minister explain where is this -- is it in all the -- is it -- where is this being taken place at? I mean, like, especially the staffing reduction, is it in Yellowknife, or is it in small communities? Thank you.
Thank you. I'll go to the Minister.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, all positions that were reduced within the Department of Infrastructure were in Yellowknife with one exception. There was an airport manager position in Hay River that had been vacant for several years, and that has also been eliminated for these main estimates. Thank you.
Okay, thank you. I'll go to the Member from Monfwi.
Okay, thank you. I have no more questions for this section now. Thank you.
Thank you. Is there any further questions from Members? Okay, seeing none, we'll continue on. No further questions, please turn to page 281. Yes, sorry, please turn to page 275.
Infrastructure, energy and strategic initiatives, operations expenditure summary, 2025-2026 Main Estimates, $10,290,000. Does the committee agree?
Agreed.
Thank you. Moving on to programs and services, beginning on page 280 with information items on page 283. Are there any questions? No further questions, please turn to page 281.
Infrastructure, programs and services, operations expenditure summary, 2025-2026 Main Estimates, $12,641,000. Does the committee agree?
