Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following three documents entitled “Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 2, 2016-2017,” “Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 1, 2016-2017,” and “Serving Our People: the NWT Public Service Report 2015.” Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Tabling of documents. Minister responsible for Worker's Safety and Compensation Commission.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I move that the consideration of Tabled Document 199-18(2), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 1, 2016-2017 now be concluded, and that Tabled Document 199-18(2) be reported and recommended as ready for further consideration in formal session through the form of an appropriation bill. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. There is a motion on the floor. To the motion.
Question
Question has been called. Motion is carried.
---Carried
I want to thank committee for their patience. We will now move on to Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 2, 2016-2017, Tabled Document 198-18(2). Does the Minister of Finance have any opening remarks?
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I do have opening remarks. I'm here to present Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 2, 2016-2017. These estimates provide for an increase of $18.8 million to the capital budget. These Supplementary Estimates include:
funding of $15.3 million for a change in the timing of expenditures expected for the Stanton Territorial Hospital Renewal Project, the total cost of the project has not changed.
Amongst other items, these supplementary estimates also include:
funding of $2 million to begin work on the heavy equipment operators facility project at the Aurora College Thebacha Campus;
funding of $804,000 for replacement of the aircraft rescue and firefighting truck at the Yellowknife Airport; and
funding of $419,000 to start the expansion of Ecole Allain St-Cyr School in Yellowknife.
That concludes my opening remarks, Mr. Chair. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister McLeod. Do you wish to bring witnesses into the House?
Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair, I do.
Thank you, Minister. Sergeant-At-Arms, please escort the witnesses into the Chamber. Minister, would you please again introduce your witnesses for the record?
Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. To my right, I have Mr. David Stewart, who is the deputy minister of Finance, to my left I have Mr. Sandy Kalgutkar, who is the deputy secretary to the Financial Management Board. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister. Welcome again to the witnesses. We will begin with general comments. Do we have general comments on infrastructure expenditures, supplementary estimates? Seeing none, we will proceed to review the supplementary estimates by department starting on page 6, Education, Culture and Employment. Do we have comments or questions? Mr. Testart.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I see that there's some capital expenditure on Aurora College for our infrastructure improvements. I'm wondering if the Minister could tell me who determines infrastructure needs for the college? Is it the college itself or is it the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, or is it based on the capital needs assessment, et cetera? Just the methodology there? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Testart. Minister.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, the department and Aurora College, they worked together on identifying their project needs. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister. Mr. Testart.
Nothing further, thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Testart. Seeing nothing further, I will call the page, Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 2, 2016-2017, Education, Culture and Employment, operations expenditures, labour development and standards, not previously authorized, $400,000. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Education, Culture and Employment, operations expenditures, total department, not previously authorized, $400,000. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Thank you, committee. We will turn to page 7. Comments or questions on MACA? Seeing none, I will call the page. Municipal and Community Affairs, operations expenditures, regional operations, not previously authorized, -$155,000. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Municipal and Community Affairs, operations expenditures, total department, not previously authorized, -$155,000. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Thank you, committee. On to page 8. Education, Culture and Employment, capital investment expenditures. Comments or questions? Mr. O'Reilly.
Thanks, Mr. Chair. Yesterday in the House I tabled a letter from APADY, which is the Francophone Rights Holders Parents' Association of Yellowknife. Their position is that they haven't been adequately consulted on a proposal going into Heritage Canada to provide for additional funds for the expansion Ecole Allain St-Cyr. So I just want to get a commitment from the Minister that there's going to be closer collaboration with APADY and the French school board in finalizing whatever proposals get sent to Heritage Canada? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister McLeod.
Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I think the Minister of Education has committed to working closely with this group, so I will make a commitment from this table as well.
Thank you, Minister McLeod. Mr. O'Reilly.
Sorry, Mr. Chair, I didn't have my earphone in, so I couldn't actually hear the response. If the Minister wouldn't mind telling me again? I've got my earphone on this time. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister McLeod.
I said the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment has committed to working with this group as they go forward with this project, and I will make that commitment from this table as well. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister. Mr. O'Reilly.
Thank you very much. I haven't forgotten about what I've asked, so I'll continue on it, but I do appreciate the commitment from both Ministers. I'll be happy to work with them to try to move that along, because at the end of the day it will save us money. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Anything further? Seeing no further comments, I will call the page. Education, Culture and Employment, capital investment expenditures, education and culture, not previously authorized, $419,000. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Education, Culture and Employment, capital investment expenditures, labour development and standards, not previously authorized, $1,800,000. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Education, Culture and Employment, capital investment expenditures, total department, not previously authorized, $2,219,000. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Thank you, committee. Please turn to page 9, Health and Social Services. Do we have comments, questions about this expenditure? Mr. O'Reilly.
Thanks, Mr. Chair. I noted in the Minister's opening remarks that the Stanton Territorial Hospital Renewal Project is on budget. Can you confirm for me that the schedule's still in place, on time, and so on? I know I asked this yesterday of the Minister of Health, but I think he was bringing forward a budget for long-term care related to Stanton, and this time I just want to know if the renewal project itself is still on time? Thanks, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. We're pleased to say that the project is on time and on budget. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister. Mr. O'Reilly.
Thanks, Mr. Chair. I appreciate that response; good to hear that. But because we're sort of forwarding money here, and I guess this is in response to work that's already been done and invoices or whatever that have been submitted by contractors, are we actually ahead of schedule? Is that where we're at? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
