Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Supplementary Appropriation, No. 1 requests authority for additional appropriations of $8,623,290 for operations expenditures and $3,732,000 for capital investment expenditures.
These requirements are within the estimated supplementary reserves established in the budget.
The operations supplementary appropriation requirements include the following major items:
- $3.7 million for the Department of Health and Social Services to provide funding for the one-time start-up costs and pro-rated annual operating costs of moving to a primary care health services delivery model in Yellowknife, including: assuming the leases for four medical clinics; purchasing the assets of these clinics; implementing new physician contracts; and funding for additional support and administrative staff at the Yellowknife Health and Social Services Board and the four clinics. This expenditure will be financed this year by a draw down from the Canada Health and Social Transfer Trust.
- $552,000 to fund a portion of the Stanton Regional Hospital Board's 1999-2000 operating deficit. The Department of Health and Social Services is still working with the Stanton board and three other health and social services boards to review the reasons for the operating deficits and to develop mutually acceptable deficit recovery plans.
- $1.1 million for the Department of Justice to fund the budget shortfall in corrections resulting from lower than anticipated revenue recovery from the Government of the Nunavut for the housing of Nunavut offenders in Northwest Territories correctional facilities. The number of Nunavut inmates continues to be substantially lower than originally forecast.
- $500,000 in contributing funding to assist the Aboriginal Pipeline Group to develop a business plan and begin work on negotiating proposals and documents. This item was identified as a priority for strategic investment in the government's Non-Renewable Resource Development Strategy. The Government of Canada agreed to provide an additional $379,000 to the Aboriginal Pipeline Group.
The authorization for capital investments include:
- $300,000 for site preparation and other preparatory work for the Inuvik hospital project; and,
- $1 million for the Department of Transportation to accelerate the bridge-building program on the Mackenzie Valley winter road. This item was also identified as an investment priority in the Non-Renewable Resource Development Strategy and we have received a commitment from the federal government to provide $3.7 million over the next two years. In the meantime, funding is needed to ensure the design work, environmental permits and contract procurement is in place prior to construction during the upcoming winter season.
Mr. Chairman, I am prepared to review the details of the supplementary appropriation document. Thank you.