This is page numbers 151 - 208 of the Hansard for the 15th Assembly, 5th Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was going.

Topics

Committee Motion 24-15(5): To Delete $320,000 From Pws's Asset Management Activity In Bill 2, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 205

Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the Minister, in some discussion around here, has stated clearly that it's time to make a decision, and for whatever reason that decision wasn't made four years ago, we can't really say. So today we have to think about what the people in Fort Simpson or for that Deh Cho Hall want to do. There are a number of people in that facility that's going to be impacted or affected for the next couple years. I think to do the proper thing, there was some good suggestions around the House here in terms of I guess we could have laid back and said, well, we could have done this, we could have done this, and think about this and that. So I think the Minister's got a clear message in terms of doing this in a responsible way, I guess, if you call it that, in terms of what could be planned for upcoming projects such as this new facility. So I guess I'm looking at more of the people who are using that facility and how they're going to be impacted by our decision today. There's people in the Deh Cho or the Nahendeh region that use this facility. It still bothers me why people still want to live in an old residential school unit and fix it up. That's anther issue here. It's a good facility. I have been in there. I still get the creeps as I walk through those hallways.

Anyhow, that is another story, Mr. Chairman. I want to say that I think the way we are going about it, I am satisfied with the Minister's explanation. I don't like it, but I am satisfied with how it's come about and why four years later we are debating it. I am going to support this budget item here and get on with the work.

Committee Motion 24-15(5): To Delete $320,000 From Pws's Asset Management Activity In Bill 2, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 205

Some Hon. Members

Get on with it!

Committee Motion 24-15(5): To Delete $320,000 From Pws's Asset Management Activity In Bill 2, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 205

Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

I am going to say that as a comment, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Committee Motion 24-15(5): To Delete $320,000 From Pws's Asset Management Activity In Bill 2, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 206

The Chair

The Chair Calvin Pokiak

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Next I have Mr. Hawkins.

Committee Motion 24-15(5): To Delete $320,000 From Pws's Asset Management Activity In Bill 2, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 206

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Mr. Chairman, I just have a question. How much money would be required to approve this in order to create a full renovation plan that would satisfy the needs of the fire marshal? Would it require, for example, $100,000 plan in order to satisfy the fire marshal on an interim basis while a strategy comes forward to renovate the whole facility? As I clearly heard here, $12 million would buy us a smaller facility, $10 to $12 million would buy us full reno on this building. Money has to be spent to tear down the siding, ripping down the insulation anyway, so it's like we would breathe new life into it. I think this would be a good temporary solution to the problem. No matter what we do, we are going to have to clean up the environmental problem whether we tear it down or renovate it. So we would be killing two birds with one stone. So how much money would be required as of today that would satisfy the fire marshal in order to build a plan to renovate the whole building for the $12 million or $10 million figure in the existing size and space? The fact remains if we spend any money, we are still going to have to spend $10 or $12 million in two to three years. So then it's a $14 million problem. So how much money in the short term? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Committee Motion 24-15(5): To Delete $320,000 From Pws's Asset Management Activity In Bill 2, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 206

The Chair

The Chair Calvin Pokiak

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Roland.

Committee Motion 24-15(5): To Delete $320,000 From Pws's Asset Management Activity In Bill 2, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 206

Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have used a number of numbers now, but for the record again, to meet the requirements for occupancy of the existing facility, if the choice was made to renovate, it would be $12 million for the existing facility. To go new for the existing facility, that's a full amount and I am going to have to double check the square metres for occupancy now. I will have to confirm that with the number I gave earlier. It could possibly be out substantially. The fact is $12 million for a renovation of the existing facility based on 2004 numbers. It is a $20 million renovation...New facility for existing space, $10 million just for the government departments of new space. The amount to meet the requirements that are in place is $3.5 million. Thank you.

Committee Motion 24-15(5): To Delete $320,000 From Pws's Asset Management Activity In Bill 2, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 206

The Chair

The Chair Calvin Pokiak

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Mr. Hawkins.

Committee Motion 24-15(5): To Delete $320,000 From Pws's Asset Management Activity In Bill 2, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 206

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Mr. Chairman, from the Minister's point of view, is that $3.5 million lost if we treat it as an interim investment to complete the renovations? In two or three years, can he just come back and say to renovate the building at 100 percent, as he has pointed out, is $12 million. Can we take the $3.5 million off that end total and continue to renovate the whole building, or do we have to start from scratch and it's the whole $12 million? I want to know if we are investing in a long-term solution, or are we just throwing that money away? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Committee Motion 24-15(5): To Delete $320,000 From Pws's Asset Management Activity In Bill 2, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 206

The Chair

The Chair Calvin Pokiak

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Roland.

Committee Motion 24-15(5): To Delete $320,000 From Pws's Asset Management Activity In Bill 2, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 206

Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake

Mr. Chairman, if the decision is to go back to a renovation, then this money would be an investment and knock down that overall amount. So if we've gone back to not a new facility but a renovated facility, then this is an investment that we can continue to build on. Ultimately, though, the lifecycle of that building would only be increased to approximately 20 years for a full lifecycle renovation. The decision has been made to proceed to a new building because of the dollar figure. If it is the direction of this House that that doesn't happen, instead a renovation happens, then we would look at that option as well and go back to the drawing board and make the initial investments and build on it from there. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Committee Motion 24-15(5): To Delete $320,000 From Pws's Asset Management Activity In Bill 2, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 206

The Chair

The Chair Calvin Pokiak

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Mr. Hawkins.

Committee Motion 24-15(5): To Delete $320,000 From Pws's Asset Management Activity In Bill 2, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 206

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It's given me a lot to think about. If you treat it as a renovation over the long term, it sounds like a different approach. I was concerned that we were initially going to spend $3.5 million, have to throw it away and in three years we would have to walk away from our investment. I think that's where the concern really comes from and I am sure Members on this side of the House would see it that way if we would completely have to walk away from $3.5 million, because I don't know how anyone on this side of the House can spend $3.5 million for three years and walk away from it, or even two years. If we are talking about an approach that we can turn around and continue the same size of the building, it's got me thinking in a different direction, which means debate has worked in this particular case. If you walked in the House thinking that this is a waste of money, but then hearing the debate and thinking that all it is is a makeup in two to three years, another $8 million and at the end of the day we are going to get a solid building renovated and whatnot. I think in this particular case, I am going to have to support this. Debate has worked in this particular case and it has changed my mind. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Committee Motion 24-15(5): To Delete $320,000 From Pws's Asset Management Activity In Bill 2, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 206

The Chair

The Chair Calvin Pokiak

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Handley.

Committee Motion 24-15(5): To Delete $320,000 From Pws's Asset Management Activity In Bill 2, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 206

Joe Handley

Joe Handley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I think Members have raised some good points here. There are some requests for information that neither the client department or Public Works have tonight. We can go on and on about why things didn't happen or why we didn't do this or that, or we could do a vote and make another decision that a lot of people feel is foolish or wrong. With that, Mr. Chairman, I think it's necessary to get more information. ECE doesn't know how much space they would need if they were going to build a new building. We need that kind of information. So, Mr. Chairman, with that, I move that we report progress.

Committee Motion 24-15(5): To Delete $320,000 From Pws's Asset Management Activity In Bill 2, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 206

The Chair

The Chair Calvin Pokiak

Thank you. The motion is in order. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

I shall rise and report progress. I would like to thank the Minister of Finance for appearing, and his witness.

Committee Motion 24-15(5): To Delete $320,000 From Pws's Asset Management Activity In Bill 2, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 206

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Can I have the report of Committee of the Whole, please? Mr. Pokiak.

Item 20: Report Of Committee Of The Whole
Item 20: Report Of Committee Of The Whole

June 6th, 2006

Page 206

Calvin Pokiak

Calvin Pokiak Nunakput

Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Bill 1, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 4, 2005-2006, and Bill 2, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 1, 2006-2007, and would like to report progress with one motion being adopted, and that Bill 1 is ready for

third reading. Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of Committee of the Whole be concurred with. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Item 20: Report Of Committee Of The Whole
Item 20: Report Of Committee Of The Whole

Page 207

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. Do we have a seconder? The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya. The motion is in order. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Third reading of bills. The honourable Minister of Justice, Mr. Bell.

Bill 3: An Act To Amend The Legislative Assembly And Executive Council Act
Item 21: Third Reading Of Bills

Page 207

Brendan Bell

Brendan Bell Yellowknife South

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Deh Cho, that Bill 3, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, be read for the third time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Bill 3: An Act To Amend The Legislative Assembly And Executive Council Act
Item 21: Third Reading Of Bills

Page 207

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Bell. There's a motion on the floor. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Bill 3: An Act To Amend The Legislative Assembly And Executive Council Act
Item 21: Third Reading Of Bills

Page 207

Some Hon. Members

Question.

Bill 3: An Act To Amend The Legislative Assembly And Executive Council Act
Item 21: Third Reading Of Bills

Page 207

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Question is being called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Bill 3 has had third reading.

Third reading of bills. The honourable Minister of Justice, Mr. Bell.

Bill 4: An Act To Amend The Supplementary Retiring Allowances Act
Item 21: Third Reading Of Bills

Page 207

Brendan Bell

Brendan Bell Yellowknife South

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Deh Cho, that Bill 4, An Act to Amend the Supplementary Retiring Allowances Act, be read for the third time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Bill 4: An Act To Amend The Supplementary Retiring Allowances Act
Item 21: Third Reading Of Bills

Page 207

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Bell. There's a motion on the floor. The motion is in order. To the motion.