This is page numbers 1689 to 1732 of the Hansard for the 16th Assembly, 2nd 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 school.

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Tabled Document 93-16(2): NWT Capital Estimates 2009–2010
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Paul Delorey

Paul Delorey Hay River North

The officials level. That project went through with all the capital projects and was prioritized and didn’t make the list, because other ones took higher priority. So I guess that could be said. Now we have looked at a different approach to it, where we will be coming forward with money. It will be done at the Legislative Assembly. We’ll be putting forward a report, and it will not be reviewed by this committee. We’ll be going forward with that project in 2010–2011.

An interesting thing that she brings up is that dip out there. It’s one that we’ve had some engineers look at to see the best way we could work with that to try to improve the situation. As long as we want to maintain that natural habitat out there, I guess it’s’ going to be a problem to try to get a road in there that stays. I think that with the permafrost and everything in there, it’s bog, so there are different opinions as to what we could do to make that road more stable. As long as we leave that area out there the way it is, I suspect we will continue to have problems. Certainly, we’ll have to make it so that it stays driveable until we get the total reconstruction done. We’ve had a number of engineers look at it to see what the best way to do it is.

Tabled Document 93-16(2): NWT Capital Estimates 2009–2010
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River South

I know when I chaired the Cultural Enhancement Commission, there were members of the commission who wanted to see everything around the Legislative Assembly cleared, brushed, but I guess it was the intent of the architect who designed this building at the time to keep as much area surrounding the Legislative Assembly as natural as possible. Might I suggest that with the lake out back and everything else, it has been left very natural.

I personally would not have any problem with looking at some fill for that area out front there. We have a large piece of land here, and a large portion of it is natural. In the interest of us mortals, humans here, that have to come to work and find a place to park and for the interest of the people who want to use the Legislative Assembly, I think we should cover up. If we have to fill the bog out front, I personally don’t have an issue with it.

Tabled Document 93-16(2): NWT Capital Estimates 2009–2010
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Paul Delorey

Paul Delorey Hay River North

I guess that is an issue we could look at. I know there is a capital site committee that looks at what happens out here that we would certainly have to consult with. We would also have to consult with all the Members before we

would make that drastic a change out there. But I think that is one area that could possibly be looked at. We just have to take the money to drain that area and fill it in properly and whatever we do out there. We certainly wouldn’t do it without full consultation. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Tabled Document 93-16(2): NWT Capital Estimates 2009–2010
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Next on the list I have Mr. Bromley.

Tabled Document 93-16(2): NWT Capital Estimates 2009–2010
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I appreciate my colleague’s comments and questions. I generally walk, and I hear it’s good for the heart and good for mental exercise and all that sort of stuff.

But I really want to raise the question of greening of the Legislative Assembly Building. I think we’re all very conversant now on climate change and what that means to the people of the North. I think we’re showing a progressive response and getting innovative in how we deal with these sorts of things. I also think it’s very important to us to do that and to show that we’re doing that as leaders. Nothing would be more appropriate than to really green up the Legislative Assembly Building as much as we possibly can.

I know that much is being done on that front, but I raised last year the possibility of getting a pellet boiler in to replace our fossil fuel heating of this building, which is a substantial sized building, and I don’t see it here. I’m wondering if it’s in the plan and where we’re at on that. So maybe I could start with that question.

Tabled Document 93-16(2): NWT Capital Estimates 2009–2010
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Mr. Speaker.

Tabled Document 93-16(2): NWT Capital Estimates 2009–2010
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

October 15th, 2008

Paul Delorey

Paul Delorey Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. That certainly is an area that we’re conscious of all the time. We have been taking some steps to try to deal with the environment and the whole issue of greenhouse gassing and the amount of energy that we use in this building, from lighting to the amount of electrical equipment that’s left on for long periods of time when it’s not being used. We’ve tried to make some improvements in there, and we’re always open to suggestions.

As far as a pellet boiler is concerned, it’s not on the books right now. We are doing some experimenting and are investigating the possibility of using some solar tubing to heat water for the building to create energy savings. The building is not a totally friendly building to convert to a different type of heating system right now because of the way the furnace is set up in here and the crawl space. We anticipate that if we were to put a wood pellet boiler in here, it would have to be in a separate building from the Legislative Assembly and then have some piping work to connect the systems together.

We have some very high priority areas, like the road that we were just talking about. Right now what we’re anticipating is that the road is going to be our priority area and then the possibility of looking at wood pellets and how to tie the building into that type of a system, probably after the ’09–10 or ’10–11 year.

Tabled Document 93-16(2): NWT Capital Estimates 2009–2010
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

That’s good news. I can’t help but observe that we’re dealing with the symptoms first here rather than the cause. I think it’s always important to consider that climate change is the cause of many of these things that are draining our capital dollars away, so the more we get on with the mitigation side around the world…. I know we’re working to play our part here.

I also appreciate the water heating idea; I think that’s very good. Obviously, this building does present challenges, and that’s part of what I’m happy to hear we’re grappling with, because that’s a real situation that many of our communities and residents and industries are dealing with too. A lot of this stuff on existing infrastructure is difficult to do and presents challenges that require a real grappling to come to terms with in figuring out an innovative way of dealing with it.

I’m looking forward to seeing it on the books and appreciate the work that’s being done on that area. Again, I think it behoves us as leaders to really play that role for our people.

Tabled Document 93-16(2): NWT Capital Estimates 2009–2010
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Paul Delorey

Paul Delorey Hay River North

We will continue to look at the possibility of doing that. We have had a private firm come forward with a proposal to do with pellet conversion. We have shown some interest in that, but we haven’t heard back from them yet as to what they see as the possibilities of doing work here with the building. We will continue to look at ways that we can possibly make some improvements in that area. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Tabled Document 93-16(2): NWT Capital Estimates 2009–2010
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Tabled Document 93-16(2): NWT Capital Estimates 2009–2010
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Office of the Clerk, Infrastructure Investment Summary, Total Infrastructure Investment Summary: $130,000.

Legislative Assembly, Office of the Clerk,

Activity Summary, Infrastructure Investment Summary, Total Infrastructure Investment Summary: $130,000, approved.

Tabled Document 93-16(2): NWT Capital Estimates 2009–2010
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Moving to page 1-2, Department Summary, Infrastructure Investment Summary, Total Infrastructure Investment Summary: $130,000.

Legislative Assembly, Department Summary,

Infrastructure Investment Summary, Total Infrastructure Investment Summary: $130,000, approved.

Tabled Document 93-16(2): NWT Capital Estimates 2009–2010
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

With that, I’d like to thank the Speaker and the witnesses. Sergeant-at-Arms, could you escort the witnesses out.

We’ll move to Education, Culture and Employment, page 7-2. At this time I’d like to ask the Minister if he will be bringing in witnesses.

Tabled Document 93-16(2): NWT Capital Estimates 2009–2010
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Yes, I will, Mr. Chair.

Tabled Document 93-16(2): NWT Capital Estimates 2009–2010
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Do you agree that the Minister bring in his witnesses?

Tabled Document 93-16(2): NWT Capital Estimates 2009–2010
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Some Honourable Members

Agreed.

Tabled Document 93-16(2): NWT Capital Estimates 2009–2010
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Sergeant-at-Arms, could you escort the witnesses in.

For the record, Mr. Minister, could you introduce your witnesses.

Tabled Document 93-16(2): NWT Capital Estimates 2009–2010
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Mr. Chairman, I have with me Ms. Margaret Melhorn, deputy minister of Finance; Mr. Michael Aumond, deputy minister of Public Works and Services; and Mr. Russell Neudorf, deputy minister of Transportation.

Tabled Document 93-16(2): NWT Capital Estimates 2009–2010
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Welcome, witnesses.

As I stated, we are now on the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, page 7-2, Infrastructure Investment Summary, Total Infrastructure Investment Summary: $76.889 million.

Interjection.

Tabled Document 93-16(2): NWT Capital Estimates 2009–2010
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Oh, sorry. Can we move to page 7-4, Advanced Education and Careers, Infrastructure Investment Summary, Total Infrastructure Investment Summary: $2.095 million.

Tabled Document 93-16(2): NWT Capital Estimates 2009–2010
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Some Honourable Members

Agreed.

Department of Education, Culture and

Employment, Activity Summary, Advanced Education and Careers, Infrastructure Investment Summary, Total Infrastructure Investment Summary: $2.095 million, approved.

Tabled Document 93-16(2): NWT Capital Estimates 2009–2010
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Moving on to page 7-7, Education and Culture, Infrastructure Investment Summary, Total Infrastructure Investment Summary: $74.794 million. Mr. Bromley.

Tabled Document 93-16(2): NWT Capital Estimates 2009–2010
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just want to make a brief comment on the K’alemi Dene School project, which is scheduled for completion this year.

I was down at an event at that school on Friday with the Minister of ITI and can certainly testify that the current school is brimming over with young little people. So it will be very good to see this project completed this year. I’m just wondering if there is a

schedule for when K’alemi Dene School will be completed and ready for occupancy.

Tabled Document 93-16(2): NWT Capital Estimates 2009–2010
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Mr. Aumond.

Tabled Document 93-16(2): NWT Capital Estimates 2009–2010
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Aumond

Thank you, Mr. Chair. It will be ready for occupancy in September 2009.