I apologize. I will clarify. The title of the position is a member of the public service. It is called consultant industrial initiative, is one of the four positions. The three other positions report to that person who is a manager who then reports to the department. There is no external consultant involved. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Debates of Feb. 24th, 2009
This is page numbers 2513 - 2558 of the Hansard for the 16th Assembly, 3rd 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 work.
Topics
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Peter Vician
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
David Krutko Mackenzie Delta
I just have a question in regards to the other expenses. I see there is a little over $400,000 increase in that area. Could I get a breakdown of what that $400,000 increase is for?
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Dalley
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The majority of the increase is due to contract services.
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
David Krutko Mackenzie Delta
Mr. Chairman, I am looking at two items on top of the page. It says other expenses, $1.963 million, an increase from last year which was $1.496 million. That is the item I am talking about. My next question is under the other item which is under contracting services. I would like to know under other expenses in regards to the $400,000 increase under that item.
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Dalley
The details of the other expenses for the increase, four consist of $500,000 under contract services. There is approximately...The number that the Member refers to, it goes from $1.496 million to $1.963 million, so the majority of this is due to contract services. There is a decrease in travel of $100,000, so that is the $400,000, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
David Krutko Mackenzie Delta
Mr. Chairman, like I stated under contracting services, there has been an increase of $500,000. How many contracts are out there for the
extra $500,000 or basically are we talking about retainer contracts or are we talking about large contracts with consultants? What is the $500,000 increase? How many contracts are we talking about?
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Peter Vician
The contracts are associated with the minerals and petroleum resource branch and the contract services align with our National Energy Board work that pertains to the Mackenzie Valley Pipeline initiative. So the increases that are reflected here include the contracts for that purpose, with loss of one of our consultant supports for National Energy Board as well as the work that we are proposing to do with regard to the natural gas conversion studies over the coming year and the investment in that area of $200,000 as well. So that makes up the $400,000 net difference. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
David Krutko Mackenzie Delta
Can I get more information in regards to the natural gas conversion project? Where is it going to take place? To what does that pertain?
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Bob McLeod Yellowknife South
It is associated with the Mackenzie Gas Pipeline and I will ask Mr. Vician to give the details, if it is okay with you, Mr. Chairman.
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Peter Vician
The Natural Gas Conversion Study Initiative emerged through the discussions and negotiations with the proponents in regards to trying to get natural gas access to the pipeline when it is built. The proposal identified a feasible option for a number of communities along the pipeline route that could see conversion to natural gas. The work was done at a very high level or table level to date. We have invested a significant amount. This proposal will take the project to the next level, so in the timing of a pipeline, we would be prepared to proceed with guidance to the proponents that some of the communities would see natural gas takeoff points serving the communities for the purpose of electricity generation, home heating and other energy needs in the community. The project would begin here in the new year and we would ask, through experts, consult experts to identify the kind of engineering work, environmental work and costing work that is necessary to make this project feasible to the point we could take it back to the proponents. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
David Krutko Mackenzie Delta
Mr. Chairman, in regards to the consultant that is basically dealing with the NEB application, is he on a retainer? Right now there isn’t really much happening. Or is that preparing for the outcome of the decision of the National Energy Board?
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Bob McLeod Yellowknife South
The contract is on a retainer. We are also using the services right now to deal with the Trans-Canada intervention with the governance for the pipelines in Alberta and Transboundary Pipelines. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
David Krutko Mackenzie Delta
Mr. Chairman, can I get a breakdown of what that contract is, what portion of the $500,000 is for that contract?
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Bob McLeod Yellowknife South
The estimated amount for this coming fiscal year is in the neighbourhood of $417,000.
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters