Debates of Feb. 26th, 2009

This is page numbers 2615 - 2654 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 going.

Topics

Oral Questions
Prayer
Minister’s Statement 41-16(3): NWT Quitline
Minister’s Statement 42-16(3): Launch Of Bizpal In The Northwest Territories
Minister’s Statement 43-16(3): Summit On Aboriginal Education
Air Carrier Services In Small Communities
Workers’ Safety And Compensation Commission Service Delivery Practices
Reforms To Health Care Service Delivery
Capital Infrastructure Investments In Small Communities
Impacts Of Proposed Tax Increases In Small Communities
Community-Based Wellness Program Alternatives
Water Clarity And Quality Issues In Jean Marie River
Equity Position In Mackenzie Gas Project
GNWT Cost-Cutting Initiatives In Times Of Declining Revenues
Regional Approach To The Mackenzie Valley Highway Construction
Parenting After Marital Separation
Impact Of Proposed Tax Increases On The Hospitality Industry
Construction Of The Mackenzie Valley Highway
Workers’ Safety And Compensation Commission’s Service Delivery Practices
Impacts Of Global Recession On GNWT Revenues
Air Carrier Services In Small Communities
Equity Position In Mackenzie Gas Project
Parenting After Marital Separation
Community-Based Wellness Program Alternatives
Capital Infrastructure Investments In Small Communities
Water Clarity And Quality In Jean Marie River
Protection Measures For Northern Air Carriers
Welcome Centre For Immigrants
Written Question 4-16(3): Mackenzie Valley Highway Construction
Extended Adjournment Of The House To March 2, 2009
Extended Adjournment Of The House To March 2, 2009 Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
James Gruben Regional Airport Manager Carried
Report of Committee of the Whole
Orders of the Day

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Bob Bromley

Does committee agree that we go on to detail?

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Bob Bromley

We are going to defer page 11-7, department summary, until we have completed the detail. We will start on page 11-8, information item, infrastructure investment summary. Agreed?

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Bob Bromley

Page 11-9, information item, revenue summary. Agreed?

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Bob Bromley

Page 11-10, active position summary. Mr. Abernethy.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am just going to ask a standard question. Could the Minister please provide us with a breakdown of the

number of aboriginal, the number of non-aboriginal, the number of women in management and disabled employees within the department? A paper copy of that is fine later. 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

The Chair

The Chair Bob Bromley

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. Minister McLeod.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Michael McLeod

Michael McLeod Deh Cho

Yes, Mr. Chairman. We heard the request coming to other departments so we got ready. We will be glad to hand it out.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Bob Bromley

Thank you, Minister McLeod. Nothing further, Mr. Abernethy? Committee, we are on page 11-10, active position summary.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Glen Abernethy

Thank you, committee. Agreed on 11-10. Moving on to page 11-13. Haven’t we agreed? I thought we agreed. Agreed?

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Glen Abernethy

Moving on to activity summary, corporate services, operations expenditure summary. Mr. Bromley.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

Mr. Chairman, I would just like to find out what amount is spent on the activity described as environment under corporate services and what proportion that is of the corporate services budget. Thank you.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Glen Abernethy

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Minister McLeod.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Michael McLeod

Michael McLeod Deh Cho

Mr. Chairman, we will have Mr. Neudorf respond to that.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Glen Abernethy

Mr. Neudorf.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Russ Neudorf

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Within corporate services we have a planning, policy and environment division, that is 12 people in that division and we have two full-time environmental people. We also, with all of our project delivery, there is a big environmental component that each of those projects would have to go through, so there would be various people in our airports division that deliver projects and our highways division that deliver projects that would be involved with the environmental review.

There is also a portion of the environmental review that would be allocated for studies, when those are required. There is about $300,000 that is allocated to planning-type of studies and environmental studies would fit within that range. It would depend on the issues coming forward. Final point underneath the Building Canada Plan, we have some money dedicated, 1 percent of Building

Canada Plan funding, that is dedicated to research and development and the main focus there is on climate change research and development, so that would be $1.8 million spread over seven fiscal years. 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

The Chair

The Chair Glen Abernethy

Thank you, Mr. Neudorf. Mr. Bromley.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. So I heard of the $8.43 million, $300,000 is for environmental studies, plus two PYs, is that correct?

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Russ Neudorf

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. That is correct and I also mentioned that we have folks involved with obtaining environmental permits related to projects that are within our airports and highways divisions, the project deliveries staff. Thank you.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I also heard there was $1.8 million and about $250,000 per year for climate change research on highways and I would guess that that starts this year and I am wondering what research is planned for this year. Perhaps if you are thinking a year or two ahead, we can get some indication there, too. Thank you.