This is page numbers 1027 - 1074 of the Hansard for the 17th 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 million.

Topics

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Bill 4, Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures), 2012-2013, has had first reading.

---Carried

Item 19, second reading of bills. The honourable Member for Thebacha, Mr. Miltenberger.

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife South, that Bill 4, Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures), 2012-2013, be read for the second time.

This bill authorizes the Government of the Northwest Territories to make appropriations for operations expenditures for the 2012-2013 fiscal year.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Bill 4 has had second reading.

---Carried

The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Blake.

Bill 3: An Act To Amend The Human Rights Act
Second Reading of Bills

June 7th, 2012

Frederick Blake Jr.

Frederick Blake Jr. Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Kam Lake, that Bill 3, An Act to Amend the Human Rights Act, be read for the second time.

Bill 3 amends the Human Rights Act to authorize the Speaker, on the recommendation of the Board of Management, to designate the chairperson and deputy chairperson of the Northwest Territories

Human Rights Commission. The commission members may designate an acting chairperson of the commission in certain circumstances.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Bill 3 has had second reading.

---Carried

The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Blake.

Frederick Blake Jr.

Frederick Blake Jr. Mackenzie Delta

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to waive Rule 69(2) and have Bill 3, An Act to Amend the Human Rights Act, moved into Committee of the Whole today.

---Unanimous consent granted

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Bill 3 will be moved into Committee of the Whole. Item 20, consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters: Tabled Document 2-17(3), Commissioner’s Opening Address: Creating the Conditions for Success; Tabled Document 17-17(3), Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 7, 2010-2011; Tabled Document 18-17(3) Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 4, 2010-2011; Tabled Document 19-17(3), Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 1, 2012-2013; Bill 1, An Act to Amend the Student Financial Assistance Act;

Committee Report 1-17(3), Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2010-2011 Annual Report of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of the Northwest Territories; Committee Report 2-17(3), Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2010-2011 Northwest Territories Human Rights Commission Annual Report, with Mr. Dolynny in the chair.

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 Daryl Dolynny

I’d like to call Committee of the Whole to order. We have a number of items to consider here in Committee of the Whole. We have Tabled Document 2-17(3), Commissioner’s Opening Address: Creating the Condition for Success; Tabled Document 17-17(3), Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 7, 2010-2011; Tabled Document 18-17(3) Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 4, 2010-2011; Tabled Document 19-17(3), Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 1, 2012-2013; Bill 1, Bill 3, Committee Report 1-17(3), Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2010-2011 Annual Report of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of the Northwest Territories; Committee Report 2-17(3), Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2010-2011 Northwest Territories

Human Rights Commission Annual Report. What is the wish of the committee? Mr. Menicoche.

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

Kevin A. Menicoche

Kevin A. Menicoche Nahendeh

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. The committee wishes to consider Tabled Document 19-17(3), Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 1, 2012-2013. Thankyou.

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 Daryl Dolynny

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Does committee agree?

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 Daryl Dolynny

Agreed. We’ll commence after just a short break.

---SHORT RECESS

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 Daryl Dolynny

Welcome back, committee. Committee agreed that we will be working on Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 1, 2012-2013. We will be going to the Minister of Finance, Mr. Miltenberger, for opening comments. Mr. Miltenberger.

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

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am here to present Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 1, 2012-2013. This document provides for an increase of $10.014 million for operations expenditures and an increase of $105.745 million for capital investment expenditures in the 2012-2013 fiscal year. The total supplementary request is $115.759 million.

Major items in this supplementary estimate include:

1. $105.7 million to carry over funding for

infrastructure projects. This funding was approved and lapsed in the 2011-12 fiscal period. The carry-overs for capital investment expenditures in the supplementary estimates represent about 35 percent of the 2011-12 revised capital budget.

2. $850,000 for investments under the Energy

Priorities Investment Plan to install a wood pellet boiler at the Deh Gah School in Fort Providence and an electric boiler system for the Northern Lights Special Care Facility in Fort Smith.

3. $10 million for the Department of Transportation

for funding for the completion of the Deh Cho Bridge, to resolve claims and to help ensure the benefits of the bridge are realized by November 2012.

4.

$2.5 million for the Department of Transportation to continue the engineering and environmental assessment work for the Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk Highway Project.

I am prepared to review the details of the supplementary estimates document.

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 Daryl Dolynny

Thank you, Minister Miltenberger. Minister Miltenberger, do you have witnesses you wish to bring into the House?

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

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Yes, Mr. Chair.

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 Daryl Dolynny

Does committee agree?

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 Daryl Dolynny

Thank you, committee. If we can get the Sergeant-at-Arms to bring in our guests.

Minister Miltenberger, would you care to introduce your guests to the committee members?

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

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Chair. On my left I have Mike Aumond, deputy minister of finance. To my immediate right, Russ Neudorf, deputy minister of Transportation. As well, to my far right, Mr. Sandy Kalgutkar, deputy secretary to the FMB. 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 Daryl Dolynny

Thank you, Minister Miltenberger. Mr. Kalgutkar, Mr. Neudorf, Mr. Aumond, welcome back to the House. With that, we’ll be opening the floor to general comments on the Supplementary Appropriation, No. 1. Mr. Menicoche.

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

Kevin A. Menicoche

Kevin A. Menicoche Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Chair. When it comes to capital expenditures and something of this nature, it’s always a great concern to myself and some of the committees that I sit on. It seems pretty significant, $105 million of carry-over. We often don’t like to see this. We like to see our capital investment expended in the year that we have, especially when it comes to constituencies and getting these monies expended.

Most particularly, there is some carry-over money for Highway No. 7. I would certainly have liked to have seen that done last year, but I’m pleased to see that it’s just a little bit of extra cash that we can use for Highway No. 7 for this coming year.

Once again, when it comes to expenditures, especially in the highway system, and I spoke with the Minister at length and brought it up in the House, about having the capital projects expended early in the year, July, August, as opposed to September, October. Because there are always lots of carry-overs in highway investment in my riding because those are typically rainy seasons and a lot of work cannot get done.

I see this carry-over and I’m, of course, looking for that same commitment, at least on Highway No. 7, that the expenditures get done early. At the appropriate time I would be looking for the plan for that money for this coming year and when it will be expended.

Of course, it’s not all carry-overs. I think there is now an addition of the $10 million for the Deh Cho

Bridge. Like I said, my constituency is concerned and I don’t think that they’re surprised that there’s another increase in the expenditures of the Deh Cho Bridge. Of course, they’re concerned, because any time we expend money like this on the Deh Cho Bridge and/or there’s some money in here for the Inuvik-Tuk highway, my concern has always been it’s taking resources away from other constituencies and expenditures. I’ve gone to great lengths to heighten the awareness of this government for Highway No. 7 and still it doesn’t appear in any of their documentation mandate letters or priorities of the government, and I remain focused on that. But every time they’re asked for more money – and it’s easy to put in a supp it seems – I feel kind of a twinge that I kind of have to support it and yet we see little expenditures on Highway No. 7. That’s my concern.

I just want to let my constituency know that I continue to raise the issue of Highway No. 7 and fight and fight and fight. One day I’d like to see an investment in Highway No. 7. The Minister and I have just done a trip down Highway No. 7, and I’m quite pleased about it. My constituency and the leadership are very pleased that he did, but at the same time, I’d like to see that type of expedition trip translate into actual resources for Highway No. 7.

I’ll just leave those opening comments there for now. Mahsi cho.

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 Daryl Dolynny

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Your fight for Highway No. 7 is duly noted. Moving on with general comments, 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. Chair. I do want to comment briefly on these items. The $105.7 million carry-over for infrastructure, representing projects that were not done or completed, at 35 percent of our total expenditure for the last year is quite a large carry-over.

During the 16th Assembly we did have a special

deputy ministers committee on infrastructure that did a lot of thinking and implementing of a new approach to deal with our challenges, which are many in the sort of whimsical northern environment that people have to deal with, problems of access and so on, and that included moving to Class C estimates so that we were more accurate on our estimating costs of infrastructure, and probably the biggest was that we moved our capital budget debate to the fall so that we would have a full period of time within which to plan and arrange for spring transportation of materials. However, I think it’s also well known that we went through an amazing almost a billion dollars’ worth of infrastructure in the 16th Assembly, due partly to the

federal contribution of funds for stimulation and the Building Canada Fund. I think we have a pretty good record of delivering infrastructure at an exceptional rate during those years. Nevertheless,

this is a well-recognized challenge. We have put actions in place and now as we drop back to a more modest capital budget this year, I will be looking to see that percentage of carry-over drop significantly. If not, it is back to the drawing board.

I am always supporting investments that are saving us money as these energy initiatives do for the Deh Gah School in Fort Providence, and the electrical weather system in Fort Smith, Northern Lights Special Care Facility. Those are sound investments. Again, $10 million for the bridge, we have spoken clearly on that. This is unacceptable, but here we are between a rock and a hard place. Hopefully, this does indeed cap this off and get the bridge in place this fall and we won’t be hearing further appropriations there.

With respect to the $2.5 million sort of repeat expenditure for the Inuvik-Tuk highway, what did we learn from our last-minute investment of a similar amount during 2011-12? How does this amount use that information? Again, I look forward for more information on that. We want to be careful with our infrastructure dollars, obviously, given the tremendous demand and the debts that we have in putting infrastructure in place. 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 Daryl Dolynny

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. We are moving on to general questions. Mr. Bouchard.