Debates of March 12th, 2013

This is page numbers 2545 – 2580 of the Hansard for the 17th Assembly, 4th 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 expenditures.

Topics

Oral Questions
Prayer
Management Actions For Barren Ground Caribou Herds
Devolution Agreement Implementation
Change Orders Paid To Southern Contractors
911 Emergency Call Centre
Status Of Aboriginal Languages
Devolution Agreement Public Engagement And Consultation Process
Delivery Of Income Security Programs
Devolution Agreement Ratifications
Reflections On The Spring Budget Session
Devolution Agreement Next Steps
Electoral Boundaries Commission Interim Report Participation
Recognition Of Special Olympian Cynthia Simmons
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Sister Celeste – Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal
Efforts To Attain Provincehood
Alcohol And Drug-Related Health Centre Visits
Decentralization Of Federal Positions Under Devolution
911 Emergency Call Centre
Delivery Of Income Support Programs
Status Of Aboriginal Languages
Devolution Agreement Public Engagement And Consultation
Protection Of Aboriginal Rights Under The Devolution Agreement
Highway Emergency Response Protocols
Income Support Program Applications And Payments
Return To Written Question 11-17(4): Flaring At Petroleum Exploration And Production Sites
Return To Written Question 13-17(4): Impacts Of Hydraulic Fracturing On Water Use And Water Quality
Mr. Bromley’s Reply
Tabled Document 51-17(4): Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 1, 2013-2014
Tabled Document 52-17(4): Tuktoyaktuk Highway Project (Ith) Risk Matrix Reviewed As At 11 March 2013 Tabled Document 53-17(4): GNWT Response To Inuvik To Tuktoyaktuk Highway (Ith) Project Review Panel Report
Tabled Document 54-17(4): 2012 Annual Report Of The Public Utilities Board Of The Northwest Territories
Tabled Document 55-17(4): Report Of Conflict Of Interest Commissioner Dated March 5, 2013, Respecting A Complaint By Robert Hawkins Alleging A Breach Of The Act By The Honourable David Ramsay
Tabled Document 56-17(4): Correspondence From The Minister Of Finance Regarding Potential Breach Of Fam – Aircraft Chartering
Extended Adjournment Of The House To May 29, 2013
Ground Ambulance And Highway Rescue Services
Plebiscite On Ratification Of Devolution Final Agreement
Secondary Diamond Industry
Recorded Vote
Bill 5: Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2012-2013
Bill 6: Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 1, 2013-2014
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Concurrence Of Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 4, 2011-2012
Concurrence Of Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 4, 2011-2012
Concurrence Of Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 2012-2013
Concurrence Of Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 1, 2013-2014
Report of Committee of the Whole
Bill 7: Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 4, 2011-2012
Bill 8: Supplementary Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures), No. 4, 2011-2012
Bill 9: Supplementary Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 2012-2013
Bill 10: Supplementary Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures), No. 1, 2013-2014
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

The Chair

The Chair Daryl Dolynny

I’d like to call Committee of the Whole to order. The bills and other matters have been read into the House already today so we won’t need to repeat them. 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 review Tabled Document 43-17(4), Tabled Document 44-17(4), Tabled Document 45-17(4) and Tabled Document 51-17(4).

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

Great. We’ll commence after 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, we’re dealing with Tabled Document 43-17(4), Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 4, 2011-2012. We’ll be moving to Minister Miltenberger for opening comments.

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

I am here to present Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 4, 2011-2012. This document outlines an increase of $6.810 million for capital investment expenditures in the 2011-2012 fiscal year for the Department of Transportation to provide appropriation authority to record the year-end valuation adjustment on the long-term debt associated with the Deh Cho Bridge 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. Do you have witnesses you’d like to bring into the Chamber?

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. 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

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. Sergeant-at-Arms, if you can escort our witnesses in, please. Thank you.

Minister Miltenberger, if you can introduce your witnesses to the House, please.

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 with me the deputy minister, Mike Aumond, and the deputy secretary to the FMB, Sandy Kalgutkar.

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. Aumond, welcome back to the House. General comments?

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

Detail.

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

We’ll go into detail. Committee, we are dealing on page 5 of the supplementary appropriation, infrastructure expenditures. Mr. Bouchard.

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

March 11th, 2013

Robert Bouchard

Robert Bouchard Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I’m just wondering if I can get a little bit more detail from the Minister on what this expenditure is for again.

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. Bouchard. For that we’ll to Mr. Kalgutkar.

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

Kalgutkar

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Every year the GNWT has to record the value of the outstanding debt at its real value versus its nominal value, so what this adjustment does is gives us an expenditure appropriate authority to do 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 Daryl Dolynny

Thank you, Mr. Kalgutkar. Committee, again, page 5, Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 4, 2011-2012. Transportation, capital investment expenditures, highways, not previously authorized, $6.810 million. 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

Sorry, Mr. Chair. I’m just not quite there yet. We are re-evaluating things and so is this a transfer. No. This is a net cost. No, it’s not a net cost either. Maybe if I could ask for a little more explanation. I know there’s a straightforward explanation. 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, Mr. Bromley. For that we’ll go to Mr. Kalgutkar.

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

Kalgutkar

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Every year, as the Member knows, the bonds are real return bonds, so every year at year-end we have to record the bonds at their real value, and what this appropriation is for is it gives the government the appropriation authority to record that adjustment.

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

That’s ringing bells now. Have the values of the bonds gone up or down?

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

Kalgutkar

As of March 31st the

outstanding principal of the bond is around $182 million.