Debates of Feb. 25th, 2014

This is page numbers 3905 – 3976 of the Hansard for the 17th Assembly, 5th 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 year.

Topics

Oral Questions
Prayer
Improvements In The Delivery Of Child And Family Services
New Memorandum Of Agreement With RCMP For Asset Management
South Mackenzie Correctional Centre Enhanced Program Services
Employee Recognition In Official Languages
Asbestos Concerns At Moose Kerr School
Policing And Nursing Services In Small Communities
Family Supports For Traditional “on-The-Land” Pursuits
Placement Of Automated External Defibrillators
2014 Paul Stipdonk Memorial Soccer Tournament
Summer Student Employment In Small Communities
Giant Mine Stabilization Plan
Dredging Of The Hay River
Safe Disclosure Of Information By GNWT Employees
Northern Mining Socio-Economic Agreements
Investment In Southern Mental Health And Addictions Treatment
Tribute To RCMP Bravery Award Recipient Celine (Nataway) Marlowe
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
90th Birthday Of Jim Thomas
Asbestos Concerns At Moose Kerr School
Policing Presence In Small Communities
Community Caribou Hunt For Yellowknives Dene
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery (Reversion)
Family Supports For Traditional “on-The-Land” Pursuits
Safe Disclosure Of Information By GNWT Employees
Nursing Services In Small Communities
Beach Safety Audit Of Fred Henne Territorial Park
Summer Student Employment In Small Communities
Dredging Of The Hay River
Placement Of Automatic Electric Defibrillators
Policing Presence In Small Communities
Northern Mining Socio-Economic Agreements
Written Question 14-17(5): Mental Health And Addictions Action Plan
Return To Written Question 5-17(5): Detail Of Contracts Awarded In Fiscal Year 2012-2013
Committee Report 2-17(5): Report On The Review Of The 2012-2013 Public Accounts
Motion That Committee Report 2-17(5) Be Deemed As Read And Printed In Hansard
Motion To Receive Committee Report 2-17(5) And Move Into Committee Of The Whole
Tabled Document 50-17(5): Government Of The Northwest Territories Details Of Contracts Over $5,000, 2012-2013
Extended Adjournment Of The House To March 3, 2014
Bill 13: Devolution Measures Act Bill 14: Waters Act
Bill 11: Petroleum Resources Act
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Deferral Of Minerals And Petroleum Resources Activity
Creation Of Taxation Revenues Stabilization Fund
Report of Committee of the Whole
Orders of the Day

Bill 11: Petroleum Resources Act
Second Reading of Bills

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Question has been called. Bill 11, Petroleum Resources Act, has had second reading.

---Carried

Mr. Premier.

Bill 11: Petroleum Resources Act
Second Reading of Bills

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Yellowknife South

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to waive Rule 69(2) and have Bill 11, Petroleum Resources Act, moved into Committee of the Whole. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Unanimous consent granted

Bill 11: Petroleum Resources Act
Second Reading of Bills

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Item 20, consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters, with Mrs. Groenewegen 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 Jane Groenewegen

I’d like to call Committee of the Whole to order. We have three items on the agenda today. What is the wish of committee today? Ms. Bisaro.

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

Wendy Bisaro

Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake

Thank you, Madam Chair. Committee wishes to continue with Tabled Document 22-17(5), with the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment and, time permitting and the Members willing, the Department of Finance. 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 Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. 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 Jane Groenewegen

We will resume 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 Jane Groenewegen

We’ll carry on with the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment. I’d like to ask Minister Ramsay if he would like to bring witnesses 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

David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

Yes, Madam Chair. 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 Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Minister Ramsay. Is committee 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 Jane Groenewegen

Agreed, thank you. I’ll ask the Sergeant-at-Arms to please escort the witnesses to the table.

Minister Ramsay, for the record could you please introduce your witnesses.

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

David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

Thank you, Madam Chair. To my left I’ve got Mr. Peter Vician, deputy minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment. To my right, Ms. Nancy Magrum, director, shared services, finance and administration. 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 Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Minister Ramsay. Industry, Tourism and Investment, 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 Jane Groenewegen

Detail. Okay, we will defer page 12-7 and move on to page 12-8, information item, infrastructure, investment summary. Any questions?

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

February 24th, 2014

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 Jane Groenewegen

Agreed, Thank you. Page 12-9, information item, revenue summary, $124.394 million. Ms. Bisaro.

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

Wendy Bisaro

Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake

Thank you, Madam Chair. My first question on this page has to do with the capital transfers. We’ve got a huge increase from

$265,000 to $2.7 million. So what accounts for this grand increase in capital transfers?

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 Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Minister Ramsay.

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

David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

Thank you, Madam Chair. That’s a gifted asset from AANDC. It’s the C.S. Lord Building with the geosciences. That’s what that accounts for. Thank you.

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

Wendy Bisaro

Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake

Thanks to the Minister for that. My other question has to do with, I have two other questions here, but my first of the other questions has to do with the regulatory revenues and the minerals oil and gas royalties.

The $120 million, as I understand it, is the estimated amount of resources revenues that we’re going to be getting in the ’14-15 budget year, but that’s the total amount, that’s not the net amount. So I’d like to know why we are recording the total amount in this budget. I don’t believe there’s a corresponding expense of the 50 percent of this net fiscal benefit that we’re going to be losing to the federal government, so why do we record this whole amount as revenue when there’s no offsetting negative amount? 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 Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Mr. Vician.

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

Peter Vician

Thank you, Madam Chair. Good afternoon, Madam Chair and committee. The $120 million that’s forecasted as revenue is the revenue responsible for collection by the Department of ITI from anticipated neural and petroleum resource activities in the Northwest Territories. The responsibility then, under that fiscal benefit arrangement with the Devolution Agreement, is dealt with through the Department of Finance as part of the reconciliation of the amounts that are kept and those that are adjustments to the gross expenditure base of the GNWT. Thank you.