This is page numbers 4771 – 4804 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 million.

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. Continuing on with general comments, I have Mr. Blake.

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

Frederick Blake Jr.

Frederick Blake Jr. Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just a few comments on our capital budget. To start off, as I mentioned earlier today, a huge need for housing. I know we’ve done a good job over the last number of years replacing units, but as I mentioned, we now need to focus on adding, because our communities are growing. That’s one of the things the Finance Minister wanted to see in future years. So I think we need to prepare for that as we move forward and ensure that the people that move back have a place to stay.

Also, in other communities, for example, replacing units that have been damaged whether it’s due to fire, for example, in Tsiigehtchic a couple of years back a single unit duplex caught fire. Since then, it’s been sitting there. I think you need to replace that, as there is a demand for housing in that community as well.

Also, we’re talking highways and I know last year the plan was, as we moved forward with the Inuvik-Tuk highway, that we’d prepare the Dempster Highway. Over this past year there hasn’t been any work done on the construction aside from minor repairs. We do need to continue that. I know we are awaiting that Building Canada Plan and I can’t wait to see that move forward. A lot of people depend on that work, upwards of 50 people every summer.

Other areas as well, the Department of Transportation is thinking of upgrading one of their loaders, which is a 1976 loader. I mean, that’s almost 38 years old. For the same cost of purchasing a brand new loader and I don’t see the reason for upgrading such an old piece of equipment because the value will not be there in the next five years.

Also, as we move forward, I’m very glad to see the extension of the ferry services in Tsiigehtchic, but the community, the people that live up there know that we need a new ferry. Whether we purchase a new one or do the proper maintenance to the Merv Hardie and have it moved to Tsiigehtchic, because that Louis Cardinal is not built for operating into December, even though it did make a few trips last year. People that have worked up by Fort Providence know that this ferry is more adequate for our region and we really want to see that in place for next year.

With that, those are the few comments I have here today. 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. Blake. Minister 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 appreciate the Member’s comments, the overall support. I’m not wanting to look like I’m just pushing off his issues, but he has made some very specific comments about new units, burned units. I’ll leave those for Minister McLeod.

The issue of upgrading a 38-year-old loader as being too old, at 63 I get really sensitive about replacing things that are too old, but the Minister of Transportation will deal with that issue in detail as well as the discussion about the ferry.

The good news is, as we’ve pointed out previously to Minister Moses, with the Building Canada on an ongoing basis for the next number of years there’s going to be…

---Interjection

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

Sorry, Mr. Chairman, if I’ve misstated titles. I thought I said Mr. Moses. The Member, Mr. Moses, said about the Dempster Highway, raising that concern, I just wanted to confirm that, in fact, with the Building Canada Fund there’s going to be some fairly significant money on an ongoing basis to address that issue. We’re also intending to be able to address the road from the airport into town in Inuvik as well as that airport building.

So I thank the Member for his comments. We have all the pieces in place; we’re just waiting for the final signed agreements on the Building Canada Fund. That will be rolled out as we brief committee, and hopefully that will address a lot of the issues. 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. There’s a bit of time left on the clock here, Mr. Blake. Any other comments?

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

Frederick Blake Jr.

Frederick Blake Jr. Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I thank the Minister. It sounds very promising. While we’re at it we could add in the Willow River. We’re still waiting to build a road up there. The community is still thinking of actually connecting to the Dempster Highway in the near future, and they feel that that can cut costs for freight and also to fly into other communities.

One more thing was the extension of the ferry. The Minister didn’t reply to that yet with the Louis Cardinal, possibly moving the Merv Hardie down there. We’re really looking forward to that and hopefully that can happen within the year. With what it did cost last year to operate, we could have fixed the Merv Hardie to 100 percent. 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. Blake. Minister 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. Just quickly on a couple of the items. I understand the bridge for the Willow River is in Inuvik just waiting to be hauled over to Aklavik so it can be put in in the coming year. So, very timely as you think about it.

The extension of the ferry or the changing of the ferry, I think that’s a discussion you’ll need to have with Transportation. My understanding is there is significant differences in the ice and how hard the ice freezes up north as opposed to much softer ice and the way it freezes down on the Mackenzie at Providence, but the Minister is listening closely and he and his officials will be able to have that much more informed discussion with you than I could ever hope to provide to you. 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. Miltenberger. Continuing on our questions on general comments, I have 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. I’m going to have to check Hansard, but what’s not in the capital budget the last five years is the Trout Lake stand-alone school, so I’ll continue to press that matter. Earlier today in the House, or yesterday, I believe there was a commitment towards the planning studies. So, certainly the community looks forward to it and working with government to find a resolution to a stand-alone school without giving up the need for a community centre, which is valuable for the community of Trout Lake.

Also, I see in the budget there’s two level B, or level B/C health facilities being constructed, and there’s certainly the need to replace the one in Fort Simpson, and myself and the community have been trying to get some certainty around exactly when this health centre will be built. Certainly, like I said, it’s not in the capital plan, but the planning study is

well underway and the community has yet to be engaged, and for something as significant a capital expenditure of this, the community has to be engaged. So I look forward to answers to that.

As well, another area where I’ve been pounding the table, of course, is expenditures on Highway No. 7, and I’m pleased to see there are contributions towards Highway No. 7 in the capital budget. I’ve always made the case that Highway No. 7, especially for the community of Fort Liard, they use that highway a lot to make a living and I’d certainly like to see continued investment in Highway No. 7.

Also, something new is the smaller communities in my constituency have been leasing older buildings for health centres. I’m pleased to see that they’re moving towards expenditure of building and the government will build a new health facility in the community of Jean Marie, and the other communities, Trout Lake and Nahanni Butte, are certainly looking to have theirs replaced. They’re older and dilapidated; they’ve got, actually, some health issues with wildlife and ant infestation problems. So it’s certainly good to have a look at that.

Also, I know that we’ve got quite an injection into housing and affordable housing units as well as public housing stock. It’s an ambitious program there. So I’d certainly like to see every effort expended in completing those projects that are slated for the 2015-16 construction year and getting them off the ground early.

With the potential Inuvik-Tuk highway increase of expenditures, I really think that we should stick to what’s planned. I know that we’ve got negotiated contracts with people up there that want to work hard and create this highway as quickly as they can, but I really believe that we’re going down the wrong road by trying to expedite it, especially when they’re asking for $40 million for this fiscal year. Not the next one, but this one, and I’m concerned about that because I believe it will impact the regions, and the communities’ ability for capital spending may be affected, because we’re so close to the short-term borrowing limit as it is, and I think if something goes wrong with government planning, I’m afraid that they’ll have no choice but to stop some of the projects that are slated for the regions and slated for the communities to make up this shortfall.

The Members have spoken about, I don’t know if they’re unforeseen, but government has seen some of those expenditures that have yet to come, and that will certainly impact our short-term borrowing. I really feel that because of our procedures and guidelines and strict spending guidelines by the Financial Management Board act, that the regions and communities may have to suffer as a result of being so close to the short-term borrowing limit and our debt wall as well. Once again, I think the

communities might suffer because government wants to accelerate one project and/or other needs.

That’s my serious concern about community projects being delayed. Even though we’re talking about capital, I think it also, in a large part, affects our operating and maintenance as well. I’m concerned about that because there are other needs in the O and M that I’ve certainly been asking about, like extra nursing in Wrigley, certainly to the small communities about reviewing the New Deal and how do they manage their communities. Those are my concerns right now.

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. Minister 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. Once again, I think the Member for his comments. Some of the items that he has raised, clearly the Ministers of Education, Health and Transportation will be ready to have those detailed discussions.

I understand that the plan is to issue for the Fort Smith Health Centre some RFPs to be issued here sometime in the fall of 2014. I believe that things are proceeding at pace on that one.

As the Member pointed out, there is money put aside or identified, fairly significant money over the next few years for Highway No. 7. The Inuvik-Tuk highway, we’ll once again have that discussion. It has been raised now a number of times. I just want to restate that there is going to be no impact on other projects. The short-term borrowing is paid off at the start of the fiscal year. The longer term borrowing which we’ve used for the fire season and other issues, I mean, we’re managing that, but it’s slightly below the $100 million. I just want to, once again, reassure folks that that Tuk-Inuvik highway money, if it’s moved, will not negatively impact any other projects.

I thank the Member for his overall comments, and I’m sure the Ministers will be ready for his questions about other O and M program issues that he has of concern in regard to health and education that he’s outlined. 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. Does committee agree that we’ve concluded 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

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. With that, I will ask Ms. Bisaro what is the wish of committee.

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, Mr. Chair. I wish to report progress.

---Carried

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 will now rise and report progress. Thank you.

Report of Committee of the Whole
Report of Committee of the Whole

October 16th, 2014

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Can I have the report of Committee of the Whole, Mr. Dolynny?

Report of Committee of the Whole
Report of Committee of the Whole

Daryl Dolynny

Daryl Dolynny Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Your committee has been considering Tabled Document 115-17(5), Northwest Territories Capital Estimates 2015-2016, and would like to report progress. Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of Committee of the Whole be concurred with. Thank you.

Report of Committee of the Whole
Report of Committee of the Whole

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. Do I have a seconder to the motion? Ms. Bisaro.

---Carried

Item 22, third reading of bills.

Before we close for the day, I just want to congratulate my executive assistant, Nina Larsson, on the birth of her baby boy who was eight pounds, one ounce.

---Applause

Everybody have a good weekend. You had a good first week. Mr. Clerk, orders of the day.

Orders of the Day
Orders of the Day

Tim Mercer Clerk Of The House

Orders of the day for Monday, October 20, 2014, at 1:30 p.m.:

1. Prayer

2. Ministers’

Statements

3. Members’

Statements

4. Returns to Oral Questions

5. Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

6. Acknowledgements

7. Oral

Questions

8. Written

Questions

9. Returns to Written Questions

10. Replies to Opening Address

11. Petitions

12. Reports of Standing and Special Committees

13. Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills

14. Tabling of Documents

15. Notices of Motion

16. Notices of Motion for First Reading of Bills

17. Motions

18. First Reading of Bills

19. Second Reading of Bills

20. Consideration in Committee of the Whole of

Bills and Other Matters

- Committee Report 7-17(5), Report on the

Development of the Economic Opportunities and Mineral Development Strategies

- Tabled Document 115-17(5), Northwest

Territories Capital Estimates 2015-2016

21. Report of Committee of the Whole

22. Third Reading of Bills

23. Orders of the Day

Orders of the Day
Orders of the Day

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Accordingly, this House stands adjourned until Monday, October 20th , at 1:30 p.m.

---ADJOURNMENT

The House adjourned at 1:54 p.m.