This is page numbers 4467 – 4510 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 services.

Topics

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Again, we’re contributing to all the school boards across the Northwest Territories based on enrolment across the North.

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

But the fact is, that’s not a straight line funding formula. He has one for the communities, and then he has one for the regional centres, and he’s got ones for Yellowknife. By the way, you have a large funding formula for the communities – which I support because it’s

important – and I certainly say the fact is the problem is he’s taking from the large centre of Yellowknife to fund them. He should be asking for money.

By the way, on that note, has the Justice Minister ever had the courage to come to committee or the Assembly, for that matter, and ask for the proper money and funding to fund JK from the very start, rather than going and poaching the money from other school boards?

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Mr. Hawkins, that is a different line of questioning to a different Minister. Were you asking the Minister of Justice or the Minister of Education? Minister of Education. Mr. Hawkins, rephrase your question to the Minister of Education, please.

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

See, Mr. Speaker, you’re so correct, because this is such a frustrating issue. I happen to look at all of them, and they all look the same because they all give the same answers: nothing.

The Education Minister is the one I’m, frankly, pointing at right now. Thank you for pointing that out. Frankly, has the Education Minister ever had the courage to come to the committee or the Assembly to ask for money to properly fund this program from the start, because I don’t know how he’s going to do more with less money.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. I’m going to remind all the Members about respect for each other in regard to answering and your tone of questions and that. I know it’s heated and I know it’s sensitive, but respecting one another in this House to make a common good for the people of the territory. Mr. Lafferty, Education Minister.

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. The answer would be no. We’re using internal resources.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Okay. Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don’t know how you get more with less money, and he’s spreading this around. But all of this problem really began, this epic journey, all the narrative of when the Department of Education gag ordered the superintendents in the fall, so none of us really knew what was happening, so maybe let’s start getting to the bottom of this issue by working backwards.

We’ve talked about how we got here through the process of funding, how we’re getting there and the problems. What about the problem about gagging the superintendents from the start on this particular issue? Why would the Department of Education tell the Yellowknife superintendents they couldn’t tell their boards, which in essence, as I said at the very start, they’re administrative boards, not advisory

boards, so those superintendents were put in a horrible position. Why would the Education Minister do that to our superintendents? They’re accountable to the people. What is the Minister being accountable to in this regard?

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

This Minister is accountable to the general public of the Northwest Territories. We did work with the superintendents where they gave us an idea of instead of just 10 to 12, cover all aspects K to 12. We listened to them. We made those changes that reflects on that. Also, 16 to 1, if they’re beyond that there’s new money with PTR that we are going to influx into the school boards.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The time for oral questions has expired. Item 9, written questions. Item 10, returns to written questions. Item 11, replies to opening address. Item 12, petitions. Item 13, reports of committees on the review of bills. Mr. Nadli.

Michael Nadli

Michael Nadli Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to report to the Assembly that the Standing Committee on Government Operations has concluded its review of Bill 8, Write-off of Debts Act, 2013-2014, and Bill 9, Forgiveness of Debts Act, 2013-2014, and wishes to report that Bills 8 and 9 are ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Nadli. Item 14, tabling of documents. The honourable Minister of Finance, Mr. Miltenberger.

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Minister of Finance

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document, entitled “Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2014-2015.”

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Abernethy.

Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Minister of Health and Social Services

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document, entitled “Report of the Director of Child and Family Services for the Years 2002-2012.” Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. Ms. Bisaro.

Wendy Bisaro

Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table a group of e-mails and letters from constituents concerning funding for Yellowknife school boards.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Item 15, notices of motion. Item 16, notices of motion for first reading of bills. Item 17, motions. Item 18, first reading of bills. Item 19, second reading of bills. 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. There is one item before Committee of the Whole on our agenda today. What is the wish of committee? 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. We wish to deal with that tabled document. I don’t know the number, but Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2014-2015.

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. It’s Tabled Document 87-17(5), Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2014-2015. 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

Thank you. We will commence with that after a brief break.

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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 back to order. We’re dealing with the Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2014-2015. I would like to ask Minister Abernethy if he would like to bring opening remarks on behalf of Minister Miltenberger. Minister 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, Madam Chair. I am here to present Supplementary

Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2014-2015. This document provides for an increase of $58.515 million to the capital budget.

The most significant item in this supplementary estimates is $58 million in capital carry-overs for the completion of infrastructure projects. This represents a carry-over of 21.3 percent of the previous year’s capital plan, our lowest in the past 10 years. These costs are offset by an equivalent lapse of infrastructure funding in the 2013-2014 fiscal year.

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