Debates of March 9th, 2015

This is page numbers 6061 – 6102 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 health.

Topics

Oral Questions

Prayer

Office Of Auditor General’s Report And Justice Updates

Conference Board Of Canada Health Status Report

Application Of Payroll Tax On Northern Residents

Candidate Diversity In Upcoming Territorial Election

Contractor Safety Management System

NWT Youth Ambassador Program

Dehcho Process Negotiations

Sahtu Region Sustainable Economic Development

Gender Equity In Corporate Governance Structures

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Acknowledgements 19-17(5): Caroline Bonnetrouge – Wise Woman Award Recipient

Supports For Sewing And Beading Craftwork

Dehcho Process Negotiations

Application Of NWT Payroll Tax On Northern Residents

Contractor Safety Management System

NWT Youth Ambassador Program

Questions 768-17(5): Conference Board Of Canada Health Status Report

Winter 2015 Fur Prices

Advancement Of Women In Northern Society

History Of The RCMP In The Northwest Territories

Response To Auditor General’s Report On Corrections In The Northwest Territories

Conference Board Of Canada Health Status Report

Return To Written Question 34-17(5): Decentralization Analysis

Bill 42: An Act To Amend The Residential Tenancies Act

Tabled Document 216-17(5): Return To Written Question 23-17(5), Decentralization Analysis

Tabled Document 217-17(5): 2014 NWT Survey Of Mining Employees Overall Report, December 2014 Tabled Document 218-17(5): Review Of The Venture Investment Program And The Contribution Programs Of The NWT Business Development And Investment Corporation, March 7, 2013 Tabled Document 219-17(5): Review O

Domestic Violence Death Review Committee

Wellness Centre At Stanton Hospital

Establishment Of A Special Committee On Transition Matters

Bill 49: An Act To Amend The Deh Cho Bridge Act

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Concurrence Of Td 188-17(5), Northwest Territories Main Estimates, 2015-2016

Concurrence Of Td 205-17(5), Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 5, 2014-2015

Concurrence Of Td 206-17(5), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 2014-2015

Concurrence Of Td 207-17(5), Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 1, 2015-2016

Report of Committee of the Whole

Orders of the Day

Committee Motion 103-17(5): Concurrence Of Td 205-17(5), Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 5, 2014-2015, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

Mr. Chair, that’s all I have to ask.

The Chair Daryl Dolynny

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Bromley.

Bob Bromley Weledeh

I would just like to follow up on my colleague’s questions. My understanding is that industry’s use of the winter roads is a great cost to government and can really beat up the infrastructure. That has certainly been found in every jurisdiction. Is that the experience of this government?

The Chair Daryl Dolynny

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Minister Miltenberger.

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The winter roads, by design, are not meant to take extreme traffic. In some cases it happens, so yes. There is a working relationship with industry to try to make sure we maintain the roads both for the public as well as the industry that is putting a burden on those roads, and it’s in everybody’s interest.

The Chair Daryl Dolynny

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Mr. Bromley.

March 8th, 2015

Bob Bromley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I don’t think it’s our responsibility alone, obviously, to provide infrastructure for industry, so I appreciate that expectation that industry would participate in reducing the cost to residents and taxpayers.

The Chair Daryl Dolynny

Comment noted. Committee, we’re on page 9, Transportation, operations expenditure summary, airports, not previously authorized, negative $624,000. Highways, not previously authorized, $140,000. Total department, not previously authorized, negative 484,000. Does committee agree?

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

The Chair Daryl Dolynny

Committee, page 10, Environment and Natural Resources, operations expenditures, forest management, not previously authorized, $2.025 million. Total department, not previously authorized, $2.025 million. Does committee agree?

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

The Chair Daryl Dolynny

Page 11, Lands, operations expenditures, operations, not previously authorized, negative $165,000. Total department,

not previously authorized, negative $165,000. Does committee agree?

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

The Chair Daryl Dolynny

Does committee agree that consideration for Government of the Northwest Territories Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 2014-2015, is concluded?

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

The Chair Daryl Dolynny

Thank you, committee. Ms. Bisaro.

Committee Motion 104-17(5): Concurrence Of Td 206-17(5), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 2014-2015, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that consideration of Tabled Document 206-17(5), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 2014-2015, be now concluded and that Tabled Document 206-17(5) be reported and recommended as ready for further consideration in formal session through the form of an appropriation bill.

The Chair Daryl Dolynny

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. We’ll just let the motion circulate.

The motion is in order. To the motion.

Some Hon. Members

Question.

The Chair Daryl Dolynny

Question has been called. The motion is carried.

---Carried

Committee, we’ll continue on with what we agreed upon earlier, Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures) No. 1, 2015-2016. With that, we’ll turn it over to the Minister responsible for opening comments. Minister Miltenberger.

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am here to present Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures) No. 1, 2015-2016. This document provides for an increase of $31.614 million to the 2015-16 capital budget.

The most significant item in these supplementary estimates is funding for the Department of Transportation, in the amount of $28.5 million, for the first bundle of projects proposed under the provincial-territorial component of the plan. This funding will be offset by the funding available through the new Building Canada Plan.

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

The Chair Daryl Dolynny

Thank you, Minister Miltenberger. If I can get you to head to the witness table, please.

Mr. Miltenberger, for the record, if you can introduce your witnesses again.

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Deputy minister of Finance, Mike Aumond; deputy secretary to the FMB, Mr. Sandy Kalgutkar.

The Chair Daryl Dolynny

Thank you, Minister Miltenberger. Again, welcome, Mr. Aumond and Mr. Kalgutkar, to the House.

Committee, we’ll open up with general comments. Mr. Blake.

Frederick Blake Jr. Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just some brief comments. I’m really pleased to see these funds finally making it through the budget here. Specifically, on Highway No. 8, the Dempster Highway, as mentioned last year, we had a lot of people unemployed over the summer because this highway, the funds ran out, and I’m glad to see that these funds are now in place for the next 10 years here. A lot of people are going to be happy this summer with a lot of work up in my riding along the Dempster.

Also, as I mentioned, big improvements on this stretch of highway compared to the Yukon. We get a lot of compliments and I think that should be noted to the department as well.

Debates of March 9th, 2015

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