This is page numbers 6481 – 6516 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 going.

Topics

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document, entitled “GNWT Response to Committee Report 14-17(5): Report on the 2014 Review of the Official Languages Act.”

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Mr. Clerk.

Tim Mercer Clerk Of The House

Mr. Speaker, I’d like to table a response to a petition provided by the Honourable David Ramsay, Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, in response to a petition tabled by Mr. Bob Bromley, Member for Weledeh, on June 2, 2015.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Item 15, notices of motion. Item 16, notices of motion for first reading of bills. Mr. Abernethy.

Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Thursday, October 1, 2015, I will move that Bill 68, An Act to Amend the Child and Family Services Act, No. 2, be read for the first time.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. Mr. Dolynny.

Daryl Dolynny

Daryl Dolynny Range Lake

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to return to item 14 on the order sheet, tabling of documents. Thank you.

---Unanimous consent granted

Daryl Dolynny

Daryl Dolynny Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to table a document, called “Measuring GNWT Fiscal Performance and Accountability.”

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. 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: Minister’s Statement 221-17(5), Sessional

Statement; and Tabled Document 281-17(5), Capital Estimates, 2016-2017, 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. Colleagues, 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. We wish to proceed with opening comments on the capital estimates.

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

Okay. 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’ll

proceed with general comments after a brief 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

Good afternoon, committee. I’d like to call Committee of the Whole back to order. Committee, we have agreed to consider Tabled Document 281-17(5), Capital Estimates, 2016-

2017. We’ve also agreed to begin

with general comments. Does the Minister of Finance wish to bring witnesses into the House? 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

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

Before we bring witnesses in, committee, we’re going to actually ask the Minister if he has opening comments. 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

I am here to present the Capital Estimates, 2016-2017 of the Government of the Northwest Territories. These estimates represent $292 million in appropriations

for government and $28 million for community infrastructure investments in the 2016-2017 fiscal year.

These estimates do not include appropriations for housing infrastructure proposed by the NWT Housing Corporation in 2016-2017, totalling $22 million. The appropriation for these investments will be sought during review of the 2016-2017 Main Estimates by the 18th Legislative Assembly. The NWT Housing Corporation’s proposed 2016-2017 Capital Plan, however, has been included in the estimates document as an information item for review and comment.

Including the proposed housing investment, the total planned infrastructure investment in 2016-2017 will be $342 million.

Major highlights of these estimates include:

• $91 million to seek appropriation authority to

record the Mackenzie Valley Fibre Link Project on the GNWT’s balance sheet;

• $69 million for highways and winter roads across

the NWT. This includes funding for the Inuvik- Tuktoyaktuk Highway and the first bundle of highway projects submitted under the new Building Canada Plan;

• $60 million for health facility replacements,

renovations and information system upgrades, including funding required for the renovation of the Stanton Territorial Hospital project;

• $28 million to continue to contribute to

community infrastructure needs;

• $20 million to begin replacing the current air

tanker fleet that support forest fire operations.

Members have expressed concerns over the lack of funding allocated to NWT schools in government capital plans. In response to these concerns, these estimates include $400,000 to provide planning study funding for the J.H. Sissons and Mildred Hall school renovations in Yellowknife.

Looking ahead, the GNWT is facing the difficult challenge of maintaining existing assets, improving housing stock and meeting legislative requirements unless steps are taken to free up fiscal resources.

Regardless of this challenge, the GNWT will continue to ensure our limited capital funding is used to support the territory’s essential infrastructure base so that programs and services can continue to be delivered, aim to make investments in strategic infrastructure that will better position the territory and all of Canada to maximize economic opportunities of the North, and to look at options to mitigate the impact of climate change.

I am prepared to review the details of the 2016-2017 Capital Estimates document. 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. We’ll try this again. Does the Minister have any witnesses he’d like to bring in the House?

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

Thank you, Minister. 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

If I can get the Sergeant-at-Arms to please escort the witnesses into the Chamber.

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