This is page numbers 6559 – 6620 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 know.

Topics

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

So, to relate it to something I understand within Prelude Lake Park, it would be the same sort of a road as from the highway to get to Prelude Lake itself. Would that be a good comparison? Thank you.

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

That wouldn’t be a fair

comparison in that there are different land tenures in that park at Prelude Lake and the road itself isn’t the responsibility of the park until you get into the park itself. I guess a comparison might be, say, Pontoon Lake Park where there is a bit of an access road into Pontoon Lake. 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

That’s good. Thank you, Mr. 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 Daryl Dolynny

Thank you. Continuing with questions on tourism and parks, I have Mr. Bromley.

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

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am surprised and disappointed to see that there’s not significant work planned for Prelude Lake area. I am wondering if I could get a status on what work has been done there and what is still to be done. I know there’s a lot of concern about the parking areas down by the dock and the need to do some work on that dock. Obviously, low water time is a good time to be in there doing that sort of work. Maybe I could start by asking for an update on the status of that redevelopment at Prelude Lake Park. 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. Bromley. 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, Mr. Chair. I thank the Member for the question. With the limited capital dollars that we do have, we’ve done a lot of work at Prelude Lake and we will continue to put some dollars into Prelude Lake. Just to update Members, the marine at Prelude Lake boat launch, PWS plans to use a standing offer agreement with a marine engineer to draw technical specs for the mooring system and fabrication for the floating dock system that will complement the existing concept

designs. We expect the engineering contract to be completed this month. These engineered drawings will go to tender later this year, due to some procurement procedures attached to the election transition period. Tenders cannot proceed until after the period is over. We expect to begin in the spring of next year.

As far as loop D, the tender for the build is closed and we are ready to award the contract. An internal committee of DOT, ENR and Lands is also helping to guide the project and we are hopeful that work can begin soon after the contract award this fall.

On to the shoreline improvements, the tender closed September 14th for on-the-land work. The in-water

work to remove vegetation and place barriers to prevent regrowth has been cancelled due to permitted requirements and after a lack of interest to bid on the work was shown by potential contractors at a pre-tender meeting. Improvements planned are to refurbish the breakwater as per the concept drawings developed last fall. Vehicle access on the southern portion will be maintained and shoreline recreational space on the northern portion will also be developed. Permits are not required for this project as it’s considered maintenance as long as there is no work that has to be completed in the water itself.

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

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

Thank you very much for that comprehensive response. I think there’s a good record in Hansard for constituents who may be interested.

Would this work be proposed to come forward as a supp since it’s not in this capital plan?

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

This is current year spending, so it’s already been accounted for.

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

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

I’m not sure I fully understand that.

I understand the work to get us to the point of being ready to do the work in the field, but I would assume that that needs to take place during the construction season after the 1st of April, and I don’t see that work

referred to in the capital plan here. That’s why I’m wondering whether it would come forward in a supplementary appropriation.

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

Perhaps I’ll have Ms. Kaylo

explain the detail to how the money is going to be spent this year, and as I mentioned, it’s already been in this year’s capital plan.

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 Ramsay. Ms. Kaylo.

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

Kaylo

The projects that the Minister spoke of were approved in last year’s capital plan, so they are for this current fiscal year, ’15-16. The work that’s underway right now is all in anticipation of completing these projects by the end of this fiscal year, March 31, 2016. We have, as the Minister identified, marine engineer drawings that, once completed, will be presented out for tender for the

work for the marina at Prelude. A fair bit of work is required there. Of course, the extreme low water conditions this year have proven challenging for us. The new loop D, which went through consultations this past year, is also underway. The tender for the building of that particular loop has just closed, and again, we’re in the stage of awarding the contract and anticipate that that work will be completed by March 2016.

Then the shoreline improvement, same sort of thing. There were some modifications planned around what was presented in terms of the beach area as a result of getting more information on what could be refurbished along the breakwater, but that work is anticipated to be completed this fiscal year as well.

All those three projects were planned, budgeted for, and are underway now. There is another project for Prelude Lak

e planned for the ’16-17 Capital Plan,

which is identified in the Member’s books as well. We can speak to that if required.

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, Ms. Kaylo. I have next on my list Mr. Bouchard.

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

Robert Bouchard

Robert Bouchard Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have a few questions here. First, I’ll just make a comment. I have heard good things about our parks from some of the tourists who come through. It’s good to see we continue to update those facilities. Obviously, Mr. Dolynny, I think yesterday or the day before, was talking about some of the access in springtime and fall time. I know that’s an O and M thing, but if we’re going to invest some capital into this thing then I think we need to open up some of those parks for a little bit longer in the springtime and a little bit longer in the fall time. Definitely an issue.

I guess my first question is, and I know the Minister is also the Minister of Justice and I know Justice built some big fences. We have a bunch of fencing in this cap

ital budget and I’m just wondering what’s the

concept behind building fences into parks. My fear is that we’re making them look like an institution as opposed to a park. I just see several projects on the fencing-type stuff and I wonder what the concept is and why we’re putting up a bunch more fence.

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. Bouchard. 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, Mr. Chairman. The fencing that Members will see is to protect assets first and foremost. We have put a number of fences in and we will have to continue to look at ways to ensure that our assets are protected and not left to be vandalized and potentially damaged. That’s why you see the expenditure for fencing.

On the extended parks season, I know the Member and I and other Members have had discussions about the possibility of extending the season, especially in the southern part of the Northwest Territories where we are seeing the milder weather into the end of September. This is something that I

think we’ll have to continue to have a look at how this can happen. There are some problems when freezing temperatures happen and the impact on our equipment like shower facilities, washroom facilities, and things of that nature. We have to take a look at this, and if there is a way to ensure that we can keep parks open longer, I think that’s something that going forward the department will certainly be looking at it.

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

Robert Bouchard

Robert Bouchard Hay River North

I think recently, within the last month or so, we had a public meeting and one of the discussions was about some of the park assets and some of the minor repairs that need to be done in the park. In parks in and around the Hay River area and the Twin Falls area, I’m just wondering: does the department have a consistent plan to do assessment in all its park facilities, and so on an annual basis we kind of look at what needs to be repaired and what needs to be replaced. As far as I know, we have a lot of wood structures, so rotting wood and stuff like that, especially in trip and fall areas such as walkways and stuff like that. Does the department have a maintenance program where they assess all the needs?

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, the department and the regions do a lot of work on looking at our infrastructure when the park season ends, cataloguing areas of concern, places where we need to look at making some investment and upgrading and looking at maintenance issues. This is done, and I know when you’re dealing with the travelling public and our residents using our parks, it’s very important that that work happen every year. We also have park officers and park staff who frequent the parks during the park season that are consistently bringing issues to our concern, and they can be addressed in a timely fashion.

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

Robert Bouchard

Robert Bouchard Hay River North

My next question is about the actual budget. It kind of indicates that all of the capital budget for ITI is under small capital projects. Can the Minister just remind what that level is? Is it $50,000, $100,000 that we have to be under in order for it to be a small capital project?

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

That would be between $50,000 and $400,000.

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

September 30th, 2015

Robert Bouchard

Robert Bouchard Hay River North

I’m just wondering: for future

considerations, do we have any major large capital projects over the next, let’s say, three years that we have currently slotted, or will we just continue to do small capital projects.

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

No, we don’t have any

large scale projects planned.

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. Ramsay. Committee, again, we’re on page 48, 49, and

50,

tourism

and

parks,

infrastructure

investments, $3.598 million. 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.