This is page numbers 6659 - 6698 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 disabilities.

Topics

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Kalgutkar

Thank you, Madam Chair. The department has $2.5 million in incentive money to do some tenant improvements on the YK Centre and they got to receive that money in May 2014, so it's reported in our '14-15 Public Accounts. This appropriation is for the department to get the authority to start spending that money and undertake those renovations. Thank you.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Daryl Dolynny

Daryl Dolynny Range Lake

So, what we've heard today from the assistant deputy minister is that $2.5 million, not $1.5 million, was deposited in our public accounts in May of 2014. Now we're looking for an appropriation to spend $1.5 million. Where is the remaining of this money and where was it spent? Thank you.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Kalgutkar

The remaining $1 million is in the 2016-17 Capital Estimates.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Daryl Dolynny

Daryl Dolynny Range Lake

So it's safe to assume that that $1 million that was in last year's main estimates were spent directly on the YK Centre tenant improvements? Thank you.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Kalgutkar

That $1 million is in the 2016-17 Capital Estimates, so it won't be spent until the next fiscal year.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Daryl Dolynny

Daryl Dolynny Range Lake

So now we've got $1 million that won't be spent until next year and we're looking at an appropriation for the remaining $1.5 million to be spent in that same year. Is that the understanding? Thank you.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Kalgutkar

Thank you. The $1.5 million will be spent this fiscal year.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Daryl Dolynny

Daryl Dolynny Range Lake

Now the story is starting to be a little bit clearer. So we've got $1 million that's destined to be spent next year, we're trying to spend $1.5 million this year for tenant improvements. This is money that we've had in our public coffers since May of 2014. Is this money accruing any type of interest? Where is it parked exactly? Thank you.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Kalgutkar

The money was deposited into our Consolidated Revenue Fund and depending on what the value of the fund was at the time the money was deposited, it's uncertain whether it was earning interest or not. Given that we are in a cash deficit position, I would assume that it's reducing our interest costs. Thank you.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Daryl Dolynny

Daryl Dolynny Range Lake

So, with the $1.5 million that we have before us right now, what is the intention of this money to be spent on during this fiscal year? Thank you.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Kalgutkar

I think the main intent is to proceed with the tenant agreements at the YK Centre. I believe it's the third floor for the financial shared services offices.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Kalgutkar. Mr. Aumond.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Aumond

Thank you, Madam Chair. Mr. Kalgutkar said it's for the third. It's also for the fourth floors of the YK Centre where the Department of Transportation used to be. They moved from YK Centre to the new office building and that space is going to be refitted up for GNWT clients who will occupy that building. Thank you.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Aumond. Mr. Dolynny.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Daryl Dolynny

Daryl Dolynny Range Lake

Thank you, Madam Chair. When is the anticipated date of completion for these renovations pursuant to the $1.5 million we have before us 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

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Aumond

The $1.5 million in addition to the $1 million is for the same project. It's just over the two fiscal years and should be completed sometime in the 2016-17 fiscal year. Thank you.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Daryl Dolynny

Daryl Dolynny Range Lake

Because I may not be here to see the completion of this project, by what proof or performance guaranteed where 18th Assembly Regular Members are able to follow this spending and making sure that indeed the government is compliant with all the terms and conditions to the overall $2.5 million given to us? Thank you.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. Mr. Kalgutkar.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Kalgutkar

Thank you, Madam Chair. The first $1.5 million will show up in our '15-16 Public Accounts. Funding that's carried over from that $1.5 million, the Assembly of the day will see it in the capital carry-overs and the total project will be accounted for in the '16-17 Public Accounts. Thank you.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Kalgutkar. Mr. Dolynny.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Daryl Dolynny

Daryl Dolynny Range Lake

Thank you, Madam Chair. I appreciate the answer. It was more the accounting aspect of the question. I guess the real question is: By what mechanism do we have to guarantee that those monies that we have are given to us, $2.5 million in total, will be spent at the YK Centre building itself and not be used for any other project or projects within our Public Works and Services? Again, by what way are we able to guarantee that this money is being spent where the money was given to?

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. Mr. Aumond.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Aumond

Thank you, Madam Chair. The inducement of the $2.5 million is part of the lease that we have with the landlord, and so our accountability around that would be in the lease with the landlord, who will be undertaking the inducements, presumably, on behalf of the GNWT.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

October 5th, 2015

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Daryl Dolynny

Daryl Dolynny Range Lake

Were there any caveats to that $2.5 million in total in terms of performance, if we weren't able to perform our duties to use that money wisely or efficiently or effectively to the betterment of the YK Centre improvement? Were there any caveats that that money would go back to the landlord?

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Aumond

The caveat, in the Member's terms, are with the provisions of the lease. It has to be spent on the landlord's properties. If not the YK Centre, it could be spent on another property that we would lease from the landlord. But the landlord will be undertaking and managing those inducements, so the landlord will be in a very good position to know if we're spending the money on his property or not.