This is page numbers 6259 – 6290 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 work.

Topics

Wendy Bisaro

Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake

Thanks, Mr. Chair, and thanks to Mr. Kalgutkar. That does explain why this is here. I guess it would have helped if there was an explanation that it was offset by funding which we already had in the bank. Thank you.

The Chair

The Chair Robert Bouchard

Committee, we are on asset management, not previously authorized… Sorry, Mr. Bromley.

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just want to follow up on my colleagues with regard to the new general purpose facility in Yellowknife. I know we’ve had a lot of discussions on getting territorial art into that building and coming up with a policy. Can I get confirmation that indeed the policy is in place and that this building will be, where appropriate, studded with NWT art as per the policy?

The Chair

The Chair Robert Bouchard

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Minister of Public Works and Services, Mr. Beaulieu.

Tom Beaulieu

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Where it is possible to hang art in our new buildings, we will do that. We have been working with the NWT Arts Society. You are seeing some of the screens with the art on them at the airport here and in the main office building in Inuvik. So we’ll continue working with them to put what’s appropriate up in that new building.

Bob Bromley

Bob Bromley Weledeh

I appreciate the Minister’s response. I wonder if committee could be provided with an inventory of the art and the space in the building, the wall space or whatever, floor space, dedicated to the display of art in the facility according to the new policy.

Tom Beaulieu

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe

I will have the department provide that information to the committee.

The Chair

The Chair Robert Bouchard

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Committee, we are on asset management, not previously authorized, $7.412 million.

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

The Chair

The Chair Robert Bouchard

Energy, not previously authorized, $179,000.

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

The Chair

The Chair Robert Bouchard

Technology Service Centre, not previously authorized, $1.414 million.

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

The Chair

The Chair Robert Bouchard

Total department, not previously authorized, $9.005 million.

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

The Chair

The Chair Robert Bouchard

Next we are on Department of Transportation, capital investment expenditures, airports, not previously authorized, $2.780 million.

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

The Chair

The Chair Robert Bouchard

Highways, not previously authorized, $6.414 million. Ms. Bisaro.

Wendy Bisaro

Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have a question here with regard to the Inuvik Tuk Highway. It’s almost $5 million and it is a carry-over. I understand that. It’s my recollection we had an extended discussion in the House about advancing money for this project. So I’d like to get an explanation as to why this project is seemingly behind, perhaps, where we are in terms of completion of this project, are we going to be finished on schedule, why it is that we are lapsing $5 million from last year’s construction season. Thank you.

The Chair

The Chair Robert Bouchard

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Mr. Kalgutkar.

Kalgutkar

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Member is correct; it is a lapse, but the department did fall about seven to 13 kilometres of where they had targeted to be completed in terms of the 2014-15 construction season. The key reason for that is they had some warm weather conditions that delayed some of the construction work. Thank you.

The Chair

The Chair Robert Bouchard

Thank you, Mr. Kalgutkar. Ms. Bisaro.

Wendy Bisaro

Wendy Bisaro Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I’m not quite sure how to follow that. I am having a very hard time reconciling that we advanced $20 million and now we’re lapsing $5 million.

The other part of my question is what impact is this going to have on the schedule for completion of the highway? I don’t think I heard an answer to that. Thank you.

The Chair

The Chair Robert Bouchard

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Minister Miltenberger.

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The project was advanced $40 million. The project still intends to hit the timelines and construction schedule that was laid out.

I will ask Minister Beaulieu if he wants to add anything further, with your concurrence, Mr. Chair.