Debates of June 8th, 2016

This is page numbers 455-492 of the Hansard for the 18th Assembly, 2nd 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 communities.

Topics

Oral Questions

Prayer

Minister’s Statements 41-18(2): Energy Initiatives Of Public Works And Services

Minister’s Statement 42-18(2): Update On The Northwest Territories Power Corporation

Minister’s Statement 43-18(2): Northwest Territories Climate Change Strategic Framework

Minister’s Statement 44-18(2): Development Of The NWT Energy Plan

Need For Suitable, Adequate And Affordable Housing

Impact Of Migration On Homelessness In Yellowknife

Community Housing Development Plans

Addressing The Need For Affordable Rental Units

Self-Government Initiatives In The Sahtu

Employment Opportunities Relating To Housing Construction

Territorial Housing Issues

Economic Solutions To Reduce Need For Subsidized Housing

Ulukhaktok Arena Closure

Congratulations To Echo Dene School Graduates

Midwifery Services In The Northwest Territories

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Construction Schedule For Charles Tetcho School In Trout Lake

Northwest Territories Housing Corporation Communications Strategy

Improvements To Housing Corporation

Supporting Housing First Clients

Implementing The Deline Community Self-Government Agreement

Reducing The Need For Emergency Shelter Services

Costs Associated With Modular Homes

Midwifery Services

Responsibilities Associated With First Nations Housing

Ulukhaktok Arena Remediation

Replies to Budget Address

Tabled Document 56-18(2): Report Of The Northwest Territories Judicial Remuneration Commission 2016

Tabled Document 57-18(2): Northwest Territories State Of The Environment Report Highlights 2016

Tabled Document 58-18(2): North Slave Resiliency Study Final Report

Consideration in Committee of the Whole on Bills and Other Matters

Motion 30‑18(2): Tabled Document 50‑18(2) Main Estimates 2016‑2017 Environment And Natural Resources, Corporate Management Operations Expenditures (Pg. 87) Reinstatement Of Funding For Public Education Coordinator In Field Support Unit

Report of Committee of the Whole

Orders of the Day

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Ms. Craig.

Craig

Thank you, Mr. Chair. That is the reduction of one of our positions: the environmental protection officer in the North Slave. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Ms. Craig. Mr. Thompson.

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Could the Minister for the department please explain why they would reduce this position if environment is one of our priorities and, you know, it's important for the Northwest Territories? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Mr. Campbell.

Campbell

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The environmental protection officer in the North Slave was or is a vacant position, and during the reduction exercises, we targeted that position. There's no incumbent in there and the department has other officers that have similar training to our environmental protection officers and we feel that those officers can cover off this role in the North Slave. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Campbell. Mr. Thompson.

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I thank Mr. Campbell for his answer. Because I guess I was a little confused because when we looked at the reductions on the activities on page 93 for staff there's no reductions at all, so it is a vacancy. I thank him for that answer. Regarding grants and contributions, I noticed a reduction of $150,000. Can you explain the rationale for this reduction? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Ms. Craig.

Craig

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The $150,000 reduction is the biomass funding that we've been speaking of in Grants and Contributions. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Ms. Craig. Mr. Thompson.

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you. All these things for that one number, so it's quite interesting. Thanks. Contract services, I notice that there's a $343,000 reduction from the revised main estimates. Is there going to be less usage of contract services or what was the contract services used for? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Ms. Craig.

Craig

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, the division has looked at their contract services and have made adjustments to their internal budgets to reduce them. They will be performing those tasks more from within house with existing staff rather than contracting. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Ms. Craig. Mr. Thompson.

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

I'm good, thank you.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Further to page 91? Mr. O'Reilly.

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Mr. Chair. My colleague's questions about contaminated sites made me just wonder: is this sort of like a program where ENR is responsible for cleaning up or remediating all contaminated sites that are GNWT responsibility or are those broken up by the department that may own the land or caused the contamination in the first place? Or what's that money actually used for? I understand that ENR does have some expertise in terms of assessing sites and developing policy and so on, but how is the remediation cost actually split up among various departments? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Ms. Kelly.

Dr. Kelly

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The money that's in the budget here is for some positions who are looking at the planning and oversight from the contaminated sites and developing policies and procedures, and then flow some of the funding towards those contaminated sites there's the Environmental Liabilities Fund as well. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Ms. Kelly. Mr. O'Reilly.

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Mr. Chair, and I thank the department for their response. So that Environmental Liabilities Fund… I'm sorry; which department is that with? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Ms. Kelly.

Dr. Kelly

Thank you, Mr. Chair. It's with Finance.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Ms. Kelly. Mr. O'Reilly.

Debates of June 8th, 2016

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