Thanks, Mr. Chair. I guess I just want to add my voice to my colleague about phasing in of rates or fees rather than trying to do it all at once. I think that it will have greater public acceptance. Thanks, Mr. Chair.
Debates of June 23rd, 2016
This is page numbers 763-836 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 mr chair.
Topics
Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
The Chair R.J. Simpson
Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. More of a comment. Would the Minister like to respond?
Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
The Chair R.J. Simpson
Thank you, Minister. Anything further from Mr. O'Reilly? Seeing nothing further, Mr. McNeely.
Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Daniel McNeely Sahtu
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just looking at the transfer payments there from the federal government in the upper page category there. And I'm looking at particularly the -- it's probably a one-time contribution here of $319 in the last fiscal year for the permafrost research study in the Inuvik section area. Is there any current study dollars there for the next phase, the next proposed project investment there, the Norman Wells/Wrigley Highway section? Preconstruction study dollars, if you want to call it that, Mr. Chair.
Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Neudorf
Thank you, Mr. Chair. The money referred to here was for some one-time funding that we received from Transport Canada. It was to construct a couple of test sections on the Inuvik-Tuk Highway, test sections so that we can test some different construction techniques and how they perform in areas with permafrost.
As the Member had indicated, we do continue to also promote the next section of the Mackenzie Valley Highway, the section from Wrigley to Norman Wells. We have a proposal in with the federal government, a business case for that for $700 million to construct that section. We're really still in the early stages talking about the financing of it. We would hope that, you know, if we do get a positive signal, that part of what we would be doing there is of course ensuring that we're protecting the permafrost as much as we can during construction. Then looking for whatever opportunities there are to do some addition research as well, but that will come later. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Daniel McNeely Sahtu
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Is there current applications from this government to the federal government for those types of preconstruction studies in that Wrigley/Norman Wells section? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Neudorf
Thank you, Mr. Chair. We're looking for whatever opportunities might exist related to continuing to promote the Mackenzie Valley Highway. As I indicated before, we do have a $700 million proposal for construction. That's obviously a significant ask, and so it will take some time for the federal government to respond.
In the meantime, we have submitted the project description report to start the environmental assessment, that is underway but is slowed down a little bit because we need to do some additional studies, additional engineering, environmental studies and we're looking for funding to obtain that as well. Finally we do have a bit of a demonstration project I guess to start Mackenzie Valley Highway from Normal Wells south to Canyon Creek, about a $20 million project that we're pursuing underneath the Building Canada Plan and the funding that we have there. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
The Chair R.J. Simpson
Thank you, Mr. Neudorf. Nothing further from Mr. McNeely.
Question on page 406? Mr. Nakimayak.
Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Herbert Nakimayak Nunakput
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, my question is for the line of the new highway corridor, Planning Infrastructure Canada. And maybe the line below that as well too, the Inuvialuit implementation Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk Highway. My question to the Minister is are there plans to… like the opening of the highway is going to be a big thing, it's not just for Canada, but for North America as well too, we're connecting coast to coast to coast -- and I'm just curious if there's any plans for the GNWT to work alongside with Inuvialuit and the federal government on plans for the opening of the highway in preparation? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Wally Schumann Hay River South
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, the department is working with the federal government on that exact thing. As the federal government's contributed two-thirds to this project, I'm sure they're going to want to be a part of this grand opening and make sure everything is in place to celebrate it. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
June 23rd, 2016
Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Herbert Nakimayak Nunakput
Yes, just one more comment to that, Mr. Chair. I encourage the Minister to work with myself, Inuvialuit and the federal government as we move closer to this as it'll become a big logistical project as we move closer towards the opening. I appreciate the comments, thanks.
Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Wally Schumann Hay River South
Yes, I'd like to also just let the Member know that as things move along we'll keep him informed how things are progress on this. So thank you, Mr. Chair.
Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
The Chair R.J. Simpson
Thank you, Minister. Further comments or questions on page 406, revenue summary? Mr. McNeely.
Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Daniel McNeely Sahtu
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Further down the page there on 406, total permits, looking at the three sets of numbers across the board here, 3.9, 3.9, 3.9 again, and back in 2014-15, 4.4. Are those numbers related to the total revenues going across the Deh Cho Bridge? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Wally Schumann Hay River South
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Those are for the Deh Cho Bridge. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Daniel McNeely Sahtu
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Are those numbers consistent with the projects that were originally submitted? Thank you, Mr. Chair.