Debates of Feb. 21st, 2017

This is page numbers 1837 – 1882 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 program.

Topics

Oral Questions

Prayer

Canada’s Top Employer Of Young People 2017

Small Community Employment Support Program

Electoral Reform

Naats'ihch'oh National Park Reserve

Aurora College Program Reductions

Coordination Of Anti-Poverty Initiatives

Recognition Of Jessie Loutit

Out-Migration From Small Communities

Maintenance Enforcement Collections

Air Quality Regulations

Lack Of Employment Opportunities In Mackenzie Delta Communities

Aurora College Teacher Education Program

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Support To Address Tragedies In Smaller Communities

Maintenance Enforcement Payments

Coordination Of Anti-Poverty Initiatives

Air Quality Regulations

Sahtu Land Use Planning

Aurora College Budget Reductions

Addressing Migration From Small Communities

Small Community Employment Fund

Reductions To Ferry Services On Peel And Mackenzie Rivers

Aurora College Performance Evaluation

Return To Written Question 15-18(2): Northwest Territories' Participation At The Association Of Mineral Exploration Bc Roundup In January 2017

Return To Written Question 16-18(2): Cabinet's November 2106 Trip To Ottawa

Petition 5-18(2): Funding To Aurora College

Tabled Document 288-18(2): Government Of The Northwest Territories Response To Motion 26-18(2): Junior Kindergarten

Tabled Document 291-18(2): List Of Northwest Territories Ministers And Staff Who Attended One Or More Events Associated With The Northwest Territories Mission To Ottawa, November 2016

Tabled Document 294-18(2): Letter From Chris Westwell, Regarding Proposed Budget Cuts To Aurora College

Tabled Document 296-18(2): Pension Administration Report - Retiring Allowances Act And Supplementary Retirement Allowances Act, Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly, March 31, 2016

Extended Adjournment Of The House To February 28, 2017

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Tabled Document 261-18(2): Main Estimates 2017-2018, Infrastructure, Deferral Of Corporate Management Activity

Tabled Document 261-18(2): Main Estimates 2017-2018, Infrastructure, Deferral Of Programs And Services Activity

Tabled Document 261-18(2): Main Estimates 2017-2018, Infrastructure, Deferral Of Regional Operations Activity

Tabled Document 261-18(2): Main Estimates 2017-2018, Infrastructure, Deferral Of Further Consideration Of The Estimates For The Department Of Infrastructure

Report of Committee of the Whole

Orders of the Day

Committee Motion 58-18(2): Tabled Document 261-18(2): Main Estimates 2017-2018, Infrastructure, Deferral Of Regional Operations Activity, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Neudorf. Mr. Vanthuyne.

Cory Vanthuyne Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you to the department for the answer. I noticed that in the previous category that we just discussed, work on behalf of others, there is the baggage handling, I think, that we did for a certain amount of money, $93,000 or what have you. We have it here as well, Yellowknife Airport hold baggage system for $127,000. Can we get an explanation from the department what that is, please?

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Vanthuyne. Mr. Neudorf.

February 21st, 2017

Neudorf

Thank you, Mr. Chair. On page 247, the whole baggage system there, that is money that we get from the airlines themselves and it is to facilitate the operation of the baggage system. So sometimes that baggage system will jam up and we will need to send some people in to get that unjammed, and so we have a contract with our janitorial staff in order to do that. So that is on 248; and on 222, the $127,000 is actually the operating cost to run the NAV CANADA portion of that baggage system, so all of the bags that are picked up at the counter, go behind the system, go through the various security checks of CATSA, and they pay a portion of the operating costs for that baggage system; that is what is reported on this page. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Neudorf. Mr. Vanthuyne.

Cory Vanthuyne Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Under airports landing and other fees, of course we see what I am going to assume is the proposed revenue generated from a user fee that makes this pot increase by $10 million this year. Maybe I will start first by getting clarification: is my assumption correct? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Vanthuyne. Minister.

Wally Schumann Hay River South

Yes, that is correct. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Minister. Mr. Vanthuyne.

Cory Vanthuyne Yellowknife North

Okay, thank you. Previous to that, in 2016-17 on the same line item, we show a considerable jump from $3.6 million into 2016-17 to $6 million and then, of course, back down to $3 million last year. Can I get some explanation from the department on what the up-and-down is there? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Vanthuyne. Mr. Neudorf.

Neudorf

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Historically the number in that line item has been between $3 million and $3.5 million, so assume a base of $3.1 million in 2016-17. So when we brought forward the Yellowknife Airport Revolving Fund Initiative we were planning on $3 million incremental revenue in 2016-17 and then $7 million in 2017-18, an additional $7 million to get to $10 million. With deferral of the start of that, you will see the revised main estimate go down to $3.1 million. So we took that $3 million out of 2016-17 and added all the $10 million into 2017-18. I would note that we will carry forward this session, we will have the discussion of the revolving fund, and if we are going ahead with that then we will need to come back to FMB with an adjustment. There will be a number of adjustments that are required to the main estimates in order to properly reflect what is going to be the accounting for the revolving fund and the Yellowknife Airport. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Neudorf. Mr. Vanthuyne.

Cory Vanthuyne Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I appreciate the explanation. Thank you. Permits and registrations, we see an increase of nearly $1 million from the year previous. I would just like to ask: how do we generate this kind of revenue? What is permits and registrations -- and a broad answer is fine -- and for what reasons did it jump by $1 million? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Vanthuyne. Mr. Neudorf.

Neudorf

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Permits and registrations are the revenues that we would collect from individuals and from commercial carriers to register vehicles and then to issue permits for commercial vehicles in particular to operate on the highway system. The number is going up by $900,000 because we are undertaking an initiative now to look at our fees and bring some of those fees, particularly related to commercial carriers, more in line with southern Canada, and Alberta in particular. Our numbers when we did the analysis here show that by doing that we could generate an additional $900,000 a year in revenue. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Neudorf. Mr. Vanthuyne.

Cory Vanthuyne Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I think those are all the questions I have at this time. Thank you.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Vanthuyne. Anything further to total department or the revenue summary, active position summary? Mr. Beaulieu.

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I move that committee defer further consideration.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

As a technicality, I will call this department and then you may proceed with your motion. Department of Infrastructure, total department, $240,419,000. Does committee agree? Mr. Beaulieu.

Committee Motion 59-18(2): Tabled Document 261-18(2): Main Estimates 2017-2018, Infrastructure, Deferral Of Further Consideration Of The Estimates For The Department Of Infrastructure, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Thanks, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I move that committee defer further consideration of the estimates for the Department of Infrastructure at this time. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. There is a motion on the floor. The motion is being distributed.

Some Hon. Members

Question

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Question has been called. The motion is in order and non-debatable. All those in favour? All those opposed?

---Carried

We will defer the consideration of this department. What is the wish of committee, Mr. Beaulieu?

Debates of Feb. 21st, 2017

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