Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have heard time and time again about these two programs: rather than cut them, why don't we fix them? I think, moving forward in the direction that we are taking as a government, we are going to sit down with Aurora College and look at the two programs that were in question. We are going to see how we can fix them. We will work with our staff to make sure that we do provide quality education that is efficient and effective for our students, but that is going to come with the review as we move forward. We are going to be working with committee to get their input on the next steps. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Debates of March 3rd, 2017
This is page numbers 2165 – 2190 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
Question 690-18(2): Reinstatement Of Aurora College Program Funding
Oral Questions
Question 690-18(2): Reinstatement Of Aurora College Program Funding
Oral Questions
The Speaker Jackson Lafferty
Masi. Oral questions. Item 8, written question. Item 9, returns to written questions. Item 10, replies to Commissioner's opening address. Item 11, petitions. Item 12, reports of standing and special committees. Item 13, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 14, tabling of documents. Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment.
Tabled Document 314-18(2): Northwest Territories Agricultural Strategy - The Business Of Food: A Food Production Plan 2017-2022
Tabling of Documents
Wally Schumann Hay River South
Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document entitled "Northwest Territories Agricultural Strategy - The Business of Food: A Food Production Plan 2017-2022." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Tabled Document 314-18(2): Northwest Territories Agricultural Strategy - The Business Of Food: A Food Production Plan 2017-2022
Tabling of Documents
Tabled Document 317-18(2): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 1, 2017-2018
Tabling of Documents
Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following three documents entitled "Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2016-2017," "Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 2, 2016-2017," and "Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 1, 2017-2018." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Tabled Document 317-18(2): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 1, 2017-2018
Tabling of Documents
Tabled Document 318-18(2): Follow-Up Letter For Oral Question 577-18(2): Prescription Drug Monitoring Program.
Tabling of Documents
Glen Abernethy Great Slave
Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document entitled "Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 577-18(2): Prescription Drug Monitoring Program." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Tabled Document 318-18(2): Follow-Up Letter For Oral Question 577-18(2): Prescription Drug Monitoring Program.
Tabling of Documents
Tabled Document 319-18(2): Text Of Letter To Prime Minister And Premiers From Smart Prosperity Canada
Tabling of Documents
Julie Green Yellowknife Centre
Mr. Speaker, I would like to table the following document, a November 23, 2016 letter from participants in the Smart Prosperity Canada Initiative, in which corporate officers of 16 major Canadian firms and organizations called upon the Prime Minister to introduce carbon pricing. Thank you.
Tabled Document 319-18(2): Text Of Letter To Prime Minister And Premiers From Smart Prosperity Canada
Tabling of Documents
The Speaker Jackson Lafferty
Masi. Tabling of documents. Item 15, notices of motion. Item 16, notices of motion for first reading of bills. Item 17, motions. Item 18, first reading of bills. Item 19, second reading of bills. Item 20, consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters, Bill 7, An Act to Amend the Revolving Funds Act; Bill 13, Marriage Act; Committee Report 6-18(2), Report on the Review of Bill 7: An Act to Amend the Revolving Funds Act; Committee Report 7-18(2), Report on the Review of the Members’ Conduct Guidelines; Tabled Document 261-18(2), Northwest Territories Main Estimates, 2017-2018, with the Member for Hay River North in the chair.
Consideration in 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
I will now call Committee of the Whole to order. What is the wish of committee? Mr. Beaulieu.
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, committee wishes to continue considering Tabled Document 261-18(2), Northwest Territories Main Estimates, 2017-2018 with the Speaker for the Legislative Assembly. Also, Mr. Chairman, the committee wishes to return to all of the departments that were deferred during our main estimates review. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Consideration in 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, committee. We will consider the document after a recess.
---SHORT RECESS
Consideration in 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
I will now call Committee of the Whole back to order. Committee, we have agreed to consider Tabled Document 261-18(2): Main Estimates 2017-2018, the Legislative Assembly. The Legislative Assembly begins on page 1 of the main estimates document. As always, I will turn to Mr. Speaker for any opening comments. Mr. Speaker.
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Jackson Lafferty Monfwi
Masi, Mr. Chair. These are 2017-2018 Estimates for the Legislative Assembly. The Assembly is seeking out operating expenditures for corporations of $19,336,000 for 2017-18. This represents a zero per cent change from 2016-2017 Main Estimates. There was a 4.8 per cent decrease from actual expenditures in the 2015-16 fiscal year. Although we are proposing no change in the level of funding for our 2017-18 budget, there are a number of significant initiatives that our Legislative Assembly is planning to undertake.
In the upcoming fiscal year, the Legislative Assembly will establish an independent commission. This is a very important undertaking, as this commission will review Members’ benefits and allowances to determine the adequacy and appropriateness of how Members are compensated. It also supports our objectives of transparency, accountability, and fiscal responsibility. We will also be providing funding to some independent offices, such as the Human Rights Commission, so they can continue their important work of representing and advocating for the rights of our citizens.
Additionally, we are injecting high, much-needed funding into improving our communications. It is critical that this Legislative Assembly keep pace with technology in order to effectively reach all peoples of the Northwest Territories, regardless of where they reside or how they connect with the Legislative Assembly. This will require having in-house technical expertise to oversee and manage the various systems that we rely on to communicate, and upgrading or replacing these systems as needed.
In order to go forward with these initiatives in the upcoming fiscal year, we are proposing $44,000 in reductions, and sunsets of $550,000 to offset these costs. As I did in the last budget, I can once again assure Members that these estimates support our Legislative Assembly’s goals of achieving operational efficiency and limiting expenditures’ growth in order to support the fiscal objectives of our government.
In closing, I want to thank all the Members, my colleagues on the Board of Management, and the Assembly staff for the contributions, efforts, and working towards these main estimates, and to continue efficient operations and delivery of quality services for the Legislative Assembly. Mr. Chair, this concludes my opening remarks. I am pleased to respond to any questions the Members may have.
Consideration in 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. Speaker. Do you have witnesses you would like to bring into the Chamber? Thank you. Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses into the Chamber. Mr. Speaker, if would you please introduce your witnesses to the committee.
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Jackson Lafferty Monfwi
Masi. To my right, I have Tim Mercer, clerk of the Legislative Assembly. To my left, Darrin Ouellette, director of corporate services.
Consideration in 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. Speaker. We will begin with opening comments. Do we have any general comments from committee? Seeing none, we will proceed to consider the activities before the full department. The first activity can be found on page 9, expenditures on behalf of Members. Do you have comments or questions on this activity found on pages 8 and 9? Seeing none, I will call this activity. Legislative Assembly, expenditures on behalf of Members, operations expenditure summary, total activity, $8,379,000. Does committee agree?
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Consideration in 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, committee. Moving on to activity 2 of 5, office of the Chief Electoral Officer, $641,000. This is found on pages 10 to 12. Do you have comments or questions? Seeing none, I will call this activity. Legislative Assembly, office of the Chief Electoral Officer, operations expenditure summary, total activity, $641,000. Does committee agree?
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Consideration in 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, committee. Moving on to office of the clerk, activity 3 of 5. This is on pages 13 to 15. Do you have comments or questions on the office of the clerk? Seeing none, I will call this activity. Legislative Assembly, office of the clerk, operations expenditure summary, total activity, $7,906,000. Does committee agree?
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.