Debates of Sept. 25th, 2017

This is page numbers 2705 – 2744 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
Update On NWT Climate Change Strategic Framework
Investing In Diversity
2017 Wildland Fire Season
Project Assessment Policy
Aurora College Foundational Review
Government Of The Northwest Territories Human Resources
One-Year Anniversary Of Gahcho Kue Mine
Federal Small Business Tax Changes
Lands Integrated Risk‑based Strategic Plan
Hay River Reserve Housing Issues
Safe Houses For Victims Of Domestic Violence
Physical Literacy Theme For 2017 NWT Literacy Week
Support For Aboriginal Sport And Athletes
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Acknowledgment 28-18(2): Passing Of Gordon Lennie
North American Indigenous Games
Aurora College Foundational Review
Lands Project Assessment Policy
Federal Small Business Tax Changes
Impacts Of GNWT Employee Layoffs
Hay River Reserve Housing Issues
Question 872-(18)2: North Slave Correctional Centre Perimeter Fencing
Safe Houses For Victims Of Family Violence
Aurora College Foundational Review
Lands Integrated Risk-Based Strategic Plan
Small Community Employment Support Program
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Report of Committee of the Whole
Orders of the Day

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Frederick Blake Jr.

Frederick Blake Jr. Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just going to the formula funding, I know I remember when this was called the new deal, and I remember that because it was when I first got into leadership. Comparing that to the way things used to operate before that, this is the 10th year that we are operating like this, and I am always hopeful that it continues because of the opportunities we give the communities.

I have seen the benefits first-hand. If you go to all the communities, now there are projects happening all over the place. It creates a lot of employment, as well. I am just hopeful that we could keep this program continuing the way it does. It puts a lot of power into the community and council as well, because the council is the one that does know what the community needs. They all work together with the community to ensure that they have the capital projects in the communities. We have seen the Hamlet of Fort McPherson build a new building a few years back and possibly looking into an arena and other things that the communities need. It is great to see all the residents really thankful for that as well.

I just want to always remind the government of all of the positive things that this fund does. I would not want to see this structure come to an end. I will always make it a habit of encouraging our government to stay the course on this and make it a long-term project. Hopefully it lasts another 10 years or more. Thank you.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Daniel McNeely

Thank you, Mr. Blake. Minister Cochrane.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Caroline Cochrane

Caroline Cochrane Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I want to acknowledge that, yes, it has been 10 years, actually, since we have done the new deal. It is almost time to call it an old deal, but I do not want to bring the connotations with that. Until we actually look at how we are going to address the funding gap, then I can commit that things will stay status quo until we have a solid plan of how we are going to address it. 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

The Chair

The Chair Daniel McNeely

Thank you, Minister Cochrane. Anything further, Mr. Blake?

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Frederick Blake Jr.

Frederick Blake Jr. Mackenzie Delta

That did not sound too promising. You know, as I mentioned, it is a positive program that we have here. The longer we could keep this going, the better it is for our communities. As the Minister visits around, she, too, will notice. She opened a facility in Fort McPherson, I believe it was last year, and a new shop that they built on budget. That is the main thing, and hopefully projects like this continue through the years. Thank you.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Daniel McNeely

Thank you, Mr. Blake. Minister Cochrane.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Caroline Cochrane

Caroline Cochrane Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Like we said, we are looking at leveraging the federal monies for infrastructure and then addressing the communities with deficits in them. I do want to stress that Municipal and Community Affairs is about community development and self-determination. The new deal, actually, whatever Minister put that in 10 years ago, in my opinion, did a great job. 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

The Chair

The Chair Daniel McNeely

Thank you, Minister Cochrane. Mr. Vanthuyne.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Cory Vanthuyne

Cory Vanthuyne Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just a few quick questions. The department accepts annual capital plans from each of the communities, and I am sure that in some instances, the department is very hands-on in helping provide assistance to help them build those capital plans.

First of all, these might be a little bit technical in nature, but along with building and developing those capital plans, are each of the communities responsible for developing an asset management plan so that they can track the life cycle costing of the investments that their capital plan is making? 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

The Chair

The Chair Daniel McNeely

Thank you, Mr. Vanthuyne. Minister Cochrane.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Caroline Cochrane

Caroline Cochrane Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, it is important for all of the communities to actually do the Asset Management Strategy. It is a requirement under the Federal Gas Tax Fund. We are right now piloting 10 communities with the Asset Management Strategy. 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

The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister Cochrane. Mr. Vanthuyne.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Cory Vanthuyne

Cory Vanthuyne Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Is that 10 in addition to a number of them that do this already? How many communities in total do we have that provide asset management plans? 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

The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. Vanthuyne. Minister Cochrane.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Caroline Cochrane

Caroline Cochrane Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The federal government actually gave money to the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs to develop an Asset Management Strategy checklist for communities. The 10 that we're doing is total 10 for this time. We're just starting that, so each year we'll be doing more, but our goal is to have all communities implement it because it is a requirement from the federal government. 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

The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister Cochrane. Mr. Vanthuyne.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Cory Vanthuyne

Cory Vanthuyne Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Chair. That's positive news; I'm happy to hear that. I know it's a critical tool to help communities identify their infrastructure gaps, so that leads me to my next question: having a number of these communities not have asset management plans, are we aware of each community's actual infrastructure gap? If we are, how have we determined that without an asset management plan? 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

The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. Vanthuyne. Minister Cochrane.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Caroline Cochrane

Caroline Cochrane Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'll let the deputy minister, Eleanor Young, address that answer.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister Cochrane. Ms. Young.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Young

Thank you, Mr. Chair. As part of the funding review that we did in partnership with the NWT Association of Communities, we developed a 25-year needs assessment on all core infrastructure for all communities and looked at working with their insurance program. We also looked at when all of that infrastructure would require key investments, replacement, or retrofit, and that was how we developed the current estimate of the $23 million a year shortfall currently. Again, that's not counting the phase 1 infrastructure funding, but that is how that number was developed, was we used core infrastructure for all communities where its investment was required and then developed that infrastructure deficit analysis.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Ms. Young. Mr. Vanthuyne.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Cory Vanthuyne

Cory Vanthuyne Yellowknife North

That's great. Thank you for that information in reply to that question; that's insightful. I guess I'll stem off of the capital plan to ask about communities' energy plans.

Every community energy plan has an infrastructure component to it. My question is: are any of the communities' energy plans included in their annual capital plan needs? For example, if they've identified that their community government office needs to replace their traditional boiler with a pellet boiler, is that identified as part of their capital plan? 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

The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. Vanthuyne. Ms. Young.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Young

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, starting this year we're -- I should backtrack for a second. Every year when we get a community's capital plan we do what's called a peer review, and that is how we've been feeding information back to the community about energy considerations, climate change considerations, and things of that nature. Starting this year, we've actually changed it so that we have a checklist that as we do the capital plan review with the community we will check the discussion on each of those items off as we go through the capital plan review so that it's done as they develop the capital plan instead of feedback after they've developed the capital plan. That's how we intend to address that starting this year, moving forward. Thank you, Mr. Chair.