Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I am here to provide comments on the GNWT’s Capital Estimates, 2018-2019.
The Capital Estimates, 2018-2019, total $261 million, which includes $27 million for community infrastructure investments and $24 million for NWT Housing Corporation projects.
As in previous years, the Capital Estimates, 2018-2019 do not include appropriations for housing infrastructure proposed by the NWT Housing Corporation in 2018-2019. The appropriation for all these investments will be sought during the Legislative Assembly’s review of the 2018-2019 Main Estimates. However, the NWT Housing Corporation’s Capital Plan, 2018-2019 is included in the Capital Estimates as an information item.
Major highlights include:
• $115 million for highways, winter roads, bridges, and culverts. This includes funding of $67 million for the Tlicho all-season road project and $30 million for Building Canada Plan projects;
• $44 million for health facility replacements, renovations, and equipment, including funding of $30.1 million for the Stanton Territorial Hospital Renewal project;
• $27.2 million to continue to provide funding to community governments for their infrastructure needs;
• $13.6 million for new and enhanced information technology functionality and upgrades;
• $10.7 million for new education facilities and renovations to existing facilities; and
• $8.8 million for deferred maintenance and energy upgrades to existing GNWT assets.
In addition to the capital funding provided to community governments from the GNWT, in 2018-2019 community governments will also be receiving $16 million in Gas Tax funding and $20.4 million from the Clean Water and Waste Water Fund.
Including the funding that is going to community governments, total infrastructure spending in the NWT for 2018-2019 is therefore estimated to be approximately $349 million.
That concludes my opening remarks, Mr. Chair. I would be pleased to answer any questions committee members may have. Thank you.