Thanks, Mr. Chair. Yes, I think this is actually in big caps that Yellowknife needs a new visitors centre, so I look forward to the Minister bringing forward the supplementary appropriation or to start some sort of a planning process on this ASAP. The talk on this has been going on for far too long. That is a comment, and I do not expect a response from the Minister because I have not really gotten one so far. Thanks. Bye.
Debates of Sept. 26th, 2017
This is page numbers 2745 - 2784 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
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

The Chair R.J. Simpson
Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. There are no further general comments for the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment, so we can move into consideration. We will defer consideration of the total until we look at the detail contained within. If you would, turn to page 39 and the associated information items which you can find on pages 40, 41, and 42. Mr. Testart, comments on Tourism and Parks?
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Kieron Testart Kam Lake
Yes, thank you. I would like to ask the Minister: what is the plan for the Prelude Lake Territorial Park boat launch replacement? My understanding is that both the marina and the boat launch have been ongoing for some time. I would like to know when this work will be completed. 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 R.J. Simpson
Thank you, Mr. Testart. I would ask Members to reference a page if they are speaking to a specific item. Minister.
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
September 26th, 2017

Wally Schumann Hay River South
Thank you, Mr. Chair. This project is going to be ongoing to 2019-2020. 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

Kieron Testart Kam Lake
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I do see that here. There have been delays in this work previously. Is it smooth sailing ahead, or are we going to continue to see delays on this project? Thank you.
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

Wally Schumann Hay River South
Thank you, Mr. Chair. The first phase of Prelude Lake Marina was completed and opened in July of 2017. The planning phase has begun to replace the aging Prelude Lake boat launch and to expand the parking lot at Prosperous Lake in preparation for the 2018-2019 construction season. It is expected to be completed and ready for the season opening in 2018. Also, the Prelude boat launch will be built based on engineers' recommendations, and capital funds have been allocated towards this project for 2018-2019 and 2019-2020. The intention is to build a temporary single boat launch off the end of the water break and to do the work late in the season, when the boat launch is not so busy. 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 R.J. Simpson
Thank you, Minister. Nothing further? I see nothing further from committee on this section. 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 Yellowknife North
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I would like to refer to page 41 and, in particular, the Prosperous boat launch refurbishment. I wonder if the Minister does not mind providing some additional detail there, as well, as to what that project is going to undertake and look like. 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

Wally Schumann Hay River South
The scope of this project would require design options to mitigate the issue of low water levels at the boat launch, the parking area will need to be expanded and defined to accommodate more vehicles, and a new location for a boat launch will be needed to be identified. 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

Cory Vanthuyne Yellowknife North
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just for a point of clarification, when you say relocation of the boat launch, is that simply due to low water level issues, or is that maintaining the boat launch that is already there and adding an additional boat launch? The reason why I ask is because that is the primary concern at that boat launch, is that there is only one and that there is a line-up of vehicles with boats and boat trailers waiting to get access to the one and only boat launch. The question is: will there be an investment to either widen the existing boat launch or create another separate area to create another brand-new boat launch? 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

Wally Schumann Hay River South
Thank you, Mr. Chair. This boat launch has gotten a lot of attention as of late. I think what we are trying to do is go in there, have the engineering people have a look at this, do the design work, and look at possibly moving this boat launch. I think we will have to get back to the Member on exactly what is going to happen moving forward after the engineering is completed. 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

Cory Vanthuyne Yellowknife North
Thank you, Mr. Chair. That is appreciated; so (a) I would just like to get conformation that we are still kind of in the design phase of this; and then (b) I would just like to remind the Minister that the recreational land use planning consultations took place some time ago. Many residents up and down the Ingraham Trail as well as recreational users of this particular lake did outline that primary concern, and that was that, because of the size of this lake and the usage of this lake -- it is a very popular lake and during weekends, long weekends especially -- it is nothing but a massive line-up to get access to the one and only boat launch, so I am just hoping that we can either expand the width of the current boat launch so that it can have two, possibly even three vehicles using it at one time. We have seen that in other communities. We have seen that at other lakes, or that there would be another one entirely in another location. 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

Wally Schumann Hay River South
Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Member's comments are duly noted. Like I said, we are doing the engineering, geotechnical, and design work. This is also a two-year project, so we are going to try and get all that stuff in 2018-2019, and depending what comes out of that, in the second year that construction will take place. We will keep the Member informed on what is going on out there. We definitely do not want to be building something that is replacing an existing facility that is not going to meet the needs of the people. 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

Cory Vanthuyne Yellowknife North
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Let us move a little further on down Ingraham Trail. I note that Powder Point is looking to get some work done to expand it, convert it into a day use area, which I am happy to see.
I just want to go to Cameron Falls for a moment. I think last year, in last year's capital plan, we allocated some funds to expanding the parking lot, and some other things that we were going to do at the Cameron Falls area. It was not really what we would call a day use area, because most people just simply trek into the falls themselves.
I was out there this year, and I did not see any work undertaken in terms of expanding the parking lot. In fact, it was so busy, and there were so many vehicles there, that I ended up having to park out on the highway. I am just wondering: where are we with the commitment to expanding the parking lot at Cameron Falls? Is the work still under way? Was that last year's budget? Do we have any money in this year's budget for 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
Consideration in 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. First of all, we are still continuing to work on Cameron Falls. What happened was there was a pricing issue on the RFP, or tender, for that facility. That money has been carried over into this year, and we are continuing to work with the Department of Infrastructure on that, trying to move that project forward. Thank you, Mr. Chair.