Thank you, Minister. Nothing further from Mr. O'Reilly. Having no one further on my list, we can delve into consideration of the department. We will defer the departmental total until after the activity summaries, the first of which can be found on page 33, with an associated information item on page 34. Mr. Vanthuyne.
Debates of Sept. 27th, 2017
This is page numbers 2785 – 2828 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
Cory Vanthuyne Yellowknife North
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. On page 33, we show the ongoing capital investment with regard to the public private partnerships, and, of course, we know that that is the Stanton Renewal Project. I guess my first question would be: we see a number of years that we have contributed to the capital project. How many more years are we expecting that? When will we actually be ending that and transitioning into the, call it, the operating and maintenance agreement portion of that project? 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
Glen Abernethy Great Slave
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, for the details on when the project is intended to be substantially complete, at which point we would begin our process of verifying that the equipment is appropriate for health needs and those types of things, I believe it is 2019. However, Mr. Elkin has the more specific detail, so I will go to him for that.
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. The Minister has indicated that Mr. Elkin will take that. Mr. Elkin.
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Elkin
Thank you. The project is targeted to have its essential completion in November-December 2018, at which point we will begin the approximately six-month process of planning to move in. We are targeting May-June as our target for our opening, day one. As the Minister said, then the annual payment for the remainder of the life of the agreement would kick in at that point.
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. Maybe, because there are still some residents in my riding, some constituents, who are still asking questions about the project, if you do not mind I am going to get into a line of questioning. If it is technical at all in nature, just let me know, and it might be something I might have to save for the Department of Infrastructure later.
These are significant funds. It is going to be a long-term arrangement. I am wondering if you can elaborate a little bit more on who this actual partner is, the Boreal Health Partnership, and maybe explain for us how they were selected. 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, Mr. Vanthuyne. Minister. The Minister has directed us to Mr. Elkin. Mr. Elkin.
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Elkin
Thank you. We arrived at the BHP, Boreal Health Partnership, and I will pull together the details of the consortium. Initially, we went out for a request for qualifications to get a short list of potential proponents who had both the technical and financial capability to undertake a project of this size. Then from there we narrowed it down to three proponents over a year-long process. We went through a detailed RFP process, working closely through a series of incremental design developments with each of the three proponents. At the end of that process, we had an evaluation which resulted in the project being awarded to BHP, of the three proponents. That was in August of 2016; August 6, 2016. I know we have details on the proponent, BHP consortium, but I will have to find that and then get back to you on that.
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. Thank you for the reply. I will note and I have directed many people in the past to the Stanton Renewal Project website that has also been very informative. However, for the purposes of getting some stuff on the record in this House, I am asking some of these ongoing concerns today. Just quickly, as far as the department is concerned, this budget so far is on time and on budget? 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
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. If the project was to for any reason go over-budget or there were delays, what do we have built in for accountability? Who would be responsible? 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
September 26th, 2017
Elkin
Thank you. I can give you an overview of the agreement, and then, also, the Department of Finance would have more specific details on the agreement. We entered into the agreement with BHP. It is called a partnership agreement, PA, and that outlines the specific relationship between us and them, both on the correction and then on the 30-year arrangement, as well. There are specific terms in the agreement that have to be met on both sides. If there is any deviation, then we will go back to the agreement, both on timing or on deliverables. Actually, the agreement is posted on the Stanton Renewal Project website, as well, and it goes into great detail around how we would go through a resolution process. Then, if still at that point we could not resolve any disagreements around timing or payment, there are terms in the agreement that outline the next steps and processes, as well, so it is very structured, detailed, and outlined in the agreement.
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, and thank you for the explanation. I want to get into a little about jobs and staffing. There have been concerns that have been raised in the past that, through a partnership like this, there may be a potential for loss of jobs. Maybe I will start with simply asking: do we know how many people are currently employed out at the current operating hospital? 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
Glen Abernethy Great Slave
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Currently at Stanton, it is around 582 employees, but we are constantly staffing, people are constantly retiring and going to other jobs, so it is always fluctuating, but it is hovering around 580. 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, and thank you for the reply. Looking at the transition, moving into the new facility, is it anticipated that that number will change at all, whether it is a plus or minus? Could I get a comment to that effect? 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