Debates of Oct. 18th, 2017

This is page numbers 43 – 82 of the Hansard for the 18th Assembly, 3rd 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 review.

Topics

Oral Questions
Prayer
Family Violence Awareness Week
Culture, Heritage And Language Across The Government Of The Northwest Territories
Manufacturing Strategy
Developing Approaches To Land Tenure
Open Letter To Minister Of Justice From North Slave Correctional Complex Inmates
Cannabis Legalization
Concerns Of North Slave Correctional Complex Inmates
Appointment Of Independent Administrator For Norman Wells
Honouring Treaty Rights Through Direct Funding Of First Nations
Concerns Of North Slave Correctional Complex Inmates
Northwest Territories Mineral Sector Review
Ferry Service In The Mackenzie Delta
Member's Statement Corrections In The Northwest Territories
Member's Statement Sustainability Of Arctic Communities
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Concerns Of North Slave Correctional Complex Inmates
Legalization Of Cannabis
Concerns Of North Slave Correctional Complex Inmates
North Slave Correctional Complex Programming
North Slave Correctional Complex Concerns
Appointment Of Independent Administrator For Norman Wells
Mackenzie Delta Transportation Concerns
Northwest Territories Mineral Sector Review Report
Guthrie House Therapeutic Community
Funding Of First Nations In The Northwest Territories
Sustainable Arctic Communities
Enforcement Of Cannabis-Related Offenses
North Slave Correctional Complex Concerns
Tabled Document 19-18(3): Mandate Of The Government Of The Northwest Territories, 2016-2019 (Revised)
Tabled Document 20-18(3): 2016-2017 Annual Report On Official Languages
Tabled Document 21-18(3): 2016-2017 Northwest Territories Water Stewardship Strategy: Progress Review Summary
Tabled Document 22-18(3): Avens Adult Day Program Review – Final Summary Report To July 19, 2017
Tabled Document 25-18(3): Follow-Up Letter To Oral Question 887-18(2): Federal Funding For Infrastructure
Tabled Document 26-18(3): An Open Letter To The Minister Of Justice From The Inmates Of North Slave Correctional Centre
Tabled Document 27-18(3): Northwest Territories Mineral Sector Review And Benchmarking
Tabled Document 28-18(3): Report Of The Auditor General Of Canada To The Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly – 2017: Independent Auditor's Report – Climate Change In The Northwest Territories
Apology And Compensation To The Yellowknives Dene First Nation Relating To Damages From The Giant Mine
Action On The Alaska National Wildlife Refuge
Revocation Of Appointment Of The Honourable Louis Sebert To The Executive Council
Recorded Vote
Consideration in Committee of The Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Concurrence Of Tabled Document 1-18(3): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2017-2018
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

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you. Minister.

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

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Correct, Mr. Chair. The mining industry did have some input. 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 R.J. Simpson

Thank you. Mr. O'Reilly.

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

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Mr. Chair. What kind of pre-budget consultation was actually held, or did people just sort of walk into the Minister's office? How does this work? Thanks, 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 R.J. Simpson

Thank you. The Minister has indicated Mr. Stewart will field this. Mr. Stewart.

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

Stewart

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I think the consultation that took place on this was specifically related to the Frank Channel Bridge and talking to user groups of that. Obviously, the mining industry would be one of those users. There were concerns expressed about the width of the bridge and the load limits and those sorts of things. I think that is part of that consultation that led to the decision to do a replacement rather than rehabilitation. Thanks, 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 R.J. Simpson

Thank you. Mr. O'Reilly.

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

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Since we are deferring this from Building Canada Plan, where is the money going to come from to build a new bridge? Thanks, 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 R.J. Simpson

Thank you. Minister.

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

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The money is going to come from the capital budget with a contribution from the federal government. Then we will put our share in from the capital 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

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Minister. Mr. O'Reilly.

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

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Mr. Chair. So do we have any idea how long this is going to be put off, or do we have any assurance from the federal government that they are prepared to fund a new bridge? How would a new bridge sort of ballpark figure compared to the $8 million it would cost to fix or at least maintain the Frank Channel Bridge? 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 R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister.

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

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Chair. My understanding that the price tag on the new bridge is going to be $53 million. It will be built beside the existing bridge, and it will be built to specifications that would allow it to handle larger loads. 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 R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Minister. Mr. O'Reilly.

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

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Mr. Chair. That is helpful information to get and I appreciate the answer. Do we have any assurance that the federal government is actually going to come up with any of this money, the $53 million to build a new bridge? Thanks, 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 R.J. Simpson

Thank you. Minister.

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

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, they have been at the discussions on the construction of a new bridge. The bilateral agreements we don't have yet. I am not sure when we are going to get them. I will find the information and I will share it with Members. 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 R.J. Simpson

Thank you. Mr. O'Reilly.

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

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I guess more of a comment on this and then I have another set of questions. I think there needs to be some effort, then, to communicate to the public why this is not going ahead and that there is not going to be any serious work done on the Frank Channel Bridge for some time perhaps, until new federal funding is secured. In any event, I want to move on to a different line of questioning, if I can. Can anybody tell me what the position is of the supplementary reserve? Thanks, 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 R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Mr. Stewart.

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

Stewart

Thank you, Mr. Chair. With the change in the cash flow associated with this bridge project, the actual amount for the capital estimates will be going down by about $5.7 million. We won't have used up all of the capital reserve at this point in terms of the supplementary reserve.

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 R.J. Simpson

Thank you. Mr. O'Reilly.

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

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Is the supplementary reserve in a surplus or deficit position and by how much? Thanks, 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 R.J. Simpson

Thank you. Mr. Stewart.