Debates of March 1st, 2017

This is page numbers 2075 - 2114 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 work.

Topics

Oral Questions

Members Present

Prayer

Yellowknife Airport Evolution

Progress Statement - Education and Training

Canada's Outstanding Principals: Education, Culture and Employment Milestone Statement

Commitment to Action on Climate Change

Protection of the Bathurst Caribou Herd

Dead North Film Festival

Proposed Carbon Pricing Charette

Impacts of Climate Change on Transportation Systems in the Sahtu

Northern Carbon Pricing Regime

Deh Cho Boreal Caribou Study

Member's Statement on Inuvialuit Water Board

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Inuvialuit Water Board

Inclusive Schooling Funding

Northern Carbon Pricing Regime

Proposed Carbon Pricing Charette

Industrial Activity Green House Gas Emissions

Protection of the Bathurst Caribou Herd

Notification of Northern Carbon Pricing

Proposed Carbon Pricing Charette

Tabled Document 307-18(2): Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Committee Report 4-18(2): Report on the Review of the 2014-15 Public Accounts Tabled Document 308-18(2): Follow-Up Letter for Oral Question 505-18(2): PeopleSoft Public Service Human Resource Reports Tabled Document 309-18(2): Follow-Up Letter for Oral Question 606-18(2): Status of Transboundary Water Management Agreements

Tabled Document 310-18(2): We Can Do Better: Housing in Inuit Nunagut Report of the Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples, Senate of Canada, March 2017

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Tabled Document 261-18(2): Main Estimates 2017-2018, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Deferral of Corporate Management Activity

Tabled Document 261-18(2): Main Estimates 2017-2018, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Deferral of Environment Activity

Tabled Document 261-18(2): Main Estimates 2017-2018, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Deferral of Water Resources Activity

Tabled Document 261-18(2): Main Estimates 2017-2018, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Deferral of Further Consideration of the Estimates for Environment and Natural Resources

Report Of Committee Of The Whole

Orders Of The Day

Committee Motion 71-18(2): Tabled Document 261-18(2): Main Estimates 2017-2018, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Deferral of Environment Activity, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 2110

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Sorry, one other quick question depending on answers. Page 80, water strategy action plan is being reduced. From 2015-16, we've seen this decline from 585 down to 325 for 2017-18. I believe this is money that's provided to perhaps Aboriginal governments to make sure they are engaged in implementation and negotiation of these agreements. Is that what this is for and why is it declining? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Page 2110

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Dr. Kelly.

Page 2110

Dr. Kelly

Thank you, Mr. Chair. This money is used for engagement when we were doing negotiations. We completed negotiations on two of the agreements and we have moved to implementation of those agreements, so the money has changed from contributions and grants to contract work to support the implementation of the agreements. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Page 2110

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you. Mr. O'Reilly.

Page 2110

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Mr. Chair. That is what I suspected, but we still have outstanding negotiations with Saskatchewan, Nunavut, and the Yukon. The agreement from 2002 needs to be updated in light of what was negotiated with BC and Alberta. I know BC and Alberta were big ones, but Saskatchewan and Nunavut are still presumably fairly large, and then you have implementation now on top of that. Why does this continue to climb? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Page 2110

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Dr. Kelly.

Page 2110

Dr. Kelly

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The first round of consultation on the Yukon agreement and the Saskatchewan agreement was completed in previous years while we were doing the work on Alberta and BC, so we have less consultation to do on the agreements that will be coming forward. The timing of those agreements is spread out so we don't need the money in grants and contributions for that work at this time, as much money, and we know that we can do it with the amount that is in here now.

The other money has gone to contracts towards implementation of the two agreements that we have signed. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Page 2110

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Dr. Kelly. Mr. O'Reilly.

Page 2110

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks for that. I thank the ADM for the explanation. So, the money for the contracts, that would show up where in this function, under contract services, which has increased? Is that where it would show up? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Page 2110

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Dr. Kelly.

Page 2111

Dr. Kelly

Yes, that is where it would show up. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Page 2111

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Dr. Kelly. Seeing nothing further from committee, I will call this section. Environment and Natural Resources, water resources, operations expenditure summary, total activity. Mr. Vanthuyne.

Committee Motion 72-18(2): Tabled Document 261-18(2): Main Estimates 2017-2018, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Deferral of Water Resources Activity, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

March 1st, 2017

Page 2111

Cory Vanthuyne Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I move that this committee defer further consideration of the activity, water resources, under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Main Estimates 2017-2018, on page 79 at this time. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Page 2111

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Vanthuyne. There is a motion to defer. The motion is on the floor and being distributed.

---Carried

Committee, we will defer activity, water resources. Continuing on, the final activity, wildlife, can be found on pages 82 to 85. I will give committee a moment. If you have comments or questions, please let me know. While you are speaking, please indicate which page you are speaking to. Mr. O'Reilly.

Page 2111

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I am mindful of my colleague across the way. Page 83 in the program details, there is sort of this nibbling away here of money in terms of biodiversity conservation, field operations, wildlife research and management. What is happening here? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Page 2111

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Ms. Craig.

Page 2111

Craig

Thank you, Mr. Chair. There have been some reductions, both in 2016-17 and 2017-18. We have also reduced the budget that we had in place for some overtime and for doing the Dall sheep surveys. These were done in 2016-17. So there have just been some sunsetting of funds and some minor reductions. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Page 2111

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Ms. Craig. Mr. O'Reilly.

Page 2111

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Okay, thanks, Mr. Chair. I appreciate the explanation. I think there was one item from last year's budget. Sorry, I am going to spring this on my colleague from the Sahtu, but there were plans to do away with the check station at mile 222 on the Canol Road in the Mackenzie Mountains, and I think the department found ways to continue to do that work internally. Presumably, that station was still there this past summer, and we are looking at continuing that facility in 2017-18? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Page 2111

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister.

Page 2111

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, we are. Thank you.

Page 2111

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Minister. Nothing from Mr. O'Reilly. Seeing nothing, I will call this page, this activity. Environment and Natural Resources, wildlife, operations expenditure summary, total activity, $14,478,000. Does committee agree?

Page 2111

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Page 2111

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, committee. Next we have a series of information items on pages 86 to 91, including lease commitments, Environment Fund, fur marketing service, revolving fund, and work performed on behalf of others. We can tackle this all at once. If you have comments or questions on any of these information items? Ms. Green.

Page 2111

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I have questions for the Minister about a number of climate change projects that are listed on page 90. My question is about the Climate Change Adaptation Project; the Environment and Climate Change Canada Climate Change fund; Environment and Climate Change Canada Watershed Management; and Environment and Climate Change Canada Water Research and Studies. What were the outcomes of these projects, and how have they been shared with the public? Thank you.

Debates of March 1st, 2017

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