Debates of March 13th, 2018

This is page numbers 3815 - 3846 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 going.

Topics

Oral Questions

Members Present

Prayer

Update on the Revitalization of the Great Slave Lake Fishery

2018 Arctic Winter Games

Minister Late for the House

Recognizing Monique Sabourin in Honour of International Women's Day

Recognition of Jonah Sanguez, Youth Trapper of the Year

Reflections on Introduction of Junior Kindergarten

Extended Opening of Aklavik Ice Road

Amnesty in Cannabis Legislation

Ecole Allain St-Cyr Expansion

Costs of Climate Change

Carbon Tax

Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Cassidy Point

Carbon Tax Plan

Junior Kindergarten Evaluation

Apology and Compensation for Giant Mine

Amnesty for Past Drug Offences in Cannabis Legislation

Ice Road Operations

Cassidy Point Consultation

Renewal of Territorial Formula Funding

Nuclear Energy

Norman Wells Fire Department

Tabled Document 139-18(3): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 181-18(3): Midwifery Programs and Policies

Extended Adjournment of the House to May 24, 2018

Bill 9: Appropriation Act (Operational Expenditures), 2018-2019

Bill 7: Chartered Professional Accountants Act

Bill 9: Appropriation Act (Operational Expenditures), 2018-2019

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Concurrence of Tabled Document 135-18(3): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 4, 2017-2018

Concurrence of Tabled Document 136-18(3): Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 4, 2017-2018, CARRIED

Report Of Committee Of The Whole

Bill 9: Appropriation Act (Operational Expenditures), 2018-2019

Recorded Vote

Assent To Bills

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 3838

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister, and our thanks to the witnesses for - oh. Mr. Beaulieu.

Committee Motion 35-18(3): Concurrence of Tabled Document 135-18(3): Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 4, 2017-2018
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 3838

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I move that consideration of Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 4, 2017-2018, now be concluded, and that the Tabled Document 135-18(3) be reported and recommended as ready for further consideration in formal sessions through the form of an appropriation bill. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Page 3838

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. The motion is on the floor and is being distributed. Thank you, committee. The motion is in order. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Do you have another motion? Mr. Beaulieu.

Page 3838

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, committee would like to consider Tabled Document 136-18(3): Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures) No. 4, 2017-2018.

Page 3838

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Committee, we have agreed to consider Tabled Document 136-18(3). Does the Minister have any opening remarks?

Page 3838

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I am here to present Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures) No. 4, 2017-2018. This document provides for an increase of $29.2 million to the operations budget.

Major items in the supplementary estimates include:

$20.7 million for demand-driven, non-discretionary items such as out-of-territory hospitals and physicians, extended health benefits and Metis health benefits, and the Residential Southern Placement Program;
$959,000 to provide for the Hay River Health and Social Services Authorities' pension plan, and $181,000 to provide increased contribution funding to AVENS - A Community for Seniors;
$2.8 million for projected costs in the Income Assistance program;
$2 million for activities under the Early Learning and Child Care Agreement. These expenditures are fully offset by revenues from the Government of Canada;
$1.7 million for compensation increases, replacement vehicles, and new mandatory equipment for the RCMP, G Division; and
$857,000 for increased grant-in-lieu payments to Municipal Taxation Authorities under the Grants in Lieu of Property Taxation Policy.

That concludes my opening remarks, Mr. Chair. I am prepared to respond to committee's questions. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Page 3838

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. We have agreed to begin with general comments. Does the Minister of Finance wish to bring witnesses into the House?

Page 3838

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Yes, I do, Mr. Chair.

Page 3838

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you. Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses into the Chamber, even though they are there. It's all process. Thank you. Would the Minister please introduce his witnesses once again? Thank you.

Page 3838

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Chair. To my right, I have Mr. David Stewart, deputy minister of Finance. To my left, I have Ms. Sandy Kalgutkar, who is the deputy secretary to the FMB. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Page 3838

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. I will now open the floor for general comments. Ms. Green.

Page 3839

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, my first question relates to page number 4. Under education and culture, there is a new expenditure of $2,015,000. Could the Minister please tell us exactly what this money is going to be used for? Thank you.

Page 3839

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Ms. Green. Mr. Stewart.

Page 3839

Stewart

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The GNWT recently signed an early learning and childcare agreement with the federal government that provides funding over a number of years. I believe it is a 10-year agreement. There are a variety of activities to support early childhood operators under that contribution.

The first $2 million in the first year, there are some additional positions that are being added to help support the work with the various childcare operators, as well as some other activities that are included in there as well. Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Page 3839

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. Stewart. Ms. Green.

Page 3839

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, it's my understanding that there are three new positions, and obviously they wouldn't be worth $2 million, so what is the balance of this fund being used for? Thank you.

Page 3839

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Ms. Green. Mr. Stewart.

Page 3839

Stewart

Thank you, Mr. Chair. A couple of the items that are included under the activities that are going on: professional development and training, to support training for licensed childcare centre based early childhood development programs; cultural resource development in distribution to some of the centres; supporting some additional post-secondary training for early childhood workers; scholarships that are provided to support students who are enrolled in early childhood programs; some health and safety funding; and then some additional grabs for equipment and those sorts of things for childcare operators. Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Page 3839

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. Stewart. Ms. Green.

Page 3839

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I recognize that this is not the deputy minister's department, but it was my understanding that this money was earmarked for the availability and affordability of childcare. How does this expenditure relate to those mandate goals? Thank you.

Page 3839

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Ms. Green. Minister McLeod.

Page 3839

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, as the Member pointed out before, the money is for the first year of this program, so this is what the money has been expenditured for this year and the subsequent years that are coming up, and the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment has assured me that he would be able to provide a further detail and a briefing to social programs. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Page 3839

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister McLeod. Ms. Green.

Page 3839

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Yes, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I am highly unhappy that we are being asked to authorize an expenditure for which we do not have a plan, despite the fact that a bilateral agreement has been signed. The Minister has been holding out on us in sharing this information, and now we know why. The spending that he contemplates does not further the mandate objective, and doesn't do anything about availability or affordability of childcare. So now that we have this information in public, I will have questions for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment tomorrow. In the meantime, I would like to ask the Minister of Finance what precedent there is for asking Members to approve a budget for which there is no plan. Thank you.

Page 3839

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Ms. Green. Mr. Moses.

Debates of March 13th, 2018

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