This is page numbers 4243 - 4266 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 community.

Topics

Question 376-18(3): Impacts of Early Ferry Closures
Oral Questions

October 12th

Page 4264

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. I would like to remind Members that we haven't gone through all Members asking questions due to the fact that some of the questions and answer were a bit long. Just a reminder as we move forward to be cautious around the answering and the questioning. I will allow the Member from Kam Lake to ask the oral questions.

Kieron Testart

Kieron Testart Kam Lake

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, colleagues. The Snare Forks Hydroelectric Facility has been reported as having a bearing failure, and now the public reports on this say the unit will be offline for several months, which represents a loss of 4.3 megawatts of power, approximately 15 per cent of the hydro system's total generating capacity. My question to the Minister responsible for the Power Corporation is: what will be the impact of this technical failure on the cost of living of Northerners and the power rates that rate payers are paying? Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Minister responsible for the NWT Power Corporation.

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, looking after the best interests of people in the Northwest Territories is what this government is all about. The impact on electricity cost is not known at this time. Any impact on NTPC cost is expected to be mitigated by the insurance claim.

Kieron Testart

Kieron Testart Kam Lake

Thank you to the Minister for that reassurance. The estimate of these repairs, regardless of what that is going to be, the final of these repairs, the insurance claim is going to cover that? Is that the department's best estimation at this point?

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Mr. Speaker, my understanding is that there is a team that is flying in to do an inspection and determine the next steps. I would assume that cost would be the next step and then, once the costs are determined, then I would assume they have a discussion with the insurance company as to see what would be covered.

Once we have that more detailed information, I will share it with committee if it is their wish.

Kieron Testart

Kieron Testart Kam Lake

That covers the mechanical aspects of repairing this issue, but there will be more costs required for the backup diesel system. Can the Minister speak to what the equivalent cost to generate the loss of 15 per cent of power through diesel is? Is he aware of those numbers now? Can he share them with the House?

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Mr. Speaker, the insurance is expected to cover some of the costs associated with equipment failure, including the need to increase diesel consumption. We do have sufficient backup there, diesel and hydro backup to keep the unit operating.

Again, this just happened, I believe, Monday or just recently. Tuesday, October 9th, it just happened, so we are just in the process of doing an inspection and determining what associated costs might be tied to the failure. Again, as soon as we have those numbers or estimates of numbers and what it may cost, we will share that with committee.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.

Kieron Testart

Kieron Testart Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to thank the Minister for providing us with information. I know it's a live event, and I see there is still a lot of work that needs to be done, but if he could just reassure taxpayers that, if there are costs not covered by the insurance, the government will carry the burden of that so that we are not putting the cost back onto our citizens. Thank you.

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Although that is good brochure material, I can't make that commitment right now to have the government cover the cost. We will have to determine what the costs are going to be, and then we will make a determination then what it may cost the ratepayers, if any, but I can't make that commitment right now. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Item 8, written questions. Item 9, returns to written questions. Item 10, replies to the Commissioner's opening address. Item 11, petitions. Item 12, reports of standing and special committees. Item 13, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 14, tabling of documents. Minister of Finance.

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following three documents entitled "Report on the Staff Retention Policy for 2015-2016, 2016-2017 and 2017-2018." Pursuant to section 64(2) of the Liquor Act, I wish to table "Northwest Territories Liquor Licensing Board 64th Annual Report 2017-2018;" and pursuant to section 27(4) of the Northern Employee Benefits Services Pension Plan, I wish to table "Northern Employee Benefits Services (NEBS) Pension Plan Annual Report for the Year Ended December 31, 2017." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Tabling of documents. Minister of Justice.

Louis Sebert

Louis Sebert Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following four documents: pursuant to section 32(2) of the Financial Administration Act, I wish to table "Northwest Territories Surface Rights Board 2017-2018 Annual Report" and "Legal Aid Commission of the Northwest Territories Annual Report 2017-2018;" pursuant to section 10(2) of the Victims of Crime Act, I wish to table "29th Annual Report, 2017-2018 - Victims Assistance Committee of the Northwest Territories;" and pursuant to section 74.2(2) of the Residential Tenancies Act, I wish to table "Annual Report on the Activities of the Rental Officer - April 1, 2017 to March 31, 2018." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Tabling of documents. Item 15, notices of motion. Item 16, notices of motion for first reading of bills. Item 17, motions. Item 18, first reading of bills. Item 19, second reading of bills. Item 20, consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters: Minister's Statement 19-18(3), Aurora College Foundational Review, and Tabled Document 215-18(3), Capital Estimates, 2019-2020, with the Member for Hay River North in the chair.

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

October 12th

Page 4265

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

I call Committee of the Whole to order. What is the wish of committee? Mr. Testart.

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

October 12th

Page 4265

Kieron Testart

Kieron Testart Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that the chair rise and report progress.

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

October 12th

Page 4265

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Testart. There is a motion on the floor to report progress. The motion is in order and non-debatable. All those in favour? All those opposed?

---Carried

I will rise and report progress. Thank you, committee.

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

October 12th

Page 4265

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

May I have the report, Member for Hay River North?

Report Of Committee Of The Whole
Report Of Committee Of The Whole

October 12th

Page 4265

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Minister's Statement 19-18(3), Aurora College Foundational Review, and Tabled Document 215-18(3), Capital Estimates, 2019-2020, and would like to report progress, and Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of the Committee of the Whole be concurred with.

Report Of Committee Of The Whole
Report Of Committee Of The Whole

October 12th

Page 4265

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Do I have a seconder? Member for Kam Lake. The motion is in order. All those in favour? All those opposed?

---Carried

Masi. Item 22, third reading of bills. Mr. Clerk, orders of the day.

Orders Of The Day
Orders Of The Day

October 12th

Page 4265

Clerk Of The House Mr. Tim Mercer

Mr. Speaker, there will be a meeting of the Board of Management at the rise of the House today, as well as a meeting of the Standing Committee on Government Operations at 2:30 p.m. today.

Orders of the day for Monday, October 15, 2018, at 1:30 p.m.

  1. Prayer
  2. Ministers' Statements
  3. Members' Statements
  4. Returns to Oral Questions
  5. Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
  6. Acknowledgements
  7. Oral Questions
  8. Written Questions
  9. Returns to Written Questions
  10. Replies to the Commissioner's Opening Address
  11. Petitions
  12. Reports of Standing and Special Committees
  13. Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills
  14. Tabling of Documents
  15. Notices of Motion
  16. Notices of Motion for First Reading of Bills
  17. Motions
  18. First Reading of Bills
  19. Second Reading of Bills
  20. Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

- Minister's Statement 19-18(3), Aurora College Foundational Review Process

- Tabled Document 215-18(3), Capital Estimates, 2019-2020

- Bill 7, Chartered Professional Accountants Act

- Bill 13, An Act to Amend the Securities Act

- Bill 14, Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act, 2018

- Bill 15, Document Formalization, Service and Notice Reform Statute Law Amendment Act

- Bill 16, An Act to Amend the Social Assistance Act

- Bill 17, An Act to Amend the Student Financial Assistance Act

  1. Report of Committee of the Whole
  2. Third Reading of Bills
  3. Orders of the Day

Orders Of The Day
Orders Of The Day

October 12th

Page 4266

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. This House stands adjourned until Monday, October 15, 2018, at 1:30 p.m.

---ADJOURNMENT

The House adjourned at 12:05 p.m.