Thank you. Next, I have Mr. O'Reilly.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. My colleague from Kam Lake asked the questions I was going to. Thanks.

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Next, for general comments on the infrastructure expenditures supplementary estimate, I have Mr. McNeely?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. To the appropriation, I just shared my recent trips, and recent trip here over the last couple of days here to finish off the engagement session for two of the communities that were postponed here back in mid-August. When I review the presentations here made by the infrastructure project team to the public and the leaders, advising them that this would be the schedule, knowing the fact that some of the workload is only accessible for this winter, or any other winter for that matter.

I view this bill or this approval process as a timely one to support the work program that is being proposed to get off the road and running here this coming January. Hopefully, by that time, they would have their permits to support the geotechnical needed to support these two particular sites in the Sahtu, one being the Bear River bridge and the other being the Oscar Creek bridge relocation. I just share that information there, how this would support the execution of the workload. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. McNeely. Would the Minister care to respond?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I appreciate the Member's comments, and it is one of the reasons that we debate the capital budget in the fall time, so that, once it is approved, if it is approved, then that gives time for planning, and, if those are successful and get contracts through this process, then they can take advantage of the winter roads and have their planning to have a lot of their material into their respective communities in a timely fashion. We have run into some issues in the past where, in the old capital budget planning process, we would approve a budget and then contractors would go and get material. I think we had one incident in one community where they didn't get their material until November the 1^st. That caused some delays.

I know the timing is critical to those who are hoping to secure some of the work through the funds that are appropriated through the capital budget planning process, but, again, I appreciate the Member's comments. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister. Anything further from Mr. McNeely?

None. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Nothing further from Mr. McNeely. Next, Mr. Beaulieu.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I'm looking at the estimates for Infrastructure, Department of Infrastructure, $4.8 million split between Bear River Bridge, Gaudet Mountain, and an environmental assessment for the MVH. I'm wondering if there is an appropriation in all of these three areas since this is the supplementary for this current year. What is the budget for this current year for, so much the environmental planning, but for the Gaudet Mountain and Bear River Bridge? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. These are general comments, but it's a small sub so I'll go to the Minister and perhaps we can get their questions out of the way.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the figure that you see there is actually the figure that's the only money that was appropriated for these particular projects. Once the planning of that is done, they will be coming forward in 2019-2020 for larger appropriations start the actual building. Thank you.

Thank you. Nothing further from Mr. Beaulieu. Next, Mr. Vanthuyne.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I'm prepared to go into questions if we've reached that point and if there are no further general comments. Thank you.

Does committee agree we proceed to the detail?

Thank you, committee. Please turn to page 6. Comments or questions? If not, I will call this item. Mr. O'Reilly.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. This is with regard to a planning study for the mid-life upgrade and retrofit to the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre, the museum that is here, in Yellowknife. Can the Minister or his staff explain whether any of this has to do with fire code or building code work that might be required at the museum? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. My understanding of the planning study will produce a class C cost estimate and preliminary schematic design. The study will look at a wide range of capital needs for the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre, including the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning; collection storage space quantity and quality; asbestos remediation if any is found; geotechnical assessment of the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage reserve land; security and safety concerns; public access and employee workspace requirements; and aesthetic factors like retail space, accessibility, marketing, and exhibit design. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Mr. O'Reilly.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I appreciate the list of items that the planning study is going to review. I know that half of the funding is going to come from the federal government. I support this work. I just want to make sure that it gets done in a timely fashion.

What are the prospects that we could obtain federal funding under the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund for the actual mid-life update itself, the renovations that are going to be required? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the federal government announced some monetary funding over two years for the Canadian Culture, CCSF, as part of its 2016 budget. Further, the amount of money was allocated over 10 years in the 2017 budget.

Once we get the planning study and that done and the class C estimate, we will be in a better position to know exactly what we are looking for from the federal government. There are opportunities for us to put applications in to try leverage more federal funding to help with this project. We will certainly pursue that. Thank you, Mr. Chair.