This is page numbers 4435 - 4472 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 services.

Topics

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Notices of motion for first reading of bills. Item 17, motions. Item 18, first reading of bills. Member for Frame Lake.

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Merci, Monsieur le President. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Thebacha, that Bill 24, An Act to Amend the Elections and Plebiscites Act, be read for the first time. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. The motion is in order. The motion is non-debateable. All those in favour? All those opposed?

---Carried

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Bill 24 has had its first reading. First reading of bills. Minister of Finance.

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife South, that Bill 27, Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2018-2019, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. The motion is in order. The motion is non-debateable. All those in favour? All those opposed?

---Carried

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Bill 27 has had its first reading. First reading of bills. Minister of Finance.

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Thebacha, that Bill 28, Supplementary Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 2018-2019, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. The motion is in order. The motion is non-debateable. All those in favour? All those opposed?

---Carried

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Bill 28 has had its first reading. First reading of bills. Item 19, second reading of bills. Minister of Finance.

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife South, that Bill 27, Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2018-2019, be read for the second time. Mr. Speaker, this bill makes supplementary appropriations for infrastructure expenditures for the Government of Northwest Territories for the 2018-2019 fiscal year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. The motion is in order. To the principle of the bill.

Some Hon. Members

Question.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed?

---Carried

Bill 27 has had its second reading. Second reading of bills. Minister of Finance.

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Thebacha, that Bill 28, Supplementary Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 2018-2019, be read for the second time. Mr. Speaker, this bill makes supplementary appropriations for operations expenditures for the Government of the Northwest Territories for the 2018-2019 fiscal year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. The motion is in order. To the principle of the bill.

Some Hon. Members

Question.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed?

---Carried

Bill 28 has had its second reading. 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 Process; Minister's Statement 103-18(3), Marine Transportation Services; 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

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The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

I will now 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
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Kieron Testart

Kieron Testart Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Committee would like to take into consideration Tabled Document 215-18(3), Capital Estimates, 2019-2020, and to consider opening remarks for the capital estimates in the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Department of Lands, and the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs. 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

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The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Testart. Does committee agree?

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

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

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

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The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, committee. We will consider the document after a brief recess.

---SHORT RECESS

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The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

I will now call Committee of the Whole back to order. Committee, we have agreed to consider Tabled Document 215-18(3), Capital Estimates, 2019-2020.

We are going to do things a little differently than we have done in the past. Just so that everyone knows what is going on, we will have opening comments from the Minister of Finance, and then we will have general comments from committee, at which time the Minister of Finance will take the witness table with some witnesses. As we move into the departments, the Ministers will switch out, if necessary, and new witnesses will come in. Traditionally, we have just had the Minister of Finance at the witness table for the entire capital estimates. I just want to get everyone up to speed.

First, I will turn to the Minister of Finance for opening remarks. Minister McLeod.

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Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I am here to present the Government of the Northwest Territories' Capital Estimates, 2019-2020.

The Capital Estimates, 2019-2020 totals $325 million, of which $94 million is being funded by the federal government. The Capital Estimates includes $199 million for Tangible Capital Assets, $74 million for Infrastructure Contributions, $50 million for Public Private Partnerships, and $2 million for Deferred Maintenance.

Consistent with prior years, the Capital Estimates, 2019-2020 do not include appropriations for housing infrastructure proposed by the NWT Housing Corporation in 2019-2020. The appropriation for these investments will be sought during the Legislative Assembly's review of the 2019-2020 Main Estimates. The NWT Housing Corporation's 2019-2020 Capital Plan, totalling $18 million, is included in the Capital Estimates as an information item for review and comment.

Major highlights of the Capital Estimates include:

  • $118 million for highways, winter roads, bridges, and culverts across the NWT. This includes funding of $49 million for the Tlicho All-Season Road project, $22 million under the National Trades Corridors Fund, and $34 million for Building Canada Plan projects;
  • $42 million towards energy projects under the Investing in Canada Plan, which includes $18 million for the Inuvik Wind Project;
  • $62 million for health facility replacements, renovations, and equipment, which includes funding of $25 million for long-term care facilities in Hay River and Inuvik;
  • $29 million to continue to provide funding to community government for their infrastructure needs;
  • $17 million for new education facilities and renovations to existing facilities, which includes $12 million for the major retrofit of the Mangilaluk School in Tuktoyaktuk and $3 million for the replacement of J.H. Sissons in Yellowknife;
  • $9 million for deferred maintenance and energy upgrades to existing GNWT assets; and
  • $8 million for new and enhanced information technology functionality and upgrades.

That concludes my opening remarks, Mr. Chair. I would be pleased to answer any questions Members may have. Thank you, Mr. Chair.