Debates of Feb. 23rd, 2018

This is page numbers 3407 – 3442 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

Prayer

Minister’s Statement 36-18(3): Strengthening Support For Students

Indian Hospitals

Liquid Natural Gas Energy Pilot Project

National Pharmacare And Prescription Accessibility

Encouraging Youth Involvement In Politics

Dempster Highway Overflow

Unemployment And The Small Community Employment Support Program

Capturing Resource Royalties

Land Transfer Tax Impact On Cost Of Living

Homecare Services In Nunakput

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Homecare Services

Youth Council

Child And Youth Care Counsellors

Pharmacare And Prescription Accessibility

Liquid Natural Gas Energy

Northwest Territories Revenue And Tax Policy

Small Community Employment Program

Dempster Highway Overflow

Territorial Financing Formula

Written Question 6-18(3): Land Transfers In The Northwest Territories

Written Question 7-18(3): Housing Core Need Action Plan

Tabled Document 94-18(3): Yellowknife Airport Five-Year Business Plan 2018-2019 To 2022-2023

Tabled Document 95-18(3): Waste Reduction And Recovery Program 2016-2017 Annual Report

Tabled Document 96-18(3): Pharmacare: A Plan For Everyone – Report Of The Canadian Labour Congress

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Report of Committee of the Whole

Orders of the Day

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am pleased to present the 2018-2019 Main Estimates for the Department of Finance. These estimates total $234 million, which includes the GNWT operating contribution of $76.4 million to the NWT Housing Corporation. Overall, the department’s estimates propose a decrease of $1.2 million or 0.5 per cent over the 2017-2018 Main Estimates.

Setting aside the changes in the contribution to the NWT Housing Corporation, which you will review with Minister Cochrane, highlights of Finance’s proposed 2018-2019 Main Estimates include:

• $600,000 for a new training program that will provide residents an opportunity to gain the skills and experience to compete for positions within the GNWT;

• $400,000 to enhance capacity to deal with labour relations issues and ensure that the GNWT is well-positioned in an increasingly complex environment;

• $1.1 million in forced growth related to the Territorial Power Subsidy Program and automatic increases for bonds issued related to the Deh Cho Bridge; and

• $5.2 million in sunsets, primarily related to completion of the project to upgrade SAM and HRIS.

Finally, I would also like to point out that the 2018-2019 Main Estimates outline the borrowing plan for the GNWT. This plan proposes to establish a total borrowing limit for the GNWT of $812 million, which is comprised of the following:

• short-term debt, $366 million

• long-term debt, $445 million

• capital leases, $837,000

The limits proposed in the borrowing plan will be included in the Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures), 2018-2019. The GNWT borrowing is part of our overall debt, which also includes Northwest Territories Power Corporation and Northwest Territories Housing Corporation debt.

That concludes my opening remarks, Mr. Chair. I look forward to answering questions from Members. 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

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Minister McLeod. Do you wish to bring witnesses into the Chamber?

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Yes, I do, Mr. Chair.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Minister. Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses into the Chamber.

While the witnesses are coming in, I would like to take a moment to thank the interpreters who have been with us this week: Mary Rose Sundberg, David Blake, and Ruth Carroll. We are in this House to get information out to the public, and we could not do it without their assistance, so I would like to thank the interpreters.

Minister, would you please introduce your witnesses for the record?

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, to my far right, I have Ms. Tara Hunter, who is the Deputy Secretary of Human Resources. To my immediate right, I have Mr. David Stewart, deputy minister of Finance and deputy secretary of the Financial Management Board. I got the name right. To my left, I have Mr. Sandy Kalgutkar, who is the deputy secretary to the Financial Management Board. 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

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Minister. Committee was previously discussing that we will forgo opening comments. Does committee still agree?

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

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

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, committee. We will move to the detail.

The departmental total is found on page 139, but we will defer this until after consideration of the activity detail. Two pages later, you will find the borrowing plan, but we will also defer that until after consideration of the detail. There are five activities. The first one is directorate, and it begins on page 143. Does committee have comments or questions about the activity "directorate"? If committee does, please indicate which page you are making comments about. Ms. Green.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Mr. Chair, I have a process question. I have some questions that relate to page 140. Will those be canvassed when you go back to page 139?

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair R.J. Simpson

That is correct. When we discuss the departmental total, we can discuss the revenue summary, as well. Do you have questions about this section? Nothing further from Ms. Green. Mr. Testart.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Kieron Testart Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. On page 143 under "activity description," the bottom paragraph speaks to shared corporate services having a responsibility for requests under the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act. How does shared corporate services function in this capacity, and how does it differ from what work is done in the Department of Justice? Thank you.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Testart. Mr. Stewart.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Stewart

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Each department tends to have an access to information coordinator to deal with their own individual requests that come in for information from their department. The function within Justice sets the overall policy frame and coordinates across government, but each department has their own staff, who are usually related to records, that help answer those questions as they come in and get the records and those sorts of things. Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you. Mr. Testart.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Kieron Testart Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. This department does not do any coordinating activities apart from what is contained under its own mandate; is that accurate? Thank you.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Testart. Minister.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Yes, thank you. That is correct.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you. Mr. Testart. Nothing further from Mr. Testart. Any other comments or questions from committee? Mr. O'Reilly.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I am just not sure where the Heritage Fund is found in the main estimates. Can someone tell me whether this is the appropriate place or which activity to ask about the Heritage Fund? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Mr. O'Reilly, the Heritage Fund is listed under “management board secretariat.” That is a future activity that we are going to be discussing.

Seeing no further comments or questions from committee, I will call this activity. Directorate, operations expenditure summary, $85,090,000. 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

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

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, committee. The next activity is human resources. It begins at page 147. Mr. Testart.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Kieron Testart Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. In the Minister's opening comments, he spoke to a $400,000 appropriation to enhance capacity to deal with labour relations issues and ensure that the GNWT is well-positioned in an increasingly complex environment. Can the Minister elaborate on what that appropriation is going to accomplish? Thank you.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Testart. Mr. Stewart.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Stewart

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So the proposed investment of $400,000 is related to labour relations capacity, and specifically related to collective bargaining and compensation analysis. So we currently have one position that provides all of the research and analytical support for bargaining and compensation. We are starting to deal with a more complex environment in terms of some of the provincial governments and how they approach the compensation policy, those sorts of things.

We are moving towards self-government, and, as Indigenous governments draw down jurisdiction or enter into service delivery, there are going to be issues related to that. We are also in the role of providing advice and assistance to some of our partners and our boards and agencies, including the Power Corporation, the Marine Transportation Services, LHOs, and others. Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Debates of Feb. 23rd, 2018

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