Thank you. Minister McLeod.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, my understanding is that is correct. The work began to start the road to the site. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister. Could you repeat that?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. My understanding is that the road to the site has been started. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Mr. Blake.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I will try to run the clock here. Just kidding. When can we see the project completed? It would be pretty exciting for this region to actually have a wind turbine in the community, and just to see how that affects the cost of living. It would be a good example for other communities, as well. When can we see this project completed? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Minister McLeod.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, my understanding with the folks who pay for power and that, I am looking forward to seeing what benefits there are from this particular project. My understanding is it's a three-year project. There is work to be done over the next three years. In looking into this further, there seems to be a lot more to it than I initially thought, and I thought they could get it up in one year, but it didn't work that way. It's my understanding it's a three-year project, and we're looking forward to seeing any benefits that might come from it. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Next, I have Mr. McNeely.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am just looking at the list and being mindful of green initiative allowances, as well as being mindful of the federal infrastructure dollars out there, and the time frame remaining in both governments, and the opportunity to access these infrastructure dollars federally. Given that, given the scope of the program, the guidelines, and my previous term as a board member to the NWT Power Corporation, along with my colleague on the other side, I am interested to see more work done on the Taltson application to substantiate a detailed business case there to see if it is going to be justifiable to forward at the next round for the federal dollars that are available.

I am overall, I would say, pleased with the initiatives undertaken on pages 14 and 15 for job creation, green initiatives, upgrading, capital asset purchase in Norman Wells where some equipment -- this is just my note to the Assembly: if we can, I would say be mindful. I've taken advantage of the infrastructure dollars opportunities that are there, and they will be there for a short period of time until the next federal elections and territorial elections. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. McNeely. Would the Minister like to respond? No response from the Minister. We're into round two. Mr. Beaulieu.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, of course, I'm very interested in the Taltson. I have made several Member statements on Taltson about the impacts. The negative impact of the Taltson Dam downstream on businesses, and downstream, essentially, that dam has killed the fur industry for the people of Taltson River. The least the government should be doing, if they're thinking of expanding this, is consulting with the people who were impacted. I have asked several times now that the government look at this, and if they are determined to proceed with this and they want to make it a little bit easier, maybe they should start off by consulting with the Aboriginal people who were impacted.

I have mentioned several times that the entire fur industry was shut down in the Taltson a few times. A few years, people went trapping in the spring, and there is no beaver or muskrat on the river, and that is what they do, spring hunt. Taltson River was a very prosperous river at one point prior to the Taltson Dam going in, and it sustained a lot of people. There are a lot of trappers who are not trapping. The economy evolves, but at that time, just about the entire Northwest Territories was based on the fur trade, and that is why the Hudson's Bay and the Northwest Company came north, due to the fur trade. There was a lot of fur coming out of the Taltson River at one point, and that all changed because of the dam.

I asked a simple question: would the government consult with the people who are impacted by the Taltson Dam so at least they know that somebody is listening to what they've got to say? So far, the responses I am getting from range from "No" to "We will if we have a project." Now, we have a budget. It is all planning, but there is a budget of $10 million for Taltson. We're asking questions. We are just saying, "Okay, we are going to check into it. We are going to study to see if it's feasible." I am asking the government to make sure that, before they proceed any further, they consult with the people of Fort Resolution, for sure, and also the people who were impacted as a result of the changes on a natural lake, the Lutselk'e people. That's my question to the Minister. Before proceeding any further, if they want support, then will they consult with the people of For Resolution and Lutselk'e? Thank you.

Thank you, and if we can keep the chatter down on the floor of the House while the Members are speaking. Minister McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I take the Member's point. My understanding is that original dam was built in the sixties, when people used to come in in their shiny airplanes and tell us what was good for us, then went ahead and did it anyway, but things have changed since then, and I think our government has evolved since then. It is respectful to consult, and I would think that that is what we would do.

The $200,000 is to build a business case; $150,000 of that is coming from the federal government, I must add, so $50,000 of our money. That is to develop a business case, and if talking to the folks who are going to be affected is part of developing our business case, then it is wise to do that.

I am not sure who is going to do the consulting, but I'm Finance Minister; I can make a commitment on their behalf. It is respectful, and I think that we would do that. We have seen cases in the past where they have come in and determined that this was a good project, and you're going to live with the consequences of it, but those days are gone, brother.

I think we need to respect the fact that we need to consult, because if you want to move projects ahead, like you said, then it's just respectful to talk to the people who are affected, and I commit that we will do that.

Thank you. Nothing further? Seeing nothing further from committee, I will call this section. Infrastructure, capital investment expenditures, asset management, not previously authorized, $46,986,000. Does committee agree?

Infrastructure, capital investment expenditures, programs and services, not previously authorized, $22,676,000. Does committee agree?

Infrastructure, capital investment expenditures, total department, not previously authorized, $69,662,000. Does committee agree?

Thank you, committee. Moving on to page 16, the Department of Justice. Mr. Testart.

Thank you. North Slave Correctional Centre Security Retrofit. We are still looking at this project. What is the status of it? Thank you.

Thank you. Minister McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, my understanding is the contract is in place. I am not sure if we have had any discussions with the contractor as to a completion date, but I will follow up with the appropriate department. June? The end of June is the completion date. Thank you, Mr. Chair.