This is page numbers 4981 - 5026 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. View the webstream of the day's session.

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Robertson

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just an initial comment: Mr. McCormick had mentioned the 2017-2018 actuals. If you look at the farthest right-hand column, you will see the $23 million, which represents the value of the capital assets. The capital assets are actually owned by the GNWT, so they are not actually part of the revolving fund, but they are just shown for informational purposes here. That $23 million is carried forward through the years, which is why you see the $35 million of the accumulated surplus at end-of-year in the projection of 2019-2020. Now, because those assets aren't owned by the revolving fund, the actual accumulated surplus is $23 million less than that, and it is $12 million. I do understand that it is a little bit confusing, how these information pages have been laid out, and we will be working with the Department of Finance next year to improve how these pages are shown within the main estimates to make it clearer. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

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The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Ms. Robertson. Mr. O'Reilly.

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Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Okay. I think I understand that a little bit better, and a better presentation next year would be helpful. I am concerned that there are growing revenues here that we don't seem to be spending on the Yellowknife Airport. It has grown now by $5 million over two years. Why are we not spending this money on improvements at the Yellowknife Airport? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

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The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister Schumann.

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Wally Schumann

Wally Schumann Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The first problem with this page is that it doesn't show the capital expenditures that we are working on. That is the first problem with it, but we are doing a number of improvements going forward. Trust me; we don't want to be sitting on $12 million of cash when we need to do a number of projects that are going to be happening out there at the Yellowknife Airport.

We have our 20-year master plan, our long-term strategic plan, so hopefully we are going to have that completed by spring. We will probably be sharing that, I suspect, with committee at that time as well. We have talked in the House about a number of things, about relocating the oversized baggage facility to the de-icing facility to runway repairs. We had the federal announcement that I did here a couple of weeks ago around the lighting and the investment that they are going to help with. We have got to do our 25 percent with the federal government on that thing. The projects that we have done lately, like the parking lot and the improvements that we have made to the holding rooms and these types of things. There are a number of projects going forward, and as I said, the page doesn't clearly lay out the capital plan going forward. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

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The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister Schumann. Mr. O'Reilly, your time has expired. If you want, I can put you on the list again. Thank you. Any further questions from committee on the information items? Seeing none, we will now return to the departmental summary found at page 231. Infrastructure, total department, $264,013,000. Does committee agree?

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

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The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you. Does committee agree that consideration of the Department of Infrastructure is concluded?

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

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The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you. Thank you, Minister, and our thanks to your witnesses for appearing before us. Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses from the Chamber. Thank you, committee. We will now turn to the next department, the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment. Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, would you like to provide comments?

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Wally Schumann

Wally Schumann Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, I would. I am pleased to present the 2019-2020 Main Estimates for Industry, Tourism and Investment. Overall, the department's estimates propose an increase of $2.9 million or 5 percent over the 2018-2019 Main Estimates.

The estimates include several funding increases to support departmental priorities.

An increase in funding for tourism marketing is proposed to help our highest potential renewable-resource industry continue its growth. Also included is additional funding for parks operations to support their role in this growth while providing high-quality facilities for our residents and visitors.

Funding to implement the Petroleum Resources Strategy, a key element to the Government of Northwest Territories' long-term vision and approach to energy and climate change, is also included in the budget as well as funding to continue the Northwest Territories geological survey's objective to better understand the geology of the Slave Geological Province.

An additional three positions, including operational costs, are included to support our work in developing the knowledge economy, effectively administering mineral tenure, and further supporting our film sector.

As we plan for the up-and-coming fiscal year, the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment remains focused on the mandate priorities set out by the 18th Legislative Assembly and continues to work to fulfil our commitments.

One of these commitments is to release a Northwest Territories manufacturing strategy, which we are set to fulfil during this 18th Legislative Assembly.

The Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment will be investing in the implementation of its strategy to revitalize commercial fishing on Great Slave Lake.

We will be pursuing MOUs on economic development with Indigenous governments, supporting local food production, and training for commercial farmers.

We will continue to implement the Mineral Development Strategy, most notably through the planned introduction of the Mineral Resources Act and the development of supporting regulations.

In 2019-2020, ITI will also focus on:

  • launching a web-based information portal and educational materials for the Resources and Energy Development Information initiative;
  • installing renewable energy infrastructure in off-grid campgrounds;
  • working with the Department of Lands to develop a land-use tenure approach that will support the agriculture sector; and
  • advancing work towards the federal transfer of the proposed Doi T'oh Park.

Of the department's total proposed budget, 28.7 percent has been allocated to economic diversification and business support, 28.9 percent to tourism, and 27.6 percent is identified for spending in the areas of minerals and petroleum resources.

This concludes my opening remarks, and I welcome questions from the Members. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

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The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Minister, would you like to bring witnesses into the Chamber?

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Wally Schumann

Wally Schumann Hay River South

Yes, I would, Mr. Chair. Thank you.

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The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

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

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Wally Schumann

Wally Schumann Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Chair. On my left, I have Nina Salvador, director of finance and administration for ITI. On my immediate right, I have Deputy Minister Tom Jensen. On our far right, we have Tracy St-Denis, assistant deputy minister of economic development. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

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The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you. Committee, you have agreed to forgo general comments and proceed directly to the detail for the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment. Agreed?

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

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The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

The department begins on page 199, but we will defer the departmental summary and review the estimates by activity summary, beginning at page 207. Industry, Tourism and Investment, corporate management, operations expenditure summary, $8,840,000. Any questions from committee? Seeing none, does committee agree?

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

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The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Agreed. Moving on, we have economic diversification and business support, operations expenditure summary, $17,251,000. Any questions from committee? Economic diversification is on page 209 to 213. Any questions? Does committee agree?

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

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The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Okay. I will read the page again. Corporate management, operations expenditure summary, $8,840,000. Does committee agree?

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

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The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Agreed. Next, we have economic diversification and business support, from page 209 to 213. Economic diversification and business support, operations expenditure summary, $17,251,000. Any questions, committee? Mr. Nakimayak.

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Herbert Nakimayak

Herbert Nakimayak Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Chair. On page 211, the Northern Food Development Program, can I just have a little bit of information for that for this year, please? Thank you, Mr. Chair.