This is page numbers 5413 - 5452 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 work. View the webstream of the day's session.

Topics

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I think you will go through me to defer to Minister Schumann. Okay, we will do that.

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you. Minister Schumann.

Wally Schumann

Wally Schumann Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We are looking at doing a contribution agreement when we sit down and have a discussion with all of the Aboriginal groups on their participation, but some of that money is still for technical stuff, permitting and routing. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you. Mr. Beaulieu.

Tom Beaulieu

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So the Minister is telling me that there will be a contribution agreement signed and delivered before March 31, 2019, plus the technical work will also be completed by March 31, 2019? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you. Minister McLeod.

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. Again, through you, I think I should go to Minister Schumann. Otherwise, I would probably butcher it. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you. Minister Schumann.

Wally Schumann

Wally Schumann Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Chair. As I have updated this House on this, we got this money from CanNor. It's some early funding to be able to have some conversations with the Aboriginal governments on their participation with the Slave Geological Province. There are a number of things that need to be done to bring this thing to a business case. It's going to take us three years to do this, but this was some early funding that the federal government has given us to entertain this, and we are hoping to have some positive news in the federal budget next week. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you. Mr. Beaulieu.

Tom Beaulieu

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I think the money is good. I am just wondering. I could almost say the thing again for the whole document, but just to put a point to it we have $705,000. We have maybe five organizations, separate organizations, or we could sign it with three organizations, I suppose, if the Akaitcho Government represents the three other governments that I spoke of earlier. So I guess, moving forward, considering again that this is an operations expenditure, the plan is to have that agreement in place, signed off, money transferred, expended by March 31st, plus, I guess, paying for the technical report in addition to that. I am curious to know if that is even possible, but I would like to just get a "yea" or "nay" on that from the Minister. Thank you.

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you. Minister Schumann.

Wally Schumann

Wally Schumann Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Chair. As I said, in early discussions with the Aboriginal governments, we are hoping to sign an agreement with three groups. The Akaitcho is one united group. They can designate whoever they want to have as a lead, or maybe multiple jurisdictions as a lead. The Metis Nation is a single unit, and the Salt River First Nation is a unit. We will sit down and figure out our work plan and our various planning studies in environmental and community support and wildlife stuff that we have to do on this project. This is what we have budgeted for this year. As I have said, we are looking forward to some federal support in the budget. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you. Nothing further from Mr. Beaulieu. Mr. O'Reilly.

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Mr. Chair. On the same page, there is $74,000 for Slave Geological Province Corridor. Can someone tell me what that money is for and whether it's going to get spent by March 31st? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you. Mr. Stewart.

Stewart

Thank you, Mr. Chair. In terms of the O and M money for this activity, I believe it's related to a variety of activities to help prepare for the planning related to the Slave Geological Province, including some work done by ITI for economic impacts and those sorts of things, and then I think there is some work planned that may be by 2019-2020 by ENR related to wildlife studies as well as work being done by Infrastructure for activities that are not capitalized in terms of the Slave Geological Province. Thanks, Mr. Chair.

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you. Mr. O'Reilly.

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I am certainly confused by this. This money, is it going to be carried over? I didn't think you could carry over O and M. Thanks, Mr. Chair.

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you. Mr. Kalgutkar.

Kalgutkar

Thank you, Mr. Chair. It is my understanding that the two departments impacted by 2018-2019 are going to be spending all their money. To answer the Member's question on whether we carry over O and M funding, if O and M funding does lapse, we have in the past carried it over into 2019-2020 through a supp process. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you. Mr. O'Reilly.

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Is this the supp process, or is it going to come forward in a different supp? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you. Mr. Kalgutkar.

Kalgutkar

Thank you, Mr. Chair. If the departments are unable to spend all the $74,000 that could be approved in this supp, then whatever is left over and whatever is lapsed by the departments will be carried over into the first supp in 2019-2020. Thank you, Mr. Chair.