This is page numbers 5713 - 5790 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 women. View the webstream of the day's session.

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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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Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I agree with the Minister. It's not widespread. I just know that I have seen some of it happen, and it is a concern for me if those contractors are able to bid on future stuff. The Minister talked about consequences to the department not getting jobs done. I guess I agree with you, but I have a concern with that. That is the employment going to that community, and so, when we are talking about consequences, is there some way that we can work with the community to be able to move forward? Because I sit there and I see the consequences, and I see these numbers, and I wonder why we are not being able to complete things. Again, the consequences are, say a trail in Fort Simpson, if that is what the territorial government is doing on the parks, it does not get done, and we take that money away, that trail does not get done. That means there is employment and enhancements there. How are we going to be able to ensure the consequences are fitting moving forward? 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. Minister.

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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Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Chair. If they could not get a trail done in that particular community, then they do not deserve to get paid. However, we have to be careful when we look at this. Again, I was talking about the department, not the communities themselves. We will make every effort to ensure that the employment still gets into the community, but some of these smaller projects in the community and some of them are community driven, then they have the ability to get the work done there as quickly as possible. I mean, when I talk consequences, I am not talking communities. I understand the effects of employment in the communities as well as anybody in this building. I am a firm believer in trying to create employment for the citizens of the Northwest Territories. When I talk consequences, I speak of the finance Minister's dealings with his colleagues on FMB. 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. Thompson.

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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Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, and I greatly appreciate that answer from the Minister. Now I understand what he means by "consequences," so my thanks for that. In regards to forward thinking and dealing with isolated communities, whether it be winter roads or barges, has the government looked at spending money before the fiscal year; in other words, if we are looking at 2020-2021 and it's on the winter road, we do the 2019-2020 to get the stuff shipped up so that when the project is ready to go or the money, like when we get the money for the fiscal year 2020-2021, we are able to do the job? Have you guys looked at that potential? 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. Minister.

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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Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The whole idea of having the budget cycle, capital budget cycle, in October was to give an opportunity to approve the capital budget for the following fiscal year that takes effect April 1st. That gives them the winter to plan, and they could possibly get their materials and everything ordered that winter. I think the actual approval of the money takes effect on April 1st, but that is not to say that they cannot start awarding the contract and spending the money before then. That is why we tried to have the capital budget in October, was to get away from having it approved April 1st and then it takes them a couple of stuff to get all of their stuff ordered, and then it takes a couple more months to get it here, and then it's November by the time they start building, and then, as I said before, 10 percent cold weather clause kicked in and it was quite lucrative. 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. Thompson.

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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Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Okay, thank you, Mr. Chair. I guess I am just trying to see, find an alternative for the winter roads and the barging season, and I am trying to see how we can help people move forward. With this process, is the government willing to guarantee, if a contractor gets awarded the contract, that they are guaranteed, that they can go get the money from the bank? Do they allow that? Do they sign, guarantee, give a guarantee letter that they got the contract, that they can spend the money? 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. Minister.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I was trying to get them to try to spend the money before April 1st, but apparently I can't, so I want to clarify that. We do have it approved, and they can start all of their planning and everything and all of that if there are ways. If they know they are going to be awarded a contract April 1st, I think if they have their own means, then they could possibly do some of the planning. My understanding, and I stand to be corrected, is that they cannot start spending the money on the contract before April the 1st, so there you go. 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. Thompson.

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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Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Okay. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I guess my thing is that I know the government is not spending anything, but, if a contractor gets a contract, can they not get a letter saying, "You got the contract"? Can they not start getting the supplies in? Because, if we are looking April 1st, the winter road is closed, and then all of a sudden we are looking at January next year, you know, and then that 10 percent clause kicks in, so is there something available for contractors to be able to do this? 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. Thompson. Mr. Thompson's time has expired, but I will allow the Minister a brief response. Minister.

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Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Chair. If the contractor is awarded the contract, then they know it's going to take effect April 1st. The suppliers would then know that we have a contract in place and that April 1st they can start collecting money on the contract, or, if the contractor has the means to go and get the material he needs, knowing that he has got a contract that is taking effect April 1st, then there is no reason they can't do that. 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, Minister. Any further general comments? I was getting worried we would have to carry these over for another year if this went on any longer. Committee, let's get into the detail since we have exhausted general comments. Please turn to page 6 of the Tabled Document 443-18(3). Infrastructure, operations expenditures, page 6 of the Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 2, 2019-2020, the Department of Infrastructure. Do we have comments on the department, noting that we will be going through each activity individually? Seeing no general comments for the department, I will begin calling the department. If there are comments or questions about an activity, please let me know. 2019-2020 Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 2, Infrastructure, operations expenditures, asset management not previously authorized, $775,000. 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

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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. Infrastructure, operations expenditures, programs and services not previously authorized, $3.3 million. Mr. Thompson.

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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Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you. I just want some clarification on the Fort Simpson liquefied natural gas. It's minus $125,000. Could we just get an update on that? 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. Stewart.

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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Stewart

Thanks, Mr. Chair. That is just a question of cash flow, so they are just adjusting the cash flow on that project to adjust to what their expected spending is now. 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

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The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you. Nothing further. Next, we have Mr. Nakimayak.

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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Herbert Nakimayak

Herbert Nakimayak Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am just looking at the bottom line of -- am I on the right page? I am looking at the Sachs Harbour wind/diesel power plant, $1.85 million. Can the Minister elaborate on that? 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. Stewart.

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Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Stewart

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Again, that is an issue of timing. I think the expectation is that they will be expenditures in 2019-2020, and then the project is likely to carry on into 2020-2021. Thanks, Mr. Chair.