This is page numbers 1347 - 1388 of the Hansard for the 19th Assembly, 2nd 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

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Madam Chair. I see in the budget here that there is supposed to be a wayside park number 1 on the Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk Highway. I've had an opportunity to drive the highway now a couple of times. I'm kind of surprised that we don't build these things into the original design, but can someone tell me a little bit more about what this is going to actually be? The pull-outs on the highway now, they make the shoulder a little bit wider. I'm hoping that this is actually going to be a place where people can actually pull off. There might be some interpretive panels. There might be, I don't know, a place for people to do some things. What is this all about in the capital estimates? Thanks, Madam Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. Minister.

Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

Thank you, Madam Chair. I think this really is meant to be essentially a fairly basic site with the pull-off and some essential basic facilities there, but let me see if there is anything else that I'm -- yes. Sorry. Basically, they have a very basic pull-away, not necessarily an interpretive centre, which would be a fairly significant investment that is not contemplated here. Thank you.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. Member for Frame Lake.

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Madam Chair. I don't think I was asking for an interpretive centre; maybe interpretive panels, like we see on the highway even now between Behchoko and Fort Providence. Can I just get a little more detail about what this is? The pull-outs that you see on this highway now are marked with signs. It's like the shoulder is about two feet wider, and they call it a pull-out. If I was driving that road from the South and I thought there was going to be a pull-out and all you see is a wider shoulder, it's just a little bit misleading, maybe. Is this actually going to be somewhere where you can actually pull your vehicle right off the highway, like a loop? What else is going to be there? Is there going to be an outhouse or picnic tables, or something? What is this all about? Thanks, Madam Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. Minister.

Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

Thank you, Madam Chair. Sorry, my apologies there. I did misunderstand. Yes. The intended vision, if you will, is that there is a pull-out sufficient to park a vehicle, have a picnic, have the interpretive signage, and actually be able to utilize this as a space, a washroom facility, more than just the roadway on the side; something a little more than that. I understand, right now, there are some conversations happening with the local hunter and trapper association. Once that is done, this can move forward and be something that is actually usable as a space, I think more in the line of what the Member is envisioning. Thank you.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. Are there any further comments to this section, tourism and parks? Seeing none, I will call the page. Industry, Tourism and Investment, tourism and parks, infrastructure investment, $3,102,000. Does committee agree?

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Members. Please now return to the departmental summary on page 34. Industry, Tourism and Investment, 2021-2022 Capital Estimates, $14,250,000. Does committee agree? Mr. Norn.

Steve Norn

Steve Norn Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Marsi cho, Madam Chair. I move that this committee defer further consideration of the estimates for the department of Industry, Tourism and Investment at this time. Thank you.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Mr. Norn. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Some Hon. Members

Question.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Abstentions? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Consideration of the departmental summary has been deferred. Thank you, Minister. Sergeant-at-Arms, can you please escort the witnesses from the Chamber.

Committee, you have agreed to review the Department of Finance next. Does the Minister wish to bring witnesses into the Chamber? Thank you. Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses into the Chamber. Would the Minister please introduce her witness?

Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

Thank you, Madam Chair. This is Sandy Kalgutkar, the Deputy Minister of Finance.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Welcome, Mr. Kalgutkar. Committee has agreed to forgo general comments. Does the committee agree to proceed to the detail contained in the tabled document?

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Committee, we will defer the departmental totals and review the estimates by activity summary beginning at page 26 with information systems shared services with information item on page 27. Department of Finance, any comments? Member for Frame Lake.

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Madam Chair. Yes. A couple of areas here. If you look at page 27 in the capital estimates, some of this looks like it's related to the Yellowknife airport, at least one item here. Is this money that's coming out of the revolving fund? How does this relate to the use of the revolving fund? Thanks, Madam Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. Minister.

Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

Thank you, Madam Chair. There is a committee that's responsible for all of the technology management systems within the Government of the Northwest Territories, and they have a budget assigned to them for such projects as that at the airport, as well as you'll see here, items for corrections, items for cultural places. It's that set budget is where this money is coming from. Thank you.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. Member for Frame Lake.

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Madam Chair. Is the money for this project coming out of the revolving fund, or it's just being parked in Finance? Where does the money actually come from for this work? Thanks.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. Minister.

Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

Thank you, Madam Chair. I was actually just trying to see if it's showing, listed here. Anyhow, no, it has nothing to do with the revolving fund, Madam Chair. That's not being touched for this purpose. There is, again, it's the set amount that's allotted to new information technology products. I'll let Mr. Kalgutkar confirm the number that that comes from. It's that budget that sits in Finance and information shared services for use for all the projects that come through the committee that then determines which of the technical projects, or information technical projects should go forward. Again, I don't want to get the number wrong, Madam Chair, so I'll just see if the deputy minister has it. Thank you.