This is page numbers 1653 - 1688 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 indigenous.

Topics

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Lesa Semmler

Thank you. The motion is in order. To the principle.

Some Hon. Members

Question.

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker Lesa Semmler

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed. Motion is carried.

---Carried

Bill 21 has had second reading. Second reading of bills. Item 20, consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters: Minister's Statement 77-19(2), National Housing Co-investment Fund; Tabled Document 165-19(2), Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Committee Report 1-19(2), Report on Long-term Post-Pandemic Recovery, Recommendations to the GNWT; Tabled Document 166-19(2), Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Committee Report 2-19(2): Report on the Long-term Post-Pandemic Recovery, Recommendations to the GNWT; Tabled Document 167- 19(2), Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Committee Report 3-19(2): Report on Long-Term Post-Pandemic Recovery - Recommendations to the GNWT; Tabled Document 181-19(2), Capital Estimates 2021-2020, with Member for Hay River South in the chair.

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The Chair

The Chair Rocky Simpson

I call Committee of the Whole to order. What is the will of the committee? Mr. Norn.

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Steve Norn

Steve Norn Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Marsi cho, Mr. Chair. The committee wishes to deal with Tabled Document 181-19(2), Capital Estimates 2021-2022, the deferred departments and the concurrence motion. Marsi cho.

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The Chair

The Chair Rocky Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Norn. Committee, we will take a short break.

---SHORT RECESS

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The Chair

The Chair Rocky Simpson

I call the Committee of the Whole back to order. Committee, we have agreed to resume consideration of Tabled Document 181-19(2), Capital Estimates 2021-2022. We will consider those departments that have previously been deferred by this committee. Before we return to those departments, we will go to the Minister of Finance for some opening comments. Minister of Finance.

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Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Chair. As this Legislative Assembly did back with the 2020-2021 Main Estimates, we came together collectively and worked collaboratively on an approach to commit to investing in much needed infrastructure that is one of the priorities for this Legislative Assembly and for NWT residents. There are some commitments that arise, some that approach. They are as follows:

Federal Housing Co-Investment Fund - Northern Carve Out

Communities in the Northwest Territories are in need of new construction of mixed-income, mixed-use affordable housing. To provide eligible organizations the equity needed to apply for and start drawing down the $60 million carve out from the Co-Investment Fund, I will commit to providing the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation a contribution of $5 million in each of 2021-2022, 2022-2023, and 2023-2024, a total of $15 million. The funding for the first year will be included in the annual funding contribution from the Department of Finance to Northwest Territories Housing Corporation through the 2021-2022 Main Estimates that will be considered at the February/March 2021 session.

Community Infrastructure

As I indicated during my fiscal update, COVID-19 will continue to have an impact on the government's fiscal situation. While I am confident the federal government will continue to help mitigate that impact, it will not be 100 percent dollars. However, reducing the municipal funding gap is a priority for this government, although it needs to be done in a fiscally responsible manner. I, therefore, commit to providing municipalities a one-time top-up of $2.5 million in 2021-2022 towards that municipal funding gap. The funding will be included in the 2021-2022 Supplementary Appropriation No. 1 (Infrastructure Expenditures), to be considered during the February/March 2021 sitting of the Legislative Assembly.

Other Commitments

  1. The Department of Infrastructure will be advancing 20 kilometres, from kilometre 70 to kilometre 90, of chipseal overlay on Highway No. 6 to Fort Resolution in 2021-2022. The department anticipates the project will start in May 2021 and be completed by the end of September. The total estimated cost of this project is $900,000. The Department of Infrastructure will also be reviewing options to improve the access road to the Thebacha Campsite in Fort Smith. These additional chipseal projects will be funded from within the department's annual chipseal overlay program and do not require additional funding in the 2021-2022.
  2. As Members all saw during our tour of the Northwest Territories Fire Centre during the caucus retreat earlier this year, the existing leased building is old and no longer meeting operational needs to ensure the GNWT is able to effectively manage forest fire activity in the Northwest Territories. I have, therefore, directed the Department of Finance to work with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to undertake a feasibility study by early 2021. This study will outline potential options that the Assembly may consider for a potential new fire centre.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

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The Chair

The Chair Rocky Simpson

Committee, we will start with the Department of Education, Culture and Employment. The committee has previously considered the activity summaries for the department. We will return to the departmental summary on page 10. Are there any questions or comments from the committee? I will now call the departmental summary. Capital Estimates 2021-2022, Education, Culture and Employment, $30,148,000. Does the committee agree?

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

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The Chair

The Chair Rocky Simpson

Does the committee agree that the Department of Education, Culture and Employment is completed?

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

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The Chair

The Chair Rocky Simpson

Thank you, committee. We will now move onto the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. The committee has previously considered the activity summaries for the department. We will return to the departmental summary on page 15. Are there any questions or comments from the committee? I see none. I will now call the departmental summary. Capital Estimates 2021-2022, Environment and Natural Resources, $2,159,000. Does the committee agree?

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

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The Chair

The Chair Rocky Simpson

Does the committee agree that consideration of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources is completed?

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

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The Chair

The Chair Rocky Simpson

Thank you, committee. We will now move onto the Department of Finance. The committee has previously considered the activity summaries for the department. We will return to the departmental summary on page 25. Are there any questions or comments from the committee? I see none. I will now call the departmental summary. Capital Estimates 2021-2022, Finance, $9,254,000. Does the committee agree?

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

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The Chair

The Chair Rocky Simpson

Does the committee agree that consideration of the Department of Finance is completed?

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

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The Chair

The Chair Rocky Simpson

Thank you, committee. We will now move onto the Department of Health and Social Services. The committee has previously considered the activity summaries for the department. We will return to the departmental summary on page 29. Are there any questions or comments from the committee? I see none. I will now call the departmental summary. Capital Estimates 2021-2022, Health and Social Services, $61,120,000. Does the committee agree?

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

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The Chair

The Chair Rocky Simpson

Does the committee agree that consideration of the Department of Health and Social Services is completed?

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

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The Chair

The Chair Rocky Simpson

Thank you, committee. We will now move onto the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment. The committee has previously considered the activity summaries for the department. We will return to the departmental summary on page 34. Are there any questions or comments from the committee? I see none. I will call the departmental summary. Capital Estimates 2021-2022, Industry, Tourism and Investment, $14,250,000. Does the committee agree?