The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Tabling of documents. Notices of motion. Motions. Notices of motion for the first reading of bills. Minister responsible for Health and Social Services

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm clearly your favorite, and I appreciate that. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Thursday, November 25th, 2021, I will move that Bill 40, an Act to Amend the Medical Profession Act, will be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

That's very good, Minister. Notices of motion for the first reading of bills. First reading of bills. Second reading of bills. Colleagues, before we continue, by the authority given to me as Speaker by Motion 1-19(2), I hereby authorize the House to sit beyond the daily hour of adjournment to consider the business before the House.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters, Tabled Document 137-19(2), Tabled Document 138-19(2), Tabled Document 139-19(2), with Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes in the chair.

The Chair Lesa Semmler

I now call Committee of the Whole to order. What is the wish of committee? Member for Frame Lake.

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thank you, Madam Chair. Committee wishes to consider Tabled Document 437-19(2), Capital Estimates 2022-2023. We'd like to start the consideration of the Department of Finance. Thank you, Madam Chair.

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Does committee agree?

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Okay, we will proceed with Minister of Finance.

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I am happy to present the Tabled Document 437-19(2) Capital Estimates 2022-2023.

These capital estimates total $502.6 million to support and continue infrastructure investment in our communities.

Major highlights of these estimates include:

• $150.2 million for highways, winter roads, bridges, and culverts. This includes funding of
• $23.5 million for the Great Bear River Bridge;
• $16.9 million for the Mount Gaudet Access Road,
• and $13 million for the Prohibition Creek Access Road, a total of $36.2 million to advance the environmental and planning work for the Mackenzie Valley and Slave Geologic Province All-Season Roads.
• $5.9 million to advance the replacement of the Frank Channel Bridge, and
• $4.4 million for the completion of the Tlicho All-Season Road Project.
• $84.1 million for various airport and runway projects under the Disaster Mitigation Adaptation Fund, Investing in Canada Infrastructure Plan, and the Department of National Defence.
• $70.2 million to address the one-time cost associated with the government's adoption of Public Sector Accounting Board -- Public Sector Accounting Asset Retirement Obligation Standards.
• $47.4 million for long-term care facilities, health centres, improvements to health information systems, and biomedical equipment, including $2.9 million towards a wellness and recovery centre in Yellowknife.
• $21.7 million for the replacement and renovations to existing schools, including
• $11.1 million to complete the work on the Mangilaluk School in Tuktoyaktuk and
• $6.9 million to complete the J.H. Sissons School replacement project.
• And $29 million in continued funding to support community governments with their infrastructure needs.

The overall capital spend is offset by a total of $216.2 million in support from the federal government through various infrastructure programs, including

• $70.3 million from the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Plan,
• $56.5 million from the National Trade Quarters Fund,
• $41.2 million from the Department of National Defence,
• $20 million from the Building Canada Plan,
• $14.2 million from the Airport Capital Assistance Program, and
• $11.5 million from the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund.

That concludes my opening marks, Madam Chair. I will be happy to answer any questions the Members might have.

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. We've agreed to begin with general comments on the capital estimates. Do Members wish to make general comments before we consider the tabled document in detail? Member for Frame Lake.

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Madam Chair. I move that the Chair rise and report progress.

The Chair Lesa Semmler

There's a motion on the floor to report progress. The motion is in order and non-debatable. All those in favour? Opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried.

I will now rise to report progress.

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

May I please have the report of Committee of the Whole. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.