This is page numbers 3165 - 3220 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 Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Supplementary Estimates, (Operations Expenditures), No. 2, 2021-2022, Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment, tourism and parks, not previously authorized, $800,000. Does committee agree? Thank you.

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Supplementary Estimates, (Operations Expenditures), No. 2, 2021-2022, Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment, total department, not previously authorized, $1,300,000. Does committee agree?

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Committee, we will now consider the Department of Infrastructure on page 10. Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 2, 2021-2022, Department of Infrastructure, programs and services, not previously authorized, $979,000. Does committee agree?

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Supplementary Estimates (Appropriation Expenditures), No. 2, 2021-2022, Department of Infrastructure, total department, not previously authorized, $979,000. Does committee agree?

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Committee, we will now consider the Department of Justice on page 11. Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures) No 2, 2021-2022, Department of Justice, community justice and policing, not previously authorized, $316,000. Does committee agree?

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 2, 2021-2022, Department of Justice, total department, not previously authorized, $316,000. Does committee agree?

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, committee.

Do you agree that you have concluded consideration of Tabled Document 439-19(2), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 2, 2021-2022? Member for Frame Lake.

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Madam Chair. I move that consideration of Tabled Document 439-19(2), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 2, 2021-2022, be now concluded; and, that Tabled Document 439-19(2) be reported and recommended as ready for further consideration in formal session through the form of an appropriation bill. Thank you, Madam Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

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 favor? All those opposed? Any abstentions? The motion is carried. Tabled Document 439-19(2) will be reported as ready for consideration in formal session through the form of an appropriation bill.

---Carried

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Members, we will move on to the next supplementary estimate. And we'll just have the witnesses remain. Thank you.

Committee, we've agreed to consider Tabled Document 466-19(2), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures and Borrowing Authorization), No. 4, 2020-2021. Does the Minister of Finance have any opening remarks?

Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I am here to present Tabled Document 466-19(2), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures and Borrowing Authorization), No. 4, 2020-2021.

These Supplementary Estimates propose an adjustment of $10.31 million to the authorized long-term borrowing limit established under the Appropriations Act, Operations Expenditures, 2020-2021.

These Supplementary Estimates will ensure the Government of the Northwest Territories is in compliance with the Financial Administration Act by reflecting the borrowing limit for a debt greater than 365 days for the 2020-2021 fiscal year at $628 million. The change is due to variations in the long-term borrowing requirements that were identified as part of the 2020-2021 year end audit. This variance is largely due to the accounting recognition of project costs for the Tlicho All-Season Road, which differed from amounts originally forecasted.

That concludes my opening remarks, Madam Chair. I'm happy to take any questions the Members may have.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. I will now open the floor for general comments. Seeing no general comments, we will review the supplementary estimates by department.

The committee has agreed to forego general comments on each department. Does the committee agree to proceed to the detail contained in the tabled document?

Committee, we will begin on page 3 with the Department of Finance. Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures and Borrowing Authorization), No. 4, 2020-2021, Department of Finance, total government borrowing authorization, proposed adjustment, $10,031,000. Does committee agree? Member for Yellowknife North.

Rylund Johnson

Rylund Johnson Yellowknife North

Thank you, Madam Chair. Perhaps I can just get the Minister of -- I guess I don't have a lot of issue with adding $10 million more to our massive debt, but I see here that the total government borrowing is $1.19 - I'm going to call it just $1.2 billion. I actually thought we were higher than that because I know we were approaching the $1.3 billion cap, and now we got extended to $1.8 billion.

But I can just clarify that by the end of this fiscal, this is what that borrowing limit actually is; there's not some other number that it's different from the imposed cap. Thank you.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. Minister of Finance.

Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

Thank you, Madam Chair. So Madam Chair, the federally imposed borrowing limit does not change. This is a change to the actual long-term debt that was taken on in the 2020-2021 year but did not actually have a -- an impact on the total debt that -- that was there. It was just that this -- this amount went over on the long-term debt. I'm sure there's more questions coming, Madam Chair. I'll stop there.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. Member for Yellowknife North.

Rylund Johnson

Rylund Johnson Yellowknife North

Thank you, Madam Chair. I guess, can the Minister give me an update on how much room is left then in our cap; how much more money could we borrow. Thank you.