Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Deh Cho.

Thank you, Member for Deh Cho. Minister of Finance.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I understand that this number could well be into the hundreds. The requirement of having these forms is for any employee who is taking part in any outside activity. That could be anything as simple as volunteering as a sporting coach to having self-employment or to having some additional part-time employment, being on a board, et cetera. This is a good opportunity to make it clear that all employees should be filling out those forms, but it's really a number that is quite likely into the hundreds, if not beyond that, and it's done department by department. I have not had the opportunity here today to necessarily gather up the total number. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I can only imagine the vast number of outside activity forms that have been approved within each department, and there are many departments and many employees. Can the Minister provide a process each department has to perform prior to approving an outside activity form?

Again, this is something that comes out through each department, where any employee who wants to take on any kind of outside activity, employment, service, volunteer, anything of that sort, obviously needs to be outside of their regularly scheduled hours of duty, and they are expected to notify their deputy head in writing. Quite often, each department has their own form that they would fill out in order to examine and explore the nature of the activity. The point here is to avoid, certainly, conflicts of interest, but also the appearance of conflicts of interest. That would then be approved either by the deputy or possibly delegated to a senior manager.

I am curious as to who approves the outside activity forms within each department and their qualifications as to which outside activity is actual or perceived. Can the Minister provide that information?

This is another occasion where, although the Department of Finance, specifically within human resources, may give guidance on the matter, it does go down to each department. Each department does have their individual deputy minister specifically assigned to undertake the approval of these forms and then may well delegate that to senior managers.

Mr. Speaker, there does need to be some flexibility certainly. We would want to ensure that when there is an individual in a particular region making an application or making a request of this sort that the individual making the approval understands the nature of the activity at issue so that they can indeed assess whether or not there is any appearance of conflict.

Again, this is something that perhaps hasn't come up very often in the House. I think it's valuable to have this issue raised, because understanding the nature of conflicts and the appearance of conflicts is one that we certainly do take seriously. I do appreciate the questions, and I am confident that, as others may be listening, that deputies will be paying attention to ensure that they are following the process appropriately.

Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Deh Cho.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I would like to thank the Minister for all those answers. They're very much appreciated. Can the Minister commit to reviewing all approved outside activity forms from GNWT employees and corroborating with listed outside agencies to ensure that there is no actual or perceived conflict of interest? I believe this may require the services of the Integrity Commissioner in looking at these. Mahsi.

As I had said earlier, they may well be into the thousands, the number of forms. I am not going to be in a position myself, personally, to do this. The Integrity Commissioner, of course, monitors the activities of MLAs here within the House, but what I certainly can do is go back to the Department of Finance and speak to those in human resources and ensure that we are doing our best to communicate department by department and to individual regions in what it is to understand the nature of a conflict, what it is to understand the appearance of conflict, and ensure that those materials are adequate, up-to-date, and regularly communicated so that those who are charged with making this decision and reviewing these forms have the best possible knowledge of how to do that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Great Slave.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Infrastructure. Can the Minister please outline the plan for the upcoming fiscal year with respect to highway projects and any plans for reconstruction efforts? What I would like to hear is: What is different about this upcoming year versus other years, and has there been an increase to budget for road works in the North? Thank you.

Thank you, Member for Great Slave. Minister of Infrastructure.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I heard three questions in there, so I will try my best to get at least one of them. Several highway reconstruction/rehabilitation projects are planned for the upcoming fiscal year, such as work on Highway No. 1, Highway No. 3, Highway No. 4, Highway No. 7, and Highway No. 8. Tlicho highway construction is progressing, and it is on schedule for completion and opening by this November 2021. Two hundred kilometres of chipseal overlay has been planned for sections on Highways No. 3 and No. 6 and the Dettah Access Road, as well as the Rae Access Road.

No, there has not been an increase to the budget. The total budget for infrastructure for fiscal year 2020-2021 is $169 million. I have got a list of some of the highway projects that I would be able to provide the Member with. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Yes, that would be great if the Minister could provide that. Can the Minister provide us with an update on the tendering for the Prohibition Creek Access Road, a project which is currently infusing $15 million of federal infrastructure money into the Northwest Territories? Can the Minister outline how that project will lead to increased training and economic opportunity for Northwest Territories residents?

The department continues to advance development of the Prohibition Creek Access Road. It's a 13-kilometre all-weather road starting from at the end of Canyon Creek access road south of Norman Wells. Twenty million dollars in funding has been secured under ICIP, the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program, to be able to support this project. This is based on a 75-25 funding model between Canada and the GNWT. There are a few activities that need to be completed prior to construction, including some of environmental and geotechnical work that will inform the final design. Following this, a final decision on procurement contracting approach will be made. We hope that the construction on this project will be starting early 2022. We are excited to see the project move to the construction phase and having its economic benefits and training opportunities start to become a reality.

I know I sound like a bit of a broken record, but I am always going to continue to bring up infrastructure and repeatedly ask the same questions. Can the Minister provide a timeline for the completion of the Great Bear River Bridge, including any unforeseen delays or difficulties due to the COVID situation?

There have been delays in scheduling some of the face-to-face public meeting in Tulita due to COVID-19. Engagement with groups and communities in the Sahtu, including a project update presentation, will resume when COVID travel restrictions are lifted, when we're able to do some video conferencing. The staff are working with the community to arrange for video conferencing that can reach as many participants as possible, so we have additional support as required from the community for land reserves, and the next community meeting should be able to assist us with that.

Prior to tendering work, the Department of Infrastructure will host an industry day far in advance of the construction tender in order to promote the integration of local, regional, northern businesses' opportunities on this project. Timing and logistics for this industry day will depend on the COVID-19 situation, which could be late 2021 or early 2022.

Mr. Speaker, the Member asked about the Great Bear River Bridge schedule. Right now, we have the project regulatory permits in place, and the projected timeline is March 2022, fiscal year 2022; tender and award construction contract for April to July of 2022; construction period, July 2022 to December 2025; bridge open to traffic, January 2026. Seasonal deficiencies and final demobilization will occur just shortly after.

Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Great Slave.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am really excited to one day be able to drive across that bridge, as I have spent a lot of time in Tulita, so I am pretty excited to hear that. My last question just has to do with funding. Will the Minister commit to pressing for 100 percent dollars for northern infrastructure funding, particularly for northern highways? Will she commit to being a thorn in the side of every FPT table that she is on to impress upon them the urgency for this money for the North? It must start now, not in years, or we will lose too many businesses in the meantime. Thank you.

No pressure. I will do what I can. I do continue to engage with the federal Ministers assessing federal funding opportunities. I did raise the issue of 100 percent funding, particularly with the new construction of projects like the Mackenzie Valley Highway with Minister Omar Alghabra, the new federal Minister of transportation, so we had an introductory call on January 28^th. He is aware of some of the issues, and I will continue to pressure some of my federal counterparts.

I do want to make it clear, however, that many of the federal funding pots have very defined cost-sharing guidelines that do not contemplate any 100 percent federal funding. At this point, I am not willing to risk 75 percent federal funding on important projects by submitting applications that do not meet some of the program criteria. The issue of 100 percent highway projects will remain a topic of discussion with the federal government and myself as Minister of Infrastructure. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of education. As to my colleague from Nunakput's concerns of teachers and travel, most of our teachers in the regional centres in our small communities are providing what I feel is an essential service to our children. What is the plan for approving travel this spring break, since it was such a hot topic during Christmas? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.