This is page numbers 1799 - 1842 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

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, honourable Premier. Colleagues, our time for oral questions has expired. Item 9, written questions. Member for Frame Lake.

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Merci, Monsieur le President. My questions are for the Minister of Finance: Please provide a list and amounts of all financial obligations to the Government of the Northwest Territories for the Ekati Mine at the time the property was sold to Arctic Canadian Diamond Company Ltd., including the following:

  1. An itemized listing of all outstanding amounts due to the Government of the Northwest Territories for payroll taxes, property taxes, corporate taxes, mining royalties, carbon taxes, fuel taxes, land lease rents, water use fees, Worker's Safety and Compensation Commission assessments, and any other financial obligations; and
  2. Details on how each of the financial obligations listed above were treated during the sale; and
  3. Whether GNWT has forgiven or changed the terms of payment for any of the above financial obligations; and
  4. The aggregate amount spent by GNWT in connection with the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act proceeding in relation to the Dominion Diamond group of companies including outside legal counsel, consultants, staff time, and related costs.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Written questions. Item 10, returns to written questions. Item 11, replies to Commissioner's address. Item 12, petitions. Item 13, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 14, reports of standing and special committees. Item 15, tabling of documents. Minister of Finance.

Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document: "Public Accounts 2019-2020, Sections I, II, III and IV." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Tabling of documents. Minister responsible for the Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission.

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following two documents: "Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission Northwest Territories and Nunavut Corporate Plan 2021;" and "Workers' Advisor Office of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut 2020 Annual Report." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Tabling of documents. Item 16, notices of motion. Item 17, motions. Item 18, notices of motion for the first reading of bills. Item 19, first reading of bills. Item 20, second reading of bills. Item 21, 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 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; and Tabled Document 286-19(2), Main Estimates 2021-2022; with the Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes in the chair.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

I now the Committee of the Whole to order. What is the wish of committee? Mr. Norn.

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Steve Norn

Steve Norn Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Marsi cho, Madam Chair. Committee wishes to review Tabled Document 286-19(2): Main Estimates 2021-2022, for the Department of Finance. Marsi cho.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Does committee agree?

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, committee. We will take a short recess and resume.

---SHORT RECESS

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

I call committee back to order. Committee, we have agreed to consider Tabled Document 286-19(2), Main Estimates 2021-2022. The committee has agreed to forego general comments on the tabled document but will make comments on each department. The committee has agreed to begin with the Department of Finance. Does the Minister of Finance have any opening remarks?

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Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

Yes, thank you, Madam Chair. I am pleased to present the 2021-2022 Main Estimates for the Department of Finance. Overall, the department's estimates propose an increase of $15.2 million or 5.3 percent over the main estimates of 2020-2021. These estimates support the mandate objectives for the Department of Finance while continuing to meet the GNWT's fiscal objectives to prioritize responsible and strategic spending. Highlights of these proposed estimates include:

  • $76.8 million in contribution funding to the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation; and
  • $8.4 million to increase Carbon Tax Offset rebates provided to NWT residents and businesses to offset the impact of increasing the Carbon Tax to $40 per tonne of greenhouse gas emissions on July 1, 2021.

The department's 2021-2022 Main Estimates reflect the transfer of procurement shared services from the Department of Infrastructure to the Department of Finance. These estimates continue to support the priorities of the 19th Legislative Assembly by:

  • ensuring government procurement maximizes benefits to residents and businesses by supporting the GNWT's ongoing procurement review;
  • streamlining the financial processing for all GNWT departments and the NWT Health and Social Services authorities;
  • supporting and managing the GNWT's information security and technology resources; and
  • ensuring that GNWT departments have the support they need to manage their human and financial resources appropriately.

That concludes my opening remarks. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. Do you wish to bring witnesses into the House?

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Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

Yes, please, Madam Chair.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses into the Chamber. Would the Minister please introduce her witnesses?

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Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

Thank you, Madam Chair. I am pleased to introduce Sandy Kalgutkar, deputy minister of Finance and secretary to the Financial Management Board, and also Rick Wind, chief information officer.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, and welcome. We will now proceed with a review of the borrowing plan, and then we will go into departmental finance. The committee has agreed to forego general comments and will proceed with the detail contained in the tabled document. Committee, please turn to the borrowing plan on the second tab. Does committee have questions? It's the second tab at the beginning of your binder. Member for Yellowknife North.

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Rylund Johnson

Rylund Johnson Yellowknife North

Thank you, Madam Chair. I see that we are adding quite a bit of debt this year once again. Can I just get current projections of when we are expected to hit our debt ceiling? Thank you, Madam Chair.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. Minister.

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Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

Thank you, Madam Chair. That's not reflected in the document. That is included in the main estimates. I believe the year that we are looking at right now would be in 2023-2024 as a projection. Thank you, Madam Chair.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. Did you want your staff to add anything?

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Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

I have confirmed that is correct. That's not in the document here before us. Thank you, Madam Chair.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Deputy Minister Kalgutkar.