Debates of March 1st, 2021

This is page numbers 2199 - 2242 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

Oral Questions

Members Present

Prayer

Procurement Review

COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout

Legislative Lethargy

Dechinta Fish Camp

Hamlet of Enterprise Economic Opportunities

Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

Tree of Peace Friendship Centre

Mineral Resource Exploration

Government Transparency and Open Government

Rental Assessments in Nunakput

Bill C-92: An Act Respecting First Nations, Inuit and Metis Children, Youth and Families

Application of the Government of the Northwest Territories Affirmative Action Policy

COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout

Application of the Government of the Northwest Territories Affirmative Action Policy

Gaps in Emergency Services

Legislative Lethargy

Rental Assessments in Nunakput

Colorectal Cancer Awareness

Hamlet of Enterprise Economic Opportunities

Funding for the Tree of Peace and Non-Government Organizations

Government of the Northwest Territories Open Government Portal

Bill C-92: An Act Respecting First Nations, Inuit and Metis Children, Youth and Families

Mineral Resource Exploration and Development

Return to Written Question 22-19(2): Financial Obligations for the Ekati Mine to the Government of the Northwest Territories

Committee Report 10-19(2): Report on Bill 3: An Act to Amend the Public Highways Act

Motion to Receive Committee Report 9-19(2) and Move into Committee of the Whole

Tabled Document 329-19(2): Summary of GNWT Response to Dominion Diamond Mines Creditor Protection Process and Ekati Diamond Mine Sale Tabled Document 330-19(2): Outstanding Payments Dominion Diamond Group of Companies/Arctic Canadian Diamond Company as of February 3, 2021 Tabled Document 331-19(2): Executive Summary - Public Procurement Policies for the Government of the Northwest Territories Tabled Document 332-19(2): Discussion Paper for the Review of Public Procurement Policies for the Government of the Northwest Territories Tabled Document 333-19(2): Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 494-19(2): Economic Recovery

Tabled Document 334-19(2): Letter dated February 24, 2021, from Midwives Association of the Northwest Territories to Minister of Health and Social Services regarding Increased Funding for Midwifery Services in the 2021/2022 Budget

Systemic Racism

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Tabled Document 286-19(2): Main Estimates 2021-2022 - Health and Social Services - Deferral of Department (page 169)

Report Of Committee Of The Whole

Orders Of The Day

Committee Motion 81-19(2): Tabled Document 286-19(2): Main Estimates 2021-2022 - Health and Social Services - Deferral of Department (page 169), Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 2217

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Member for Great Slave.

Page 2217

Katrina Nokleby Great Slave

Thank you, Madam Chair. No. I think I'm good. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Page 2217

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Any further questions under asset management? Member for Frame Lake.

Page 2217

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Madam Chair. On page 236, I see a few areas where funding is actually declining: facilities and properties in the program detail, and then contract services and purchase services in the expenditure category. Can someone explain to me, as we build more and more assets and we just had the largest capital budget ever, how these are declining over time? Thanks, Madam Chair.

Page 2217

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. Minister of Infrastructure.

Page 2217

Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Madam Chair. Under the facilities and properties, there was a decrease of just over $1 million, which meant that there was a transfer of some of the property management budget to the regions where some of the functions were carried out. We also have to consider some amortization costs to some of the buildings, as well. The variance there that we're looking at is for vacant positions for 2019-2020 for facilities and properties of about $400,000. There is also a surplus in the GNWT building assets being delayed and not really pushed into service until this fiscal year, about $200,000. Also, the operation and maintenance expenditures for facility risk management, so again, some of the deferred maintenance as well as property management. In terms of the contract services, yes, I see there is a decrease in the budget. Sorry, Madam Chair, that was his second question. There is a decrease in the budget, and part of that is the internal transfer to the budget regional operations activity. That's where the work was performed. There is a decrease, and there is transfer. There is also a sunset of the Northern Transportation Adaptation Initiative. Those were some of the reductions in the costs. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Page 2217

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. Member for Frame Lake.

Page 2217

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Madam Chair. Those are pretty good briefing notes, if the Minister ever wants to share them. I think she answered the first two areas. What about purchased services? Is there some reason for the decline there between 2020-2021 and what is forecast for next year? Thanks, Madam Chair.

Page 2217

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. Minister.

March 1st, 2021

Page 2217

Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Madam Chair. I was quickly able to find those numbers right in front of me, but I'm going to get ADM Brennan to answer that one.

Page 2217

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Mr. Brennan.

Page 2218

Brennan

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes. The decrease in purchase services is related to the money that was transferred to the regional operations. About $1 million or so of money that was held in headquarters was for work being delivered in the region, so we transferred the money into the regions. About $150,000 of that was related to purchase services, so there should be a corresponding increase in regional operations. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Page 2218

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Mr. Brennan. Member for Frame Lake.

Page 2218

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Madam Chair, and thanks for that information. How do we pay for maintenance on highways? Is it found here, or is it found in the capital budget? Thanks, Madam Chair.

Page 2218

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. Minister.

Page 2218

Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Madam Chair. It's in the operations expenditure in the main estimates.

Page 2218

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Member for Frame Lake.

Page 2218

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Madam Chair. Am I in the right section, then? No? All right. That's all I've got. Thanks, Madam Chair.

Page 2218

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Any further questions under asset management? Member for Deh Cho.

Page 2218

Ronald Bonnetrouge Deh Cho

Mahsi, Madam Chair. I was looking at your production of granular materials, although I don't quite see a line item for it. I had a question in that area. I'm not sure if that's saying that the GNWT reduces their own stockpile for granular material because I would really hope to stimulate local economies in our communities along the highway systems, whether the department can consider working with local development corporations for the supply of the granular material. It creates much needed employment and ripple effect for the business opportunities to the mechanics and everybody else. It hires local people. Considering that many locals have taken the heavy equipment operator program at the Thebacha campus in Fort Smith, I'm just wondering if the department would consider working with the communities in this regard? Mahsi.

Page 2218

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. Minister.

Page 2218

Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Madam Chair. Absolutely. If and where there is ability to be able to work with some of our community partnership, our Indigenous groups, and having a look at where we can see any improvements in services and if it's a cost saving and if there's opportunity for some training to be able to have some of the community local businesses make use of that program. Madam Chair, this is not something that's new to us. This is something that the GNWT has done in the past in terms of working. One example is the Tlicho All-Season Road, where there is opportunity to be able to partner and provide training for local residents. That was a nice success story. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Page 2218

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. Member for Deh Cho.

Page 2218

Ronald Bonnetrouge Deh Cho

I don't have any further questions, Madam Chair. That's wonderful to hear that, that they would consider that. Mahsi.

Page 2218

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Are there any further questions under asset management? Seeing no further questions, please turn to page 236, Infrastructure, asset management, operations expenditure summary, 2021-2022 Main Estimates, $18,138,000. Does committee agree?

Debates of March 1st, 2021

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