Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Minister for that answer. I hope that there's an opportunity to at least break down the contract a bit then to get the work started if need be. I guess my next question is that because there is a bit of a delay now in this project, and I'm guessing because the Minister answered that we're going until 2028 with the funding that we're not in any sort of danger of losing that federal funding if we're a little bit slower with the project than planned? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the last thing we want is to be able to lose some of these projects going forward, especially if that's our priority to advance. However, we still need to work through some of the procurement processes to be able to work with the contractor, our Department of Finance, perhaps go back to the feds and have a relook at some of the funding options. We'll also be chatting with Canada because we feel like this is important, it is a priority, so. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, if that road or a portion of that road opens in this Assembly, will the Minister commit to taking me for the opening? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Absolutely. I mean, this is a big advancement and we're hoping to also proceed on to some of the other projects up the Mackenzie Valley Highway. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Written questions. Returns to written questions. Replies to the Commissioner's address. Petitions. Tabling of documents. Minister responsible for Finance.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following three documents: Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2021-2022; Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 2021-2022; and the Northwest Territories Tourism 2022-2023 Marketing Plan. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister. Tabling of documents. Member for Thebacha.

Thank you, Member for Thebacha. Tabling of documents. Notices of motion. Motions. Notices of motion for the first reading of bills. First reading of bills. Second reading of bills. Consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters, Bill 23, Bill 29, Bill 38; Member's Statement 202-19(2); Tabled Document 561-19(2); Tabled Document 567-19(2).

Colleagues, by the authority given to me as Speaker by Motion 1-19(2), I hereby authorize to sit beyond the daily hours of adjournment to consider the business before the House, with Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes in the chair.

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

Merci, Madam la Presidente. Committee wishes to consider Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023, with Infrastructure and Education, Culture and Employment. Mahsi, Madam Chair.

Thank you. Does committee agree?

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

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I'll now call Committee of the Whole back to order. Committee, we've agreed to consider Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023, and we are doing the Department of Infrastructure. Does the Minister of Infrastructure have any opening remarks?

Yes, I do, and someone took them off my desk so I'll just find my set here.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I'm here to present the 20 -- that's not off to a good start, I apologize. We're here until 8.

I'm here today to present the 2022-2023 Main Estimates for the Department of Infrastructure. Overall, the department's estimates propose a consistent budget of the 2021-2022 Main Estimates of $278.8 million. These estimates support the mandate objectives for the Department of Infrastructure while continuing to meet the GNWT's fiscal objectives to prioritize responsible and strategic spending.

Highlights of these proposed estimates include:

• Forced growth increase of $2.3 million. This includes $1.1 million in leases, $370,000 in community airport contracts, $478,000 in winter salt, and two new positions: $163,000 for occupational health and safety in South Slave region, and $135,000 for the new highway transportation officer for North Slave, including the new Tlicho Highway.
• Also included are sunsets of $7.9 million. This amount consists of a $7.6 million cash flow adjustment for the Low Carbon Economy Leadership Fund, $175,000 of lease associated with the Stanton physiotherapy space, and $165,000 for the department climate change specialist position that is related to the 2030 NWT Climate Change Strategic Framework.
• Other adjustments include a net increase of $6.5 million, which includes a $4.7 million adjustment to the Low Carbon Economy Leadership Fund, when netted against the related sunset, which is a $2.9 million dollar decrease in 2022-2023 to adjust funds into later years. It also includes a $1.8 million for collective agreement increases, and a reduction of funding for travel of $304,000.

These estimates continue to support the priorities of the 19th Assembly and support the vision of the Budget 2020 by investing in and modernizing strategic and NWT airport infrastructure, which connects our communities, promoting energy efficiency and sustainability, all while continuing to prioritize and responsible spending.

• The department will work towards our goals outlined in the 2030 Energy Strategy and will again provide $2.74 million in core funding to the Arctic Energy Alliance.
• The NWT-wide energy programs, include those that are delivered by Arctic Energy continue to be supplemented through the Low Carbon Economy Leadership Fund, which was extended for an additional two years, to March of 2024.
• The Yellowknife Airport Revolving Fund has withstood recent challenges and continues to support the development of a 20-year master plan to guide short, medium, and long-term planning in support of economic growth and sustainability.
• The department will also maintain its annual investment of $1.5 million of financial contributions to communities through the community access program. This helps support improvements to local transportation infrastructure such as access and winter roads, marine facilities, trails, while providing communities with direct employment, skill development opportunities, and economic and capacity-building benefits.

That concludes my opening remarks, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister. And we will be going in the order as it is in the main estimates. So do you wish to bring witnesses into the House?

Yes, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses into the Chamber.

Minister, will you please introduce your witnesses.

Thank you, Madam Chair. With me today, I have Mr. Steve Loutitt, deputy minister of Infrastructure closest to me. And Mr. Gary Brennan, the ADM of regional operations. When we get to the energy and strategic initiatives activity, Madam Chair, if we can switch out Mr. Loutitt.

Just remind me when we get there if I forget, okay. Thank you.

Committee has agreed to forego general comments. Does committee agree to proceed to the detailed contained in the tabled document? Committee, we'll defer the departmental summary and review the estimates by activity summary beginning with the asset management starting on page 239 with information items on page 242. Questions. Member for Kam Lake.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I'm looking on page 240 under transportation, and during the 2020-2021 actuals, there was quite a significant increase to the cost associated with transportation. And then that number has now come down again for the main estimates for 2022-2023. I'm wondering if the Minister can speak to what caused that large jump in the actuals for last year. Thank you.

Thank you, Member. Minister of Infrastructure.