This is page numbers 3755 - 3792 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 know.

Committee Motion 195-19(2): Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 Justice - Deferral of Department, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Katrina Nokleby

Katrina Nokleby Great Slave

Thank you, Madam Chair. And I appreciate both the Minister and the deputy minister's responses on the last couple of questions here. You know, and I do have faith that this is a department that is looking to do things right.

I'm just looking at the contribution funding -- going blind here. It is pretty stagnant for the partners. You know, and there's good work there - the Association of Communities; the LGANT, which has been mentioned before; and the Arctic Energy Alliance. You know, again, I see this as a great way to sort of stimulate economies as well in communities because I'm assuming if LGANT is being provided money, then they're turning around and offering programs or training or something for a community.

So can the Minister speak to whether this is fully subscribed? Is it one that's always, you know, they get it, it's set, or is it sort of -- I'm assuming they don't have do a proposal every year for the work -- or for the money. And do we want -- do we see a need to add more money here or come back for more later? Thank you.

Committee Motion 195-19(2): Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 Justice - Deferral of Department, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Minister of MACA.

Committee Motion 195-19(2): Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 Justice - Deferral of Department, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you. So my understanding is it's fully subscribed. We utilize it there. We utilize biggest bang for our dollar I guess you would say. Like anything else, any government, any department, yeah, more money would be great but we have to compete with other priorities within this government, whether it's mental health, addictions, infrastructure, education. You know, and so again, it's about trying to put our priorities within the government to do it. So it's not that we don't -- we have those conversations but then again we have to weigh our concerns with other priorities within this government and within the department. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Committee Motion 195-19(2): Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 Justice - Deferral of Department, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Are there any further questions under the MACA directorate? Member for Frame Lake.

Committee Motion 195-19(2): Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 Justice - Deferral of Department, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Madam Chair, on page 343 program detail, regional management, I see that there was quite a bump up in 2021-2022, $924,000. That was the revised estimates on $240,000, which was in the main. So can I get an explanation as to what that increased funding there was? I think it's probably related to COVID but I'd like to get that information from the Minister, please. Thank you.

Committee Motion 195-19(2): Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 Justice - Deferral of Department, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 3772

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Minister of MACA.

Committee Motion 195-19(2): Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 Justice - Deferral of Department, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

I believe it's not COVID; it's floods. The flood, what we were dealing with the flood. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Committee Motion 195-19(2): Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 Justice - Deferral of Department, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Member for Frame Lake.

Committee Motion 195-19(2): Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 Justice - Deferral of Department, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Okay, no, thanks very much. I appreciate that.

And then on the same page, and this is probably the same thing again, but purchased services, the revised estimates were $100,000 greater than the main estimates. So can I get an explanation there, please.

Committee Motion 195-19(2): Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 Justice - Deferral of Department, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 3772

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Minister of MACA.

Committee Motion 195-19(2): Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 Justice - Deferral of Department, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

The Member is correct, it's regarding the floods. Thank you.

Committee Motion 195-19(2): Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 Justice - Deferral of Department, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Member for Frame Lake.

Committee Motion 195-19(2): Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 Justice - Deferral of Department, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Madam Chair. And then same page, compensation and benefits, there's a $600,000 increase in the revised estimates over what was in the mains. And I presume it's probably again flood related but maybe the Minister could provide some details as well about what sort of staffing increase happened during the flooding last spring. Thanks, Madam Chair.

Committee Motion 195-19(2): Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 Justice - Deferral of Department, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 3772

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Minister of MACA.

Committee Motion 195-19(2): Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 Justice - Deferral of Department, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Yeah, so the Member is correct. It's flood related. For the detail of what we did and how we were able to address it, I will turn to the deputy minister, with your permission. Thank you.

Committee Motion 195-19(2): Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 Justice - Deferral of Department, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Deputy minister Gareau.

Committee Motion 195-19(2): Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 Justice - Deferral of Department, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

March 4th

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Gareau

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes, to add to what Minister Thompson said, we received 2021-2022's supplementary funding and special warrant funding for the flood. So you'll see it appear in our revised -- in our 2021-2022 revised estimates both in the directorate and in the public safety division when we get there. And we did hire temporary staff to help with the flood response. The funding runs out in a couple weeks, at the end of March. And all of the costs will be recoverable from the Government of Canada. So once we're done with our flood response, we will be submitting a claim and we will be eventually reimbursed for this funding. Thank you.

Committee Motion 195-19(2): Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 Justice - Deferral of Department, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

March 4th

Page 3772

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Member for Frame Lake.

Committee Motion 195-19(2): Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 Justice - Deferral of Department, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

March 4th

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Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Madam Chair. Yeah, I want to thank the Minister and the deputy minister for that. So I guess I, too, will be very optimistic that we're going to recover this money from the federal government, but I think the last time GNWT went to get emergency response funding covered was the great fire season of 2014. And as I recall, it took five years to get that money out of the feds. So what sort of timeframe are we looking at this time around? Thanks, Madam Chair.

Committee Motion 195-19(2): Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 Justice - Deferral of Department, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

March 4th

Page 3772

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Minister of MACA.

Committee Motion 195-19(2): Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 Justice - Deferral of Department, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

March 4th

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Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

I'll start, and with your permission turn to the deputy minister. I must -- that was one of our concerns when we were talking about it.

What department and staff have been doing is every time we've seen anomalies or some challenges, we've reached out to the federal government. So we said this is A, does that fit into it, does it? So we are well aware of why we're doing it. We are working on filling out the, you know, the claims and what we're able to do. But for the detail of the process that works with the federal government, I'll turn to the deputy minister. Thank you.

Committee Motion 195-19(2): Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 Justice - Deferral of Department, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

March 4th

Page 3772

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Deputy minister.

Committee Motion 195-19(2): Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 Justice - Deferral of Department, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

March 4th

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Gareau

Thank you. Yes, we've been working all along with the representatives from Public Safety Canada just to make sure that we understand their program parameters and how our -- what we've been spending fit into that. So that has definitely been helping to smooth the process. The federal staff fully understand what kind of claim we will be submitting and what types of expenditures we will be submitting for.

The other difference, too, is in the past we haven't always had dedicated staff full time to work on the flood claim and this time around, we will have a dedicated staff probably for a six or an eight-month term or casual, financial staff who that's all they will be doing is completing the claim. And the sooner we can get the claim in and start working with Canada on it, the better chance that we will have a speedy turnaround from Canada. Thank you.

Committee Motion 195-19(2): Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 Justice - Deferral of Department, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

March 4th

Page 3772

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Member for Frame Lake.

Committee Motion 195-19(2): Tabled Document 561-19(2): Main Estimates 2022-2023 Justice - Deferral of Department, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

March 4th

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Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Madam Chair, and I realize we may be slipping over into some of the stuff in the next section. But the directorate's responsible for managing, I think, a lot of this flood relief and emergency response stuff, so. What are we doing in anticipation of another potential flood in this upcoming year? Yeah, let's start with that. Thanks, Madam Chair.