This is page numbers 4401 - 4448 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.

Topics

Tabled Document 658-19(2): Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 1, 2022-2023
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 4442

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Committee, please turn to page 12 of the tabled document. Department of Infrastructure.

Infrastructure, programs and services, not previously authorized, $8,065,000. Does committee agree? Member for Frame Lake.

Tabled Document 658-19(2): Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 1, 2022-2023
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 4442

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Madam Chair. I guess I've seen a lot of money kind of moved around, shuffled around within this Low Carbon Economy Leadership Fund agreement. And it looks like we're not able, quite frankly, to get money out the door. Maybe the criteria for accessing this money don't allow for folks to access it; I just don't really understand what the problems are. Can I get an explanation here. Thanks, Madam Chair.

Tabled Document 658-19(2): Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 1, 2022-2023
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 4442

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Minister of Finance.

Tabled Document 658-19(2): Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 1, 2022-2023
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 4442

Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, there were a number of reasons -- well, there's a number of different funds operated, as the Member has indicated, and the different funds, there was different reasons why they may not have gone all out initially. But it is my understanding now that with COVID-19 behind us and various challenges associated to that that there should be some money going out.

There's initiatives, including Arctic Energy Alliance programs, GHG grant programs. There was some low uptake under the industry buildings GHG grant program but, again, my understanding is that some of that was capacity that has now been resolved. And as well building retrofits and carbon sequestration which was led by ENR are all now, is my understanding, anticipating that they will be able to utilize these dollars in full. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Tabled Document 658-19(2): Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 1, 2022-2023
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 4442

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. Member for Frame Lake.

Tabled Document 658-19(2): Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 1, 2022-2023
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 4442

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Madam Chair. Can someone tell me, then, this commercial and industrial Greenhouse Gas Grant Fund, what is all about and who can actually access it? Thanks, Madam Chair.

Tabled Document 658-19(2): Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 1, 2022-2023
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 4442

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Minister of Finance.

Tabled Document 658-19(2): Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 1, 2022-2023
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 4442

Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

Madam Chair, I believe that the industry and buildings GHG grant fund or grant program, and that, Madam Chair, would be an application-based grant program to support energy efficiency, renewable energy, and fuel substitution in industry and commercial buildings. So, Madam Chair, that is -- and by application-based. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Tabled Document 658-19(2): Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 1, 2022-2023
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 4442

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Member for Frame Lake.

Tabled Document 658-19(2): Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 1, 2022-2023
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 4442

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Madam Chair. The money for the Arctic Energy Alliance programs and services, it just kind of fluctuates up and down. And I know I've raised the issue of at least one federal program that requires an energy audit by certified auditors, and there's only one or two of them or something here in the Northwest Territories. How do we increase the access to some of these programs that Arctic Energy Alliance is running? And has there been any progress made on a requirement of an audit before you do something and then again afterwards. Thanks, Madam Chair.

Tabled Document 658-19(2): Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 1, 2022-2023
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 4442

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Minister of Finance.

Tabled Document 658-19(2): Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 1, 2022-2023
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 4443

Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I think, you know, with respect to the administration of the program, that is probably a question best left to the department. I can certainly direct it to my colleague, or I can certainly undertake to ensure that, now that we are seeking to move this money forward, that the departments that are involved, both Infrastructure and ENR, are doing so mindful of the fact that we want to get the money out the door. So taking the comments around the availability of assessors into account when we do that. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Tabled Document 658-19(2): Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 1, 2022-2023
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 4443

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. Member for Frame Lake.

Tabled Document 658-19(2): Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 1, 2022-2023
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 4443

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Madam Chair. Yes, I would actually like to hear from the Minister of Infrastructure about that if that's at all possible. Thanks, Madam Chair.

Tabled Document 658-19(2): Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 1, 2022-2023
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 4443

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Minister of Infrastructure.

Tabled Document 658-19(2): Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 1, 2022-2023
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

June 1st, 2022

Page 4443

Diane Archie

Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Madam Chair. My computer just locked up so I'll try and give this a shot. It won't do anything for me.

The Arctic Energy Alliance, you know, we did have -- we're in the process of training some of the staff. There is a federal requirement in terms of, you know, what sort of training is required. But we have two that are in the process of getting trained to be able to keep up to the amount of work requests that we're seeking. Thank you.

Tabled Document 658-19(2): Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 1, 2022-2023
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 4443

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Member for Frame Lake.

Tabled Document 658-19(2): Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 1, 2022-2023
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 4443

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Madam Chair. Yes, once the Minister's able to get her computer unlocked, I'd be happy to get more information on that. Thanks, Madam Chair.

Tabled Document 658-19(2): Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 1, 2022-2023
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 4443

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. Did you have any further questions for the Minister?

We'll get that commitment from the Minister of Infrastructure to get back to us with that information. Thank you. Member for Frame Lake.

Tabled Document 658-19(2): Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 1, 2022-2023
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 4443

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Madam Chair, I think I saw the Minister shaking her head vigorously yes, so happy to take that commitment. And that's all I got on this item. Thanks.

Tabled Document 658-19(2): Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 1, 2022-2023
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 4443

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Member for Yellowknife North.

Tabled Document 658-19(2): Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 1, 2022-2023
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 4443

Rylund Johnson

Rylund Johnson Yellowknife North

Thank you, Madam Chair. I've got a rather specific question about the Active Carbon Sequestration and Forestry Fund.

My understanding is this was initially a 2019 election promise by the prime minister to plant two billion trees, that's where it started I believe, and then we, for a number of years, couldn't spend it because there's a long standing kind of policy in ENR that we don't actually do tree planting and reforestation. It's a -- we wait for the forest to naturally regrow itself. But now it appears we are spending that money and replanting some trees. So if someone could just tell me the total amount we're spending on tree planting and what -- how that kind of changed or where we're planting trees, anything about this, really. Thank you.

Tabled Document 658-19(2): Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 1, 2022-2023
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 4443

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. Minister of Finance, do you have --

Tabled Document 658-19(2): Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 1, 2022-2023
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 4443

Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

I just might, Madam Chair. Thank you.

So 2021-2022, I have nothing in front of me indicates a firm policy against planting of trees. And 2021-2022 ENR, in fact, exceeded their budget by $28,000 and change and are planning to continue to do this, to plant trees and to participate in this program.

This is mostly summer field work, which is why there were some delays in terms of the timing of the funds flowing out. But again, as I've indicated, it's certainly my understanding that they will be able to make use of the dollars by doing so in a way that, you know, accounts for the northern climate and for the kinds of environment that we have here. So that may, you know -- I hope that provides the Member enough assurance that we'll be participating in that fund. Thank you.

Tabled Document 658-19(2): Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 1, 2022-2023
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 4443

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. Member for Yellowknife North.