Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I'm obviously in support of the capital estimates for 2024-2025. I am. I'd like to give you some details as to why and to the process by which we've arrived here today. These estimates, Madam Chair, propose a total investment, as you know, of more than $361 million for infrastructure in the Northwest Territories and to continue the work that's already being completed on a number of key infrastructure projects across the territory. This includes some large-scale infrastructure needs like the replacement of the Frank Channel bridge, the extension of the Inuvik runway, and the construction of a territorial fire centre, while also still supporting smaller capital projects in communities across the Northwest Territories.
I want to reiterate how much of the planned infrastructure expenditures are supported by federal infrastructure funding programs, with almost 53 percent of this capital budget being eligible for reimbursement under federal programs. We know that capital investment, such as capital roadwork, provides ongoing work for small and medium-sized businesses across the territory. On the topic of roads, Madam Chair, I would note in looking back over the last three capital budgets, the percentage of the capital budget that's being spent on roads, roads that resupply and maintain our transportation connectivity across the territory that is larger than many European countries, that percentage has, in fact, decreased every year including to this year.
I am pleased that, once again, these capital estimates continue to address capital work that is realistic and achievable, within a departmental cap of $260 million, while addressing the priorities and needs of residents through established funding streams on top of that, such as biomedical and information technology, as well as preserving funding available for planning to ensure that our future capital budgets are built on well planned and carefully vetted projects. This also provides better accountability for the projects that are moving forward because a stronger review process that involves and engages all departments is better equipped to ensure that the needs of the territory as a whole are considered. There is also less room for one person or one interest to move something forward that does not reflect a fair assessment of the risks and needs affecting the whole territory.
Madam Chair, this is the eighth budget that I have put forward in my role as the Minister of Finance, the fourth capital budget. The process for both capital and mains is similar. It includes an in-camera briefing with committees followed by ongoing in-camera discussions between the chair, deputy chair of Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight, and myself, all aimed at finding consensus towards the passing of the budget, be it the mains or capital.
This process is one that I believe reflects the values of consensus government. We share significant information with Members of the House and discuss collectively what changes should be made to better reflect or advance priorities on behalf of the people of the Northwest Territories.
In our recent discussions, many people's attentions are quite reasonably still on the impacts of the wildfire season and resulting evacuations. However, I will note I am not able at capital budget to increase operations budgets. In some past years, I made commitments during the capital process to bring forward an operational supplementary appropriation but being at the end of the 19th Legislative Assembly, there will not be any further operations supplementary budgets done or by the 19th Legislative Assembly.
That said, I can commit or redirect resources that are already available in department budgets. And I am pleased to announce that the GNWT is committing a total of $200,000 to support food banks and organizations that support food security in communities that were affected by evacuations this summer. We understand the impacts the wildfires and subsequent evacuations have had on residents and on communities who were hosting residents, many of which were already food insecure.
The response to the GNWT wildfires and evacuations was comprehensive and substantial. We ensured there was accommodations, food, basic amenities, and travel supports, and we have also put $550,000 towards nonprofit organizations who are often better placed to help individual residents with specific or personal needs, may have made them less able to rely on the supports that were otherwise available to all residents. Hopefully, these additional funds now to assist with food security will also help local organizations assist with individual needs.
Madam Chair, I am also very pleased to share with this House that the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment is expanding its support for businesses impacted by the wildfires and evacuations by increasing the amount of funding available under its Support for Entrepreneurs and Economic Development Program up to $2 million. The maximum amounts available to businesses will double for Yellowknife businesses, go to $15,000 for Fort Smith, and up to $20,000 for Hay River and K'atlodeeche First Nation, reflective of the lengths of times that each were under evacuation orders over this summer. Further, the period of eligible expenses will extend two weeks past the end of an evacuation order. A formal announcement with these details will be out as soon as possible, and the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment will work directly with businesses who may want or need to see a revision of any previous applications or amounts received.
These additions are yet another result of consensus government. Earlier in the life of the 19th Legislative Assembly through the process, the consensus process of discussing and negotiating every one of our budgets, we have collectively advanced other important initiatives, such as the early childhood infrastructure fund, increases to Housing NWT's operations and maintenance programs, and some of the initial funding for the homelessness strategy, just to name a few.
What is common throughout all of this, we are able to act collectively to increase funding strategically. We all have residents that we represent with needs that are not uniform across the whole of the Northwest Territories. And there are communities, and we all represent communities, in some cases we represent several communities, with needs that, again, are often different from one to the next. But we are collectively able, when we work together, to find areas of sufficiently common concern or agree on areas where the need is greater. I am proud to have been part of the consensus government of the Northwest Territories that has been so consistently represented throughout budget discussions. Thank you, Madam Chair.