Welcome. Member for Frame Lake.
Debates of March 8th, 2023
This is page numbers 5763 - 5826 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
Committee Motion 377-19(2): Committee Report 45-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on Bill 60: An Act to Amend the Petroleum Products and Carbon Tax Act - Government Response to Recommendations, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
March 8th
Page 5785
Committee Motion 377-19(2): Committee Report 45-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on Bill 60: An Act to Amend the Petroleum Products and Carbon Tax Act - Government Response to Recommendations, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
March 8th
Page 5785
Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake
Thanks, Madam Chair. On page 265, the energy line, it kind of bounces all over the place, you know, as low as $9 million -- or about $10 million, as high as almost $20 million. Can someone explain to me what is happening here? Thanks, Madam Chair.
Committee Motion 377-19(2): Committee Report 45-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on Bill 60: An Act to Amend the Petroleum Products and Carbon Tax Act - Government Response to Recommendations, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
March 8th
Page 5785
Committee Motion 377-19(2): Committee Report 45-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on Bill 60: An Act to Amend the Petroleum Products and Carbon Tax Act - Government Response to Recommendations, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
March 8th
Page 5785
Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake
Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, as I mentioned in my opening marks, that we did have some funds that are moving back and forth between the energy section. I'm going to ask Ms. Lee to be able to speak a little bit more about the transactions. Thank you.
Committee Motion 377-19(2): Committee Report 45-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on Bill 60: An Act to Amend the Petroleum Products and Carbon Tax Act - Government Response to Recommendations, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
March 8th
Page 5785
Committee Motion 377-19(2): Committee Report 45-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on Bill 60: An Act to Amend the Petroleum Products and Carbon Tax Act - Government Response to Recommendations, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
March 8th
Page 5785
Lee
Thank you, Madam Chair. So there is some fluctuation, as the Member has stated, on the energy line there. And the main driver for that actually is updates to the appropriations for our LCELF program so our LCELF program being funded by the federal government. We do have to ensure that we have access and appropriations to utilize the LCELF funding. And because it is driven by application base, there are times where we would need to move the flow of funds in order to continue accessing that money. So we do see some fluctuations but really it is to maximize our ability to utilize LCELF funding. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Committee Motion 377-19(2): Committee Report 45-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on Bill 60: An Act to Amend the Petroleum Products and Carbon Tax Act - Government Response to Recommendations, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
March 8th
Page 5785
Committee Motion 377-19(2): Committee Report 45-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on Bill 60: An Act to Amend the Petroleum Products and Carbon Tax Act - Government Response to Recommendations, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
March 8th
Page 5785
Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake
Thanks, Madam Chair. So if I wasn't confused before, I am now. I know that LCELF is Low Carbon Economy Leadership fund. It's federal money. So what's the issue here - we can't get the projects out the door? They keep changing the program? What's the issue here? Thanks, Madam Chair.
Committee Motion 377-19(2): Committee Report 45-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on Bill 60: An Act to Amend the Petroleum Products and Carbon Tax Act - Government Response to Recommendations, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
March 8th
Page 5785
Committee Motion 377-19(2): Committee Report 45-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on Bill 60: An Act to Amend the Petroleum Products and Carbon Tax Act - Government Response to Recommendations, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
March 8th
Page 5785
Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake
Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I'm going to start by just saying that this is an application base. And I'm going to ask Mr. Jenkins to just speak a little bit more about the Member's question. Thanks.
Committee Motion 377-19(2): Committee Report 45-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on Bill 60: An Act to Amend the Petroleum Products and Carbon Tax Act - Government Response to Recommendations, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
March 8th
Page 5785
Committee Motion 377-19(2): Committee Report 45-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on Bill 60: An Act to Amend the Petroleum Products and Carbon Tax Act - Government Response to Recommendations, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
March 8th
Page 5785
Jenkins
Thank you, Madam Chair. So the Low Carbon Economy Leadership Fund, so that's a fund that started back in 2018. It was originally for four years for $31.2 million. It was extended for an additional two years. And as the Minister mentioned, it's largely an application-based program for energy efficiency for buildings and other things. Really, uptake has been a challenge over the past few years and some of the variations in budgets, as the Member mentioned, is moving funds forward so we have the ability to utilize those funds and move them forward three years. And the program was extended for an additional two years but the amount of money from the federal government did not increase. So it was carried forward to those additional years. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Committee Motion 377-19(2): Committee Report 45-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on Bill 60: An Act to Amend the Petroleum Products and Carbon Tax Act - Government Response to Recommendations, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
March 8th
Page 5785
Committee Motion 377-19(2): Committee Report 45-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on Bill 60: An Act to Amend the Petroleum Products and Carbon Tax Act - Government Response to Recommendations, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
March 8th
Page 5785
Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake
Okay, thanks, Madam Chair. Yeah, I think have some vague memory of some of this. There's kind of like four pots of money or something. And so is the -- I think we got the money. Is this, like, application-based by third parties and is it an issue of us -- you know, I don't know, maybe a combination of things - COVID, supply chain stuff, people weren't applying, or do we need to better communicate what the parameters are of this, and maybe evaluate submissions faster? I'm just trying to understand where -- what the block or the barriers are. Thanks, Madam Chair.
Committee Motion 377-19(2): Committee Report 45-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on Bill 60: An Act to Amend the Petroleum Products and Carbon Tax Act - Government Response to Recommendations, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
March 8th
Page 5785
Committee Motion 377-19(2): Committee Report 45-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on Bill 60: An Act to Amend the Petroleum Products and Carbon Tax Act - Government Response to Recommendations, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
March 8th
Page 5785
Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake
Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, some of it is application-based and, you know, we've done more outreach to be able to look at the program. And I'm going to ask Mr. Jenkins if he can speak a little bit more to that. Thanks.
Committee Motion 377-19(2): Committee Report 45-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on Bill 60: An Act to Amend the Petroleum Products and Carbon Tax Act - Government Response to Recommendations, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
March 8th
Page 5785
Committee Motion 377-19(2): Committee Report 45-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on Bill 60: An Act to Amend the Petroleum Products and Carbon Tax Act - Government Response to Recommendations, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
March 8th
Page 5785
Jenkins
Thank you, Madam Chair. So there is six streams under the Low Carbon Economy Leadership Fund. And some of those are things like energy efficiency upgrades for public housing right through to things like active carbon sequestration in forestry. So there's different programs there. But largely there is a -- it is an application-based program. And we've been doing more outreach. We've been sort of cold calling different places. We've seen an uptake in some of the GHG grant programs for buildings and industry, and we've had some announcements now. We've got a number of projects that were announced last year on that. But it is an application-based program. We've been working hard to try to have people apply but at the end of the day, it has been a challenge through COVID. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Committee Motion 377-19(2): Committee Report 45-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on Bill 60: An Act to Amend the Petroleum Products and Carbon Tax Act - Government Response to Recommendations, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
March 8th
Page 5785
Committee Motion 377-19(2): Committee Report 45-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on Bill 60: An Act to Amend the Petroleum Products and Carbon Tax Act - Government Response to Recommendations, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
March 8th
Page 5785
Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake
Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I just want to note too that this program, there needs to be application -- or applicant input as well to be able to contribute to this program. So, I mean, yes, we do offset it but, I mean, anybody applying to the program needs to be able to be a contributor as well. Thanks.
Committee Motion 377-19(2): Committee Report 45-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on Bill 60: An Act to Amend the Petroleum Products and Carbon Tax Act - Government Response to Recommendations, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
March 8th
Page 5785
Committee Motion 377-19(2): Committee Report 45-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on Bill 60: An Act to Amend the Petroleum Products and Carbon Tax Act - Government Response to Recommendations, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
March 8th
Page 5785
Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake
Yeah, okay, thanks for that. Maybe we should just give a lot of that money to Arctic Energy Alliance and they can get it out the door more quickly.
But I do have another area I want to explore, Madam Chair, and that's the federal government, federal minister of northern affairs recently announced that a regional study would proceed for the area between Yellowknife and the border with Nunavut. And I'm just wondering what implication that has for any work that might be done by the department on -- I think it's called the Tibbitt to Lockhart Road, or whatever you're calling it these days. Thanks, Madam Chair.
Committee Motion 377-19(2): Committee Report 45-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on Bill 60: An Act to Amend the Petroleum Products and Carbon Tax Act - Government Response to Recommendations, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
March 8th
Page 5786
Committee Motion 377-19(2): Committee Report 45-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on Bill 60: An Act to Amend the Petroleum Products and Carbon Tax Act - Government Response to Recommendations, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
March 8th, 2023
Page 5786
Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake
Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, for that project, we are still continuing to gather engineering and environmental information to be able to support the application. Thanks.
Committee Motion 377-19(2): Committee Report 45-19(2): Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on Bill 60: An Act to Amend the Petroleum Products and Carbon Tax Act - Government Response to Recommendations, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
March 8th
Page 5786