This is page numbers 5827 - 5874 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

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 5842

Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

Thank you, Madam Chair. I am pleased to present the 2023-2024 Main Estimates for the Department of Finance. These estimates support the mandate objectives for the Department of Finance, while continuing to meet the Government of the Northwest Territories' fiscal objectives to prioritize responsible and strategic spending.

Overall, the department's main estimates propose an increase of $16.29 million, which is 5.1 percent over the 2022-2023 Main Estimates.

Highlights of the proposed main estimates include:

  • A $927,000 reduction to contract budgets in order to better align funding with actual expenditure levels the department has experienced in prior years;
  • $4.42 million in forced growth, mainly driven by a $2 million increase to interest expenses to accommodate the yearly interest on the long-term bond issued by the GNWT. This is in addition to a $2.3 million increase to medical travel funding associated with an increase in public service as well as growing travel costs;
  • $1.104 million to fund a health recruitment unit initiative as the GNWT works to alleviate staffing pressures in the health care system through increased focus on health professional recruitment and retention; and
  • $10.27 million in other adjustments, which include an $8.28 million increase to the carbon tax offsets provided by the government, coinciding with the increase in the carbon tax rate along with the new proposed methodology under which rebates will apply.
  • Additionally, there will be a $3.99 million increase to the contribution amounts provided to Housing NWT to support their efforts in addressing housing needs across the territory.

These estimates continue to support the priorities of the 19th Legislative Assembly and vision of Budget 2023, by:

  • Supporting strategic investments to expand the economy and reduce the cost of living in communities across the Northwest Territories through the development and improvement of reliable broadband services;
  • Continuing to deliver and improve procurement services and contracting opportunities; and,
  • Ensuring that GNWT departments have the support they require to manage both human and financial resources appropriately.

That concludes my opening remarks, Madam Chair.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 5842

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. Do you wish to bring witnesses into the House?

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 5842

Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

Yes, please.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 5842

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Sergeant-at-arms, please escort the witnesses in.

Minister, please introduce your witnesses.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 5842

Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, on my left is deputy minister Bill MacKay. And on my right is deputy secretary to the financial management board Terence Courtoreille.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 5842

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Welcome. Does committee agree to proceed to the detail contained in the tabled document?

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 5842

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 5842

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Committee, we will defer departmental summary and review the estimates by activity summary beginning with directorate, starting on page 154 with information items on page 155 and 156. Are there any questions under the directorate? Member for Frame Lake.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

March 9th

Page 5842

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Madam Chair. On page 155, there's a line item that says social justice fund. That sounds pretty cool. Can the Minister tell us what that money's used for? Thanks, Madam Chair.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

March 9th

Page 5842

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Minister.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

March 9th

Page 5842

Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

Thank you, Madam Chair. This was negotiated as part of the collective agreement some years ago, and it goes to the Public Service Alliance's of Canada social justice fund, and 50 percent of that goes to United Way Northwest Territories.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

March 9th

Page 5842

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Member for Frame Lake.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

March 9th

Page 5842

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Madam Chair. So the remaining 50 percent stays with the PSAC social justice fund, and they disburse that; is that correct? Thank you, Madam Chair.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

March 9th

Page 5842

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Minister.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

March 9th

Page 5842

Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

Madam Chair, I'm going to have the deputy minister describe the fund, please.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

March 9th

Page 5842

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Deputy minister.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

March 9th

Page 5842

Mackay

Thank you, Madam Chair. So as the Minister said, there's matching contributions made by the Government of the Northwest Territories to the social justice fund with 50 percent of the contributions allocated to the United Way Northwest Territories and 50 percent are allocated to different causes that the union chooses but I don't have those exact areas that they go in at hand. Thank you.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

March 9th

Page 5842

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Member for Frame Lake.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

March 9th

Page 5842

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

No, thanks. Okay, that's good. The housing corporation line just above that, I probably asked this before but how is that kind of actually calculated? Does the housing corporation present a budget to the Department of Finance or FMB, then it's approved or reviewed somehow? Yeah, let's start with that. Thanks, Madam Chair.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

March 9th

Page 5843

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Minister.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

March 9th

Page 5843

Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, essentially the main estimates that would have been seen by the House earlier in the Committee of the Whole process is what comes through financial management board and gets approval. So it's a similar process, although because the corporation not housing another department, that's why it -- the money shows up here going through the Department of Finance. Thank you.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

March 9th

Page 5843

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Member for Frame Lake.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

March 9th

Page 5843

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Okay. So I'm just trying to understand, does the housing corp just say this is our budget, or is there any review of that by FMB and/or Department of Finance? Thanks, Madam Chair.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

March 9th

Page 5843

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Minister.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

March 9th

Page 5843

Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

Thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair. So it goes through the same process as every other department would in terms of going to FMB and being analyzed by management board secretariat. Thank you.