Thank you. Minister.

Thank you, Madam Chair. So, Madam Chair, there certainly are some projects that may not have advanced in 2022-2023 that have not necessarily been removed from the infrastructure acquisition plan and may then still be on that plan, which I would draw a difference of when we see the capital estimates and -- so they may -- again, we may be adjusting the capital estimates from 2022-2023 but still seeing a project on the infrastructure acquisition plan. I'll pause there, but I can also turn it to Mr. Courtoreille if the Member would like to have a greater detailed example or detailed description. Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Courtoreille.

Thank you. Member for Yellowknife North.

Thank you. That was very helpful in helping me understand why I have $54 million and we have $2.7 million. I appreciate that. I guess what this also leads me into is, is there any hope of publishing some sort of capital plan? You know, I know we have a capital acquisition plan, I know we have a capital needs assessment that goes, I believe, ten years, maybe even 30 years. I know the Department of Infrastructure has another plan with deferred maintenance and things in it. But there's nowhere I can look to kind of see what the GNWT has in the line-up and what it's planning to build. You have to really -- well, you get it on the capital estimates. That's the only place you can see that. Is there any plans going forward that we could publish what we are planning to build going forward more than one fiscal year? Thank you.

Thank you. Minister.

Thank you, Madam Chair. So, Madam Chair, this is an area where I know there's been a point of discord, perhaps, in the past. There is a hesitancy in putting too much information out as I provided this explanation in response in the past, because we only firstly appropriate year by year. So until something is in the capital plan and not just the infrastructure acquisition plan, but the actual capital estimates, then we can appropriate for the year through the capital estimates so there's a hesitancy to put anything out in advance of that because it hasn't been approved by the Legislative Assembly and because going forward, the budgets would therefore not have been approved by the Legislative Assembly. So that is the standing hesitation. I know certainly not the only government that takes that approach. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you. Member for Yellowknife North.

Yeah, I guess, is there any willingness -- you know, I guess -- to me, you could publish capital needs assessment and it doesn't mean that you're going to build the things and then we know that our capital needs assessment is billions more dollars than we could ever hope to have. But it would be nice to publicly actually say that, to say that we have $3 billion in needs and we're spending $250 million. Is there any hope of the needs assessment actually being published? Thank you.

Thank you. Minister.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I think that actually may be a slight deviation from what we've heard in the past. Let me take that back to not only the Department of Finance but infrastructure and possibly executive. That is a much bigger question. I mean, even a needs assessment obviously would be not a small thing to perhaps have to coordinate between all the different departments and regions. But let me get -- I'll certainly commit to coming back with a more conferred response with all departments. Thank you.

Thank you. Member for Great Slave.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I'm going to probably reiterate a few things that my colleagues have said, but I too am disappointed to see the amount of money lapsing. While I do recognize and understand the government's explanation that this money will come back in future years, what it represents to me is money that was not put into our economy oftentimes at the inability of the government and departments to do their jobs properly or to get things out the door on time that then has caused communities to suffer financially. A great example I keep bringing up is the Tulita Health Centre. I keep being told that the reason it hasn't moved forward is because of COVID. Well, it's 2023 now. The community has not been keeping people out of the community for the last -- at least a year, if not longer, and the project has not moved forward. That project could have been done even during COVID, with proper safety protocols in place, and that money could have then been injected into the Northwest Territories economy and the local economy of Tulita. And it's an opportunity that's lost.

When I look at the Department of Infrastructure, I see many opportunities lost - opportunities to keep our residents employed, opportunities to inject federal cash into our territory, opportunities to improve our infrastructure, and just basically improve the quality of life for our residents. And so to me, again, this is a terrible -- like, it's a shame that this money is being lost. It's being moved forward, yes, but we've already had conversations numerous times this session about what the power of that dollar buys you anymore. So as the infrastructure department continues to put off building things, those costs of those projects in all departments skyrocket, and we now are sitting at things that are costing two, three, four times the amount that they were just a year or two ago. So this $54 million that's now going to come back at a later date will not be worth the $54 million that it is worth right now. And honestly, I think it's the failing of our government. I have no questions. Thank you.

Thank you. Are there any further general comments? Seeing none, we will review the supplementary estimates by department. Does committee agree to proceed to the detailed contained in the tabled document?

Committee, we will begin on page 5. Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 2, 2023-2024, Department of Education, Culture and Employment, operations expenditures, junior kindergarten to grade 12, school services, not previously authorized, $659,000. Does committee agree?

Supplementary estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 2, 2023-2024, Department of Education, Culture and Employment, operations expenditures, labour development and advanced education, not previously authorized, $2,570,000. Does committee agree?

Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 2, 2023-2024, Department of Education, Culture and Employment operations expenditures, total department, not previously authorized, $3,229,000. Does committee agree?

Thank you. Please turn to page 6. Supplementary estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 2, 2023-2024, Department of Health and Social Services, operations expenditures, long term and continuing care services, not previously authorized, $2,555,000. Does committee agree? Member for Great Slave.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I would be remiss to let $2.5 million go by and not ask a question. So can the Minister tell me does she know when this work will be complete? Thank you, Madam Chair.