Debates of Sept. 28th, 2023

This is page numbers 6501 - 6564 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

Oral Questions
Members Present
Prayer
2023 Energy Strategy Implementation
Building Capacity in Small Communities
Northwest Territories Fiscal Update
Historic 2023 Wildfire Season
Union of Northern Workers Bargaining
Federal Disaster Assistance Funding
Gender Equality in Politics
Wildfires
Regulatory Capture
Inuvik Wind Project
Community Fire Breaks
Government of the Northwest Territories Crisis Communication
Impact of Taltson Expansion on Rocher River
Taltson Business Case
Eulogy for Melvin Sake
Eulogy for Noah Carpenter
Reflections on the 19th Assembly
Return to Oral Question 1548-19(2): Indian Day Schools
Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Negotiation with Union of Northern Workers
Federal Disaster Assistance Funding
Impact of Taltson Expansion on Rocher River
Community Fire Breaks
Government of the Northwest Territories Crisis Communication
Taltson Business Case
Wildfires and Mining Sector
Inuvik Wind Project
Mining Regulations
Transmission Line to Whati
Bill 83: Liquor Act
Bill 92: An Act to Amend the Petroleum Products and Carbon Tax Act, No. 3
Reports Of Standing And Special Committees
Committee Report 65-19(2): Report on Bill 83, Liquor Act
Committee Report 66-19(2): Report on Review of Bill 92: Petroleum Products and Carbon Tax Act, No. 3
Committee Report 67-19(2): Report on the Review of 2021/2022 Public Accounts
Committee Report 68-19(2): Report on the Review of 2022 Audit of Addictions Prevention and Recovery Services, No. 2,
Committee Report 69-19(2): Report on the Review of Early Childhood to Grade 12 Education, No. 2, Carried, Received, Deemed Read, and Adopted
Committee Report 70-19(2): Report on the Review of the 2021-2022 Annual Report of the Information and Privacy Commissioner
Committee Report 71-19(2): Report on the Review of the 2021-2022 Annual Report of the Ombud
Committee Report 72-19(2): Report on the Review of the 2021-2022 Annual Report of the Languages Commission,
Committee Report 73-19(2): Report on the Review of the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 Annual Reports of the Northwest Territories Human Rights Commission
Tabled Document 999-19(2): What We Heard - Affirmative Action Policy Review Tabled Document 1000-19(2): Public Service Annual Report 2022/2023 Tabled Document 1001-19(2): 69th Annual Report 2022-2023 NWT Liquor Licensing Board Tabled Document 1002-19(2): 69th Annual Report 2022-2023 NWT Liquor and Cannabis Commission
Tabled Document 1003-19(2): Department of Justice Corrections Service Annual Report 2022-2023
Tabled Document 1004-19(2): Conference of Management Authorities Species at Risk Annual Report 2022-2023 Tabled Document 1005-19(2): Northwest Territories Species at Risk Committee Annual Report 2022-2023
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Report Of Committee Of The Whole
Bill 82: Legal Profession Act
Recorded Vote
Orders Of The Day

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Members, please return now to the departmental summary found on page 23.

Department of Environment and Climate Change, 2024-2025 Capital Estimates, $21,078,000. Does committee agree?

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

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

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Does committee agree that consideration of the Department of Environment and Climate Change is now complete?

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, committee. Committee, we will now be considering the Department of Finance. Did you wish to change your witnesses?

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Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

Yes, thank you, Madam Chair.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Sergeant-at-arms, please escort the witness from the Chamber. All right. Welcome back, Ms. Melanson. We will now consider the Department of Finance which begins on page 33. We will defer the department totals and review the estimates by activity summary beginning on page 34 with Management Board Secretariat with information items on page 35. Are there any questions? Member for Frame Lake.

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Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Madam Chair. So is there anyone else bringing money into this fibre link to Tuk? Is there any other outside funding? Thank you.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Minister.

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Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes, Madam Chair, the federal government is a fairly significant partner in this project. I believe that we are still sitting at approximately 75/25 percent on this, but let me just pause to the deputy minister to see if I'm correct. I'm correct with that.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Member for Frame Lake.

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Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks. If I remember correctly, though, I think I've seen this now over two or three different capital budgets. Has this work actually started and when is it going to finish? Thanks.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Minister.

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Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes, Madam Chair, we are -- the contemplation is that this would follow the transportation utility of the Tuk Highway. So, but, which took, you know, some time to finish that, and now to be ready for it, I gather we are now at a point where they are doing the environmental assessments and we'll be prepared to submit that to then have the project move forward. Thank you.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Member for Frame Lake.

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Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Okay. So the work hasn't actually started, I think is what I heard. Who's going to own this thing at the end of the day? Thanks.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Minister of Finance.

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Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

Thank you, Madam Chair. It's an extension of the Mackenzie Valley fibre line. So it will be a GNWT asset. Thank you.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Member for Frame Lake.

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Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, but this is part of the overall P3 approach on this thing. So NorthwesTel's building the thing for us or something and going to operate it for 30 years or whatever, and then we're left with it afterwards, is that how this works? And maybe I'm, you know -- but I'll -- yeah, I'd like to hear what the Minister has to say. Thanks.

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. Minister of Finance.

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Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

Thank you, Madam Chair. This is the one -- this part is owned by the GNWT and not being constructed by NorthwesTel. So it's separate from the other portion of the Mackenzie Valley fibre line. Thank you.

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

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Member for Frame Lake.

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Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks. I'm actually glad to hear that. So is this actually going to be taking fibre into people's houses or, you know, the edge of their lots, or is this just into some place in the middle of the community? Thank you.