Debates of Oct. 22nd, 2024

Colleagues, consideration in this Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters. Tabled Document 200-20(1), Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 2, 2024-2025. Committee, we have agreed to consider Tabled Document 200-20(1) Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 2, 2024-2025. Does the Minister of Finance have any opening remarks?

Thank you, Mr. Chair, I do. Mr. Chair, for clarity, would you like me to do opening remarks on both at the same time or one at a time?

Thank you. If we could do both at the same time.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I am here to present Tabled Document 200-20(1), Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 2, 2024-2025. And I'll do a brief introduction to that before going to the next.

This document proposes a total increase of $236,000, comprised of the following items:

• • A $50,000 transfer of previously approved operations expenditure funding to infrastructure expenditure, allocated for the purchase of digital dispatch consoles;
  • $993,000 for increased construction costs associated with the Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk fibre line;
  • $1.95 million to finalize the transfer of technology service centre projects from the Department of Infrastructure to the Department of Finance;
  • A decrease of $3 million to reflect changes in the timing of planned expenditures for the Yellowknife Wellness and Recovery Centre;
  • A decrease of $7 million to reflect changes in the timing of planned expenditures for the Hay River long-term care facility;
  • $71,000 for funding in support of pegmatites research in the Slave Geological Province. This funding is fully offset by revenues received from the Government of Canada;
  • $3.5 million funding for rehabilitation work on Highway No. 3. This funding is partially offset by revenues received from the Government of Canada;
  • $5 million funding for rehabilitation work on the Liard Access Road which is fully offset by revenues received from the Government of Canada; and,
  • $622,000 for ventilation upgrades in Northwest Territories dental suites. This funding is fully offset by revenues received from the Government of Canada.

Mr. Chair, with respect to the Tabled Document 201-20(1), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 1, 2024-2025, this document proposes a total increase of $187.9 million comprised of the following items:

• • $69.7 million to provide funding to reflect the impact of costs associated with the implementation of the 2023-2024 to 2025-2026 collective agreement between the Union of Northern Workers and the Government of the Northwest Territories;
  • $38.9 million to provide supplemental funding for fire suppression activities related to the 2024 wildfire season;
  • $7.8 million to provide funding to reflect the impact of costs associated with the implementation of the 2023-2026 collective agreement between the Northwest Territories Teachers' Association and the Government of the Northwest Territories;
  • $6.5 million to provide funding for cable repairs on the Deh Cho Bridge;
  • $5.4 million to provide funding in support of increases to the standard physician contract as per the agreement between the NWT Medical Association and the Government of the Northwest Territories;
  • $5.3 million to provide funding for the GNWT's share of increased compensation, benefit, and administrative costs under the territorial police service agreement; and.
  • $5 million to provide funding for increased expenditures related to short-term debt.

Additionally, I am proposing the following supplementary expenditures, which are supported by federally funded agreements, including:

• • $10.6 million to provide funding for programs and activities supported by the Territorial Health Investment Fund;
  • $7.3 million to provide funding for various environment climate change cost share agreements;
  • $4.9 million to provide funding in support of an amendment to the Canada-Northwest Territories Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement.

That concludes my opening remarks, Mr. Chair, and I'd be happy to answer questions from Members.

Thank you, Minister. Does the Minister of Finance wish to bring witnesses into the House?

Yes, I do.

Thank you. Does the committee agree?

Thank you. I'm going to ask the sergeant-at-arms please escort the witnesses into the chamber.

Thank you. I'm going to move on. Would the Minister please introduce her witnesses.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. On my left is Bill MacKay, the deputy minister of finance. And on my right Mandi Bolstad, deputy secretary to the financial management board.

Thank you. I will now open the floor for general comments on the supplementary estimates (infrastructure expenditures). Members, who are recognized for everything, so that's good, okay. I'm going to take Members, Members want to do opening comments, general comments?

Seeing no further general comments, we will review the supplementary estimates by department. The committee has agreed to forego general comments on each department. Does the committee agree to proceed to the detail contained in the tabled documents? Committee?

Thank you. The committee has agreed to begin the review with the Department of Environment and Climate Change. Committee, we'll begin on page 5. Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 2, 2024-2025, Department of Environment and Climate Change, capital investment expenditures, wildlife and forest management, not previously authorized, $50,000. Are there any questions?

Seeing no further questions. Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 2, 2024-2025, Department of Environment and Climate Change, capital investment expenditure, wildlife and forest management, not previously authorized, $50,000. Does the committee agree?

Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 2, 2024-2025, Department of Environment and Climate Change, capital investment expenditures, total department not previously authorized, $50,000. Does the committee agree?

Committee, we will turn to page 6 for the Department of Finance.

Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 2, 2024-2025, Department of Finance, capital investment expenditures, management board secretariat, not previously authorized, $993,000. Are there any questions?

Seeing no further questions. Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 2, 2024-2025, Department of Finance, capital investment expenditures, management board secretariat, not previously authorized, $993,000. Does the committee agree?

Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 2, 2024-2025, Department of Finance, capital investment expenditure, Office of the Chief Information Officer, not previously authorized, $1,950,000. Are there any questions?

Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 2, 2024-2025, Department of Finance, capital investment expenditures, Office of the Chief Information Officer, not previously authorized, $1,950,000. Does the committee agree?

Thank you. Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 2, 2024-2025, Department of Finance, capital investment expenditures, total department not previously authorized, $2,943,000. Does the committee agree?

Thank you. Turn to page 7 for the Department of Health and Social Services.

Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 2, 2024-2025, Department of Health and Social Services, capital investment expenditures, health and social services program, not previously authorized, negative $3 million. Are there any questions? I'm going to go to the Member from Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So can the Minister give us an indication of what is the revised project timeline? It's talking about this is reflecting changes in the project timeline. So what is the new timeline, and does it impact the federal funding agreement in any way? Thank you, Mr. Chair.