Are we on page 5? Okay, I do have questions. Thank you.

I'll go to the -- for general comments, Member of Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So I have a number of questions based on page 5 around delays to the Fort Providence-Kakisa Transmission Line.

So this project was announced back in 2021, and at that time it was valued at $60 million with $45 million of that coming from the federal government and construction was expected to start in 2023 however it's been pushed back. In 2022, it was expected completion by 2024-2025. So as of last fall, the GNWT's regulatory filing stated that this project was expected to be operational by 2026. I'm wondering if the Minister can confirm whether that timeline is still realistic given that the money is still being pushed forward for this project?

Thank you. Going to go to Minister Wawzonek.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, we did experience some delays in the project but at this point I can say that we are looking to -- at this point, in 2024-2025, we will be expected to begin the process of ordering some of the supplies required, for example the poles needed. I understand that the nature of the transmission poles is such that even ordering that can be a fairly significant undertaking. But with that ordered in the coming fiscal year, then construction activities would get going within 2025 calendar year and, as such, commissioning could be then 2026 with operations by 2027.

Thank you. I'll go for general comments, Member of Yellowknife North.

Thank you. And so is there an updated estimate for the total cost of this project and have costs risen significantly based on the delays?

Thank you. Minister Wawzonek.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I do expect that there has been some increase on the total cost of the project. I can't speak to the final sum right now but that is work that is underway at this moment, and I will certainly endeavour to give an update to the House once I have that. Thank you.

Thank you. Member of Yellowknife North.

Thank you. And so the reasons that have caused the project to be delayed thus far, are there concerns that it will cause the project to continue to be delayed?

Thank you. Minister Wawzonek.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the story behind the delays here is one that is not dissimilar to what was occurred for some of the other projects. COVID initially, and then followed not far behind with floods and a significant fire season. That has impacted the ability of the department in order to be able to do the much-required engagement process with communities and with Indigenous governments in the region and, as a result of that, that delayed the planning for the permitting process. In order to obviously go through the permitting process, that level of community engagement is an expected part of that. We do now, however, have the land use permit. That was issued in December of 2023, so that is what gives me the confidence to say that this is now moving forward and won't experience the same delays. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Wawzonek. Member of Yellowknife North.

That's all. Thank you very much for that explanation.

Thank you. Any further general comments? I'll go to the Member from Range Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Can the witnesses provide an update on the Fort Simpson Liquefied Natural Gas Project? Thank you.

Thank you. I'll go to Minister Wawzonek.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, let me see what I have on that one here.

Actually, Mr. Chair, let me turn that to the deputy minister and see if he has it coming up ahead of me. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Courtoreille. Let me go to the Member of Range Lake.

Thank you. What is the total amount for this project -- total budgeting amount for the entire project? Thank you.

Thank you. Go to the Minister Wawzonek.