Thank you, Madam Chair. As outlined to committee in December, we did have an internal resources document that indicated where all surplus funds would go. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Debates of Feb. 26th, 2025
This is page numbers of the Hansard for the 20th Assembly, 1st 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 housing.
Topics
Committee Motion 75-20(1): Tabled Document 275-20(1): 2025-2026 Main Estimates - Deferral of Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 26th
Committee Motion 75-20(1): Tabled Document 275-20(1): 2025-2026 Main Estimates - Deferral of Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 26th
Committee Motion 75-20(1): Tabled Document 275-20(1): 2025-2026 Main Estimates - Deferral of Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 26th
Committee Motion 75-20(1): Tabled Document 275-20(1): 2025-2026 Main Estimates - Deferral of Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 26th
Committee Motion 75-20(1): Tabled Document 275-20(1): 2025-2026 Main Estimates - Deferral of Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 26th
Shauna Morgan Yellowknife North
Thank you, Madam Chair. To attempt to follow up on my colleague's line of questioning there, I understand that -- and first, is the time going to restart there? The time is ticking away.
I understand that Housing NWT needs to hold on to a minimum amount of internal resources to ensure that it manages payroll and contractor payments. But my understanding is that above and beyond that, Housing NWT has identified net financial assets that are available for reinvestment. Is the Minister able to tell us what was the total net financial assets that were available for reinvestment as of March 31st last year, 2024, and can she update us what the expected amount of net financial assets available for reinvestment might be coming up to this March 31st, 2025. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Committee Motion 75-20(1): Tabled Document 275-20(1): 2025-2026 Main Estimates - Deferral of Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 26th
Committee Motion 75-20(1): Tabled Document 275-20(1): 2025-2026 Main Estimates - Deferral of Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 26th
Lucy Kuptana Nunakput
Thank you, Madam Chair. As outlined in December with committee, $38 million of net financial assets was provided in an internal resources document, and it outlined year 1, year 2, year 3 besides the $10 million that we keep aside for Housing NWT's operating costs. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Committee Motion 75-20(1): Tabled Document 275-20(1): 2025-2026 Main Estimates - Deferral of Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 26th
Committee Motion 75-20(1): Tabled Document 275-20(1): 2025-2026 Main Estimates - Deferral of Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 26th
Shauna Morgan Yellowknife North
Okay, thank you for that. We can establish that as of last year, there was $38.6 million available to be reinvested. Can the Minister confirm whether that has now all been spent and that Housing NWT is back down to the minimum amount that it needs to hold onto just, as we've said before, for payroll and contractors. Has that 38.6 sort of extra net assets that could be reinvested has it been reinvested to date? Thank you, Madam Chair.
Committee Motion 75-20(1): Tabled Document 275-20(1): 2025-2026 Main Estimates - Deferral of Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 26th
Committee Motion 75-20(1): Tabled Document 275-20(1): 2025-2026 Main Estimates - Deferral of Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 26th
Lucy Kuptana Nunakput
Thank you, Madam Chair. President Kelly will provide more information with that.
Committee Motion 75-20(1): Tabled Document 275-20(1): 2025-2026 Main Estimates - Deferral of Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 26th
Committee Motion 75-20(1): Tabled Document 275-20(1): 2025-2026 Main Estimates - Deferral of Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 26th
Dr. Erin Kelly
Thank you, Madam Chair. So every year that there's internal resources, they're reinvested. And if you look in the information item that's part of this main estimates, there is a 2025-2026 supplementary internal resource investment sheet, and it will show that $4.772 million will be invested for 2025-2026, and then there's some notes that explain what those will be used for. So there's that plan. And every year, the internal investments are reallocated. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Committee Motion 75-20(1): Tabled Document 275-20(1): 2025-2026 Main Estimates - Deferral of Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 26th
Committee Motion 75-20(1): Tabled Document 275-20(1): 2025-2026 Main Estimates - Deferral of Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 26th
Shauna Morgan Yellowknife North
Thank you, Madam Chair. So Housing NWT's also identified that -- so I -- so that -- it's identified that it has over 130 vacant housing units that need to be repaired and need funding for that repair. Can the Minister explain how much has been allocated so far to try to repair those 130 vacant units and if more is being allocated this coming fiscal year. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Committee Motion 75-20(1): Tabled Document 275-20(1): 2025-2026 Main Estimates - Deferral of Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 26th
Committee Motion 75-20(1): Tabled Document 275-20(1): 2025-2026 Main Estimates - Deferral of Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 26th
Lucy Kuptana Nunakput
Thank you, Madam Chair. With the 130 vacant housing units throughout the Northwest Territories, there's more vacant units but many of them, we don't have the funding for to modernize or improve those units. So with 130 units that are outlined, these are in the works of being updated or upgraded but it depends on funding. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Committee Motion 75-20(1): Tabled Document 275-20(1): 2025-2026 Main Estimates - Deferral of Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 26th
Committee Motion 75-20(1): Tabled Document 275-20(1): 2025-2026 Main Estimates - Deferral of Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 26th
Shauna Morgan Yellowknife North
Thank you, Madam Chair. So if we had $38.6 million available to reinvest last year, can the Minister tell me how much of that was reinvested specifically in repairing vacant units? Thank you, Madam Chair.
Committee Motion 75-20(1): Tabled Document 275-20(1): 2025-2026 Main Estimates - Deferral of Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 26th
Committee Motion 75-20(1): Tabled Document 275-20(1): 2025-2026 Main Estimates - Deferral of Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 26th
Lucy Kuptana Nunakput
Thank you, Madam Chair. For that detail, I'll ask vice-president Mr. Jim Martin. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Committee Motion 75-20(1): Tabled Document 275-20(1): 2025-2026 Main Estimates - Deferral of Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 26th
Committee Motion 75-20(1): Tabled Document 275-20(1): 2025-2026 Main Estimates - Deferral of Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 26th
Jim Martin
Thank you, Madam Chair. We do have a line item in our main estimates. It's minor modernization and improvement line item. And that $5 million is dedicated to dealing with preventive maintenance as well as repairs for our units. So that is the money being directed towards ensuring that the units do -- that do require repair are repaired. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Committee Motion 75-20(1): Tabled Document 275-20(1): 2025-2026 Main Estimates - Deferral of Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 26th
Committee Motion 75-20(1): Tabled Document 275-20(1): 2025-2026 Main Estimates - Deferral of Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 26th
Shauna Morgan Yellowknife North
Okay, thank you, Madam Chair. Can the Minister explain -- you know, the $5 million that's been identified, it sounds like that's not nearly enough to actually do all of the repairs that would be needed. Is that amount limited because we can't find people to do the repairs? Like, is there a cap on how much we can realistically spend because we won't be able to complete the repairs, or has it just been determined that other things are more important than, you know, doing more repairs so we'll put the money somewhere else instead? Can the Minister explain, you know, why, for instance, we can't put more than $5 million this year into repairs and improvements. Thank you, Madam Chair.