HN180308

3rd Session — Day 22 — 18th Assembly
Date: Thursday, March 8, 2018
Speaker: The Honourable Jackson Lafferty

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Contents

Prayer

Ministers' Statements

  • Minister's Statement 53-18(3): Women in Leadership
  • Minister's Statement 54-18(3): Progress on Transparency and Accountability Initiatives
  • Minister's Statement 55-18(3): Acknowledgement of Firth Sisters
  • Minister's Statement 56-18(3): Community Wellness Initiatives

    Members' Statements

  • Member's Statement on International Women's Day
  • Member's Statement on International Women's Day
  • Member's Statement on International Women's Day
  • Member's Statement on International Women's Day
  • Member's Statement on International Women's Day
  • Member's Statement on International Women's Day
  • Member's Statement on International Women's Day
  • Member's Statement on International Women's Day

    Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

    Oral Questions

  • Question 220-18(3): Cannabis Enforcement Training for Bylaw Officers
  • Question 221-18(3): Role of the Status of Women Council
  • Question 222-18(3): Northwest Territories Power Corporation Generator Procurement and Cost Overruns
  • Question 223-18(3): Electronic Medical Records System
  • Question 224-18(3): Site C Hydroelectric Dam Project
  • Question 225-18(3): Health Information Act
  • Question 226-18(3): Aurora College Foundational Review
  • Question 227-18(3): Aurora College Foundational Review

    Tabling of Documents

  • Tabled Document 121-18(3): Annual Report 2016/17 Hay River Health and Social Services Authority
  • Tabled Document 122-18(3): NWT Health and Social Services System Annual Report 2016-2017
  • Tabled Document 123-18(3): Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority 2016-2017 Annual Report

    Notices of Motion for First Reading of Bills

  • Bill 7: Chartered Professional Accountants Act

    Motions

  • Motion 11-18(3): Appointment of Human Rights Adjudication Panel Member, carried
  • Motion 12-18(3): Appointment of Human Rights Commission Member, carried
  • Motion 13-18(3): Increasing Women's Participation in the Legislative Assembly, carried
  • Recorded Vote

    Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

    Report of Committee of the Whole

    Orders of the Day


    Assembly Members: 
    Hon. Jackson Lafferty
    Hon. Glen Abernethy
    Mr. Tom Beaulieu
    Mr. Frederick Blake
    Hon. Caroline Cochrane
    Ms. Julie Green
    Hon. Bob McLeod
    Hon. Robert McLeod
    Mr. Daniel McNeely
    Hon. Alfred Moses
    Mr. Michael Nadli
    Mr. Herbert Nakimayak
    Mr. Kevin O’Reilly
    Hon. Wally Schumann
    Hon. Louis Sebert
    Mr. R.J. Simpson
    Mr. Kieron Testart
    Mr. Shane Thompson
    Mr. Cory Vanthuyne
    Members Present: 
    Hon. Glen Abernethy
    Mr. Beaulieu
    Mr. Blake
    Hon. Caroline Cochrane
    Ms. Green
    Hon. Jackson Lafferty
    Hon. Bob McLeod
    Hon. Robert McLeod
    Hon. Alfred Moses
    Mr. Nakimayak
    Mr. O'Reilly
    Hon. Wally Schumann
    Hon. Louis Sebert
    Mr. Simpson
    Mr. Testart
    Mr. Thompson
    Mr. Vanthuyne

    Prayer

    Ministers' Statements

    Minister's Statement 53-18(3): Women in Leadership

    HON. CAROLINE COCHRANE:

    Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, March 8th, today, is International Women's Day. On this day, I would like to highlight both the strides we are making in the Northwest Territories and the challenges faced by women in taking on leadership roles.

    Our government has made mandate commitments to increase the number of women in leadership roles, both on public boards and in electoral politics. Since the beginning of the 18th Legislative Assembly, the Government of the Northwest Territories has appointed 172 persons to public boards, 95 women and 77 men. This brings the total composition of territorial government board appointments to 122 women and 120 men. Overall, we now have an approximately equal number of men and women serving on Government of the Northwest Territories public boards. This is cause for celebration, and we thank the well-qualified women who have stepped forward to serve as board members.

    As important as this achievement is, we still have work to do. We need to increase the representation of women in leadership roles on these boards. Currently, only 36 per cent of our public boards have women serving in the role of president or chair. The picture is less encouraging when it comes to elected leadership positions. Women in the Northwest Territories have largely been underrepresented in elected leadership positions for many years, especially at the territorial level. You have only to look around this Chamber, Mr. Speaker, to know that this is true. Today, on International Women's Day, I would like to thank my

    colleague, Ms. Julie Green, the MLA for Yellowknife Centre and the only other woman Member of this 18th Legislative Assembly, for being here.

    There are many more women who could be here. We all know strong women in our communities who are working to ensure that everyone's families are secure and well-cared for, and that our communities are safe. I recently had the honour of meeting some outstanding women leaders at the inaugural Women's Caucus of the Northwest Territories Association of Communities, and I sincerely hope that they consider running for territorial election in the near future.

    Women face many barriers; they may be paid less in their jobs than their male counterparts, and they may bear a disproportionate share of the workload of caring for children and aging or disabled relatives while still managing their households, and these factors make it harder for many women to enter politics, but I have met many strong women who want their communities to be healthy places to live, and they are holding governments accountable at all levels in all of the ways that they can, including through their own participation as elected leaders.

    Unfortunately, many strong women who do seek, and win, elected leadership positions are often stereotyped or judged negatively. Women who make it into leadership roles are often second-guessed, left out of decisions, or even set up to fail, purely because they are women. Instead of being valued for the perspective they can provide, they often find themselves having to walk a tightrope of being just assertive "enough" to get their work done without being walked over or being so strong as to alienate those around them. All while facing superwoman-level expectations of balancing life, family, community, and work, not to mention standards of personal appearance that are only applied to our gender.

    Too few people consider the consequences of these negative judgements and levels of burden on women in their public and private lives. However, they are a form of violence, that day by day and year by year crushes women's spirits, dampens our ambitions, and discourages our young women from taking the risks and acquiring the skills to become leaders.

    All of us in this House, men as well as women, need to be active in our support of women. We need more women in decision-making roles at all levels, especially here in our consensus government. This is not only a matter of basic fairness; the inclusion of more women's perspectives means better decision-making and more balanced policy choices for everyone.

    This is why our government, through the Women's Advisory office, has been offering Campaign Schools for Women. The first campaign school for 2018 took place this past weekend in Fort Simpson on March 3rd and 4th, and a second is scheduled for Yellowknife on the weekend of March 10th and 11th. Women throughout the Northwest Territories can come and gain the knowledge they need to run for elected office at all levels, from district education authorities all the way to the Legislative Assembly. The school also provides skills for those who would like to support women candidates by working on their campaigns, but our campaign schools can address only a few of the obstacles for women in the field of politics.

    As a Cabinet Minister and a woman, I encourage everyone in this House to help us level the playing field. This is a time of change and opportunity. Listen to women, question stereotypes and negative judgments of women leaders, encourage talented women to lead, and offer them some real help, like donating to their campaigns or providing a few hours of child or other care. If you are a successful politician, mentor a woman to step into your shoes.

    I am very confident that, with a level playing field, at least as many northern women will succeed as leaders as men do now, at every level, and we will all be better for it.

    Happy International Women's Day. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

    MR. SPEAKER:

    Masi. Ministers' statements. Minister responsible for Public Engagement and Transparency.

    Minister's Statement 54-18(3): Progress on Transparency and Accountability Initiatives

    HON. LOUIS SEBERT:

    Mr. Speaker, I rise today to update this House on our government's progress in advancing our mandate commitments for increasing government transparency and accountability.

    Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce today our government's release of an Open Government Policy. The Open Government Policy was developed based on input we received from Northwest Territories residents through a public engagement campaign, as well as collaboration with GNWT departments and research on open government initiatives in other jurisdictions. I would like to thank the Standing Committee on Government Operations for their work to review and provide feedback on the Open Government Policy, which enabled us to improve it for the benefit of our residents.

    This policy represents an important step toward openness and transparency by providing definitions, principles, and a framework to guide the development of directives, guidelines, and tools that will allow our government to fulfill its commitment to openness in a more consistent and predictable way. This will improve the way our government shares information and data with the public, and how we engage with the public to ensure residents have the meaningful opportunities to provide input on government decisions that affect them. All Ministers are accountable under this policy, Mr. Speaker, and will ensure that their departments and agencies implement its provisions for open data, open information, and open dialogue.

    Mr. Speaker, the concept of open government is not a new idea for the Government of the Northwest Territories. The principles of accountability and transparency that guide open government are consistent with those that guide our consensus system of government, including the importance of collaboration and participation from all Members through standing committees to strengthen our government policies and programs.

    Government departments have been doing their part for years through public engagement and other information and data sharing initiatives, including the regular publication of reports and release of information on government decisions and activities.

    The Open Government Policy will bring all of the existing practices and ideas across government together and help us establish clear and consistent approaches across government. This work has already begun and will be coordinated by an Open Government Steering Committee of senior government officials.

    This work includes, for example, identifying the information and data of departments already released and finding ways to make it more accessible to the public; coordinating with other government initiatives aimed at increasing government openness, such as the review of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act and the Service Innovation Strategy; developing guidelines for a consistent approach to public engagement; and developing processes to report on progress on the of implementation of open government.

    One of the first new actions is the launch today of an open government website that acts as a central location for open government initiatives and links to the various data, information, and public engagement resources across government.

    Our government has made progress on a number of other initiatives in support of improved accountability and transparency. I am pleased to announce that, before the end of this sitting, we will be, by March 15th, launching a new web portal with information for residents, businesses, and organizations on how to file an appeal or complaint related to a government decision or action. This will fulfill our government's mandate commitment to make residents aware of the mechanisms available to appeal government decisions.

    As Members know, Mr. Speaker, we are also in the process of drafting legislation to establish an ombudsperson office in the Northwest Territories, following consultation with the Standing Committee on Government Operations. An ombudsperson would be an independent officer of the Legislative Assembly who would investigate complaints about the administrative fairness of government practices and services and provide an additional venue to ensure fair, reasonable, and equitable government administration. We plan to introduce proposed legislation later this year.

    Mr. Speaker, I continue to believe that increasing government accountability and transparency by improving the way we share data and information and engage with residents is an ongoing process, not a destination. We continue to make progress to this end through these initiatives, as our government remains committed to continuing to improve the way we do business to fulfill our mandate commitments and advance the priorities of this Legislative Assembly through the remainder of our term. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

    MR. SPEAKER:

    Masi. Ministers' statements. Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs.

    Minister's Statement 55-18(3): Acknowledgement of Firth Sisters

    HON. CAROLINE COCHRANE:

    Mr. Speaker, today, on International Women's Day, I am very proud to rise and recognize Ms. Sharon Firth, who has joined us in the visitors' gallery. Ms. Firth, a four-time Olympian, a northern hero and role model, was recently recognized by Canada Post, along with her sister Shirley, as two of Canada's greatest women athletes.

    Earlier today, Ms. Firth proudly presented me with a framed set of stamps. Each stamp features one of six Canadian women athletes in a moment of celebration, as well as a full-colour, freeze-frame action shot representing a defining moment in their sports careers.

    Mr. Speaker, Ms. Firth and her sister Shirley competed in four consecutive Olympic Winter Games and four World Ski Championships. Sharon and Shirley captivated the North and Canada from the late 1960s to the mid-1980s with their incredible sporting exploits. Together, the sisters amassed a total of 79 medals at national championships, including 48 national titles.

    Although Shirley is no longer with us, Sharon continues to be a role model and an inspiration for thousands of young people as a youth and leadership specialist with the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs.

    Since attending the Olympics, Ms. Firth has been recognized and awarded the Order of Canada, the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal, and the National Aboriginal Achievement Award. She has been inducted into the Northwest Territories Sport Hall of Fame and Canada's Sports Hall of Fame, and she has been awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Alberta, among numerous other awards and distinctions.

    Mr. Speaker, the Firth sisters were trailblazers for women, for Indigenous Canadians, and for all Northerners in Canada and around the world. Thank you, Sharon, for all you have contributed to sport and for creating positive legacies for the years to come. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

    ---Applause

    MR. SPEAKER:

    Masi. Ministers' statements. Minister of Health and Social Services.

    Minister's Statement 56-18(3): Community Wellness Initiatives

    HON. GLEN ABERNETHY:

    Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories has a mandate commitment to foster healthy families by focusing on wellness, prevention, and improved nutrition. To achieve this commitment, the Department of Health and Social Services has made it a priority to support community wellness initiatives in communities across the NWT with funding provided through Indigenous Services Canada.

    The department is currently working with communities to renew their wellness plans to prepare for the new five-year funding cycle for 2019-2024. Based on these community wellness plans, the Government of the Northwest Territories provides $5 million each year directly to Indigenous and community governments and to organizations to invest in local wellness initiatives.

    The wellness initiatives that we support benefit residents directly and also allow our government to foster partnerships with many different organizations, including Indigenous and community governments. These partnerships are key to how the Department of Health and Social Services is working to achieve our goal of best health, best care, and better future for all NWT residents.

    I would like to highlight some of these successful wellness initiatives. The Territorial initiatives that benefit residents across NWT include the On the Land Collaborative, the Take a Kid Trapping program, the Take a Kid Gardening program, as well as prenatal programs that are delivered in partnership with the Indigenous governments at boarding homes in Inuvik and Ndilo.

    Regional initiatives include Let's Be Tobacco Free in the Beaufort Delta, the recent suicide prevention workshop hosted by the Dehcho District Education Council in Fort Simpson, and Family Violence Awareness projects at the three Aurora College campuses in Inuvik, Fort Smith, and Yellowknife.

    Mr. Speaker, I recently attended the Northwest Territories Association of Communities annual general meeting, along with many Members of this House. The highlight of the meeting for me was the opportunity to present the Healthy Community Award to the community of Gameti. Gameti built a greenhouse and community garden that not only distributed harvests to elders and families, but also provided jobs, contributed to the mental well-being and happiness of the community, and enabled youth to gain valuable work experience with the satisfaction of knowing that the food they harvested was something that they helped to create. This is an excellent example of the positive results that can be achieved by communities when working together to support healthy choices. I would like to say, "A job well done," to Gameti.

    Finally, I would also like to highlight the Community Healthy Living Fairs. Over the past three years, our government directly supported 18 fairs in our smaller communities. Over the next few years, we hope this will grow into an initiative where there will be fairs in all 33 communities.

    As Members know, these fairs highlight information on healthy choices and include topics like breast and colorectal cancers, sexual health, healthy relationships, healthy eating, healthy lungs, early childhood development, breastfeeding, as well as oral health.

    We've received great feedback from these fairs. One of the positive outcomes from these fairs is the opportunity for Health and Social Services staff to learn directly from community members through the Community Partnership Day. Community Partnership Day provides a forum for community members to teach resource staff about healthy living activities that they are most proud of. For example, staff have learned to bead, how to make dry meat, how to ice fish, check traps, cook traditional foods, and walk and snowmobile on community trails. They have also heard stories about the resilience of our people.

    I am proud of how we have been able to support communities to undertake creative ways to participate in community wellness and healthy living throughout the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

    MR. SPEAKER:

    Masi. Ministers' statements. Colleagues, today is International Women's Day, and I invite you, all of you, to join me in recognizing the important role that women play in our lives, our workplaces, and our communities.

    International Women's Day, which has been observed since the early 1900s, is a day to celebrate the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. It is important as friends and colleagues to encourage the continued participation of young women and girls across the territory in anything they aspire to do.

    I have been inspired by my wife, with whom I have three beautiful children, three talented daughters, and we are very much equal partners together in our journey through life, and we want everything that life has to offer for our children, our girls, no matter what gender they are.

    I have also been inspired by the contributions of women who have served in this Assembly past and present, who have been pioneers in demonstrating just how much of a difference they can make, that there is nothing that cannot be accomplished. Above my head is a carving done by Inuvialuit artist Angus Cockney. In this carving is a braid. This, colleagues, allows us to remember the importance of women and family as we conduct our work in this Chamber for the people of the Northwest Territories.

    It is our responsibility as decision-makers to ensure that the contributions of women are celebrated and utilized to ensure that the opportunities for women continue to grow into the future. We, as elected leaders of this territory, have the ability to act as role models and also supporters to change the status quo. We must encourage female participation in all aspects of work and life, but especially within our own legislature.

    Members' Statements

    Member's Statement on International Women's Day

    MS. GREEN:

    Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on International Women's Day, we pause to celebrate the advances we have made as a society in advancing women's equality, and it is the day we take stock of the inequality that persists and rededicate our resolve for improvement.

    A lot of improvement still needs to be made. A quick glance at employment occupation and income figures for the NWT shows that the rate of employment for women and men are about the same, but the rewards of pay, the inclusion in higher-paying occupation, and the proportion of sexes in senior positions are anything but equal.

    Mr. Speaker, let's take a look in the pay envelope. On average, university-educated women make almost 20 per cent less annually than men with degrees. Women with high school diplomas make 10 per cent less than men with the same education, and there is more. While women are more likely to have degrees or diplomas and might be expected to have a higher rate of employment in occupations requiring advanced education or to be equally represented in high-paying trades, the fact is they are not. They remain predominantly represented in the lower-paid occupations, many of them low-paid for being so-called "women's work."

    So what is to be done? In Iceland they say, "Equality won't happen by itself." They are getting tough on the gender gulf in earnings. There has been an equal pay law in Iceland since 1961, but women were still making up to 20 per cent less than men for equivalent work, so Iceland passed a better law. Within four years from now, any public or private body in Iceland employing more than 25 people that has not been independently certified as paying equal wages for work of equal value will face daily fines. France has introduced a similar law.

    In the NWT, we have no similar protections for all workers, and, although the GNWT is protected by an Equal Pay Commissioner complaint system, I have seen no effort to promote or market this safeguard. Annual reports blandly observe that nobody is complaining.

    Mr. Speaker, gender as equality is a right established by a United Nations convention. Fulfilling this right is the best chance we have in meeting some of the most pressing challenges of our time.

    Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement. Mahsi.

    ---Unanimous consent granted

    MS. GREEN:

    Mr. Speaker, from economic crises and lack of healthcare to climate change, violence against women, and escalating conflicts, women are not only more affected by these problems, women possess ideas and leadership to solve them. The gender discrimination still holding too many women back holds our world back, too. For me, International Women's Day remains a bittersweet celebration, but a celebration nonetheless. Please join me and my sole female Legislative Assembly colleague in commemorating this day. Mahsi.

    MR. SPEAKER:

    Masi. Members' statements. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

    Member's Statement on International Women's Day

    MR. BEAULIEU:

    Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today celebrates International Women's Day. This year marks the 109th global commemoration for women, as International Women's Day was first celebrated in 1909. This day was meant to celebrate the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. This day is about calling out the many injustices that women are faced with every day, such as gender discrimination, gender violence, and the constant battle to fight for and safeguard women's rights.

    While it is important, Mr. Speaker, to be informed about many struggles that women must deal with on a regular basis, I would like to celebrate this International Women's Day by sharing a story about a woman from my constituency. The woman I am speaking of is Tishna Marlowe of Lutselk'e. Tishna is a fashion designer who has her own clothing line, of which she sells and sews all the clothing herself. Her company is called Dene Couture and sells both traditional and modern clothing for men and women alike. Mr. Speaker, Tishna has been considered by many to be one of Canada's top 150 Indigenous artists and has been recognized by organizations such as the REVEAL Indigenous Art Awards. She has also received the visual art grant from the Alberta Arts Foundation. Additionally, Tishna has been an Indigenous art juror with the Alberta Foundation for the Arts, and she had three dresses worn at the 2017 Juno Awards. Moreover, in the last two years, Tishna has attended 22 fashion shows and has made over 50 beaded garments and countless parkas, mitts, moccasins, hats, and corsets.

    Mr. Speaker, Tishna has truly reached an incredible and inspirational height. In addition to her success in the fashion industry, she is a high school graduate, she has a diploma as a legal secretary, she has an undergraduate degree in archaeology and First Nations studies. Tishna volunteers for many organizations and she donates art and shares knowledge whenever she can.

    Tishna has been sewing and beading all her life, Mr. Speaker, and she credits what she has learned and the skills she has from her mother, her grandmother, and her great-grandmother. Upon asking if there is a recipe for success that other women could learn from, she told me, "Stay sober, stay kind, and dream big dreams, because hard work and sobriety will get you there." Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker.

    MR. SPEAKER:

    Masi. Members' statements. Member for Kam Lake.

    Member's Statement on International Women's Day

    MR. TESTART:

    Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today on the occasion of International Women's Day to recognize the great achievements of the global movement for women's rights that continues to this day. First embraced by the socialist movements in the early 20th Century, International Women's Day was first adopted by the United Nations in 1975, and for more than 40 years countries around the world have celebrated today as a way to advance equality and equity for women. Although we have come far as a society to advance the women's rights and equality, there is still much work left to do.

    This year's campaign is "Press for Progress" in recognition of the World Economic Forum's 2017 Global Gender Gap Report that found that gender parity is well over 200 years away. There has never been a more important time to push for meaningful progress on this long-standing issue of justice and fairness in our world. We, the honourable Members of this House, must do our part to show leadership and give our support to women at home, at the workplace, and in our democratic institutions. Our representative democracy must be one that truly represents our people and, with only two of my colleagues here today being women, the status quo simply isn't working.

    Mr. Speaker, this issue is important to me because the women in my life are so important to me, and none more so than my partner, Colleen Wellborn. Colleen has only been in the North for a few years now, but already she has made a huge difference in our community. While working in private sector residential property management, she demonstrated real leadership not only improving the quality of rental market units in the capital, but actively joining the fight against homelessness as a member of the Homeful Partnership. Colleen has since left that job and is now working for the Detoncho Development Corporation, working on skills development and employment for Indigenous people in Yellowknife and small communities. In her spare time, Colleen volunteers as a Special Olympics coach and serves on the board of the NWT Chamber of Commerce. She has shown real passion, vision, and commitment in her career, and serves as an example the huge difference women in leadership can make. Before I forget, she's also a step-mother to my son Corbin and a loving partner who always finds time for her friends and family.

    Mr. Speaker, I am not alone in sharing my life with a strong woman leader. So many of us here have a partner, a daughter, a mother, or a grandmother who makes a real difference in the world around them. I call on all Members of this House and all members of the Northwest Territories to stand with the women in their lives who make a difference and let them lead us all towards real progress in this world. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

    MR. SPEAKER:

    Masi. Members' statements. Member for Nahendeh.

    Member's Statement on International Women's Day

    MR. THOMPSON:

    Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would talk to talk about a young lady from my riding, Kristen Tanche. She is a Liildlii Kue First Nation Dehcho Dene and is of Icelandic and settler Canadian ancestry. She was raised in Wynyard, Saskatchewan, and lived in Whati, Gameti, Yellowknife, and Fort Simpson. As a young adult, she returned to Fort Simpson to reconnect with her family, community, and Dene culture, and where she currently resides.

    Over the years, Kristen has been passionate about her education. She has attended the University of Northern British Columbia and took three semesters through Dechinta University, which offered post-secondary land-based education. Her three semesters included one at Blachford Lake, another in the Mackenzie Mountains, Indigenous Boreal Guardianship Pilot Program, and lastly a Dehcho River semester.

    Currently, Kristen is in her second year of the Social Work Diploma Program through Aurora College and is completing her final practicum placement in Fort Simpson at the Children and Family Services within the Dehcho Regional Health and Social Services. She is set to graduate this April. Kristen has said that, "My education journey is not stopping once I graduate. I have plans to continue with my education either in a formal setting by completing a degree in social work and/or through learning from elders and traditional knowledge holders to become immersed in learning from my Dene culture."

    Kristen chose to change her career path after many years in office administration, then tourism, to that of the social work field for numerous reasons. After many years of struggling with her own issues, she has seen others struggle, and seeing a need for more northern Indigenous people in the helping profession, she decided to pursue her hopes of helping people.

    Throughout her years, Kristen was involved with leadership roles. She was elected on the Liidli Kue First Nation Band Council, and served on Fort Simpson District Education Authority. She has served as an alumni member on the Dechinta Board of Directors and was also involved with the NWT Tourism Board as the Dehcho Regional Member. More recently, Kristen was accepted as part of the fourth cohort of the Jane Glassco Northern Fellowship, a policy development program for Northern people.

    Kristen believes in being actively engaged in her community and region by involving within local politics. Her passion was highlighted in the TV documentary series Dene: A Journey, where she featured in a season two episode.

    She is passionate about the people in the community and the people of the North's well-being. She has plans to stay in the North to continue on her journey in hopes of giving back to her community and region in the NWT. In closing, I would like to recognize Cece McCauley. She was the founding chief of the Inuvik Dene band and Honorary Chief for life. She was the first woman chief among the 23 chiefs in the Northwest Territories. She has shown tremendous leadership and courage throughout her life and has never been afraid to speak her mind. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

    MR. SPEAKER:

    Masi. Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife North.

    Member's Statement on International Women's Day

    MR. VANTHUYNE:

    Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today, I want to recognize International Women's Day. I believe I am an advocate for women. It's important to me. I still am learning exactly what that means and how to advocate in the best way.

    Last year on International Women's Day, I stood here in this House and said something similar, but when I reflect over the past year, somehow now it feels like the ground has shifted, like things are very different. When I was a boy, my mom was my hero. She was a successful businesswoman and a single mother. I like to think she did a pretty good job of raising me. I thought she embodied the qualities that every person should live up to.

    Being raised by such a woman, I have always believed in and supported equality. I try to be open-minded and fair and I always thought, or maybe I hoped, that, except for a few bad apples, our society pretty much held those same values.

    Events of the past year have shown me that my view is optimistic and my hope was somewhat blind. The Me Too and Times Up movements and the stories that have emerged from the hearings into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls have shown us in a harsh and undeniable way what brutal obstacles and discrimination women face. We must recognize they face them today as much as ever. In spite of years of enlightened thinking in some parts of society, many women today face systemic discrimination, dehumanizing disparagement, and sometimes physical brutality at the hands of men.

    The theme of International Women's Day 2018 is Press for Progress. Progress is made towards gender parity and equality every year, but the 2017 World Economic Forum Gender Gap Report says that gender parity is 200 years away. Two hundred years, Mr. Speaker.

    Mr. Speaker, it's good to see Me Too and Times Up gather momentum, but it's clear how much work remains to be done. We can't rest on our few achievements when so many obstacles to equality remain.

    Each of us as individuals, together as leaders, must make our voices heard. We must be loud and unwavering. We must unite and challenge our friends, our colleagues, and our communities to think, act, and be gender inclusive. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

    MR. SPEAKER:

    Masi. Members' statements. Member for Frame Lake.

    Member's Statement on International Women's Day

    MR. O'REILLY:

    Merci, Monsieur le President. Today is International Women's Day. In honour of this day, I reached out to a thoughtful, formidable, and passionate advocate of women's rights for her views to consider on this day. Here are the observations and advice from our daughter, Amber Adzeza Montreuil O'Reilly.

    She said that women's ability to be active in the public and political sphere is greatly influenced by their ability to access education, childcare, reproductive rights, and domestic equality. Safe, non-judgmental spaces where youth and women are encouraged to ask questions, share their views, and participate in campaigns are needed to develop the confidence, knowledge, and skills to take a stance on political issues.

    She said that all men need to value and respect not only the women in their circle of friends and family, but the women in their workplaces, communities, and societies. This means active listening, supporting female candidates, and implementing policies to close the wage and opportunities gap.

    Intersectional feminism takes into consideration the various social pressures an individual may be facing in addition to being female, such as racism, homophobia, and ableism. In celebrating diversity and creating more opportunities for political involvement, our daughter said we must not neglect these realities nor the voices of trans women and non-binary individuals.

    Our daughter established these views in part through her participation in this Assembly's Youth Parliament and the various parliamentary simulations offered through the French-Canadian Youth Network. These experiences were instrumental in furthering her understanding of legislative process, party politics and consensus government, public speaking, and debate. These opportunities offer youth the ability to clearly articulate and defend their opinions as well as engage in dialogue with people who may not share them. Open dialogue about current issues at schools and at home are crucial for youth to exercise their critical thinking skills and find their voices.

    In taking her place in the world, our daughter has benefited from the advancements in individual freedom, the battle against misogyny, and the efforts to improve gender equity. That's the start of the road to full equality. I call upon us all to be leaders in building a world of equality for our daughters and all women.

    Happy International Women's Day. Masi, Mr. Speaker.

    MR. SPEAKER:

    Masi. Members' statements. Member for Nunakput.

    Member's Statement on International Women's Day

    MR. NAKIMAYAK:

    Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Like my colleagues, I would like to recognize International Women's Day. Mr. Speaker, this year "Press for Progress" is calling on each of us to recognize that, when it comes to women's equality and women's rights, we have still got a long way to go, and we have got to keep pushing.

    With that in mind, Mr. Speaker, today is the perfect day to discuss the motion on women's representation in government, moved by the Member from Yellowknife Centre.

    For now, though, I would like to highlight just a few of the Nunakput women who have "pressed for progress" and made their mark in their communities, our territory, and our country. For example, in the last round of municipal elections, Ulukhaktok voters brought in an 80 per cent women-led community government, the highest in the territory, Mr. Speaker, and Paulatuk brought in a one third women-led council. As we approach the next round of elections, I hope that more women will look out for the Campaign Schools for Women. If you want to run for office at any level of government, campaign schools can help you prepare.

    Mr. Speaker, Paulatuk's women elders have also been a strong guiding influence in the community. Although Anny Illasiak, also known as "Granny Uma," passed away in 2012, her legacy lives on through the local Aboriginal Head Start program she had worked at for so many years as a language teacher, storyteller, and historian. Elizabeth Kuptana, also known as "Anaanang," is dedicated to passing on traditional skills and knowledge to the next generation.

    Mr. Speaker, Rosemarie Kuptana, originally from the area around Sachs Harbour, was a trailblazer in Indigenous-language broadcasting, working for CBC and the Inuit Broadcasting Corporation. The former president and national Inuit leader of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami has spent her career working to advance Inuit rights and interests to ensure the survival of traditional knowledge.

    Mr. Speaker, in the workplace and in our homes, we owe a lot to these women, not only for the work they have dedicated their lives to, but also for their courage in establishing themselves as role models for young women growing up in Nunakput and the Northwest Territories today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

    MR. SPEAKER:

    Masi. Members' statements. Member for Hay River North.

    Member's Statement on International Women's Day

    MR. SIMPSON:

    Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today is International Women's Day. The theme of this year's campaign is Press for Progress. Today, there are events being held around the world to promote and call for greater action on gender parity. This year's theme is informed by the World Economic Forum's 2017 Global Gender Gap Report, which tells us that the global gender gap is widening, and at this rate, it will take over 200 years to achieve gender parity. While women worldwide are closing the gap in critical areas, such as health and education, significant gender inequality persists in the workforce and in politics.

    Looking around this Legislature, that fact is strikingly apparent: only two of the 19 MLAs are women. One of the main reasons for this disparity is the notion, whether it be conscious or unconscious, that politics is for men. It is of the utmost importance that we actively work to dispel that myth. I am proud to say that, in Hay River, much progress has already been made on that front, and that is thanks to Ms. Jane Groenewegen.

    Ms. Groenewegen represented Hay River in the Legislative Assembly for 20 years, as a Regular Member, a Cabinet Minister, the Deputy Premier, and as the chair of the Standing Committee on Priorities and Planning. Mr. Speaker, she was my MLA for the majority of my life. To the young women and men who have grown up in Hay River, the idea of women in politics isn't a foreign concept; it's the natural order of things.

    While Ms. Groenewegen is undoubtedly one of a kind, she serves as a wonderful example for young women and continuously works to encourage other potential female leaders. She is an active participant with the Campaign School and the Daughters of the Vote, which both aim to increase women's participation in politics. She also recently agreed to let her name be put forward by the Legislative Assembly to the Canadian Women Parliamentarians Alumni Program, to once again offer her experience and insights into service in elected office in institutions predominantly occupied by men.

    Her time as an MLA was not her only foray into male-dominated institutions. During her tenures with the Hay River Town Council and her early days with the Hay River and NWT Chambers of Commerce, as well as the NWT Power Corporation Board of Directors, she was always one of the only, and sometimes the only, woman. Mr. Speaker, that fact never deterred her, and it never silenced her. I am not sure anything could silence her. I am sure all of the Members she has worked with will always remember her animated critiques of the performance of Ministers -- when such critiques were required, of course.

    Mr. Speaker, I want to both commend and thank Ms. Groenewegen for what she has done to address gender disparity in Hay River and the territory, and to hold her up as an example for the young women and men of this territory. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

    Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

    MR. SPEAKER:

    Colleagues, I would like to draw your attention to the visitors in the gallery. I am pleased to recognize Madame Lu, Council General of China, and Mr. Shan, Consul. Both join us here from the consulate office located in Calgary. Masi for joining us. Masi for coming to the Northwest Territories, our beautiful country. Masi.

    [English translation not provided] Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Range Lake.

    HON. CAROLINE COCHRANE:

    Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to recognize in the gallery members of the NWT Status of Women Council. We have the president, Ms. Violet Camsell-Blondin, Martina Norwegian, Catherine Mackeinzo-Taylor, and Arlene Hache.

    Because it is International Women's Day, I would like to recognize some of our women leaders and women colleagues: my Deputy Minister, Ms. Eleanor Young, from Municipal and Community Affairs; Ms. Dawn Moses, Municipal and Community Affairs; and colleague and personal friend, I consider, Ms. Sharon Firth, Municipal and Community Affairs.

    Another woman that I recognize in the gallery and I respect and cherish is Ms. Dawn Lacey, who is a long-time social advocate and a well-known musician within the community of Yellowknife.

    Finally, I would like to recognize a Page from the Range Lake constituency, young Ms. Zoe Clark. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

    MR. SPEAKER:

    Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Kam Lake.

    MR. TESTART:

    Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, would like to recognize my constituent, Ms. Sharon Firth, four-time Olympian; a Page who is with us today, Justin Vollenweider, who has been helping us out all week; and last but not least, my partner, Colleen Wellborn. I am surprised she let me speak about her today; she is a very private person, but I am really pleased that she was able to hear those words and be with us today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

    MR. SPEAKER:

    Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Nahendeh.

    MR. THOMPSON:

    Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize five strong leaders who have had a huge impact on my life. They are Martina Norwegian, who is a constituent in my riding, as well as Vi Blondin, and my former colleagues, Dawn Moses, Eleanor Young, and Sharon Firth, and I thank them very much for being here today. Thank you.

    MR. SPEAKER:

    Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Yellowknife North.

    MR. VANTHUYNE:

    Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize and welcome Arlene Hache. Arlene is a resident of the Yellowknife North riding, and of course, she is well-known across the North as an advocate for social change. She is the former Executive Director of the Centre for Northern Families, and she is the recipient of the Order of Canada, the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, and the NWT Wise Women Award. Thank you for being here on this very special day of International Women's Day. Thank you.

    MR. SPEAKER:

    Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

    MS. GREEN:

    Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to also knowledge my constituent Dawn Moses, who works with MACA as the Youth and Volunteer Program Manager. Mahsi.

    MR. SPEAKER:

    Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Thebacha.

    HON. LOUIS SEBERT:

    Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize Fort Smith Town Councillor Rashmi Patel from the Thebacha riding. Thank you.

    MR. SPEAKER:

    Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Yellowknife South.

    HON. BOB MCLEOD:

    Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to recognize a Page from Yellowknife south, Marie Carpenter, as well as Carmen Moore, our Chief of Protocol. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

    Oral Questions

    Question 220-18(3): Cannabis Enforcement Training for Bylaw Officers

    MR. THOMPSON:

    Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it is confusing for some residents of the NWT when it comes to understanding the role of the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs when it comes to municipal government. We have heard of the department coming in and appointing administrators because a situation has gone from bad to worse. We also had strong support from the department in that. My first question to the Minister is: can the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs please tell us what role the department has when municipal governments break or do not follow the bylaws? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

    MR. SPEAKER:

    Masi. Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs.

    HON. CAROLINE COCHRANE:

    Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The role of the Municipal and Community Affairs is to support community governments and Aboriginal governments. We take that seriously. We will often help actually drafting some of the bylaws. We provide orientation to new governments on how to do bylaws, what the meanings are, how to interpret them, how to enact them.

    When they break a bylaw, we try not to be punitive. Our first step is actually to support the community. If we get a complaint, we will actually reach out to the community government and try to speak to them about the bylaw that they may have jeopardized and see if they can actually look at revising the mistakes that they have made. Our job, like I say, is to support them, not to become authoritarian and take over.

    We can go into administration. We can do co-supervision. Those are the last resorts. That is not the first process. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

    MR. THOMPSON:

    I appreciate the Minister in that answer. I really applaud the department for taking that approach. I think it is a very positive way to help them grow as a community. Can the Minister provide: when the department offers council training, do bylaws and following them get discussed during the process? When they get in there and do the training and that, are bylaws discussed and how they have to be followed?

    HON. CAROLINE COCHRANE:

    Most definitely. With every new council that takes place, we do an orientation. The interpretation and the right understanding of the bylaws is critical in that. That is the main function of community government. We do spend time with them. We try to help them understand both how to develop bylaws and how to interpret them.

    MR. THOMPSON:

    I thank the Minister for that answer. I appreciate the department continues to do that. Whether it is designated authorities or municipal governments, I understand that they do that. I have seen it done in the past. It is good to hear they are still following that practice. If the department sees an issue or has been advised of a potential issue, does the regional or each headquarter staff contact the municipal government and provide advice?

    HON. CAROLINE COCHRANE:

    Again, like I said, our job at Municipal and Community Affairs is to support designated, thank you for clarifying that, Aboriginal and municipal governments. If we get a complaint at any level, either regional or at headquarters, we try to get the regional departments to go into the community. They are the ones closest to the ground; they understand their communities and their regions. That regional officer will go in and actually work with them. We don't tell them what to do. It is really important to note that. We will provide them advice, as the honourable Member has said.

    MR. SPEAKER:

    Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh.

    MR. THOMPSON:

    Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the answer from the Minister. How can residents of the NWT address issues if they are not being successful in getting the municipal government to deal with the issues that they bring forth to them? Thank you, Mr. Speaker

    HON. CAROLINE COCHRANE:

    The first step for any resident who has a problem with their municipal, Aboriginal, or designated authority is to ask if they can speak to the council. They are public bodies. They are responsible to their residents as public entities. People are allowed to go and present to the council. At a last recourse, if that does not work and the resident is still not satisfied, they have measures through the court of law. If they feel that the council has broken a bylaw and it has impacted them and they can't find a successful resolution, then they can take it to court. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

    MR. SPEAKER:

    Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

    Question 221-18(3): Role of the Status of Women Council

    MS. GREEN:

    Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think, on every other International Women's Day I have ever spent in Yellowknife, I have attended the Bread and Roses lunch and there has been an announcement of the Wise Women Award winners. I note that is not happening today. I have some questions about the status of the Status of Women Council, the body that usually organizes the Bread and Roses lunch and the Wise Women Awards. Can the Minister update us about the status of the Status of Women Council and why they may not have been able to host these events this year? Mahsi.

    MR. SPEAKER:

    Masi. Minister responsible for the Status of Women.

    HON. CAROLINE COCHRANE:

    Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Northwest Territories Status of Women is kind of at an arm's length of the Legislative Assembly. Although I, as the Minister of the Status of Women, appoint the board of directors and can take them out of their seats as board of directors, they have a little bit of flexibility in what they do. They are mandated within the Legislative Assembly to incorporate the act, to adhere to the act, to do the tasks that are defined within the act. Part of that act states that they will do gender-based analysis and support the Minister in reaching the Minister of the Status of Women's objectives, which in this case is the mandate about women in leadership.

    Traditionally, they have done the Wise Women Awards on an annual basis. We are trying to move in a new direction, though. I am just going to put it out there, Mr. Speaker. There has been a change of administration. There have been some new board members who have come. Old board members have finished their terms, so we put new board members in. I did talk to them the other day about their purpose and their defined role within the act, which is a legal obligation, about their necessity, their purpose. Part of that is, like I said, to do gender-based analysis. The Wise Women Award, though, is not part of the act. It is not something they are mandated to do.

    They have taken nominations. When I met with them the other day, they are stating that, because of the organizational changes at this time, they won't be able to do it on this date. They will recognize the Wise Women coming up in the future. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

    MS. GREEN:

    I appreciate the Minister's answer. I have learned a whole load of things. I know that recently the Status of Women executive director resigned. Can the Minister tell us when new staff will be in place?

    HON. CAROLINE COCHRANE:

    The appointment of the executive director is not under my authority. I only delegate the board of directors. In discussing the position with the board of directors, they have informed me that they have completed interviews and they have found a successful candidate. I can't state when they are going to be starting their position, but I do know that they have selected a new executive director. We are all looking forward to the changes that this new person will bring.

    MS. GREEN:

    Thank you to the Minister for that answer. If the Status of Women Council's role is not to promote the accomplishments of women through the Wise Women Awards, as one example, what is the role of the Status of Women Council going forward?

    HON. CAROLINE COCHRANE:

    It is not that Status of Women can't promote women by doing such things as the Wise Women Awards, the Take Back the Night, the December 6th Vigil. Those are important things for women. Those are things that they choose to do on their own in their work to promote women's concerns within the Northwest Territories. Their primary role, though, Mr. Speaker, is to enact the legislative requirements within the Status of Women Act, so that is their primary role. We are trying to move there.

    I do want to say that my vision of them, I met one of the new board members that I appointed actually is an old board member, and so she brought me some history which is really important to know. She talked of a time, and I know it was over a decade, but she talked of a time when she was a board member originally, and they had a different executive director, and they were seen on national boards. They were bringing the voice of women to the forefront. They were invited to the table to bring their concerns forward. I think we've lost that, Mr. Speaker. We are trying to work together as a board and the Minister of Status of Women to regain that strength, to regain that voice. They are representatives of all regions of the Northwest Territories, so it's important that we refocus our energies and look at bringing forward the voices of women from the Northwest Territories at a territorial, a local, and a national level.

    MR. SPEAKER:

    Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

    MS. GREEN:

    Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Thanks to the Minister for that answer. The Minister said a couple of times that the Status of Women Council needs to return to its purpose as set out in the legislation. Could she just refresh my memory of what that purpose is? Thank you.

    HON. CAROLINE COCHRANE:

    It's been actually quite a while since I've read the act, although I had read it previously a number of times. The biggest things that stick out for me, though, is the gender-based analysis. They are to be looking at all government departments, territorial departments, and looking at it through a gender-based view to see how they impact women, their policies, because some policies do affect women and people of diversity differently than men. That is one of the main purposes.

    The other thing that sticks out in my mind is that they are accountable, they are to support the Minister of the Status of Women. I don't have a department, Mr. Speaker. I am kind of alone in this and we have a lot to do. The Status of Women is my department. They are to help me as the Minister of Status of Women to make sure that the mandates defined within the Legislative Assemblies are moved forward. I need them to help me with that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

    MR. SPEAKER:

    Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North.

    Question 222-18(3): Northwest Territories Power Corporation Generator Procurement and Cost Overruns

    MR. VANTHUYNE:

    Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister responsible for the NWT Power Corporation. Mr. Speaker, we're all familiar, of course, with the saga of the missing generators, and so I would like to try to get some additional clarification today.

    Mr. Speaker, in March of 2017 we were told that additional costs due to the absence of the generators was $500,000. Seven months later in the fall session of 2017, when asked, and still without any generators, the amount remained the same. I assumed that we still had to pay some rent for back-up generators for those seven months, as well. Now we have received three generators and are awaiting two more. I assume again that we have to pay some kind of costs for back-up generators while waiting for these two remaining generators. Can the Minister explain how the amount of $500,000 has remained the same since being asked a year ago what the overruns would cost? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

    MR. SPEAKER:

    Minister responsible for the NWT Power Corporation.

    HON. LOUIS SEBERT:

    Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to give some background as to this matter. The original contract, or the contract that was entered into between Virdi Power and the Power Corporation, was in 2015. That original signed contract for was $3.4 million, and that's United States dollars. It was later increased to $3.6 million when a tie breaker module was added under a change order. Now, of course, we did not receive the generators on time. In fact, they were almost two years late. I did mention earlier in this House that had been a pre-payment, an initial progress payment to the corporation. That in American dollars was $962,500, which approximately is $1.2 million CAD. I mentioned the change order for the additional equipment. That was $176,500USD, which is approximately $238,000CAD.

    Upon the delivery of the three units, there was a bill sent by Virdi Power to the Power Corporation of $1,468,000. From that was the deducted $943,000 USD. This money was deducted because of the delays which were caused by Virdi Power. There will be costs going forward. As Members likely know, we have entered into a new contract with a Canadian supplier to receive the last two generators. As to whether we can recover that money from Virdi Power, we are looking into that. It is a complex matter, including, if there is litigation, where litigation would be conducted, in the United States or in Canada. This has been a difficult project, but I believe we're back on track. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

    MR. VANTHUYNE:

    Thank you to the Minister for the detailed response and some additional background information. I'm still not sure, however, that I was clear on getting an answer with regard to the $500,000 that the Minister a year ago indicated were the overrun costs for not receiving the generators at that time. Seven months later, we still have incurred more costs. I find it difficult to see how the $500,000 amount remained the same.

    Of course, the Minister has referred to additional costs that we have incurred since then. What is the total overrun cost that is on the line now that the Power Corporation is trying to recover in some form or another? It just can't be $500,000 anymore, Mr. Speaker. What is the new, revised number? Can the Minister share that with us, or at least share the detailed information with committee, breaking out these costs and how they intend to recover them?

    HON. LOUIS SEBERT:

    As I mentioned earlier, there was a set-off, so money for the costs that were incurred by the late delivery of the first three generators was recovered. There are going to be ongoing costs. That is acknowledged. Our expectation, however, is that the overall original or the expected budget of $8 million will be exceeded by about $500,000. We are looking into whether we can recover additional funds from Virdi Power, but as I mentioned earlier, that is a complex issue. If there is litigation, we would have to look at the cost and time that that might take, and in fact which jurisdiction it would be held in.

    MR. VANTHUYNE:

    I would appreciate it, though, if the Minister then could also make a commitment to share with us the break-down of the costs to date, and be able to show us their intention of how they intend to recover them. I appreciate that there may be a challenge to litigate this matter, so can the Minister maybe provide, so that we're clear, you know, is the government still intending to hold Virdi Power's feet to the fire, and if in fact, try to recover any additional costs due to these delays? Or is the Power Corporation ultimately going to be on the hook for these costs now?

    HON. LOUIS SEBERT:

    Certainly, I would be prepared to meet with committee to discuss this. I know that the numbers involved are complex, partially because some of the contract was initially in United States dollars, so it was necessary to get some information as to what that approximated in Canadian dollars. Certainly, I would be willing to meet with committee. As I say, we are looking at the possibilities of taking legal action, but we have to look also at the time and complexity of such legal action and also which jurisdiction such legal action would be commenced in. Certainly, I would like to meet with committee. I realize I have thrown out a lot of numbers today. I have had the Power Corporation provide me with up-to-date numbers, which I certainly would be prepared to share with committee. Thank you.

    MR. SPEAKER:

    Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North.

    MR. VANTHUYNE:

    Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you to the Minister for that commitment. So, let's just say, then, if at the end of the day we are going to take the responsibility for this debt and that there will be no recovery from the contractor, can the Minister advise what the Power Corporation's plan is in order to cover off these costs if in fact we end up having to be the ones to cover it? Can the Minister offer assurance that NWT ratepayers are not going to be facing yet another increase as a result of having to cover this loss? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

    HON. LOUIS SEBERT:

    I wish I could give the assistance or the assurance requested by the Member opposite. As I say, we are expecting to be over the expected budget on this project, which frankly is not unusual in contractual situation, but ultimately I suppose it would be up to the Public Utilities Board to determine whether these additional costs would be passed on to ratepayers. Thank you.

    MR. SPEAKER:

    Masi. Member for Kam Lake.

    Question 223-18(3): Electronic Medical Records System

    MR. TESTART:

    Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the response to questioning during the review of the 2018-2019 Main Estimates, the Minister of Health and Social Services said, and I am quoting from unedited Hansard February 28, 2018:

    "We are talking about the resident being able to block their record from being seen by certain individuals within the healthcare system, including certain specific information. The initial system as designed didn't really have that available, but we have been working with the developers to see how we can incorporate that in, and we believe there is a mechanism. We are not a hundred per cent sure, and I may come back and say I was wrong, but at this point we believe there is something we can do."

    I would like to ask the Minister if that system he was referring to in that quote was the MediPatient system referenced in the recent Information and Privacy Commissioner report. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

    MR. SPEAKER:

    Masi. Minister of Health and Social Services.

    HON. GLEN ABERNETHY:

    Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the system I was making reference to was the electronic medical record system that we have incorporated in the Northwest Territories. I have had some further discussions. We believe that we will be able to put a system in that will allow our residents to block some individuals from seeing their information. We have not formulated that or put that in place yet, but we believe it can happen.

    MR. TESTART:

    So, I have it here. The electronic medical record system is a system of patient information used in healthcare clinics for scheduling, longitudinal charting, and billing to support the delivery of patient care, and it's available to all health authorities, whereas the MediPatient system referred to in the Information and Privacy Commissioner report indicates that it's local hospital patient information used by several NWT health and social services authorities and includes admission, discharge, radiology, rehabilitation, and scheduling functions. So are some authorities still using the MediPatient system, or is the electronic medical record system replacing the MediPatient system?

    HON. GLEN ABERNETHY:

    No, we are moving to the electronic medical record system in the Northwest Territories, so it's going to be one system where we can have patient information, they can see what their test results are, all of those types of things. There are three communities that do not have that system in place yet. We are still rolling it out in the Northwest Territories, but we intend to have it everywhere in the Northwest Territories.

    MR. TESTART:

    So when the Health Information Act first came into place, the department identified 15 separate information systems. I will not go into them exhaustively, but they all seem to do different things: MediGent, MediPharm, ORMED, Risk Monitor Pro, Vital Statistics System, Health Suite. So, with these 15 separate information systems, are any of these going to be retained, or is this all rolling into one?

    HON. GLEN ABERNETHY:

    The Member did indicate a few systems, Vital Stats and a few others as an example. Those continue to exist. They are collecting data for a different reason, and the inputs are coming from a different mechanism. Electronic medical record is a system where individuals' records are kept and maintained. It does provide some statistical data so that we, as Members, can make informed decisions. We have 32 indicators that we are monitoring and reporting on, on a regular basis.

    MR. SPEAKER:

    Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.

    MR. TESTART:

    Thank you, Mr. Speaker. What I am trying to get at with the Minister here is that, yes, there are diagnostic systems, there are different systems like that, but it seems like there are a number of systems that are used for patient information, and we still have this issue with masking, that the functionality does not seem to be there. So I will ask the Minister: what is the work that is undergoing to modify the electronic medical record system to allow masking of patient information? What are the costs and projected timelines of that? Thank you.

    HON. GLEN ABERNETHY:

    What we are referring to is allowing a patient to block certain practitioners from seeing their information so that not everybody who is in the circle of care can necessarily see the information. That work is under way. We are still trying to figure out the exact magnitude, the cost of it. There are some challenges with it. For instance, if somebody chooses to block something today, and then 10, 15, years from now their situation changes and there is a critical incident and somebody needs to look at that information, if it's blocked, it could adversely affect their care. So we want to make sure that we understand all of that, and, until we have a better understanding of that, we will not have a full idea of the cost implications or the scope. We are doing that work. When I know, the committee will know. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

    MR. SPEAKER:

    Masi. Oral questions. Member for Frame Lake.

    Question 224-18(3): Site C Hydroelectric Dam Project

    MR. O'REILLY:

    Merci, Monsieur le President. My questions are for the Premier as the Minister responsible for Intergovernmental Affairs. There is major concern with the impacts of Site C dam project, now proceeding on the Peace River in British Columbia. UNESCO, Amnesty International, International Union for the Conservation of Nature, they have all opposed this project. Yesterday in this House I tabled a letter that was signed by 14 downstream Indigenous governments, including four from the Northwest Territories, calling on the British Columbia government to cancel the project. I would like to know from the Premier whether our government has ever told the British Columbia government it is opposed to the project and, if not, why not? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

    MR. SPEAKER:

    Masi. The Honourable Premier.

    HON. BOB MCLEOD:

    Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Government of the Northwest Territories fully participated in the environmental assessment process associated with the proposed Site C hydroelectric project. In submissions to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency, better known at CEAA, the Government of the Northwest Territories provided technical comments and concerns about potential downstream impacts from the Site C dam. The Government of the Northwest Territories also provided recommendations to address potential downstream effects to aquatic ecosystems, traditional harvesters, and communities in the Northwest Territories, specifically that the cumulative-effect assessment should expand in scope to include the Slave River and Slave River delta and should include assessment of the combined effects of Site C, Dunvegan, and Bennett Dam on water quality, quantity, and the health of the aquatic ecosystem.

    Despite the input provided by the Government of the Northwest Territories and some Northwest Territories Indigenous governments, CEAA's decision concluded that the project could go ahead but provided 80 conditions to reduce the potential downstream effects. CEAA also concluded that no effects from the Site C dam are likely to occur in the Northwest Territories.

    MR. O'REILLY:

    I would like to thank the Premier for that level of detail in his response, but, after the CEAA panel was held, the British Columbia government, the Premier, announced that they were reconsidering the project. So, during that reconsideration, did our government write to the Premier of British Columbia at any time and oppose the project? Can the Premier tell me that?

    HON. BOB MCLEOD:

    In the Mackenzie River basin, every province and territory is responsible for water management within their own jurisdictions. Transboundary agreements are bilateral in nature and, as such, address waters that flow between two jurisdictions. The waters of the Peace River flow directly between British Columbia and Alberta.

    The Northwest Territories-Alberta Bilateral Water Management Agreement deals directly with waters that flow between Alberta and the Northwest Territories, such as the Slave River. This is the approach defined in the Mackenzie River Basin Transboundary Master Agreement. As Alberta has made commitments related to water quality and overall ecosystem integrity in the Northwest Territories-Alberta Bilateral Agreement, they must ensure those commitments can be kept as they continue to negotiate with British Columbia towards their Alberta-British Columbia Bilateral Water Management Agreement.

    The Northwest Territories-British Columbia Bilateral Water Management Agreement covers our directly shared waters with British Columbia within the Liard River Basin. British Columbia and the Yukon have recently signed a bilateral water management agreement related to their shared waters in the Liard Basin.

    MR. O'REILLY:

    I would like to thank the Premier for that response, but I want to give him a heads up: I have gone off-script. This was not a question that I gave to him ahead of time, but it is in response to the first question that I asked.

    Once again, at the conclusion of CEAA panel review, after that was completed, the Premier of British Columbia announced that their new government was going to reconsider whether they should proceed with Site C. There was a process there where they were going to look at whether they should proceed or not. During that time, did our government write to the Government of British Columbia and oppose the Site C project at any point?

    HON. BOB MCLEOD:

    After the three-year environmental assessment that was approved in 2014, construction of Site C began in 2015. The estimated completion date for Site C is 2024, and as the project had already received approval, we had already submitted our comments, and we did not write to the British Columbia Premier or the British Columbia government.

    MR. SPEAKER:

    Masi. Oral questions. Member for Frame Lake.

    MR. O'REILLY:

    Merci, Monsieur le President. I would like to thank the Premier for that. I wish we had written.

    The Northwest Territories is a member of the Mackenzie River Basin Board, which provides a forum for discussion of basin level issues at a multi-jurisdictional level, but the board has no teeth, and it can only make recommendations. It doesn't seem to really have any control over upstream actions of jurisdictions once removed. Does the Premier believe that we need to push for a basin-wide regime or agreement to deal with projects like Site C? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

    HON. BOB MCLEOD:

    I believe we already have such an agreement, the Mackenzie River Basin Transboundary Waters Master Agreement, in which negotiations began in 1960, was signed in 1997, and commits the Governments of Alberta, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, Yukon, and Canada, and now includes Nunavut, towards cooperatively managing the water and aquatic ecosystems of the entire Mackenzie River Basin.

    This agreement makes provisions for the parties to negotiate bilateral water management agreements to waters that are shared directly between two jurisdictions, and as per the master agreement, the Northwest Territories signed transboundary water management agreements with the Yukon in 2002, and with both Alberta and BC in 2015, and that process also includes dispute resolution processes. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

    MR. SPEAKER:

    Masi. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.

    Question 225-18(3): Health Information Act

    MR. TESTART:

    Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services if the territorial health authority is meeting its statutory requirements under the Health Information Act? Thank you.

    MR. SPEAKER:

    Masi. Minister of Health and Social Services.

    HON. GLEN ABERNETHY:

    Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we take the protection of privacy of the NWT residents seriously, and we understand the importance of protecting the personal health information, the custody and control of information. We have enhanced training for all of our custodians. We are making sure that all of our people are trained, to make sure that they understand their obligations under the Health Information Act.

    There were a number of recommendations that came forward from the Privacy Commissioner. We are looking at those. We accept those recommendations. We are trying to make improvements. I have asked the department to reach out to the Privacy Commissioner to see if she could provide some guidance on what clauses she thinks need to be amended in the legislation to help improve clarity.

    We take this very seriously. We are committed to having quality and professional privacy protection, and of course, the authorities are committed to protecting the privacy of our residents. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

    MR. TESTART:

    I am not sure if that was a yes, no, or a maybe, but I will ask for more specificity perhaps. This is a very progressive piece of legislation, it is a very complex piece of legislation, and it allows patients a lot of control over their information. Can the Minister confirm if there are systems currently in place to allow patients to protect the privacy of their medical information from health care practitioners?

    HON. GLEN ABERNETHY:

    When the rights and principles of the Health Information Act are shared with patients, they are supposed to be told that they can request to stop their information from being shared with certain practitioners. If they make that request, we do our best to make sure that happens. I can't say that every resident who has approached that understands that, which is why we are trying to improve our training; so that people can understand that.

    This is new legislation. We are open to making improvements as we go. The Privacy Commissioner for the Northwest Territories has made a number of recommendations. We are reaching out to the Privacy Commissioners to make sure we have a complete comprehensive understanding of what they are suggesting so that we can continue to make this better for residents of the Northwest Territories.

    MR. TESTART:

    Will the Minister engage with the relevant standing committee at the nearest available time to go over the kinds of changes they are contemplating, the kind of work plan that they are going over? Will the Minister commit to providing the standing committee with more information on how the department is meeting its statutory requirements under the act?

    HON. GLEN ABERNETHY:

    I look forward to getting a letter from committee making that request, and I look forward to following up with them in response.

    MR. SPEAKER:

    Masi. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.

    MR. TESTART:

    Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister also commit to providing more clarity on the types of information systems that are being used by the health authority? Previously, I spoke of 15 different systems. I understand some are going to be retained and some are going to be rolled into one. Can the Minister provide some clarity on that or commit to providing more clarity on that? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

    HON. GLEN ABERNETHY:

    I understand that the committee just had a review of the information Privacy Commissioner's report. There were a number of recommendations.

    I am looking forward to, once again, hearing back from committee by way of letter or other correspondence indicating the types of things they want to know. If this is included in there, I will absolutely provide that information. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. You're just one person.

    MR. SPEAKER:

    Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh.

    Question 226-18(3): Aurora College Foundational Review

    MR. THOMPSON:

    Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Yesterday, when the Minister was answering questions from the honourable Member from Frame Lake here in regards about -- that is Frame Lake; right? Kam Lake. Sorry. I got it wrong.

    MR. O'REILLY:

    No, this is Frame Lake.

    MR. THOMPSON:

    Yes, this is Frame Lake.

    SOME HON. MEMBERS:

    Order.

    MR. THOMPSON:

    Order. Was asking questions to the Minister about foundational review and that. Can the Minister advise us if he is giving the same messaging to the college as he has given to us? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

    MR. SPEAKER:

    Masi. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

    HON. ALFRED MOSES:

    Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, our department has been working closely with the Aurora College and always has been having a good partnership with them.

    As our contractor has been doing the work around the foundational review, we have been getting updates and ensuring that the Aurora College and the staff know what the process is, the process that I explained yesterday to the Member for Frame Lake. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

    MR. THOMPSON:

    I appreciate that answer from the Minister. I guess my concern is that, you know, yesterday after the exchange here on the floor, I got a couple of phone calls from students asking me, "Well, it's not what they're being told." I guess the question to the Minister is: what is the messaging that the college is getting, because it seems that the students and maybe some of the staff are not getting the same message.

    HON. ALFRED MOSES:

    As I mentioned yesterday, those two specific programs, we did stop taking enrolments in the programs. The students who are currently in there are going to continue to get the support that they need to graduate, complete their programs, and I've said that in the House on numerous occasions. We will follow up with the staff at Aurora College as well to make sure that they're sending the same message to the students that we want to support them, we want them to graduate, and also to support them if they want to go to another post-secondary institution.

    MR. THOMPSON:

    I appreciate the Minister's answer to that. Don't get me wrong, the staff have been clear with the students and have been very supportive and have been giving the messaging, but I guess the students have been hearing different things at the college and that. Has the college given an email to the students saying, this is the process that the program is being reviewed and that, after the time this program is being reviewed, so the foundational report, whether it's the social work program or the teacher's program, after it's done, then they're going to make a decision?

    HON. ALFRED MOSES:

    We can have some staff follow up with Aurora College and make sure that information that's been portrayed to the students since we've started this process, that it will be relayed to the students. It is an operational component, so we will check with Aurora College on that.

    MR. SPEAKER:

    Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh.

    MR. THOMPSON:

    Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the Minister for doing that. At the end of the day, I guess the students out there who are looking at the social work program and the teacher's program, what can we tell them that is going to happen? Is the NWT seriously looking at providing this program or are we going to maybe potentially do a modification of it? Because if you look at our Skills 4 Success, some of the hugest needs are social workers or teachers and that, and our early childhood. Can the Minister elaborate on that? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

    HON. ALFRED MOSES:

    I think the message here is that anybody who wants to go into a social work program or education program, that we will continue to support them. I've always said that we have one of the best student financial assistance programs in all the country. If they want to get into that program, we can help them identify an institution, whether it's outside the Northwest Territories, getting that program in place. I think also a focus right now as we're moving forward, and I've said this to Members, is making sure that we get that foundational review done. It absolutely isn't a program review. I've mentioned that we've looked at things like governance, the operations, accountability, student retention, and I've mentioned that many times in this House. I think the main thing is that we get this foundational review done for our own Aurora College here in the Northwest Territories. Any student who wants to get into social work or into the education degree program, we will still continue to support them with our Student Financial Assistance funding. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

    MR. SPEAKER:

    Masi. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.

    Question 227-18(3): Aurora College Foundational Review

    MR. TESTART:

    Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Following up on my honourable friend from Nahendeh's questions, I'd just like to ask the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment: if there are students who don't want to leave the Northwest Territories to take training in in-demand jobs like social work and teacher education, what do we tell those students? Thank you.

    MR. SPEAKER:

    Masi. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

    HON. ALFRED MOSES:

    Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I mentioned in this House, we're not taking any intakes into this program until the foundational review is done. Then from there with the Skills 4 Success, with the labour market information needs and assessment that we also have, we will develop a strategic plan and the direction for the college moving forward, but right now I think it's important we get the foundational review done, and also provide these students with alternatives such as other colleges that we do have some of our northern students going to, such as Alberta, the Yukon, or even in Saskatchewan. It will give them some options. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

    MR. TESTART:

    The question I spoke of was: what if kids want to stay here and do those degrees? The option is to make them leave the territory? That is kind of counterproductive to that questioning. The Minister just said that this is a foundational review, not a program review, and yet he is telling us now that he is frozen on these two programs. So which is it? Is it a foundational review or a program review? Because we have these programs that are currently unavailable to northern students who want to take training in these careers here in the Northwest Territories.

    HON. ALFRED MOSES:

    The Member is right. We've stopped intake into those two specific programs. As I've mentioned many times, I don't know how many times I have to mention it, but we are doing a foundational review. We have to make sure that that gets completed. In the meantime, when that foundational review is complete, as I stated yesterday with the management response, and I gave a timeline that we should have something at the 2018-2019 academic year moving forward, then we can use that foundational review, that management response, along with our Skills 4 Success document, and our labour market needs assessment, and move forward into a strategic plan for the college. That's the timeline, the direction that we're moving right now.

    MR. TESTART:

    What other programs has the Minister halted intake on in the college currently since the foundational review started?

    HON. ALFRED MOSES:

    Well, just the two programs that were discussed that we brought up in this House over and over and over again and many times, so just the two programs.

    MR. SPEAKER:

    Masi. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.

    MR. TESTART:

    Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to ask the Minister: why were these two programs the only two programs that were affected by the foundational review? Thank you.

    HON. ALFRED MOSES:

    As I've said in this House before, it was the enrolment rates and graduation rates on that program. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

    Tabling of Documents

    Tabled Document 121-18(3): Annual Report 2016/17 Hay River Health and Social Services Authority

    Tabled Document 122-18(3): NWT Health and Social Services System Annual Report 2016-2017

    Tabled Document 123-18(3): Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority 2016-2017 Annual Report

    HON. GLEN ABERNETHY:

    Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following three documents entitled "Annual Report 2016/17 Hay River Health and Social Services Authority"; "NWT Health and Social Services System Annual Report 2016-2017"; and "Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority 2016-2017 Annual Report." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

    Notices of Motion for First Reading of Bills

    Bill 7: Chartered Professional Accountants Act

    HON. ROBERT MCLEOD:

    Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that, on Monday, March 12, 2018, I will move that Bill 7, Chartered Professional Accountants Act, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

    Motions

    Motion 11-18(3): Appointment of Human Rights Adjudication Panel Member, carried

    MR. VANTHUYNE:

    Thank you, Mr. Speaker. WHEREAS section 48(1) of the Human Rights Act provides for the establishment of an adjudication panel composed of at least three persons, appointed by the Commissioner on the recommendation of the Legislative Assembly;

    AND WHEREAS Section 48(4) of the Human Rights Act provides that the members of the panel hold office, during good behaviour, for a term of four years, with the exception of the first members appointed;

    AND WHEREAS there is currently one vacancy on the adjudication panel;

    AND WHEREAS the Board of Management is tasked with recommending individuals to the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Assembly is prepared to make a recommendation to the Commissioner;

    NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River South, that Mr. Paul Parker of Yellowknife be recommended to the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories for appointment as a member of the Human Rights Adjudication Panel, effective immediately for a term of four years. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

    MR. SPEAKER:

    Masi. The motion is in order. To the motion.

    SOME HON. MEMBERS:

    Question.

    MR. SPEAKER:

    Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Motion carried. Masi.

    ---Carried

    Motions. Member for Yellowknife North.

    Motion 12-18(3): Appointment of Human Rights Commission Member, carried

    MR. VANTHUYNE:

    Thank you, Mr. Speaker. WHEREAS section 16.(2) of the Human Rights Act provides that the Northwest Territories Human Rights Commission is composed of such members, between three and five in number, as may be appointed by the Commissioner on the recommendation of the Legislative Assembly;

    AND WHEREAS there is currently one vacancy on the commission;

    AND WHEREAS the Board of Management is tasked with recommending individuals to the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Assembly is prepared to make a recommendation to the Commissioner;

    NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for lnuvik Twin Lakes, that Ms. Gail Cyr of Yellowknife be recommended to the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories for appointment as a member of the Northwest Territories Human Rights Commission, effective immediately for a term of four years. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

    MR. SPEAKER:

    Masi. The motion is in order. To the motion.

    SOME HON. MEMBERS:

    Question.

    MR. SPEAKER:

    Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Motion carried. Masi.

    ---Carried

    Motions. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

    Motion 13-18(3): Increasing Women's Participation in the Legislative Assembly, carried

    MS. GREEN:

    Thank you, Mr. Speaker. WHEREAS women comprise half of the population of the Northwest Territories;

    AND WHEREAS women have been under-represented, accounting for no more than 15 per cent of Members of the Legislative Assembly in any given Assembly;

    AND WHEREAS the lack of representation by women may have resulted in the creation of legislation and policy that does not take their needs and concerns fully into account, to the detriment of all Northwest Territories residents;

    AND WHEREAS the Northwest Territories has the lowest percentage of women Members of a Legislative Assembly in Canada, while representation has increased at the federal level;

    AND WHEREAS the United Nations has determined that a critical mass of at least 30 per cent women is needed before legislatures produce public policy representing women's concerns, and before political institutions begin to change the way they do business;

    NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Range Lake, that the Legislative Assembly supports the goal of increasing women's representation in the Legislative Assembly to 20 per cent by 2023 and 30 per cent by 2027;

    AND FURTHER, that Members of this Legislative Assembly work together and individually to identify and implement a wide range of strategies, including positive action, public debate, and training and mentoring for women as leaders, to achieve these goals. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

    MR. SPEAKER:

    Masi. The motion is in order. To the motion. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

    MS. GREEN:

    Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as you are well aware, some distinguished women have served in this Legislative Assembly, including Nellie Cournoyea, the first and only woman Premier of the NWT, the second woman Premier in Canada, and the first Indigenous leader at this level. Jeanie Marie-Jewell of Fort Smith, Sandy Lee from Yellowknife, and Jane Groenewegen of Hay River all served in Cabinet, as my colleague Caroline Cochrane does today.

    All told, there have never been more than three women in any single Assembly, representing 15 per cent of the total Members. Not to put too fine a point on it, Mr. Speaker, the NWT has the worst record for electing women in the country. Legislatures in British Columbia, Ontario, Alberta, and Nova Scotia all have representation of at least 30 per cent women, as well as the Yukon. What do they have that we don't?

    One factor is a lack of party politics where parties can choose candidates and mandate a specific proportion of women. For example, there is a bipartisan initiative in New Brunswick to have women as 50 per cent of all candidates in the provincial election coming this fall.

    What we do know is that the more women who run, the more will get elected. Last year, there were 20 candidates running for the 10 councillor positions on the Behchoko community government. More than half of the candidates were women, and eight got elected.

    The challenge is to get women to run at the Territorial government level. They have always been reluctant to do so, averaging no more than 15 per cent of candidates since 1951. While we are at it, hats off to the 110 women who have run in the last 66 years. Mr. Speaker, last election, only 17 per cent of candidates were women, and no women ran in 10 out of 19 ridings.

    Let me turn to the question: what prevents women from running? A 2013 American study about the gender gap in political ambition among girls found that, first, boys are more likely than girls to have been socialized by their parents to think about a career in politics; second, young women tend to be exposed to less political information and discussion than are young men; third, young women generally get less encouragement to run for office than young men do; and fourth, young women, consequently, are less likely to think they will be qualified to run for office, even in the not-so-near future.

    From my own experience, I would also add two more reasons: women give more consideration to the toll politics will take on their families, especially their children, when they will work long hours and may be away from home for weeks at a time; secondly, women worry about the cost of paying for a campaign out of their own or their family's financial resources.

    In short, women have to be talked into running, and it usually is a hard decision for them to make. The Status of Women and now the Women's Advisory section of the Executive and Indigenous Affairs have been helping to equip women to run by offering campaign schools free of charge to any woman who is interested in running for office at any governmental level. The school offers practical advice about creating a message, budgeting, fundraising, and honing networking skills, among other things.

    There were campaign schools in Inuvik and Hay River last winter, in Fort Simpson last weekend, and in Yellowknife this coming Saturday and Sunday. The Minister responsible for the Status of Women and I have been at all of them. We are on a mission to get women into this building.

    Why do we need more women? Women are voters and taxpayers. We hold important roles in the courts, public service, and business. We want to share the power. We want to present our own perspectives on the issues of the day. These are different than hearing a man talk about a woman's perspective. The two of us here bring our unique gender perspective to the work we do, including budget review, creation of policy, and legislation.

    Women tend to highlight areas of work that men may not emphasize, such as promoting the need for available and affordable childcare and advocating for action on violence against women. That doesn't mean that women don't care about economic or environmental issues. Of course, we do. It doesn't mean that the men here are doing a bad job. They aren't. We are allies working together for the good of the whole of the NWT.

    Research has shown that having women at the table provides for faster decisions, more effective actions, and better financial outcomes. Mr. Speaker, we need a Legislative Assembly that is truly representative. Gender equality is a human right. Women are half of the population, but have only 10 per cent of the seats. Imagine if this was the other way around, and men had only 10 per cent of the seats. They wouldn't feel adequately represented here. What we want is equality.

    This isn't a perfect comparison, because it deals with diversity rather than equality, but what if this House had two Indigenous Members and 17 non-Indigenous Members? Indigenous people, naturally, would not feel adequately represented. They are half of the population. Women, Indigenous and non-Indigenous alike, are underrepresented in this House.

    In an ideal world, women would have half of the seats here. The reality is that there are only a couple of countries in the world today that have true equality. The UN has set a goal for women's representation at 30 per cent. That is the threshold at which there are enough women to produce public policy representing women's concerns. It is time for all of us to share responsibility to achieve gender equality.

    To bring this idea home, 30 per cent of representation by women would be six Members in this House. That is where we want to be by the 2027 election, if not sooner. Twenty per cent representation by women is four Members. That is double where we are now, and that is our goal by the election in 2023. Mr. Speaker, these are modest goals, but we have to start somewhere.

    As the 18th Assembly, we committed in our mandate to supporting initiatives designed to increase the number of women running for elected office in the NWT. That support can take a number of forms; promoting women's leadership, encouraging women to take part in public debate, responding to requests for mentoring from women who want to become candidates in any level of government, to appreciate and work to remove all of the barriers women face in becoming candidates.

    As I said in my statement today, equality won't happen by itself. Our starting point for making it happen is to support the goals set out in today's motion. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

    MR. SPEAKER:

    Masi. To the motion. Member for Yellowknife North.

    MR. VANTHUYNE:

    Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in support of Motion 13-18(3), a motion by my colleague from Yellowknife Centre to increase women's participation in the Legislative Assembly, and I want to thank her for bringing this important motion forward.

    We began the 18th Assembly directed by our electors with a commitment to openness and transparency, and we have taken some positive steps in that direction, Mr. Speaker, and that's good, but when you look around this Chamber and do a simple count, Mr. Speaker, it tells a different story.

    Of 19 Members, only two are women. What does that say to young people who look into our proceedings and wonder how we reflect the needs and realities of their communities? Is our system truly open and transparent to women? What does that say to aspiring young women who want to take on leadership roles in their communities? How does that encourage young women to step up and make their voices heard?

    It doesn't, Mr. Speaker. It is a failure of our process that this Chamber is a very poor reflection of the territory and people we are here to represent. Mr. Speaker, I have spoken in this House about the influence that my mother has had on my life. As a working single parent, she was my role model. She embodied the values that I have come to respect and value most in life. The fact that she, and people like her, are left without a fair and equitable voice in this Assembly is a flaw in our system and in public representation, Mr. Speaker.

    It is not your fault, nor mine, Mr. Speaker, or the fault of any other MLA, government, past or present, but our system must improve its representation of women. Motion 13-18(3) puts a measurable goal on that improvement and commits us and those who follow to taking specific actions to achieve that goal, and for those reasons, I will be supporting this motion. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

    MR. SPEAKER:

    Masi. To the motion. Member for Kam Lake.

    MR. TESTART:

    Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support this motion. I don't think I could possibly begin to embody the spirit of the motion as my friend the honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre did, but I did want to take some time to speak about the difference that elected representatives can -- and we have two here today who have been working tirelessly since the term began, the honourable Members for Range Lake and Yellowknife Centre -- make a difference and actually find meaningful ways we can improve representation in politics by getting more women elected and more women interested in the system. We have seen campaign schools. We have seen more education of the male Members of this House on how our attitudes might not be the most conducive to encouraging women in decision-making in this place, and I want to thank them for that, but I also want to recognize the other women parliamentarians who are doing this work.

    The Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians group is a network of members of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association's parliaments and legislatures, of which the NWT legislature is a Member. The CWP is an integral part of the CPA and works for better representation of women in legislatures and the furtherance of gender equality across the commonwealth. This is a means to build the capacity of women elected to a parliament or a legislature to be more effective in their roles and improve the awareness and ability of all parliamentarians, male or female, and encouraging them to include gender perspectives in all aspects of their role, legislation, oversight, and representation, and helping parliaments become gender-sensitive institutions.

    According to the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, 28 parliaments and legislatures have reached the Commonwealth Heads of Government target of 30 per cent representation of women, of which only two have over 50 per cent representation. Nine have 40 per cent representation. In Canada, that's Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, and Yukon.

    Over 20 Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians from 16 countries have met to discuss gender priorities in 2017, and they formed a working group which is sitting well beyond 2017 to develop strategies to solve this problem. These include looking at formal and informal quota systems and talking through strategies to engage men in gender agendas, agreeing on the importance of gender budgeting, leveraging social media as a tool to engage and educate society about the importance of gender equality, and seeking out partnerships to strengthen the work of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians network, and these kinds of activities are ways that we continue to move the dial, working with other parliaments to see how we can learn from each other to make meaningful changes in our electoral systems and in our parliamentary institutions.

    As part of the International Women's Day celebration in 2017, the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians Canada region continued their commitment with the Daughters of the Vote initiative, where young women from every federal riding in Canada are invited to the Canadian federal parliament and provincial legislatures to discuss their visions and a vision for the future of Canada. I know that our women parliamentarians here participated in that exercise and brought young northern girls and women to the parliament to discuss that. These kinds of mentoring opportunities are just another way that we can help encourage women to take up roles in public office.

    Mr. Speaker, the Canadian Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Women's working group, the Canada Regional Steering Committee, met further in 2017 and have continued to assess the dire need to continue to increase this. Even though some provinces are making strides, the overall representation still falls short of where it should be. They have developed very strategic plans. They have developed other ways that our parliament can get involved.

    I want to encourage all Members of this House to consider how we can work within these existing frameworks of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and work with our women colleagues to find ways to support the work both inside and outside the House to be more gender-inclusive and ultimately to achieve our goal of getting more representative legislature at the end of the day.

    Mr. Speaker, in another life, I was involved with recruiting candidates, and it's a lot more challenging to recruit a woman candidate than a male candidate. The first question they will ask is always, "Well, I have to think about my family." If you ask a man, he says, "Okay, when can I start?" I think that is the problem that we need to address. We need to have a more sensitive way of understanding the different perspectives on the workplace, on employment, and we also need to ensure that your legislatures and democratic institutions are both family-friendly and gender-inclusive. Things like daycare programs, shorter sittings that allow people to return home, these are all the kind of initiatives that seem very minor but help in a big way. So I look forward to hearing further debate on this motion and ultimately supporting it and seeing what work we can do to turn what is aspirational into meaningful action to solve this problem by 2030. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

    MR. SPEAKER:

    To the motion. Member for Frame Lake.

    MR. O'REILLY:

    Merci, Monsieur le President. I would like to thank the mover and the seconder for bringing forward the motion and for continuing the public debate around gender equity and political leadership. It's consistent with what I have always said and believe, and I look forward to the day when my daughter, her daughter, and indeed all of our daughters fill this House, so I will be very happy to support this motion. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

    MR. SPEAKER:

    Masi. To the motion. Member for Nahendeh.

    MR. THOMPSON:

    Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to speak to this motion. I would like to thank Ms. Green and Ms. Cochrane for developing the motion before us this afternoon. I support this motion and am interested in the work we will need to do to make this goal a reality. Women's representation in government is not a new subject. It has been a topic of discussion in the NWT for many years, and I know it's on the table in other governments across Canada and around the world. It is definitely something we need to look at. Right now, this motion tasks us with supporting an ambitious long-term target that stretches over the next several Assemblies, but the reality is that, for this 18th Assembly, our legacy is going to be the actions we take within the next two years and that that time is going to go fast.

    The motion calls on us to work together, and I see that as a place to focus our efforts. I see an opportunity here for Cabinet Ministers and Regular Members to work together, especially when it comes to engaging the public and getting the research and the public debate started. I will stop there, Mr. Speaker. It's a big project, and we need to get started. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

    MR. SPEAKER:

    Masi. To the motion. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

    MR. BEAULIEU:

    Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I too rise to support the motion here today. I have been in the Assembly for three terms, and I know that, in each term, we have had only two women as MLAs. I think that the women in this Legislative Assembly for all the three terms that I have served in the House have brought a perspective that maybe would be missing if there were no women in the House. I find that that is an important perspective, and, as the motion indicates, developing legislation without the perspective of women would be difficult and we would not be able to develop a full legislation that covered all perspectives, so I support the motion. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

    MR. SPEAKER:

    To the motion. Member for Range Lake.

    HON. CAROLINE COCHRANE:

    Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Increasing the number of women in politics is critical. MLA Green did a wonderful job of talking about why we need to increase the numbers, so I am not going to do that again. I do want to say that this government has made it a mandated priority to support initiatives designed to increase the number of women running for elected office in the Northwest Territories. We are moving towards this through campaign schools to support women with the tools they need to run for office. When we do this work, we cast the net more broadly than running for a Member of the Legislative Assembly because we know that gender representation is important for all levels of government and that women who have some leadership experience or, at a minimum, a knowledge of the process have increased likelihood of running.

    That said, Mr. Speaker, two of the most important ways that women need to be encouraged is, one, by being asked and by being supported. Asking multiple times by multiple people and providing the financial emotional and physical support needed to run is critical. This motion is an indirect way of calling on women in our territory to run, and it is also a commitment by all of us to ask and encourage in a way that extends past our current term. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of Cabinet, we give full and enthusiastic support for this motion. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

    MR. SPEAKER:

    Masi. To the motion. I will allow the Member for Yellowknife Centre to conclude her remarks on that motion.

    MS. GREEN:

    I rise to express my support to my colleagues on both sides of the House for supporting this motion. I think it represents a milestone that we can all be proud of in moving our territory towards gender equality. Mr. Speaker, I request a recorded vote. Mahsi.

    Recorded Vote

    Ms. Kay:

    The Member for Yellowknife Centre, the Member for Nunakput, the Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, the Member for Range Lake, the Member for Great Slave, the Member for Yellowknife South, the Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, the Member for Hay River South, the Member for Thebacha, the Member for Hay River North, the Member for Mackenzie Delta, the Member for Yellowknife North, the Member for Kam Lake, the Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh, the Member for Nahendeh, the Member for Frame Lake.

    MR. SPEAKER:

    All those opposed, please stand. All those abstaining, please stand. The results of the recorded vote: 16 in favour, zero opposed, zero abstentions. The motion is carried.

    ---Carried

    Colleagues, as today is International Women's Day, I draw your attention to our table here in the Legislative Assembly. Today, we reach another milestone in the history of our institution: we are supported by table officers who are all women today. Masi.

    Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

    Mr. Simpson:

    I will now call Committee of the Whole to order. What is the wish of committee? Mr. Beaulieu.

    MR. BEAULIEU:

    Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, committee would like to consider Minister's Statement 32-18(3), Update on the Northwest Territories Disability Framework and Action Plan, followed by consideration of Tabled Document 63-18(3), Main Estimates 2018-2019, with the Department of Infrastructure as items for discussion. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Does committee agree?

    SOME HON. MEMBERS:

    Agreed.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you, committee. We will consider the documents after a brief recess.

    ---SHORT RECESS

    Mr. Simpson:

    I will now call Committee of the Whole back to order. Committee, we have agreed to consider Minister's Statement 32-18(3), Update on the Northwest Territories Disability Framework and Action Plan. I will ask the Minister if he has any witnesses he would like to bring in. Minister Abernethy.

    HON. GLEN ABERNETHY:

    No.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you, Minister. Comments or questions from committee? Seeing none, does committee agree that this concludes our consideration of Minister Statement 32-18(3)?

    SOME HON. MEMBERS:

    Agreed.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you, committee. Committee, we have agreed to next consider Tabled Document 63-18(3), Main Estimates 2018-2019, for the Department of Infrastructure. The department begins on page 233 of the document. I will turn to the Minister responsible for opening comments. Minister Schumann.

    HON. WALLY SCHUMANN:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am pleased to present the 2018-2019 Main Estimates for the Department of Infrastructure. Overall, the department's estimates propose a decrease of half a million dollars or 0.2 per cent over the 2017-2018 Main Estimates.

    Highlights of the proposed estimates include forced growth adjustments for maintaining new facilities, and the recently opened Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk Highway No. 10. In addition, increased runway inspections at regional airports will improve safety and service levels for scheduled airlines. Leases transferred to Infrastructure and increased amortization expense of $2.7 million for new assets brought in to service round out the increases over the last fiscal year.

    These estimates continue to support the priorities of the 18th Legislative Assembly. Specific initiatives include increasing the use of renewable and alternative energy in off-grid communities, engaging with the federal government to access funding for major renewable energy initiatives, and implementing the 2030 Energy Strategy to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, stabilize the cost of living, and promote a sustainable future for our land and people. The department will also provide $2.7 million in core funding to the Arctic Energy Alliance to support its work promoting the use of energy efficient technologies for residents, businesses, and communities.

    The department will continue to invest in the Deferred Maintenance Program by upgrading and preserving the government assets such as offices, schools, and health centres. The Deferred Maintenance Program helps the Government of the Northwest Territories to better target its capital dollars in support of its priorities by maintaining and extending the useful life of our existing asset base. The Capital Asset Retrofit Fund will be used to improve the energy efficiency of the Government of the Northwest Territories' buildings, recognizing that reducing greenhouse gas emissions and lowering the utility costs of our infrastructure is good for both the environment and the bottom line.

    2018-2019 will be the first full year of operations for two new revolving funds created by this Legislative Assembly in the current fiscal year. The Government of the Northwest Territories Marine Transportation Services is planning for its second sailing season, once again providing our residents, businesses, and communities with the reliable marine transportation services they depend on to deliver their household goods and building supplies, as well as aviation, diesel, gasoline, and heating fuels. The evolution of the Yellowknife airport continues, with improvements under way to enhance the travelling experience of Northerners, business travellers, and tourists and promote Yellowknife as a preferred travel destination and jumping-off point to the North.

    Infrastructure continues to explore funding agreements with our federal and private sector partners to improve and expand upon the Northwest Territories' transportation and energy corridors, so important to improving the future economic prospects for Northwest Territories businesses and our people. That concludes my opening remarks. I would be happy to answer any Members' questions. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you, Minister. You may take your seat at the witness table. Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses into the Chamber. Minister, please introduce your witnesses for the record.

    HON. WALLY SCHUMANN:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. On my left is Vince McCormick, Director of Corporate Services, Infrastructure, on my right is Deputy Minister Paul Guy, and on my far right is Assistant Deputy Minister, Regional Operations and Infrastructure, Jayleen Robertson.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you, Minister. Welcome to the witnesses. Committee, we have agreed to forgo opening comments and we have also agreed to one round of questions per Member, although I am flexible depending on the answers that committee receives.

    Committee, the departmental total is found on page 237, but as usual we will consider the details contained in the activity before considering the total department. There are four activities in this department. The first is asset management. It begins on page 240. I will give committee a moment. When committee is ready, we can begin comments and questions. Comments or questions on the $63 million activity? Infrastructure. Mr. O'Reilly.

    MR. O'REILLY:

    I'm not sure this is the right section, so is this where the Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk highway maintenance costs are found? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Will the Minister please respond?

    HON. WALLY SCHUMANN:

    That will be under regional operations, Mr. Chair. Thank you.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you, Minister. That was under regional operations, so nothing further from Mr. O'Reilly. Mr. Testart.

    MR. TESTART:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. One of the things that in the recent audit from the Auditor General of Canada and for the Northwest Territories review of the Department of Infrastructure's role on climate change activities, they found that the department did a good job of maintaining its assets, but how they evaluate programs is not, you know, 90 per cent or 80 per cent, it's going to be 100 per cent, or it's not being done to the full extent it needs to be. How is the department improving its asset management vis-a-vis climate change, especially with the additional climate change impacts that are expected in the coming years? Thank you.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you, Mr. Testart. Minister.

    HON. WALLY SCHUMANN:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Department of Infrastructure prepared a 10-point action plan to address the recommendations made by the Auditor General's report and has made the commitment to having that action plan operational by May 31st of 2018. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you, Minister. Mr. Testart.

    MR. TESTART:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. I won't belabour the Minister to read out the action plan, but what I am interested in is the cost of that action plan and whether or not that is represented in this budget. Thank you.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Minister.

    HON. WALLY SCHUMANN:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, it is.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. Testart.

    MR. TESTART:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. Can the Minister speak to the details, which activity line it's appropriated under or which lines under the section? Thank you.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. Guy.

    MR. GUY:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. The specific actions in the 10-point action plan cover a number of areas of the budget. For example, in asset management, some of it will be in design and technical services. Some of the work that we need to do: updating our protocol around building inspections; increasing the inspection regimes. Some of that work, the inspections, would take place at the regional level, so that would fall under regional operations. Some of it is in policy and planning in another area under corporate services, so it's dispersed throughout the budget. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. Testart.

    MR. TESTART:

    Thank you. The component under design and technical services, is this just the department using existing resources or have they identified additional resources that are required to complete the action plan? Thank you.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. Guy.

    MR. GUY:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. In order to begin the work on the action plan, we would be using existing resources. If we get into it and determine additional resources are required, then we would come forward through the normal budgeting process, through our business plan process for 2019-2020. In order to commence any action plan, we are funding that from within. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. Testart.

    MR. TESTART:

    Thank you. I note that there has been a reduction to the design and technical services activity. It was $4.2 million in the revised estimates. It is now $3.5 million. It seems like there are fewer resources to work with. Is that a concern for the department, or can they give me assurances that there will be no holdup in completing the action plan? Thank you.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Minister.

    HON. WALLY SCHUMANN:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. Most of those reductions are due to sunsets. If the Member wants, I can read them back to him. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you, Minister. Mr. Testart.

    MR. TESTART:

    If the Minister would indulge me, yes. Thank you.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Minister.

    HON. WALLY SCHUMANN:

    Realigned DTS transportation budget to DTS, $665,000. Move salary budgeted for senior technical officer, geo-environment, to DTS, $148,000. Move salary budgeted for senior electrical engineer to DTS, $136,000. Move salary budgeted to technical officer to DTS, $142,000. Move salary budgeted to reduce airport positions to DTS, $406,000. Also to that, we have permafrost research and development sunset, federal funding. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. Testart.

    MR. TESTART:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. One of the areas identified in the audit, too, was the facilities or certain facilities, such as snow removal of roofs on government-owned facilities. Is the facilities and property appropriation involved in that at all, or is that a regional operation item? Thank you.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Minister.

    HON. WALLY SCHUMANN:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. That will be regional operations asset management. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. Testart.

    MR. TESTART:

    Thank you. Nothing further.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. Vanthuyne.

    MR. VANTHUYNE:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. This is asset management. Maybe the department can inform me if this is the area that I would ask questions relevant to the former Northern Frontier Visitors' Centre? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Minister.

    HON. WALLY SCHUMANN:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, the Member can ask those questions here. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. Vanthuyne.

    MR. VANTHUYNE:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. Let's just start by asking what the condition of the building is. Are we evaluating the building? What is the prognosis as it relates to the future of the building and its potential use? If we could get an update on that, it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. Guy.

    MR. GUY:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. As we know, the building has been assessed a number of times on behalf of the former entity that had care and custody of the building, the Northern Frontier Visitors' Centre. They had commissioned some work, some studies to do that. We have taken that work. We have reviewed that work, those engineering reports. We have also commissioned another engineering report to see if there is some remedial work we can do in the short term. That work is nearing completion on the study work. We are planning to go ahead this spring, do some remedial work to stabilize the building and prevent further deterioration.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. Vanthuyne.

    MR. VANTHUYNE:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you for the update. Just to be clear, right now, there wouldn't be consideration for demolition of this asset? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. Guy.

    MR. GUY:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. At this point, that is obviously one of the options, but it is not our first choice right now. We are looking to see if there is an opportunity to repurpose that building and find a suitable use for it going forward. We are not at the decision where we would want to demolish that building. Thank you.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. Vanthuyne.

    MR. VANTHUYNE:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. That would be good if we could find another use for it. Is there a way in which the department is reaching out to folks, maybe some stakeholders or what have you, as it relates to the potential for what use we might be able to get out of that building? It is obviously a building that is architecturally designed so would be a great working space for a variety of groups. Is it potentially going to be just more government office space, not necessarily a bad thing? It may be an opportunity for an NGO or a non-profit of some kind. Is there any kind of consideration to who or how we might have a new tenant in that asset? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Minister.

    HON. WALLY SCHUMANN:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. The first thing after we can figure out that this building is usable and what is going to be left of it, we would probably do a departmental search first and see if there is any use with any of the departments in the Government of the Northwest Territories. We would have to figure out what the incremental costs would be subject to them moving into there.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. Vanthuyne.

    MR. VANTHUYNE:

    Thank you. I guess lastly: what kind of resources are we going to put towards the short-term remedial work? When can Members expect to see information with regard to what kind of resources might be put towards it? In addition, what would be the long-term resources required? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. Guy.

    MR. GUY:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. In terms of the short-term remedial work, I believe we are in the procurement stage now. We will have costing on that in the next two to three weeks. In terms of the long-term cost and what it would cost to put that building back into service in some sort of useful way, we would probably be looking at late summer/early fall. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you, Mr. Guy. Mr. Vanthuyne.

    MR. VANTHUYNE:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. Can we just ask the Minister to make a commitment to get that information to us, not today, but as appropriate? When the time comes that the department has assimilated all that information, can they share it with committee at the appropriate time? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you, Mr. Vanthuyne. Minister.

    HON. WALLY SCHUMANN:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. When it is appropriate, we will share that information with the Members. Thank you.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Nothing further from Mr. Vanthuyne. Infrastructure, asset management, operations expenditure summary, activity total $73,631,000. Does committee agree?

    SOME HON. MEMBER:

    Agreed.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you, committee. Please continue to corporate management; it begins on page 244. Corporate management. Mr. Beaulieu.

    MR. BEAULIEU:

    Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask the Minister, on the Community Access Program, if the Minister could give me an indication if this program was fully utilized in 2017-2018. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Minister.

    HON. WALLY SCHUMANN:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes. The Community Access Program is fully subscribed. If the communities get all the work done and the receipts and stuff in, that is a different story. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. Beaulieu.

    MR. BEAULIEU:

    Thank you. They have up until the end of this year to get the receipts in for payment. I take it all the applications up to the full amount were approved, and now they are just waiting for the invoicing portion of it, I take it? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Minister.

    HON. WALLY SCHUMANN:

    That is correct, Mr. Chair. Thank you.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Mr. Beaulieu.

    MR. BEAULIEU:

    Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I wonder if the Minister could advise me, if the subscribing of the budget from the communities exceeds the money that is in the budget, if the department or the Minister would be willing to continue to take in applications for the program and fund it internally from elsewhere in the budget. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Minister.

    HON. WALLY SCHUMANN:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. As long as I have been the Minister of Transportation, this program has always been oversubscribed. Our expenditures are tight on everything else in training to maintain the system of the Northwest Territories; so we will not fund from within on everything else. With the extra $500,000 that we are going to get, I suspect that that will be maxed out as we go forward, too. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you, Minister. Mr. Beaulieu.

    MR. BEAULIEU:

    Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I was including the extra $500,000. In the response earlier, then, does that mean that was fully subscribed to the $1 million as opposed to the $1.5 million? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Clarification, Minister?

    HON. WALLY SCHUMANN:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. I guess one of the things around this program is we get oversubscribed with these projects. We know quite in advance how much money has been asked for. As things move forward, for some reason or not, some of these communities don't come forward after they get their projects approved, so we tend to re-evaluate and move some projects up the list if some people don't get their project to the table and done in the time that they are allotted. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you, Minister. The question was: was the program subscribed to the $1 million or to the $1.5 million? Minister.

    HON. WALLY SCHUMANN:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, it is the $1.5 million. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. Beaulieu.

    MR. BEAULIEU:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have nothing further on this page.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Further to corporate management. Mr. Beaulieu, the clock is still running, so I will allow you to keep commenting.

    MR. BEAULIEU:

    Sorry, Mr. Chairman. I thought that page 246 was a different task, but I see that it is just a different section. I have a question on the next page. On the local community roads, I am wondering if the Minister could briefly describe that program to me, that contribution. How does the contribution work? Thank you.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Minister.

    HON. WALLY SCHUMANN:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. That's the way the title is, but that is actually the CAP program. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you, Minister. Would you please elaborate on CAP? Is that an acronym?

    HON. WALLY SCHUMANN:

    Community Access Program, Mr. Chair. Thank you.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. Beaulieu.

    MR. BEAULIEU:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just to get it cleared up in my own mind, on page 245, we have the Community Access Program that we just exchanged on, the $1.5 million, and then, for local roads, it is also called CAP, and it provides a contribution. I am wondering if these are two different pots of money, or if this is the same pot of money. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Some clarification from the Minister? Minister.

    HON. WALLY SCHUMANN:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. On page 246, that is where we record the grants to the community, and the number of 1,480 is what we give the community, but there are also incremental costs there for travel and some other offset costs that raise it to $1.5 million. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. Beaulieu.

    MR. BEAULIEU:

    Thank you. On page 245, we have a budget for CAP. On page 246, we have a contribution. Is this page the detail of the previous page? Mr. Chair, that is my question.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. McCormick.

    MR. MCCORMICK:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. Page 245 is the total cost to the department of the program budgeted, the 1,508. The 1,480 is what it actually set aside for the contributions made under it, and the difference is some departmental O and M costs, like travel associated with it and those sorts of things. Thank you.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. Beaulieu.

    MR. BEAULIEU:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. That is clear to me. Thank you. That is all I have.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Infrastructure, corporate management, operations expenditure summary, activity total, $11,670,000. Does committee agree?

    SOME HON. MEMBERS:

    Agreed.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you, committee. Moving on. Programs and services, beginning on page 248. Mr. Vanthuyne.

    MR. VANTHUYNE:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the department has done a good job over the years of making considerable contributions, especially to other organizations, NGOs and the like, that do work on our behalf. In particular, the Arctic Energy Alliance, we give a significant sum to every year, and they do an outstanding job in making sure that their programs and services benefit the residents of the North. Recently, it has been brought to our attention that a particular program within the Arctic Energy Alliance, and unfortunately, I don't have the exact name of the program in front of me, but again, it was successful, it was oversubscribed, and so it has a shortfall this year. I heard that it is around $50,000. Maybe it is more.

    I am wondering what kind of decisions the Minister is making as it relates to finding a way to be able to credit those people who were applying for programs that late this year discovered that the pot had ran out. Will the Minister find a way within his means to be able to credit those people who went and made those purchases, like we would have wanted them to do? Can the department find a way to help give Arctic Energy Alliance some money to be able to back-pay those people who made their purchases during last year's budget cycle? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Minister.

    HON. WALLY SCHUMANN:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, this question came up in the House here just lately. We are still hopeful or confident that we are going to be able to resolve this year. As I said in the House, we are having a look at our other programs within A and E, but we are also reaching out to other departments for other sources of funding that we can use to help alleviate the people that haven't been able to get the rebate.

    I have also said in the House here that we have our application in with the federal government on the Low Carbon Economy Fund, and we are hopeful to hear from them by early April on the funding of that agreement, which would help prop up Arctic Energy Alliance and probably double their budget.

    We are still doing our program review of the programs and services within the AEA to streamline and see what we need to adjust there to try to get away from these types of problems and which programs are working the best and which ones aren't. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. Vanthuyne.

    MR. VANTHUYNE:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. Well, this is all good news and appreciated. Does the department know, in fact, how much shortfall there was in the Energy Efficiency Incentive Program that was administered by Arctic Energy Alliance last year? Do we know what kind of resources we're looking for to try to backfill the oversubscription? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Minister.

    HON. WALLY SCHUMANN:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. We believe it was between $50,000 to $100,000. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. Vanthuyne.

    MR. VANTHUYNE:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. When could we maybe provide some certainty to folks that we would be able to give them those credits back? Are we hoping by April 1st we would be able to have Arctic Energy Alliance contact those people who were on the list and be able to inform them of the good news? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Minister.

    HON. WALLY SCHUMANN:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. As the fiscal year end is coming up here right away, we want to be able to resolve this before March 31st. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. Vanthuyne.

    MR. VANTHUYNE:

    No further questions. Thank you.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Further to programs and services, Infrastructure, programs and services, operations expenditures summary, activity total. Mr. O'Reilly.

    MR. O'REILLY:

    I just want to understand better from the perspective of the department the large sort of renewable and alternative energy projects, the larger ones, say like the Colville Lake solar panel array, that kind of thing. Those things would normally come out of the capital budget. We wouldn't see them in the departmental budget. Is that correct, in the O and M budget? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. Guy.

    MR. GUY:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. In instances where they are investments in the capital that the GNWT would own, going forward, it would be amortized by the GNWT. It would occur in the capital portion of the budget, so in the capital plan. Some of these are contribution agreements, for example, to the Power Corporation or another entity, and then they would show up as a grant or an O and M contribution. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. O'Reilly.

    MR. O'REILLY:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, that's helpful. I don't really see much here. I'm looking at page 250 in terms of any new grants or contributions, then, to help larger or even community-scale renewable or alternative energy projects. We're just sort of sitting back waiting for federal dollars to rain from heaven? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Minister.

    HON. WALLY SCHUMANN:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. The deal that we signed yesterday with Minister Sohi, that's where a lot of these funds are going to come from. Now that we've signed our bilateral as of yesterday, the projects that move forward in the next fiscal year, we will be coming back for except for those ones. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Nothing further from Mr. O'Reilly. I'll give Mr. Vanthuyne another crack at it, since he didn't use all of his time the first go-around. Mr. Vanthuyne.

    MR. VANTHUYNE:

    Thank you for your indulgence, Mr. Chair. In the past, Members have raised a little bit of concern as it relates to the Net Metering Program that the territorial government undertakes. We appreciate that, you know, the Public Utility Board plays a role and the Power Corporation plays a role.

    First of all, maybe what we can do for the record is get a little bit of clarification from the Minister and from his colleagues with regard to the energy division of Infrastructure and what role they play in support of the Net Metering Program. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. Guy.

    MR. GUY:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. The role of the energy division when it comes to energy policy and planning, we would look at policy issues, things like net metering, prepare position papers, or prepare approaches where we can implement those types of things, and we bring them forward for approvals. So net metering would be one of those policy decisions that would be done through energy policy and planning. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. Vanthuyne.

    MR. VANTHUYNE:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you for the insight. It's been brought to our attention in the past that, you know, we're doing what we can as it relates to net metering in promoting it for residential use and there have been some who have been taking us up on that. That's good. Where we really need to encourage net metering is in the higher diesel use businesses and facilities, and in particular, in large centers like Yellowknife.

    One of the things that's been identified in the past is that, and forgive me if I don't have the proper terminology, but the kilowatt per hour maximum that we've allowed net metering to be utilized for is only like 15 kilowatts an hour. When businesses or large facilities do their business case on whether they should switch over to solar panels, it just doesn't work out.

    There's been a request in the past to move that up from 15 to 50. Is this something that the department, through their energy division, is aware of, and is it something that they would be supportive of in promoting so that we can get these bigger facilities to switch over to solar and reduce their reliance on fossil fuels? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Minister.

    HON. WALLY SCHUMANN:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm not the Minister of the Power Corporation, but I think I know enough about it to speak to this a little bit. The reason that it's at the 15 kilowatt is to protect the rate bases to start with, because the problem with that is that you start getting into these people who get bigger than 15. Say you get to 500 kilowatts or more, you know, you start getting into independent power producers, things that we're going to have that in our energy plan for some of the communities that want to be able to sell it back into the system for Aboriginal governments and communities.

    At the end of the day, we sit here and argue in the House about whether rate bases and the increases, and we have to protect the shareholder, which is the Power Corporation, to be able to at least break even on their cost of operation. The higher we give, to be able to put these renewables into the system like that, it puts a lot of pressure on the Power Corporation. Plus, with us trying to balance off all these other things, with carbon tax and everything else coming, I can't see us trying to increase that, especially in a hydro community where there's already hydro in the system. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you, Minister. Mr. Vanthuyne.

    MR. VANTHUYNE:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. I respect the concern, but, I mean, are we a government that supports getting off fossil fuel and working towards alternative energy sources or not? We continually say that we are, but then, you know, unfortunately replies like that are not proving our mandate correct. I mean, why can't we even give owners specific requests? When it comes to large companies or bigger facilities that we want to see get off of fossil fuels, I'm quite sure they're not trying to be in competition with the government as being a power provider. I mean, the government could even set the return rate. All they're trying to do is reduce their costs and the cost of doing business. We say that we stand for that, as well.

    It's being proven in other jurisdictions. The Yukon is doing it already, and they've increased their kilowatt per hour ability for net metering.

    Can't the government make a commitment to at least look into this further, see what our sister territory is doing and why they're successful in this, and work towards us meeting our goals of reducing the cost of business, the cost of living, and getting off fossil fuel reliance? I think this would be a helpful. Can the Minister commit to that? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Minister.

    HON. WALLY SCHUMANN:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. As the Member will know, we're rolling out our energy strategy. We're very open to getting territorial citizens and the industry off lowering our greenhouse gases as much as we can. We're trying to figure out a way to implement renewables into the system and at the same time balancing off costs.

    I get the Member's point. I'd like to get some specifics around what he's thinking about, say give me an example of a specific system that someone wants to put into Yellowknife that they want to operate. At the same time, we still have to be very mindful of the costs of doing this. The federal government, as we have signed off our bilaterals there yesterday, we have an opportunity to shift our whole economy around this energy, the way we continue to use it. I think there is a great opportunity to be able to do that moving forward.

    At the same time, back to the Power Corporation, I have to protect their costs moving forward. I stood up in the House here the other day and said the amount of subsidies that we gave the Power Corporation to offset their costs on low water and these sorts of things, it's millions of dollars, and, if we were to continue to allow, particularly in the hydro communities, more and more renewables onto the system, it would put more pressure on the Power Corporation to supply power at a reasonable cost. It's going to drive up subsidies, as well.

    We are open to this. I am not trying to get into a debate with the Member, but I think this is a very complicated situation. We are willing to look at all things, of how we can try to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and get off of diesel across the whole system. So we are willing to look at that through the energy strategy. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you, Minister. This has been a well-canvassed issue throughout the years that we have been in this Assembly. Anything further, Mr. Vanthuyne?

    MR. VANTHUYNE:

    Yes, really nothing further. I think I have made my points, but, as the Minister has asked if I could be able to provide him some more detailed information with regard to what other jurisdictions are doing and, in fact, I do have that information provided to me by some sources, and so I will be able to share that with the Minister and his department so that he can evaluate what others are doing. I am sure, when he does, he will notice that we can do both. I mean we can be able to allow the Power Corporation to generate the required revenues they need to sustain their infrastructure, but we can also meet our goals of getting off of fossil fuel and lowering the cost of doing business and the cost of living here, in the North. So I will commit to that, and I will get it to him today. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Infrastructure, programs and services, operations expenditure summary, activity total, $23,925,000. Does committee agree?

    SOME HON. MEMBERS:

    Agreed.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you, committee. Moving on, regional operations, beginning on page 254. Mr. Beaulieu.

    MR. BEAULIEU:

    Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, my question is in the previous one about CAP and local roads. I had in my mind to ask about the program where the department provides docks in the communities, but I am not really sure where that budget item sits, so I would ask the question here, in regional operations, if they have money set aside, aside from the CAP funding, if there is other money set aside for the dock program. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Minister.

    HON. WALLY SCHUMANN:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. There is no other program. Docks fall under the Community Access Program only. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. Beaulieu.

    MR. BEAULIEU:

    I will move on to this section. Mr. Chair, the money that is allocated in the winter road is only to maintain the existing winter roads right now? Is there any money in there to possibly build new winter roads? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Minister.

    HON. WALLY SCHUMANN:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. That line item is just for existing winter roads. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. Beaulieu.

    MR. BEAULIEU:

    Mr. Chairman, the budget has not changed from 2016-2017, but we have eliminated a long winter road and that from Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk, so does this mean that they are going to decrease the budget at some point to make up for that, or is it that this budget will now go into a surplus with the elimination of the one winter road? Thank you.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Ms. Robertson.

    MS. ROBERTSON:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. There was a reduction in the winter roads budget in 2017-2018 in the amount of $411 for the discontinuation of the Tuktoyaktuk winter road. Thank you.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Mr. Beaulieu.

    MR. BEAULIEU:

    Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I could see that being, yes, I guess, okay for the timing. I am not 100 per cent sure that fits the timing, but, anyway, I will move on. If it made absolute sense economically to build a winter road into a community, and the community, of course, I am referring to is Lutselk'e. Lutselk'e has always indicated that they would like to see a winter road go in there. I know that it is difficult, probably, to maintain a winter road that wouldn't remain much longer than a month, more like three weeks before the ice starts to change. Would the Minister agree to at least take a look at that possibility for this coming winter road season, whatever needs to be done, like ice profiling, whatever, to see if it is possible to open a winter road to Lutselk'e for a short period of time, an opportunity for the people of Lutselk'e who otherwise do not have that opportunity? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Minister.

    HON. WALLY SCHUMANN:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. One of the reasons and the biggest concern we haven't ever looked at doing this, the last time the department has looked at it, is the major safety concerns out there with the pressure ridges. Changing conditions and climate changes have probably made that road, if we did put a road out there, very unpredictable and very costly to operate. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. Beaulieu. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chairman, I know that. I have travelled on that road many times, but I think there is a window. I think that the traditional knowledge will tell the department that there is a short window where that can happen. Apparently, the ice is solid enough to travel on for three weeks to a month before the ridges start to appear. It's very specific to one area near a place called Etthan Island. So I am just asking the Minister if the Minister would be prepared to look at that possibility this coming winter. It may only be one time out of four years that it is possible, but I do believe it is possible at some point, for a short period. I am asking the Minister here now, for the record, if he would look at that possible ice road to Lutselk'e this coming winter road season. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu.

    HON. WALLY SCHUMANN:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. Well, one thing I know for certain: we will not have the money to be able to do this, but what we might be able to do is go back and pull out whatever information we had previous to the department having a look at it and have a look at the situation and pull that information together with what we have and then we can have a look at it. I know coming in this next fiscal year we will not be able to do that, at all, but we will pull the information together that we presently have and have a look at maybe seeing what the cost analysis would be on doing that. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. Beaulieu.

    MR. BEAULIEU:

    Thank you. I think that's good. I am happy if the department agrees to look at it this year, with the understanding that there is only money in there to maintain the existing winter roads. I understand that this is an ask maybe that is kind of out of the blue, but I know that we have talked about it before. I think I have actually talked to Minister Schumann about this a few years back, a couple years ago. When there was a possibility of trying to get some equipment into or materials in for the renovation of the Lutselk'e Dene School, I thought that would be an opportunity and it would be economically feasible to do it at that point, but now I am asking if there are other projects.

    I think there's a possibility that there could be a renovation to the health centre in Lutselk'e. I know that's on the books. If the department would work with other sections of their own department that are responsible for the construction of the health centre in Lutselk'e, then maybe the timing could be right. That would be beneficial to not only the government, because it would reduce the cost and it would probably get started earlier in the year with the construction, and also it would help the community to bring some items into the community, an opportunity to bring some items that otherwise they would almost pay pretty well double to get it shipped down to Hay River and onto a barge. That's another possibility looking at what's coming with Infrastructure to maybe give the department an opportunity to put money in there that's specific to a project that will also benefit the community. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Minister.

    HON. WALLY SCHUMANN:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. First, a couple of things. That's not a commitment that I'm making right now as part of the budget process to do this information. That's something I want to work with the Member on and we'll have a look at this. I'm going to need a couple of things from the Member. I'm going to need the names of, we can talk to people about getting some TK information from them to help us assist for that.

    The other point I want to make about the comments there is that we put a cat train trail there. That is totally different than a public road to be open to the public. That would certainly be a different cost of things, but that's something that he and I can talk about outside the Assembly. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Nothing further from Mr. Beaulieu. Next, Mr. Blake.

    MR. BLAKE:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. Similar to my colleague here, I brought this up under Member's statements. As I mentioned, Tsiigehtchic is interested in connecting the territory from north to south here, possibly, I'm not sure if it will go under community access but probably take up the whole thing. To put an ice road or, it's probably cheaper to do the ice road than actually over land from Campbell Lake to Fort Good Hope. I'm sure you'd see how busy it would get here in Yellowknife and Hay River if people from Inuvik were able to drive down. There were just a lot of opportunities there. I don't see why this government wouldn't support that. I'd just like to know if the Minister would. We actually had a Minister that was going to make this happen in the last Assembly, but we just ran short of time, and you know, it just seemed to fall off the books, but you know, it's a great idea and hopefully this Minister will pick up on that. Thank you, Mr. Chair

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Minister.

    HON. WALLY SCHUMANN:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. I thank the Member for throwing me under the bus there. That's nice.

    As the Member knows, he asked this question in the House, and we have the Mackenzie Valley highway ask to go up to Wrigley to Norman Wells, which is a significant ask of over $700 million. To even look at putting in an ice road or winter road from Tsiigehtchic to Fort Good Hope is something that we cannot afford at this time, and it's not a priority of this government. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. Blake.

    MR. BLAKE:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. It's not defined what the Mackenzie Valley highway is, so if you ask anybody up in the Beaufort Delta, it's actually connecting north to south from Inuvik to Wrigley. It's a shame that, in the last few years, we focused on Norman Wells to Wrigley. I'm sure it is to get buy-in from the federal government, but if you ask anybody else, they want to see that road going right to Inuvik. That way, the whole territory could be connected, much like the Yukon. It's a shame that we have to drive through the Yukon, through BC, just to come to the southern part of the NWT.

    If funds were available, would the Minister be looking to possibly do this in the coming winter? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Minister.

    HON. WALLY SCHUMANN:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. Well, I can probably reassure the Member the money's probably not going to be there because of the pressure on the system.

    I'd love to see the Mackenzie Valley road all the way from Wrigley to Tsiigehtchic myself. This has been an ongoing project since the 1970s. I think we're possibly, possibly, closer than ever to maybe securing some funding from the federal government on this initiative through the National Trades and Corridor fund. Hopefully, we're going to hear on that by the beginning of April on the first $2 billion of that ask. Our application is incremental on six phases going forward. To be able to put in an application to go all the way to Tsiigehtchic probably would have been in the billion dollar range, itself, too. We're under a lot of pressure, as a government through our mandate, to try to secure funding for this road. I'm hopeful that we're going to at least get something for the first part of this. It's going to be done in stages. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. Blake.

    MR. BLAKE:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. Under marine operations, I see the budget has gone down. Is that because the extended operations for the Louis Cardinal is not happening again this year? What's the cause of the reduction? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. I think Mr. Blake asked a very complicated question. Ms. Robertson.

    MS. ROBERTSON:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. The marine operations budget, going from 2017-2018 main estimates to the 2018-2019 main estimates stays the same at $6,087,000, but you will see the reduction from the actuals to the 2017-2018 main estimates reflecting the reduction of the winter ferry. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. Blake.

    MR. BLAKE:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, just the numbers don't add up because when I ask questions about keeping the ferry going, I'm given a number around $2.4 million, so it doesn't seem to add up to me. It's more like $1.6 or $1.5 and a bit. Yes, I'll have to go after this again in the fall, I guess. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you, Mr. Blake. Would you like the Minister to answer? Ms. Robertson.

    MS. ROBERTSON:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. The winter operations that was done until 2016-2017 cost the department $1.8 million annually, and that was reduced in the 2017-2018 budget. What you see on page 255 are the actuals for 2016-2017. You can see they're a little higher than we were actually budgeted that year. That's the difference between the $1.6 versus the $1.8 reduction in that year. Thank you.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Anything further, Mr. Blake? Nothing further from Mr. Blake. Nothing further. Infrastructure, regional operations. Oh, Mr. Nakimayak.

    MR. NAKIMAYAK:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. I wonder if this is the page to ask about roadside turnouts on the Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk highway on highway operations.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Minister, could you confirm?

    HON. WALLY SCHUMANN:

    Yes. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. Nakimayak.

    MR. NAKIMAYAK:

    Earlier on during this sitting, I mentioned about the lack of signage on the Inuvik ITH and I'm just wondering what the department is doing to mitigate that issue. I know there's a lot of bad weather this winter and a lot of blizzards and it's causing some vehicles to be stuck and things like that.

    More importantly, the roadside turnouts, if the Minister can talk about that and what time those are going to be installed on the ITH? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Minister.

    HON. WALLY SCHUMANN:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. As I have stated in the House, the road meets Transport Canada regulations right now, but in the springtime, we are going to be assessing what we are doing for driver comfort and be adding signage based on that going forward; so there will be some additional signage put up this coming spring. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you, Minister. Mr. Nakimayak.

    MR. NAKIMAYAK:

    Yes, one more thing. I know we did a celebration for the opening ceremonies in November, November 15th, and there is something scheduled, I believe, in July. I am just wondering if there are any funds in this budget to help with the costs of the celebrations of the ITH in July. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Minister.

    HON. WALLY SCHUMANN:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. No, there is no money through Infrastructure for that funding, but the Minister of ITI, I think, is helping out on that. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. Nakimayak.

    MR. NAKIMAYAK:

    Nothing further. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. O'Reilly.

    MR. O'REILLY:

    Thanks, Mr. Chair. Can the Minister tell us, then: is there an allocation in the budget here for O and M related to the Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk highway, and how much is it? Thanks.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Minister.

    HON. WALLY SCHUMANN:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, this is the section that has the money allocated for that. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Part two of the question was how much is allocated? Minister.

    HON. WALLY SCHUMANN:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. It's an incremental amount of $1,724,000. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. O'Reilly.

    MR. O'REILLY:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. Does that include any environmental monitoring that needs to be done along the corridor in terms of water quality, permafrost stuff, access off the road that might bother wildlife, and those kinds of things? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Minister.

    HON. WALLY SCHUMANN:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. Out of that 1,724, there is $252,000 included in there for environmental monitoring for the next two years. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. O'Reilly.

    MR. O'REILLY:

    Thanks, Mr. Chair. Can the Minister tell us where we are at with regard to any contract work to do the maintenance on the road? Has a contract been signed, or is it out for tender, or what? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Just a reminder to everyone to make sure the light is on before you begin speaking. Minister.

    HON. WALLY SCHUMANN:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. We are on a short-term contract for the maintenance right now until final completion of the road, and that is when we will be looking at doing a long-term contract. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. O'Reilly.

    MR. O'REILLY:

    Thanks, Mr. Chair. When does this short-term contract end, and when does the Minister expect to have a longer-term contract in place? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Minister.

    HON. WALLY SCHUMANN:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. The one that we have presently is going to be done here in April, and then we will be doing another short-term contract until substantial completion is done, hopefully in the fall of this year. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. O'Reilly.

    MR. O'REILLY:

    Thanks, Mr. Chair. The Minister was so quick there, I couldn't actually catch all of it. The short-term contract that he anticipates is going to go from April until September, basically over the summer months, and then the Minister is looking at having a longer-term contract in place after that. Are we looking for a three- or five-year arrangement? Does the Minister have any ideas in place around the term of this longer-term contract? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Minister.

    HON. WALLY SCHUMANN:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. I will speak a little slower.

    The first short-term contract was from November to April of this year. That one is going to be done here right away. We are going to do another one from April until September on that, hoping substantial completion is done by then,

    Then, any long-term contract, we haven't decided on a term or anything, we will be sitting down to figure out what the length of term that is going to be going forward. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. O'Reilly.

    MR. O'REILLY:

    Thanks, Mr. Chair. I understand the timelines now. The Minister uses this word "substantial completion." Is there still work that is outstanding under the construction contracts that has not been completed? Is that what the Minister is referring to, and that is supposed to happen this upcoming summer of 2018? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Minister.

    HON. WALLY SCHUMANN:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. What I am talking about, I am talking about the deficiencies that are left on the road that have to be completed, and the major part of that is the 14 kilometres of top gravel that needs to be done on the Tuktoyaktuk end of the highway. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. O'Reilly. Nothing further from Mr. O'Reilly. Mr. Thompson.

    MR. THOMPSON:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. Hopefully, this will be a quick exchange here.

    For highway operations, we saw an increase of about $4 million in here, and $1.7 million, approximately, is going to the Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk highway. Where are the other increases occurring? Is it split over all of the other highways, or are we focusing on certain highways? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Mr. McCormick.

    MR. MCCORMICK:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, it's the $1.7 million for Highway Tuktoyaktuk O and M, and the rest of it is actually an increase for amortization, which is also to do with the ITH.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. Thompson.

    MR. THOMPSON:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. Can the Minister or the witness there please expand on what he is talking about? Is this money all going to the Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk highway? That is what it sounded like to me, that that is where all of the costs are, but can I get that clarified? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. McCormick, could you flesh out your answer?

    MR. MCCORMICK:

    Yes, Mr. Chair. Thank you. Yes, the $1.724 million is for the highway operations itself. $2.7 million of that is for amortization expense, which is recorded in the books, and that is just for depreciation on the highway now that it is in service for this year.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. Thompson.

    MR. THOMPSON:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. Could the witness explain if this is a one-year thing or if this is a 30-year? Could he please explain the amortization period? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. McCormick.

    MR. MCCORMICK:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. The $2.7 is for the 2018-2019 fiscal year. The highway itself would be amortized over 40 years.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. Thompson.

    MR. THOMPSON:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. Moving forward, after 2018-2019, what are we looking at for amortization? Is this what we are looking at, $2.7 for the next 40 years, or is this going to be reduced as we move forward? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. McCormick, please wait until your light is on. Mr. McCormick.

    MR. MCCORMICK:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. This would actually be a reduced amount for a partial year. The GNWT uses straight line amortization, so it would be the total cost of the highway. The final completed cost would be amortized over the next 40 years, and that's just a straight divided out.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Just a reminder to everyone to let us know when you are done speaking. Mr. Thompson.

    MR. THOMPSON:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. What would a normal year be? You're talking we're only going partial year, so what would the normal year be? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Who am I directing this to? Mr. McCormick.

    MR. MCCORMICK:

    This cost of this highway would be in the neighbourhood of $8 or $9 million. It is just an amortization for an asset of this magnitude.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. Thompson.

    MR. THOMPSON:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. Hopefully, this will be my last question so I get a better understanding of it. So basically for the next 39 years, we're looking at $8 million a year, between $8 and $9 million, that we'll see on the books each year? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Minister.

    HON. WALLY SCHUMANN:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, that's true and that will be all rolled in with all of our other assets. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. Thompson. Nothing further from Mr. Thompson. Next, I have Mr. Vanthuyne.

    MR. VANTHUYNE:

    Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I also want to be able to give credit where credit is due. I want to commend the Department of Infrastructure for the work that they've done on making the improvements along Highway 4 and the entrance into the city.

    The pathway, the new sidewalk along the rock face, as well as the illuminated crosswalk that was installed, are very well appreciated. I've had a number of comments provided to me from residents in the area. I'm sure that visitors to the city who, you know, visit around the area and who reside in the two hotels in the area are very grateful for that as well. Some kudos and thanks to the department for that investment.

    Further to Highway 4, last year around this time I asked if we were able to consider putting barricades in the corner approaching the Prosperous boat launch. I understood that the department was evaluating those corners and maybe potentially considering some design to put in barricades. Can the Minister provide us with an update or whether or not barricades will be installed at that corner this year? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Minister.

    HON. WALLY SCHUMANN:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. Since the Member asked me this question in the House, all the design work now has completed for kilometres 13 and 19. We are hopefully going to install these this year. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Anything further, Mr. Vanthuyne?

    MR. VANTHUYNE:

    No. Once again, I appreciate the commitment and undertaking of that work. I look forward to seeing those installed for the safety of the public. Thank you. No further questions at this time.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Infrastructure, regional operations, operations expenditure summary, activity total, $130,715,000. Does committee agree?

    SOME HON. MEMBERS:

    Agreed.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you, committee. We now have a series of information items. Technology Service Centre, Public Stores Revolving Fund, Petroleum Products Revolving Fund, Marine Transportation Services Revolving Fund, Yellowknife Airport Revolving Fund. These commitments and work performed on behalf of others. As these are hot button issues, I will allow committee to comment on each one if they wish.

    First, we will begin with Technology Service Centre. Comments or questions? Seeing none, we will move on to Public Stores Revolving Fund. Comments or questions? Seeing none, we will move on to Petroleum Products Revolving Fund. Question or comments? On Petroleum Products Revolving Fund, Mr. Beaulieu.

    MR. BEAULIEU:

    Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, this question would also be applicable to all the other revolving funds that are in this department.

    In this particular one, and they're all similar, there is a $55 million Petroleum Products Revolving Fund. It appears as though they drew down $37.4 million. My question is: is $55 million recorded in the debt or is it separate from the debt, or is it $37 million that's recorded in the debt or is it separate from the debt? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. McCormick.

    MR. MCCORMICK:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. The $55 million refers to the authorized limit, which is the limit under the act, or the difference under the act that's allowable between the assets and the liabilities of a revolving fund. The $37 million is the operating costs, so they're not against the debt per se. They're just the operational costs of operating the cost of fuel, delivery, et cetera. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. Beaulieu.

    MR. BEAULIEU:

    Thank you. Just so it's clear in my mind, so $55 million is just a limit. That's good. The $37 million is taken and that's the sale, and then the expenditures and so on. This has nothing to do with any accumulation of debt whatsoever. Is that correct? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you, Minister.

    HON. WALLY SCHUMANN:

    Yes, that is correct. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Further to Petroleum Products Revolving Fund? Mr. Beaulieu.

    MR. BEAULIEU:

    That's all I have for that. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Marine Transportation Services Revolving Fund. I see the hands going up. Mr. Vanthuyne.

    MR. VANTHUYNE:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. Last year, it looks like we undertook some charters and we generated significant revenue in that area. I can also see that we expended quite a bit as well. This year, we're not projecting any charters. Can I get an update from the Minister on what the reason is for not reflecting any number in charters this year? Thank you. Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Minister.

    HON. WALLY SCHUMANN:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. This is a conservative estimate going forward. The revised estimates clearly show the work that was taken on last year. We're just taking a conservative approach to this. There's a possibility of some charter work coming up this year, but that hasn't been confirmed yet. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Anything further, Mr. Vanthuyne? Nothing further from Mr. Vanthuyne. Next, Mr. Testart.

    MR. TESTART:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. When we reviewed the Department of Finance, there was the preparation line for strengthening labour negotiating capacity, and one of the stated purposes was around MTS and enhancing their ability for labour negotiations.

    At the time we reviewed that, the department wasn't able to give an exact figure for what they predicted. The cost of MTS is a component of that additional funding would be, but they did indicate that that would be billed back to this revolving fund. I'm wondering if this department can help us get more clarity on what the expected cost of that additional labour negotiating capacity for Marine Transportation Services is going to be. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. McCormick.

    MR. MCCORMICK:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. We've confirmed with the Department of Finance that that item was for addressing capacity issues in the labour relations unit broadly. Marine Transportation Services was just one of the incremental costs that they may or may not accrue. Our MTS revolving fund would reimburse the Department of Finance for any incremental cost directly related to MTS bargaining. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. Testart.

    MR. TESTART:

    Is there any sense of what we can expect those costs to be? Thank you.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. McCormick.

    MR. MCCORMICK:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. No, we have not had any discussions with the Department of Finance to date as to exactly what they would be. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. Testart.

    MR. TESTART:

    Nothing further for this department. Thank you.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you, Mr. Testart. I'll leave the door open; I'll assume you meant this activity. Mr. O'Reilly.

    MR. O'REILLY:

    Thanks, Mr. Chair. I recall that the Minister or whoever got a special warrant to buy some barges for the Marine Transportation Service. How do these show up as an expense against the fund, or do they show up as an expense against the fund? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. McCormick.

    MR. MCCORMICK:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. The assets will be recorded in the financial statements audited of the Marine Transportation Services. They will show as a capital asset, and the expenses will show up on an annual basis through the straight-line depreciation as per any other asset. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. O'Reilly.

    MR. O'REILLY:

    Thanks, Mr. Chair. I am not looking at the whole financial statement. Where is that recorded as an amount here on page 262? Is there a line item here that sort of shows the special warrant and how it figures into the balance of the revolving fund? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. McCormick.

    MR. MCCORMICK:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. The only line that will show up in this particular statement, which is a pro forma operating statement, is the amortization line of $434,000. This isn't a balance sheet that is presented in the main estimates, so it doesn't show up there. It would show up in the audited financial statements. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. O'Reilly.

    MR. O'REILLY:

    Thanks, Mr. Chair. Where, then, does the value of the $10 million special warrant show up? Is it a debt related to the revolving fund? Is it a debt, then, that is carried by the Department of Infrastructure and only sort of amortized or allocated to the Marine Transportation Services over a period of time? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. McCormick.

    MR. MCCORMICK:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, when the audited financial statements of MTS are produced, the value of those assets would show up as a debt in the MTS books. That would be paid back to the GNWT over time. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. O'Reilly.

    MR. O'REILLY:

    Thanks, Mr. Chair. This is getting a little bit clearer. The amount that is not amortized, does that show up as debt in the Department of Infrastructure? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. McCormick.

    MR. MCCORMICK:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. The revolving fund is a division of the Department of Infrastructure. In a technical sense, yes, it would be part of our department. The payback of that shows up in the accumulated surplus, that difference in the authorized limit between the assets and the liabilities of the fund. That accumulated surplus amount that we build up is where we build up room to be able to buy new assets, pay off the old ones, and reimburse the GNWT as a whole on that. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. O'Reilly.

    MR. O'REILLY:

    Thanks. Now I know how the amount is going to be paid for. Where is the value of the special warrant parked right now? Is it parked just as a GNWT-wide debt in Department of Finance, or is it parked within Infrastructure? Where is that debt parked? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. McCormick.

    MR. MCCORMICK:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, that would be part of the broader fiscal liability of the GNWT. If borrowing was used to pay for it, it will not show up in INF or marine transportation except in the audited financial statements. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. O'Reilly.

    MR. O'REILLY:

    Thanks, Mr. Chair. It looks like I am going to have to have some questions ready for public accounts in April. Thanks. That is all I have on this one, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. Beaulieu.

    MR. BEAULIEU:

    Thank you. I was basically along the same line of questioning as Mr. O'Reilly. One area that I am looking for clarification: the witness indicated that they used some of that $2.7 million accumulated surplus to pay down old assets or buy new assets. Aside from that, are the purchase of all of the assets to date in capital assets and then they are under the accumulated debt for the GNWT as a whole? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. McCormick.

    MR. MCCORMICK:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. As previously stated, the assets will be disclosed in the financial statements of Marine Transportation Services. The assets would be recorded as a liability. The amounts included in special warrants, et cetera, would be recorded as liabilities, the assets as assets. The difference between the assets and the liabilities of the revolving fund are the accumulated surplus. That is where we build up operating room to make debt repayments, purchase new assets, and that. They would be shown on the financial statements of MTS. The assets are ultimately owned by the Government of the Northwest Territories. We are not a separate legal entity. We are a division of a department. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Nothing further from Mr. Beaulieu. Seeing nothing further. Yellowknife Airport Revolving Fund. Mr. Vanthuyne followed by Mr. O'Reilly. First, Mr. Vanthuyne.

    MR. VANTHUYNE:

    Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just a couple questions to get us straight here on the revenues first. The non-aeronautical revenue, is that the new landing fee? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. Vanthuyne, would you like to clarify? Mr. Vanthuyne.

    MR. VANTHUYNE:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. I think it is called the Airport Improvement Fee. Page 264, aeronautical and non-aeronautical. I am wondering if the non-aeronautical is the new Airport Improvement Fee revenue. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Clarification from the Minister. The only visitor in the gallery, His Worship, Mayor of Hay River. Welcome. Mr. Vanthuyne asked an exceedingly complex question. The witnesses are diligently flipping pages. Minister.

    HON. WALLY SCHUMANN:

    We have it straight here. The non-aeronautical fees are things like parking, leasing, and AIF, Airport Improvement Fee. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you for the clarification. Mr. Vanthuyne.

    MR. VANTHUYNE:

    Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Okay. I appreciate that. In the aeronautical, which I know we have charged for some time, even before we developed the Airport Revolving Fund, there is a significant jump being proposed from last year to this year. Is that because we have made an increase to those aeronautical fees? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. McCormick.

    MR. MCCORMICK:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. The biggest difference there would be these are an information item strictly related to the Airport Revolving Fund. The 2017-2018 estimates would be for a partial year after revolving funds came into effect; 2018-2019 would be for a full year. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Further, Mr. Vanthuyne?

    MR. VANTHUYNE:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. Okay. That makes sense. I guess what doesn't make sense there is that we are pretty close on the non-aeronautical fees. Sorry. It is about $1 million difference. Okay. That makes sense. Now, we are going down to the bottom. It looks like, once we look at our accumulated surplus at the end of the year, there is going to be close to $3 million there. At what point are we going to start to undertake some capital projects based on the plan for capital improvements to the airport, Yellowknife airport? When are we going to start investing some of this money? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you, Mr. Vanthuyne. Minister.

    HON. WALLY SCHUMANN:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. Well, for those of you who have been out at the airport lately, the gift shop renovation is already underway. We have a contract for a 20 year master plan for long-term strategic planning awarded to Stantec, and that is an expected completion in October of 2018. The relocation of the oversight baggage facility to create more passenger queue space at the checking area, we expect completion in the spring of 2018; development of a tender to secure a contractor to complete design and geotechnical work for the new de-icing bay; implementation plans for beginning and finalization for installation of common-use terminal equipment and automatic check-in, expected in the summer of 2018; design work underway for additional parking space near main terminal and a text-message-based vehicle pickup lane; and discussions with businesses interested in expanding their cargo profile at the Yellowknife airport are ongoing; and a number of other smaller initiatives, thank you. We are also looking at the CATSA program, which is probably the number one issue that is out there, so that initiative is being looked at, as well. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. For the record, can you explain what CATSA is? Is that an acronym, Minister?

    HON. WALLY SCHUMANN:

    The Canadian Air Transport Security Authority.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you, Minister. Mr. Vanthuyne.

    MR. VANTHUYNE:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, it's good to hear that there are some investments that are going to be made, but, as the Minister noted, probably the most important one is the bottleneck at security. Is there any further detail? I mean, I know you are looking at it, but that is the most important to residents and tourists. Is there any update that we can be provided with regard to when improvements will be made at the security section of the airport? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Minister.

    HON. WALLY SCHUMANN:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. So this CATSA Plus is what they are looking at putting in here in early summer of this year, and we are probably one of the first smaller airports to probably get this in Canada. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. Vanthuyne.

    MR. VANTHUYNE:

    Okay, thank you, Mr. Chair. So this is all good, and I know that the resolving fund will continue to generate significant revenues, but it seems to me that the stuff that we are even proposing here for 2018 is already going to likely be in excess of $3 million. In instances like that, does the account just go into deficit for certain periods of time until further revenues are generated that bring it back to either even or a surplus? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. McCormick.

    MR. MCCORMICK:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. For the revolving funds, all of these improvements are made out of the accumulated surplus, so there has to be a difference between the revenues and the expenses that allow us the breathing room to be able to afford these things. The way these revolving funds work is, if there was a deficit, the Department of Infrastructure would have to cover that from its own resources. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. Vanthuyne.

    MR. VANTHUYNE:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you for the explanation. Okay, that is good to know, but I am just suggesting or I am saying that right now we are showing this year that we will have close to $3 million in surplus, and so technically we can kind of put that towards capital projects. The Minister has outlined a few. A number of them seem to be coming forward in 2018. My guesstimation, just based on the ones he announced, would put us at or over this amount, so I just wonder: are we planning more than $3 million worth of capital projects this year, or are we going to stay within this accumulated surplus? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Minister.

    HON. WALLY SCHUMANN:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. No, we are not planning on going over the accumulated surplus. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Nothing further from Mr. Vanthuyne. Next, Mr. O'Reilly.

    MR. O'REILLY:

    Thanks, Mr. Chair. Yes, my colleague, the MLA for Yellowknife North, asked a number of the questions I was going to ask. I guess, this accumulated surplus, that is just the net surplus? That does not include any drawdown for any of the capital improvements that are going to be made at the airport? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Minister.

    HON. WALLY SCHUMANN:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. That, no, this includes everything. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. O'Reilly.

    MR. O'REILLY:

    Okay, thanks, Mr. Chair. So I am just a little bit confused. So, this $2.894 million surplus, is that net, then, of the capital improvements that the Minister has already talked about? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Minister.

    HON. WALLY SCHUMANN:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. The $2.894 million is the capital money that we want to use to do the projects that I just mentioned to the previous Member. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. O'Reilly.

    MR. O'REILLY:

    Thanks, Mr. Chair. Yes, I think I get it now. At what point does the department start to look at whether the airport improvement fees can be reduced? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Minister.

    HON. WALLY SCHUMANN:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. Those are early days to be even talking about that. The reason we put this whole thing into place was because the YZF could not meet their capital needs going forward. We will continue to subsidize it as a government, and, now that we have rolled out this revolving fund with this model, we know we have a significant amount of work to do there. We are operating within this box, and we are doing it prudently, and I think it will be at least probably some time before we can even consider something like that. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. O'Reilly.

    MR. O'REILLY:

    Thanks, Mr. Chair. Well, the other alternative explanation was that the government wanted to get this money off the books as part of its fiscal reduction strategy, but I don't want to engage in that debate on the floor right now. I don't think I have any further questions. Thanks, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Seeing nothing further, we will continue on to lease commitments. Comments, questions? Seeing none, move on to page 267, work performed on behalf of others. Comments, questions? Seeing none, can we please return to page 237. Are there any final comments or questions on the Department of Infrastructure? Mr. Testart.

    MR. TESTART:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. So, in its review of this department's business plans, the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment recommended that the Department of Infrastructure conduct an independent review of its procurement policy and work with the Department of Finance to survey prompt payment initiatives across Canada and develop a better model for the territory. I would like to know how this budget responds to those concerns. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you, Mr. Testart. Mr. Guy.

    MR. GUY:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. So, the issue of prompt payment is certainly one that is on our procurement table across the country. We are certainly working very closely with the other jurisdictions in Canada to see how this is moving forward. We are doing some more work, as well, with our procurement procedures committee to see what the requirements are for a prompt payment system here. Federal government has recently rolled out some legislation to require prompt payment on federal government projects, and we are looking at what they are doing and how that rolls out and how that works, as well. Really, the concept of prompt payment is to make sure that subcontractors, suppliers, and other consultants who are part of projects' subcontractors get paid by the prime contractor after they have gotten paid, so this is not an attempt to deal with disputes around payment or any other of those types of issues that we have in normal contract and procurement.

    That work is ongoing and we're working through the procurement procedures. Committee, again, it's very early days across Canada and in other jurisdictions. A lot of the work is being built off of what's happening at the federal government, but we are looking at options to bring that forward for consideration. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Further, Mr. Testart?

    MR. TESTART:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. I wouldn't necessarily characterize, although much of this legislation is in early development, it is in the legislative cycle and the province of Ontario has actually already moved ahead with some of these modifications to their construction legislation that governs the construction and industry government procurement, so I would advise the department not to remain tied to the Senate bill, which is working its way through the Parliament of Canada, but to also look at the province of Ontario and what they have accomplished in their short time.

    In addition to prompt payment, which is one particular issue that the committee raised, committee was also concerned about how procurement policies are affecting small businesses and impacting competition amongst private industry in the Northwest Territories. How does the department's budget plan to address those concerns? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Minister.

    HON. WALLY SCHUMANN:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. We have talked about this in the House a number of times. I believe that the procurement policies that we have in place and along with our trade agreements, along with the BIP Incentive Policy Program, that our procurement policies and principles that we have followed in the Government of the Northwest Territories are here to benefit the residents of the Northwest Territories. We will continue to use them in that manner moving forward.

    I have said a number of times in this House that I'm not willing to have a look at a review of doing anything on this policy at this time. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. Testart.

    MR. TESTART:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. One of the concerns also raised by committee was the nature of engagement on procurement policies that it is to educate private sector actors on how to engage with the government's policies rather than to get feedback on procurement, I understand, if there are any concerns or complaints. Is the department investing additional resources to improve its engagement efforts with contractors who are benefiting from procurement or perhaps frustrated with how procurement is working? I'll put it this way, Mr. Chair: if the policies are not the issue, then the engagement must be. How is the department proposing in this budget to enhance its engagement efforts and clearly communicate the nature of its policies and the effectiveness of its policies to my constituents and Northerners? Thank you.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Minister.

    HON. WALLY SCHUMANN:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. This same question did come up in the House and I have talked about it and how we do business with the GNWT workshops. We have delivered them in a number of communities right across the Northwest Territories. We will continue to build on that in this fiscal year. This is something that we feel is important that people in the Northwest Territories know how to do business within the government system, how to fill out the BIP Incentive paperwork and stuff, and we have also had questions around contracts concerning purchases under $25,000 to the Minister of Finance. We continue to look at these things going forward. We will continue to hold our workshops to engage the business community in the NWT to make sure they know what we're doing moving forward. We will continue to work with all Members and try to make sure that everyone has fair access to procurement in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. Testart.

    MR. TESTART:

    Thank you. Mr. Chair. I thank the Minister for that response. I did hear any enhancements, so I will assume that the preparations are remaining consistent for those activities.

    Finally, the Manufacturing Strategy has been undertaken by not this department, but depending on the outcomes of it, it may affect procurement policies. Is there any money or any budget or any budgetary activities in this department that would change procurement policies based on the findings and the ultimate resolution of the Manufacturing Strategy? Thank you.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Minister.

    HON. WALLY SCHUMANN:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. I haven't even tabled the "what we heard" report for the Manufacturing Strategy yet. When we table that and have a look at it and run that through committee and start moving this thing forward, then we will have a look at what the concerns are, and if there is something that we need to have a serious look at as a government to possibly changing things around the procurement on that side of things, then we'll take those into consideration at the time. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. Testart.

    MR. TESTART:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. So at this time, there is no appropriation set aside to deal with the Manufacturing Strategy in this department or any of the other departments under the Minister's ministry? Thank you.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Minister.

    HON. WALLY SCHUMANN:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. No, there's no money set aside for hypothetically what's coming down the pipe for the Manufacturing Strategy. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Further, Mr. Testart?

    MR. TESTART:

    I thank the Minister for clarifying, but I am concerned about the status quo approach to procurement, as I'm sure he's well aware, and other Members of this House are concerned, and the Standing Committees on Economic Development and Environment are concerned. I hope that, as we develop strategies and documents like the Manufacturing Strategy, we are better positioned as an Assembly to address these public concerns and make progress on them one way or another. Either amend the policies or provide additional resources in the form of subsidies or enhance existing engagement programs or procurement policy programs.

    I don't have much more to say other than I don't think the status quo is working. I know the Minister disagrees on that, but I want to be clear for the record that we have more work to do on this as an Assembly until we are all satisfied that we have a procurement system that works for Northerners, and that doesn't only work for government. Thank you.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you, Mr. Testart. Infrastructure. Total department. Mr. O'Reilly.

    MR. O'REILLY:

    Thanks, Mr. Chair. I just had a general question for the department. Does it have any policies with regard to our infrastructure projects whereby there are quotas or targets set for northern apprentices or trades, or is it just left to the free market to determine? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Minister.

    MR. GUY:

    Thanks, Mr. Chair. Overall, there are no specific quotas or targets. Of course, we encourage the use of apprentices. We encourage the use of developmental positions in our big projects and in any of our projects and in any of our contracts. A lot of that is evaluated through the application of the Business Incentive Policy. For example, local and northern content, we look at things like that as well.

    Some of the larger projects where there is a prescribed training component, we do look to see where those quotas are, targets are. Things like the ITH Project, for example; there would be specific training requirements in there. We do have it on some of the larger projects, but there is no policy in the department itself. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Let the record show that that was Mr. Guy speaking. Mr. O'Reilly.

    MR. O'REILLY:

    Thanks, Mr. Chair. The reason why I'm raising this is that some of us have had an opportunity to meet with the Northern Territories Federation of Labour on this specific issue of how other jurisdictions actually use their large infrastructure projects for training, well, to build capacity for doing training and trades and apprenticeships, and so on. If we don't really have a policy around that, I'm a bit concerned.

    Mr. Guy talked about how some of this was done on the Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk highway. Can the department provide us with a little bit more information, then, about how these matters were handled on the Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk highway? I don't need it for tomorrow, but it would be helpful information, I think, to have. Thanks, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister.

    HON. WALLY SCHUMANN:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. We'll certainly pull that together, and the requirements that were put together for that project and share that with the Member at some point. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. O'Reilly.

    MR. O'REILLY:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. I appreciate that commitment from the Minister. He is waving his hand, because I am sure he is going to clarify by what is meant by "at some point." Thanks, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister.

    HON. WALLY SCHUMANN:

    "In time." No. That information should be readily available, and I think we will maybe even try to pull together some of the other projects so that we can get an example of what has been done in the department.

    One thing I can say about it is that, when we are working on these projects, we try to put as much in the RFP as we possibly can to make sure Northerners benefit from these things, and training is a big part of it. We work closely with the Minister of ECE. He has his Skills 4 Success. These things are important to all Northerners. We have to make sure that we try to benefit the most we can out of them. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. O'Reilly.

    MR. O'REILLY:

    Thanks, Mr. Chair. Yes, I appreciate the commitment from the Minister on that one. I am actually going to be going to a public meeting tonight on the Giant Mine remediation, and that is one of the questions I have there, because that is going to be the single largest government project that has ever been undertaken in Yellowknife. It is over $1 billion.

    From what I understand, there really is no northern training. I don't know. I have questions around that, but is this something that the Department of Infrastructure is involved with in any way, and have there been any discussions about ensuring that Northerners are actually going to benefit from training, building capacity, apprenticeships, and so on in relation to that project that the department is aware of? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Minister.

    HON. WALLY SCHUMANN:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. Well, our department for sure doesn't have anything to do with Giant Mine, but one thing I can tell the Member is that a number of us are down there talking to the federal Ministers, and we can certainly raise the issue of the opportunities that arise here.

    I know the last time we were down there, I was talking to the federal Procurement Minister about some of the issues that we have in the Northwest Territories around some of their public tender processes. This is something that I can certainly talk to my Cabinet colleagues and make sure it is on everyone's radar with federal procurement and the Northwest Territories that we try to get the best out of it we can. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. O'Reilly.

    MR. O'REILLY:

    Yes, thanks, Mr. Chair. I appreciate the commitment from the Minister on that. I will be happy to give him a little bit of an update from what happens at the meeting that I am going to go to tonight, because we want to make sure that we have a real meaningful way to benefit from those opportunities. I think those are going to be transferrable skills when it comes to dealing with Norman Wells and the other 700 sites that are part of the devolution agreement that are going to require some remediation. Because we have Giant Mine happening in our backyard, this is a real opportunity for us to develop some of that capacity.

    Nothing further. Thanks, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Infrastructure, total department. Mr. Thompson.

    MR. THOMPSON:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. I do have a question about procurement and NGOs. Has the department looked into this further and seen if NGOs need to be BIP registered? Thank you. I will just leave it at that first, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Minister.

    HON. WALLY SCHUMANN:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. As I have mentioned in the House, NGOs can't be BIP'ed unless they have a corporate entity on their side. I have answered this question in the House already. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. Thompson.

    MR. THOMPSON:

    Thank you. I guess the question that comes back, though, is: does the policy follow the Societies Act that we presently have? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Are you referring to the Business Incentive Policy? The Business Incentive Policy is housed in ITI, but I will let the Minister respond.

    HON. WALLY SCHUMANN:

    Thank you, Mr. Chair. Now, I think I have said this in the House, too. NGOs can bid on stuff. It is just that the BIP proponent doesn't apply to them. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Mr. Thompson.

    MR. THOMPSON:

    No, I will find other avenues to deal with this matter. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you. Anything further, Mr. Thompson? Nothing further from Mr. Thompson. Infrastructure, total department, $239,941,000. Does committee agree?

    SOME HON. MEMBERS:

    Agreed.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you, committee. Does committee agree that this concludes our consideration of the Department of Infrastructure?

    SOME HON. MEMBERS:

    Agreed.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you, committee. Thank you to the Minister and your witnesses. Sergeant-at-Arms, you may escort the witnesses from the Chamber. What is the wish of committee? Mr. Beaulieu.

    MR. BEAULIEU:

    Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I move that the Chair rise and report progress. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

    Mr. Simpson:

    Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. There is a motion on the floor to report progress. Once the Minister takes his seat, I will take a vote.

    The motion is in order and non-debatable. All those in favour? All those opposed?

    ---Carried

    I will rise and report progress. Thank you, committee.

    Report of Committee of the Whole

    MR. SIMPSON:

    Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Tabled Document 63-18(3), Main Estimates 2018-2019, Minister's Statement 32-18(3), Update on the Northwest Territories Disability Framework and Action Plan, and would like to report progress, and that consideration of Minister's Statement 32-18(3) is concluded. Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of the Committee of the Whole be concurred with.

    MR. SPEAKER:

    Masi. Do we have a seconder? Member for Nunakput. The motion is in order. All those in favour? All those opposed?

    ---Carried

    Orders of the Day

    Ms. Kay:

    Orders of the day for Friday, March 9, 2018, at 10:00 a.m.:

    Prayer

    Ministers' Statements

    Members' Statements

    Returns to Oral Questions

    Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

    Acknowledgements

    Oral Questions

    Written Questions

    Returns to Written Questions

    Replies to Commissioner's Opening Address

    Petitions

    Reports of Standing and Special Committees

    Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills

    Tabling of Documents

    Notices of Motion

    Notices of Motion for First Reading of Bills

    Motions

    First Reading of Bills

    Second Reading of Bills

    Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

    -

    Committee Report 4-18(3), Standing Committee on Social Development Report on Adult Residential Addictions Treatment Facilities Tour 2017

    -

    Minister's Statement 1-18(3), North Slave Correctional Complex Inmate Concerns

    -

    Minister's Statement 19-18(3), Aurora College Foundational Review Process

    -

    Tabled Document 63-18(3), Main Estimates 2018-2019

    Report of Committee of the Whole

    Third Reading of Bills

    Orders of the Day

    MR. SPEAKER:

    Masi, Madam Clerk. This House stands adjourned until Friday, March 9, 2018, at 10:00 a.m.

    ---ADJOURNMENT

    The House adjourned at 6:11 p.m.