Robert C. McLeod

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Department of Public Works and Services is responsible for overseeing the funding of the Arctic Energy Alliance. I will work with my counterpart to see what type of incentives that they have and what they will continue to provide. I will work with the Minister of Infrastructure to see what their plans are to continue this program.

In the other previous meetings that they have had, the same format was used for all six workshops that they have had across the Northwest Territories. There is an opportunity, I think, through some written submissions that they can make their issues known. There is an opportunity in the evening sessions, as well, to make their issues known there again.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the Member’s point is well taken, and we have seen these supps come forward for higher costs than usual. I have committed, I believe, during our briefings, to work with the Minister of Health and Social Services to see if there are ways that we can build a bigger base in the Health and Social Services budget, which he had no issue with. We will do that. That way, when we come forward with supps, we would hope that they won’t be as large as they are now. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I'd like to direct that to the Minister of Health and Social Services. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, to my right I have Mr. David Stewart, the deputy minister of the Department of Finance. To my left, I have Mr. Sandy Kalgutkar who is the deputy secretary to the Financial Management Board. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Yes, I do, Mr. Chair. I am here to present Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2016-2017. This document provides for an increase of $7.6 million to the 2016-2017 infrastructure expenditures budget. The major items in these Supplementary Estimates include:

$5.2 million for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources for the shortfall in the Air Tractor Fleet project due to the significant decline in the Canadian dollar resulting from declining oil prices in 2016.

$2.6 million for the Department of Transportation for the costs associated with the preparatory and...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River South, that Bill 19, Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures), 2017-2018, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Member is correct. There was a scheduling conflict with one of the local Aboriginal governments. They were given an opportunity to have some input. We have had no requests from any other business or any other Aboriginal governments for some one-on-one time. That is what I know so far. I am sure there is opportunity if there are some scheduling conflicts to meet with our folks. Again, I go back to the written submissions and the evening sessions where they just have to take the evening off and provide some comment on how this is going to affect them.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the format for each workshop included an invitation meeting during the day and then there will be an open session during the evening of day one. The regional Chamber of Commerce, they were invited to participate at the workshops.

The evening event is open to all residents and businesses including chamber staff, board members, local business, and community residents. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I am here to present Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 1, 2017-2018. This document provides for an increase of $3.5 million to the 2017-18 infrastructure expenditures budget.

These estimates include the transfer of funding to the Department of Infrastructure, from the Department of Public Works and Services, and the Department of Transportation. This transfer will ensure the Department of Infrastructure has a full appropriation authority, starting April 1, 2017, to make capital investments in 2017-18, that were previously approved for...