Caroline Wawzonek

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the vehicle asset is already expected for delivery in if August of 2024 but is expected to be used for the transfer of female offenders, and that facility is still required. It is the only female unit we have in the Northwest Territories. And so there's really no avoiding of that.

With respect to the security upgrades broadly at the entire complex, again, that was largely already incurred, significant dollars already incurred in 2023-2024. This is just completing the last bits of that contract. So it's -- we can't -- there's no room to stop something that is...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, there is, indeed, an overall asset management plan and capital project plan for NTPC and, you know, some of that involves studies that are being done around what alternatives and changes could move forward, what communities might see, you know, advancement of hydro projects and, in some cases, those studies can be funded elsewhere, or in other cases can be delayed, and in other cases, again, some of the future improvements projects can be pushed back or have planning done in advance hopefully to produce better estimates, although, again, in this case, it was --...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this is exactly part of the conversation that's being had with officials, again both in ITI and Infrastructure right now, and the purpose of the conversation is to sort out what businesses, what entities had the opportunity to take on insurance. I know MTS was pushing the importance of having insurance to help support in the event that there was a low water level and a reduction in barge service being unfortunately the situation of having now no barge service. You know, who had that opportunity, who maybe made choices not to take on the opportunity, what...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I believe what the Premier had talked about last week was conversations that began in part with Minister Macdonald who also happens to be the MLA from the region. And, yes, the idea of shifting from having a correctional facility to having a wellness facility at this time is uncosted and unplanned because it's part of a proposed budget. Just as one might want to see changes in upgrades or changes to different departments' budgets, which have certainly been the discussion on the floor of this House, both in COW and otherwise, increasing budgets without costing...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I want to make sure that I have the right number in this. Around $40 million, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this project makes good on a promise dating back sometime to when the original Mackenzie Valley Fibre Line was under consideration and under development. That work is advancing and, in fact, is advancing this summer. We did have an opportunity that we were happy to make use of where the folks that were doing the work on the Yukon portion of the line are already mobilized, which will reduce costs for us by utilizing them and utilizing that opportunity to complete that section of fibre up to Tuktoyaktuk, and having had some significant engagement and some...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So it is showing as being aligned to the Fort Smith correctional complex, which obviously does house both the men's and women's facility, and the one latter -- or the men's facility being one which is now targeted for part of a reduction and to be moving forward towards hopefully a shift into a wellness facility of some fashion, subject to discussions with the community and the vision that they may have for it. So obviously there may be changes that are coming to where this project will go in a capital project -- where the capital project will go in the next fiscal year...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, this is not -- the overages and cost escalations we're seeing on a number of key projects here in the last couple of years really are not typical and shouldn't be considered as typical. There are a number of examples to point to of projects that come in on budget and on time. And even right now, for example, the Inuvik airport project is on schedule. It has certainly caught itself back up notwithstanding challenges that initially may have occurred immediately post-COVID and then of course in the course of inflation. So I'm certainly wanting to just note that...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this is an overall good news story here, so I appreciate the questions. I know there are residents and businesses in Inuvik who are really leading the charge in terms of what's happening in our advanced technology industry here in the Northwest Territories, with the satellite array and providing servicing to them. The agreement we have the Yukon ensures that their traffic can use the Mackenzie Valley fibre line in case of need and that our traffic could use the line that comes down the -- or in case of need. I think there is some additional work that's...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Let me just double check, Mr. Chair. My list also says three, Mr. Chair. So I believe three is the number. Thank you.