Caroline Wawzonek
Deputy Premier
Statements in Debates
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, at this point in time I'm going to have that take that one away and just commit to getting back to the Member. But it may not be me. It might actually be as this -- as the governance changeover takes place, our hope is that as that unfolds, part of that will look at what makes the operations more efficient and, really, that might be an opportunity to do some downsizing or to change assets. But, Mr. Chair, part of the governance review is to question whether or how to have the right people there making those decisions. And I -- you know, I'm not trying to be...
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I'm going to send that one to Ms. Burt, please.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, some of my colleagues have already taken my thunder away here a little bit, but I did want to point out that I have had the pleasure of working with deputy minister Loutitt for some time and he has, for the last several days or weeks, been counting down his very favourite time of the year, which is session, but unfortunately this year he's counting it down because after 29 years of public service, Mr. Loutitt is retiring next Friday.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, that's the first specific comment I've received on signage placement. I'm very happy to take that away. I'm familiar with this particular incident of this tanker. I've heard some other reasons as to what the potential cause of that might have been, but I'm also fairly aware that there's likely to be some investigation of the matter. So just want to temper that it may not have been the speed, it may not have been conditions. But absolutely, with signage, I will certainly take that away, and let's work with those who are on that stretch of highway and the...
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, happy to do so. Again, that work was -- is due back this spring, and it would normally follow the process of going to committee. I'm happy to ensure that we are there as early as possible. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. So, Mr. Chair, none of -- these are broad funding agreements and some of them -- well, obviously, some that were -- are already have sunsetted with -- they were in the 2023-2024 line or 2024-2025. But for other areas, they are -- other grants and contributions, there's none that are necessarily specific to the Deline micro project. Now, that said, I know I have had outreach from Ek’Wahtide Gaudet in Roundup on this. We're certainly keen to examine and explore the possibility of micro hydro. I'm certainly very keen on it. So some of that is work that can be done within our...
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'll perhaps turn to the deputy minister in just a moment, but let me at least give a bit of introduction that the two for this year, for this fiscal, are the deferred maintenance programs. So that is where we undertake ongoing repairs to GNWT assets over the life of that particular asset or building. It's more under our capital estimates program, but we want to ensure that, of course, we are maintaining those assets on an adequate life cycle. Right now they tend to be between somewhere 30 and 50-year life cycle, depending on the type of building or type of asset. So...
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, how about if I commit to having a plan for a plan? I don't have a final date at this moment in time, but I certainly have asked that we, as the 20th Assembly, walk out of here with that in place. So that certainly is my goal at this time. Our next step is for the working group to put forward their recommendations of what it will look like and with that, I expect we'll have a more firm timeline. But, again, it's certainly my hope for this at this moment that we are walking out of the 20th Assembly with this in place. Thank you.
I suppose someone has to ask it, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the issues surrounding there -- yes, with respect to more ensuring that we have staff available to undertake that request, and I can take it back away and look again at what some of those challenges at staffing were. What we have done and continue to do, Mr. Chair, is that there are more and more services coming available for E-services. I recognize before I even turn this back over that some folks will not be able to access E-services or won't be comfortable with E-services, but that certainly is an area that is taking a lot of the...
Thank you, Mr. Chair. So we already do provide certainly some information with respect to the amount of change or expected change that you would see in the capital planning process. The macroeconomic policy that we are looking to bring forward and to put -- apply a lens to will also include a consideration since there's obviously -- again, I shouldn't say obviously. Nothing's -- there's always open questions. But not having access to energy efficiency does, indeed, create risk of increased costs over time. So that would be part of that lens, and that is something that is coming through and...