Estimates focus on infrastructure
Deh Cho and Nahendeh get nod for some projects
Roxanna Thompson
Northern News Services
Published Thursday, October 24, 2013
DEH CHO
MLAs Michael Nadli and Kevin Menicoche say they are generally pleased with the 2014-15 capital estimates that were tabled by Finance Minister Michael Miltenberger on Oct. 17, but there are additional areas that need to be addressed.
The document details how the territorial government will spend its infrastructure dollars over the next fiscal year. The $222.7 million earmarked for infrastructure investment in the 2014-15 main estimates is significantly more than the $123.4 million budgeted last year. It falls short, however, of the actual amount spent by the GNWT on infrastructure projects last year – $283 million – suggesting the figure for next year will be much higher.
The capital estimates seem to be on course, said Nadli, the MLA of the Deh Cho.
As part of the fiscal policy and framework of the 17th legislature, a push toward capital projects in the remaining two years of the term was expected, he said.
The distribution of infrastructure dollars does, however, unevenly favour the Department of Transportation and the construction of the Inuvik-Tuk highway, he said. The department is slated to receive 40.6 per cent of the budget, more than any other department. Of that, $90 million is budgeted for highway and winter road construction, including the Inuvik-Tuk highway.
That takes away resources needed by other departments, such as Education, Culture and Employment (ECE), said Nadli. Nadli said he is concerned with the disparity between how students are doing in small communities compared to bigger centres such as Yellowknife.
ECE may already be addressing the issue, but the territorial government isn't showing its support through capital investments, he said.
"That tells me the priorities are not there," said Nadli.
There are also other areas that communities would like to see addressed, he said. Enterprise and Kakisa are debating how to afford the construction, operation and maintenance costs of the new water treatment plants they need. In Enterprise, the need to expand the school facilities will also have to be addressed in the next few years, he said.
One item in the capital estimates specific to the Deh Cho is funding to continue with construction of the new health centre in Fort Providence.
"It's welcome and it's good to see that," Nadli said. "Hopefully in the future, we will see some other projects in the other communities as well."
Menicoche, MLA for Nahendeh, said there were a number of items in the infrastructure budget specific to the Nahendeh where he was happy to see progress.
One of the items is money for a planning study for Charles Tetcho School in Trout Lake. Menicoche said he was hoping to see capital dollars for construction, but that he understands a study has to be conducted first to decide if renovations will be done or a stand-alone school will be built and how much that will cost.
"I will continue to press and raise the issue of the replacement of the Trout Lake school," he said.
There is also increased funding for work on Highway 7, he said. Although it's not specifically in the budget, Menicoche said he's been assured there will also be repairs and reconstruction on Highway 1 on they way to Wrigley.
Menicoche said he was also pleased to see increased funding for the chipseal rehabilitation and replacement program. Although the document doesn't say where the work will be done, Menicoche said he will argue in favour of the chipseal leading up to the junction of Highways 1 and 3 on the Fort Simpson side. Although that chipseal is technically in the Deh Cho riding, he wants to see it repaired.
"Over time, it will just get worse," he said.
This week at the legislative assembly, MLAs are expected to debate about the budget. Menicoche said he will be arguing for certainty about the Trout Lake school, as well as a promise for more than 10 kilometres of Highway 1 to be chipsealed every year.
Menicoche said he is pleased to see that for the first time in his 10 years as an MLA, the regions and communities will have higher infrastructure expenditures than Yellowknife.
– with files from Laura Busch
