Caroline Cochrane

I am here to present the 20232024 Main Estimates for the Department of Executive and Indigenous Affairs. Overall, the 20232024 Main Estimates continue to support the priorities of the 19th Legislative Assembly and vision of Budget 2023, by:

•

Funding the GNWT's negotiation and implementation efforts with respect to the conclusion of selfgovernment, resource and land claims agreements with Indigenous governments; and,

•

Providing support for the departmental activities related to the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

The Department’s main...

Thank you, Madam Chair. I feel like I've already briefed that Member on this item. But for the public, absolutely we are again, another exciting piece of work that we're looking. And this work was done with the Council of Leaders table. It wasn't easy. You know, it took a lot of work and not everybody's on board; the majority are on board. This work will be bringing forward a legislative bill in this session. I think we already did the proposal give me the right term there, Martin. Legislative proposal he says, because we recognize the committee has to, for 120 days take it on the road. We...

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce today the launch of a new funding portal on the Government of the Northwest Territories website that will make it easier for territorial residents, businesses, nonprofits, nongovernmental organizations, and others, to find information and access funding opportunities offered by the Government of the Northwest Territories. This initiative also advances our government's commitment to open government by making government information accessible in a way that is responsive to the needs and expectations of NWT residents.

Mr. Speaker, the government's job is to...

Thank you, Madam Chair. I think that really the whole purpose of the GSOs, government service officers, was to be able to provide services in small communities. It wasn't seen as a regional or a headquarters initiative. I note that there may be some appetite for it. I'm not against it either. But at this stage and honesty, Madam Chair, we're at the end of the government. We got, like, huge things we're trying to get finished within EIA. We've got, like, not only the priorities, the mandates, etcetera. We've got, like, things going on geopolitically that we're also watching for. We just went...

Thank you, Madam Chair. No, not at this time we're not adding any. I haven't received any requests on over to do that as well. I do know that, Madam Chair, that they would like a one stop kind of in Yellowknife but these really are for people in the communities so that they can access. A lot of it is actually translation services, elders, etcetera, to access programs. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes, this group that we're bringing together now is a working group, Madam Chair. All of them should have experience within the fields, hopefully years of experience within the different fields. So we're really looking from them from an experience viewpoint of what do they need, what do we need to work on now. I agree with the Member that perhaps this should be something that's long term. I don't think that at this point I'm ready to commit to that. This is going to be a group that will receive an honorarium for their work done. I think that in general, Madam Chair...

Thank you, Madam Chair. I'll start, and then the Minister of the Status of Women might want to expand on it. At no time so I'm not sure if I'm understanding the question quite right. But the gender equity unit is not to take the place of the Status of Women. It's totally different. The gender equity work is to work with Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, around that kind of work that we're working on. But at no time have we had any discussions about taking over and replacing the Status of Women. Madam Chair, I'm not sure if the Minister of Status of Women wanted to expand, or if she's...

Thank you, Madam Chair. It took me a while to figure out which committee as well. So yes, the NGO advisory committee, we did ask put an ad out, ask for people that were interested to sit on that committee. We got quite a few interested actually and so we've just picked the committee members. We tried to be as diverse as possible within that and representing all the regions as well, not just in from Yellowknife. And so we're just I believe this week/last week they've appointed. They're letting people know now. And they have one month to be able to do that work and then bring back...

Thank you, Madam Chair. I think that we can send a letter asking them, an email asking them what their process where they are with the process and we'll provide an update to committee. Like I said, Madam Chair, it's not something that we take too much. I don't I don't even know like I said, I think it's only been a month or two that that position's been open but I could be incorrect. And those positions are often hard to get. Executive directors aren't a dime a dozen. But as soon as we reach out, we'll try to find out what's going on and then we'll submit an email or let all Members know...

Thank you, Madam Chair. We have asked for that to be made public as well. My understanding from the federal government is they're going to work with the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, their membership first, and then we'll still pressure them to make that report public because I do believe it should be a public document. So thank you, Madam Chair.