Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, on your right is Jamie Koe, assistant deputy minister for the Department of Finance, and on your left is Terrence Courtoreille, the director of the Management Board Secretariat.

The committee has agreed to forego general comments on each department. Does committee agree to proceed to the detail contained in the tabled document? Committee has agreed to begin the review of the Department of Education, Culture and Employment. Committee will begin on page 6.

Are there any questions or comments in regards to Education, Culture and Employment?

Okay...

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes, Madam Chair, the information I'm having here, I'm trying to pull up ITI materials in addition to Finance materials as I'm here. But that did  again, there have been quite a number of conversations with the City of Yellowknife as well as the Department of Lands to determine if some of those exact questions of who owns these sites, what are they zoned for, and what can they be best used for. As far as any discussions that may have been public consultations, I don't have that information here. I will confirm and get back to the Member recognizing that her riding is...

Yeah, thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I mean I certainly sympathize that it's a lot of money for what it's, you know, essentially being portrayed as being an evidence locker but, in this particular case, because they are dealing with obviously hunters, if, in fact, a case is found where the hunter may not have been hunting illegally, well then that meat needs to go back to that hunter and their family; it wouldn't necessarily get distributed to other members of other communities. So I think that's part of the challenge that is faced, and is particularly in the North Slave Region where, I...

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Nahendeh, that Bill 32, An Act to Amend the Northern Employees Benefits Services Pension Plan Act be read for the second time.

This bill amends the Northern Employees Benefits Services Pension Plan Act to ensure continued effective regulation and oversight of the NEBF pension plan. This bill redefines the names the pension committee required under the act; changes the requirements for the composition of the pension committee; clarifies the ability of the pension committee to make rules, policies, and procedures addressing matters...

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, this is another part of, I think, a good news story with the movement on the Great Slave Lake for fishery revitalization because, yes, my understanding is that Arcand is in fact put their materials forward with a lot of local contractors all working together. So perhaps when I provide the update broadly speaking about the Great Slave Lake fishery, that I will see what we can provide on this as well. Again, I think this is actually a good news story of a company that's come together and really looked at how to use northern suppliers in their bid. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. So, Madam Chair, we'll certainly see if, in fact, there's an estimate that perhaps the Department of Finance might be aware of, although I'm not sure  I mean, again, that's not necessarily the information we would have brought on the supplementary estimates for this particular sup.

The commitment that was made in the priorities is, of course, is to reduce the funding gap by $5 million so we certainly are taking a significant step towards that with this additional $2.5 million here, even in the onetime event. But, yeah, Minister  or sorry, Madam Chair, I'm going to have...

Mr. Speaker, we continue to navigate our every changing circumstances as the pandemic continues around the world. And After a long winter, I am sure we are all looking for a summer of fresh air and outdoor activities. The Northwest Territories parks are ready for visitors. We have already received a record number of registrations from residents across the territory. In 2020, registrations from Northwest Territories residents booking overnight stays in territorial parks increased by 46 percent and already this year we are see a further increase of 15 on top of 2020's already impressive numbers...

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I don't have the financial details here, and I'm not sure if either of the witnesses might have it. There were original cost overages from the original time when the project was first conceived. But in terms of the wording of this contract, I mean, that, I believe, was spoken to at last year's  or at a previous occasion in reviewing the infrastructure plans. So there hasn't been any changes in the last, you know, several months as far as moving the project forward. But as far as the original costs, the changes in costs, I'll  I know there were changes to...

Thank you, Madam Chair. So again, Madam Chair, I can't speak to what may or may not have been presented by the Member back in 2019. I can say that the Tlicho Government, I understand, is in support of this transmission project and it certainly is a part of the priorities of this government to make sure we are working with Indigenous governments when  typically on projects that are on Indigenous lands. And, you know, I'm not sure where the disconnect is between the information that's available. So perhaps in those studies, it may well answer those questions. The information I have available to...

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, this construction work is expected in the current fiscal year 20212022. I think with some expectation that it may, indeed, be even as early as this fall but certainly within the next  within the 20212022 fiscals, as I've said will be getting started. And it's a project that has involved the collection stations are involving some discussions with communities around the lake, including the City of Yellowknife, Fort Resolution, Fort Resolution Metis Council, the Deninu Kue First Nation, and so the last year was a bit delayed. One of the other delays  I...