R.J. Simpson

Thank you. And I will also comment that I've had discussion was the department about trying to align strategies with budgeting processes. So if we release a strategy in September, the budgeting, we're almost too late to develop new initiatives and then get that funding in there. So there are challenges with that as well, though. We are pretty thin in all positions in the GNWT. We're generally one person deep and so, you know, when we have a number of different reviews happening, it's hard to get them all done at one time so they all align with the budgeting process. But I am very much alive to...

Thank you. So I believe there is some sort of a GNWT policy on languages. I'm not I can't say I'm overly familiar with it. The issue that comes up through ECE is often Indigenous language instructors. There are Indigenous language instructors in the schools who might not have education degrees and so they are not paid at the same rate as teachers who have education degrees. And this is something that, you know, the department has brought forward on numerous times to the you know, to and has brought forward to Finance who has then brought forward to the negotiations with the union. So we are...

Thank you, that is correct.

Thank you. So it could be the next budget. The program evaluation is happening, and you know, I'm of two minds of these strategies. Do I just do the work without telling anyone what we're doing, or do we release something that is very high level so that people know what we're doing but then I get criticized for not having dollars attached to it? And so I've opted to put something out there so that people know what we're doing and know where we're going. And so right now, the programs are being evaluated. There is a budgeting process that happens throughout year and so if there's an opportunity...

Thank you. From what I can recall, the Hay River Museum Society gets $60,000. I believe the centre in Thebacha gets $198,000. But I can ask the deputy minister for the actual numbers. I believe he's looking at them. Thank you.

Yes, it would help it. It's unlikely that it would fund the entire thing but a number of the projects or I know at least one of the projects was a brand new build, and that was the one in Fort Smith. Thank you.

Yes, I do.

Thank you. And yes, we don't have all of the programs broken out in here. But it does have funding associated with it. Perhaps I can ask Mr. MacDonald for the details on exactly how that funding is distributed and how the program works. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. So the NWT Arts Council is showing $700,000 year over year, and the actuals in 2021 were $710,000. Is that what the Member is referring to?

Thank you. I'll do what I should have done in the first place, and I'll ask the deputy minister to answer. Thanks.