Thank you, Mr. Chair. The amount of money in this line is decreasing over time. Is that what we can expect in the future as well? I am just not sure what we are getting out of the secondary industry at this point. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. O’Reilly. Mr. Minister.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. As the Member may or may not know, through our socio-economic agreements, diamond mines could make up to ten per cent of their diamond rough production available for secondary manufacturing. This is a sector that we have been trying to make it a going concern and to make it sustainable. We are still of that view. We believe that, as the production of diamonds increases in the Northwest Territories, that we will continue to do so. We will continue to work to develop the secondary diamond industry so that we can increase the value added to here in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Minister. Mr. O’Reilly.
Thanks, Mr. Chair. I don’t have any further questions.
Thank you, Mr. O’Reilly. Carrying on. Total activity, $21,087,000. Agreed?
Agreed.
Thank you. Moving on to the next summary, on page 244. Industry, Tourism and Investment, minerals and petroleum resources, operations expenditure summary, total activity on page 244. We will defer that and go into detail, starting with page 245. Go ahead, Ms. Green.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I am wondering what role the Mackenzie Valley development contribution is playing in the role of the Aboriginal Pipeline Group. When I Googled them, their site is empty. I thought that they had dissolved. I am wondering what kind of support the government continues to supply to the APG. Thank you.
Thank you, Ms. Green. Mr. Minister.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. We are continuing to contribute to the operations of the Aboriginal Pipeline Group. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Minister. Ms. Green.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Could the Minister please provide some detail about the total amount of contribution and what exactly it pays for? Thank you.
Thank you, Ms. Green. Mr. Minister.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. We contribute $100,000 and it pays to help with offices and salaries and some office supplies. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Minister. Ms. Green.
Thank you Mr. Chair. Could the Minister please tell us why the government is continuing to support the Aboriginal Pipeline Group? Thank you.
Thank you, Ms. Green. Mr. Minister.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Mackenzie Valley natural gas pipeline, after a long environmental assessment regulatory review process, was granted a certificate of conveyance and public necessity, which was recently extended, the sunset clause was extended until 2022. The Aboriginal Pipeline Group has arrangements when the pipeline goes ahead to become one-third owners of the Mackenzie Valley natural gas pipeline. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Minister. Ms. Green.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Could the Minister explain why the government continues to contribute to this organization when the project to build the pipeline is on the back burner indefinitely? Thank you.
Thank you, Ms. Green. Mr. Minister.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. As I said, the sunset clause has been extended to 2022. It was also looking at other opportunities for Aboriginal equity participation. We believe that is still an opportunity so that is why we are contributing a lesser amount of $100,000 per year. Others are contributing as well. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Minister. Ms. Green.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Is there any kind of reporting that the Aboriginal Pipeline Group does on its activities and expenditures to this government? Thank you.
Thank you, Ms. Green. Mr. Minister.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Consistent with other contribution arrangements, they have to meet the financial requirements of this government and report back on that basis. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Minister. Ms. Green.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Could the Minister please tell me where to find that information? Thank you.
Thank you, Ms. Green. Mr. Minister.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I would refer the Member to our grants and contributions annual report. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Minister. Ms. Green.
Can the Minister tell us when that was last filed? Is it up to date for the previous fiscal year? Thank you.
Thank you, Ms. Green. Mr. Minister.
2014-15. It is pretty up to date. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Minister. Ms. Green.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thanks to the Minister for his answers. Nothing further.
Thank you, Ms. Green. Recognizing Mr. Vanthuyne.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would just like to stay under the item Mackenzie Valley development contribution. It is noticed that the contribution amount has been reduced by just over $300,000. Can the department give an explanation for that reduction? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Vanthuyne. Mr. Minister.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. The amount of funding to the Aboriginal Pipeline Group has been reduced by $250,000. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you Mr. Minister. Mr. Vanthuyne.
Thank you. I appreciate that. Can I get clarification on what MPR stands for in MPR contributions various? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Vanthuyne. Mr. Minister.
Thank you. MPR. Mineral Petroleum Resources, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Minister. Mr. Vanthuyne.
Thank you. Is it safe to suggest that the reason why there is no contribution being made in the last two years is because of the downturn in the oil and gas industry? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Vanthuyne. Mr. Minister.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. The money primarily went for contributions with universities for various research projects and also the budget has been moved into the contract section. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Minister. Mr. Vanthuyne.
