Thank you, Mr. Chair. $150,000 is for the community tourism coordinators and $20,000 for youth mentorship. So the entire skills development budget is $275,000; $170,000 is reflected here in grants and contributions, but the other portion of the budget is actually sitting under other expenses, and that's allocated for those programs. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Ms. Mujcin. Mr. Vanthuyne.
Okay, that's good, Mr. Chair. I thank you for that clarification, and so that explains the expenditures in those other two areas. This is an area, of course, that's very supportive of our mandate. It's a direct investment into a growing industry that I feel is very important, and I'm happy to see that the department has committed these kinds of funds to skills development, specifically for tourism. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Vanthuyne. Minister Schumann.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I think at this time, too, I want to take the opportunity to talk about the Regional Community Tourism Development and Capacity Building Workshops that we're going to be doing this year. We've got some money from the federal government and we're going to be contributing a portion of it to it, and we're going to be putting on community workshops to recognize the value of community tourism and identify champions in the communities, and all these sorts of things. So I think it's another good initiative that we're putting forward to promote tourism in the Northwest Territories and help build regional capacity. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister Schumann.
Thank you, committee. Any further questions? I see no further questions or comments from committee. Please return now to page 210, Industry, Tourism and Investment, tourism and parks, operation expenditure summary, total activity, $14,737,000. Does committee agree?
Agreed
Thank you, committee. Before returning to the departmental total, we'll consider the information items on pages 213 to 215, including lease commitments, NWT Environmental Studies Research Fund, and work performed on behalf of others. I remind committee to specify the page on which the item can be found when asking questions. Does committee have any questions or comments? Mr. O'Reilly.
Thanks, Mr. Chair. I'm looking at page 214, which is the Environmental Studies Research Fund, and I guess for 2017-18 looking at spending $298,000, and there's still a closing balance of $326,000. I'm just wondering why there's not a plan to spend more of the funding than $298,000. Thanks, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister Schumann.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. If you look at the top of the page, they actually have an authorized limit of $15 million. If there's a surplus there this year it's because the projects are brought forward every year. Depending on how the expenditures roll out maybe that was a carryover from last year's, but these funds that come available are based on levies on oilfield leases. Thank you, Mr. Chair
Thank you, Minister Schumann. Mr. O'Reilly.
Thanks, Mr. Chair. Okay, I'll try to go at this a different way. Is there a plan or a strategy for the use of these funds? Have research priorities been identified? I'm just wondering why we're not spending more of the money in a given year, why we're surplussing money. Thanks, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister Schumann.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. This is not a surplus. This stays within the fund, so as the fund either goes up or down it will be used accordingly, but my understanding is with the NWT Environmental Studies Research Fund is they put out a call for proposals on initiatives annually when they move forward. I don’t want to call it a revolving fund, but it's basically sitting there for the next initiative. Some proposals come in under budget for what they budget for, and I suspect that could be an accumulation of probably that. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister Schumann. Mr. O'Reilly.
Thanks, Mr. Chair. I confess to using the wrong words, but there's a closing balance here. It's more than the money that's budgeted to be spent this year, but I'll just park that one for now. I think we should just be using more of that money, but does this fund actually have a plan, a strategy of priorities that have been identified for the use of these funds, and if so can the Minister provide it? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister Schumann:
Thank you, Mr. Chair. This is based on proposals that come in and that the board sees that they're going to follow up on. One of the things I want to make clear, this isn’t government money in this fund. This is money that comes from levies from industry, and that is their money that is invested in this fund. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister Schumann. Mr. O'Reilly.
Thanks, Mr. Chair. Well, the money may come from industry; this is not their money. This is money that's to be used for environmental studies, and if there's no plan for actually spending this money or priorities, so we just throw it open to requests for proposals. That to me doesn't sound like a very wise investment of the money. Is there not a set of research priorities or needs that have been identified so that the funds can be used in the wisest way possible, whether it's to understand the effects of oil and gas exploration on woodland caribou or offshore or whatever? What is the plan to spend this money? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister Schumann.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. The purpose of this fund, according to the act, is:
"To finance environmental and social studies pertaining to the manner in which the terms and conditions under which exploration and development production and activities on petroleum lands authorized under the act or any other action to be conducted."
They reach out, they get the levies based on industry participation, and this is where the money comes from. They do a call for proposals. I believe the last one they've done as of late was on the caribou issue, Boreal Caribou Initiatives and Groundwater Monitoring in particular in the Northwest Territories, and they had a proposed budget of $297,000. My suspicion is they didn't spend all the money on that proposal and I suspect in the coming year that they will be having another call for a proposal on what they're going to do research on. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister Schumann. Mr. O'Reilly.
Thanks, Mr. Chair. So how does the board then decide what to put out for a call for proposals? Is there a plan? Is there a strategy? Is there a set of priorities that have been identified to use these funds? Thanks, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister Schumann.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Its role is to determine the research priorities of the fund, set the budget, and establish the policies and practices for its future. So this is all up to the Environmental Studies Management Board and how they see fit moving forward. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister Schumann. Mr. O'Reilly.
Thanks, Mr. Chair. Look, I understand there's a board for this. I guess what I'm trying to understand is, you know, the accountability for this rests with the Minister but how does the board set these priorities?
In fact, the government, ITI actually has a person who sits on this board, and so does ENR, and then there are a couple of people from industry, and I think one member of the public. So how does that board decide how to use these funds? Is it just one-off, oh, this year we'll decide we're going to do caribou or something, or is there actually a more strategic approach to doing this research? Thanks, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister Schumann.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. As I've said, it's the role of the board to determine its research priorities for this fund and set the budget, establish the policies and practices for the future of what they want to look at. It's not the government's role to do that. In this particular case, this is the way the board is set up and the way the Petroleum Resource Act is referred to in this, and that's how it works. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister Schumann. Mr. O'Reilly.
Thanks, Mr. Chair. I don't seem to be getting anywhere with this, but there are two government people sitting on this board; one from ENR, one from ITI. What sort of direction does the department give to the ITI representative in terms of what the money is to be spent on? Thanks, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister Schumann.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I don't want to get in a big argument with the Member, but this is an environmental research fund and they focus on environmental issues. As I've said, the role determines that, and, of course, we do have a couple of government officials who are on there but they're representing the Government of the Northwest Territories in an environmental capacity. This is what this board is set up to do and I think it does good work. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister Schumann. Mr. O'Reilly.
Thanks, Mr. Chair. Like one of my colleagues before mentioned, you know, how do we know if we're getting good value for money here, and no plan, no priorities that have been identified? It doesn't sound like there's any discussion with communities in terms of what they think the research needs might be or should be. I think there are some issues around the accountability of this board, and I hope that the Minister is going to look at this issue in terms of when the Petroleum Resources Act comes up for review. Is that going to be the case? Thanks, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister Schumann.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. As this does fall under the Petroleum Resource Act, I guess when we take that out on the road and have a look at it this will be the opportunity for the Member to have his input on how he sees that we need to change things to fit the way he thinks it should be run; but presently this is the way the act is written and the way the board has determined their research priorities moving forward. I guess the other thing I could add to it is they do publish an annual report, and it is also online for everyone to see. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister Schumann. Mr. O'Reilly.
Thanks, Mr. Chair. This is not just about me; this is about accountability. Thank you, Mr. Chair, that's all I have to say.
Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Any further questions, committee? Seeing no further questions or comments on these information items, we'll now return to the departmental total. Please return to page 193.
There are three information items related to the departmental total found on pages 194 to 196. These include revenue summary, active position summary, and NWT BDIC active positions. Any questions or comments on these information items? I see none.
Let's return now to page 193, Industry, Tourism and Investment total. Does committee agree? Mr. Beaulieu.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I move that this committee defer further consideration of the estimates for the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment at this time. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. The motion is on the floor and is being distributed. Thank you, committee. The motion is in order and is not debatable.
Question
Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed?
---Carried
Committee, the consideration of the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment has been deferred. I want to thank the Minister and his witnesses. Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses from the Chamber. Thank you, committee. We will now move on to the Department of Education, Culture and Employment. Does the Minister have opening remarks?
Yes, I do, Mr. Chair. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am pleased to present the 2017-2018 Main Estimates for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment. Overall, the department's estimates total $314.9 million, which is a decrease of $969,000 or 0.3 per cent from the 2016-2017 Main Estimates.
These estimates continue to support the GNWT's objective of ensuring a strong and sustainable future for the government and its programs by managing expenditures due to limited revenue growth.
The 2017-2018 Main Estimates include:
$2.2 million to fund rises associated with the increased clients accessing the Income Assistance Program. This funding is to address income assistance needs for our most vulnerable clients;
$3 million for the Small Community Employment Support Program to enhance youth employment and increase self-reliance in small and remote communities; and
$1.5 million in new funding to implement free play-based care for four-year-olds across the remainder of the Northwest Territories, which will help reduce the cost of living for families in the NWT.
The government has committed to fully funding the junior kindergarten program in the 2017-18 school year, and we will be seeking the additional funding in the fall once final costs are known; an increase in funding to invest in enhancing Income Assistance benefits for NWT residents who do not have the resources to meet their basic needs; and reductions of $4.967 million as part of the government-wide reductions.
The department's proposed spending in 2017-18 continues to support the priorities of the 18th Legislative Assembly. Specific activities in support of these priorities include:
working in partnership with the Department of Health and Social Services;
we will continue to implement the Right From the Start Early Childhood Development Framework, including implementing the three-year 2017 to 2020 action plan;
simplifying the administration of licensed early childhood programs and continuing to increase funding for licensed early childhood programs;
strengthening licenced early childhood programs through improving resource materials; and
increased training for early childhood workers.
Spending also includes $3.316 million for continuing implementation of Education Renewal, such as:
initiatives for expanding high school distance learning programs in up to two schools;
supporting student and teacher wellness through self-regulation and mental wellbeing initiatives;
continuing the implementation of Safe Schools legislation through territorial Safe School and Emergency Response Plans, healthy relationships programming, and supports for students and staff from the LGBTQ2+ community;
developing a renewed health and wellness curriculum;
developing and implementing a territorial literacy strategy;
supporting programming focused on strengthening teacher instructional practices; and
implementing a comprehensive accountability framework for the JK to 12 education system.
We will also be working on other priority items, such as:
updating the NWT Aboriginal Languages Framework and Action Plan, a shared responsibility;
supporting the creation of the GNWT-wide Action Plan for the Culture and Heritage Strategic Framework;
implementing the first year of the Skills 4 Success four-year action plan;
increasing employment in in-demand jobs in the NWT with a comprehensive immigration strategy to address recruitment challenges;
increasing the number of apprentices and journeypersons in the NWT by implementing a comprehensive apprenticeship strategy; and
working in partnership with Aurora College to create a renewed strategic plan that contributes to the developments of the NWT's labour market.
The department will be reviewing the income security programs, including Senior Home Heating Subsidy Program and the Senior Citizen Supplementary Benefits.
These are a few of the highlights for the 2017-18 fiscal year. I look forward to working with Members to advance our priorities and mandate actions related to Education, Culture and Employment during the 18th Legislative Assembly. Mr. Chair, that concludes my opening remarks. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister Moses. Mr. Beaulieu.
