Thanks, Mr. Chair. Can the Minister then explain what the money is for? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister Schumann.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. These contributions allow the NWT mineral industry sector to have a visible presence at two of the largest, most important trade shows held in Canada, helping attract investors and increase awareness of the NWT. This is one of the goals of the Mineral Development Strategy. The contributions include projects such as prospecting courses, event studies, regional mineral strategy projects, and more. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister Schumann. Mr. O'Reilly.
Thanks, Mr. Chair. Was there any consideration given to cutting this funding to help meet our government's fiscal strategy? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister Schumann.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. As I have said earlier, all these items are in our mandate commitments, so there is no consideration of cutting funding to mandate items. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister Schumann. Mr. O'Reilly.
Thanks, Mr. Chair. I believe the Minister or his staff mentioned the offshore negotiations that are possible under the devolution agreement. Given that the federal government has prohibited exploration in the offshore area, what is the status of these negotiations? Thanks, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Deputy Jensen.
Certainly, the ban on offshore exploration has changed the context for those discussions, but we have put forward notice to the federal government that we want to continue to be involved in those negotiations and discussions, particularly around the issue that they have identified, that there will be a fiveyear review. We want to have discussions with them about what that means and what that means in terms of what the ultimate commitment to negotiate comanagement in the offshore as part of the devolution agreement. So we continue to try to keep the federal government at the table to meet those commitments.
Thank you, Deputy Jensen. Mr. O'Reilly.
Thanks, Mr. Chair. So I guess I have asked this question before. I am just trying to understand. There have actually been no formal negotiations. People have not sat at a table together to talk about this. It is us just asking for these negotiations to begin. Is that where we are at? Because that is where I understood things were at. We can't even get the federal government to the table. Is that the case, or what is going on? Thanks, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister Schumann.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. There has been some discussion at the official level, but I wouldn't exactly call it a negotiation at this point. With that announcement, one of the things that we have to have a good look at is, our devolution agreement with Canada includes a provision to negotiate and manage our offshore and gas resources. So they have signed on to that, and then they have come along and announced that they intend to put a fiveyear moratorium on there. We need to find out what Canada's signal is on this whole file. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister Schumann. Mr. O'Reilly.
Thanks, Mr. Chair. So we can't get the feds to the table to talk about this because there is a period, whether there was a prohibition in place or not, so why would we continue to devote resources to this? Thanks, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister Schumann.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. First of all, this is a part of the devolution agreement, like I just said, and it is something that we are very interested in pursuing. It is also part of the IRC's land claim agreement. As we are all triparties to that agreement, we have to pursue any opportunities that are available to Northerners, be it resource development or mineral activities or such, but it is our obligation to uphold our end of the bargain. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister Schumann. Mr. O'Reilly.
Thanks, Mr. Chair. I am conscious of the time. I have one other question. The business plan for the department talks about looking at legislation for geothermal energy. Can the Minister or his officials tell me what that is all about and is there a timeline in place for it? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister Schumann.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. We have established a working group that is having a look into this right now, currently, which includes ourselves, Public Works and Services, and Lands. As we move forward, we are going to have a look at legislation options we have available to enable geothermal exploration and development in the Northwest Territories, so we are currently working on that. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister Schumann. Any further questions from committee? Mr. Testart.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Under the activity description on page 205, it indicates that this activity includes marketing and promotion of NWT mineral and petroleum resources to attract investment in exploration, development, and production for the benefit of all NWT residents. I am wondering if the Minister can identify the total marketing budget or total dollar amount of resources attached to marketing our resources to attract investment in exploration? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Thank you, Mr. Testart. Minister Schumann.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. We have two people working on this initiative, and then there is about $140,000 put towards it, and also access to some O and M funds, as well. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister Schumann. Mr. Testart.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Minister mentioned O and M funds. Can he just elaborate on that, please? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Testart. Minister Schumann.
Without getting to exact detail, counting the two individuals and all the money that is put towards it, the total probably comes to close to $460,000 with salaries included. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister Schumann. Mr. Testart.
Minister, can you repeat the exact amount? I couldn't hear you. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Testart. Minister Schumann.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Around $460,000. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister Schumann. Mr. Testart.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The mandate commitment is quite broad in this area, but one of the lines is to support Aboriginal governments to build capacity in dealing with miningrelated activities, and I see we do have an Aboriginal mineral development support program and that funding has remained stable. Is that the total amount of funding in this budget to support Aboriginal governments in capacitybuilding exercises related to this industry? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Testart. Minister Schumann.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. As the Member is aware, we took a number of Aboriginal groups down to Mineral Roundup this year, which was a great success. We got letters back from all of them stating it. As we move forward and there is more interest in the mining industry from Aboriginal governments, I believe this line item will be oversubscribed. If it is, we will try to find money from within somewhere else. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister Schumann. Mr. Testart.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. So these resources are designed to participate in events like Roundup, but are we providing resources to assist in training potential prospectors, setting up licences, things of that nature so we can get potentially a junior miner started that is Indigenousowned? Do we have any intention to do something like that to create a strong partnership that way, or is this solely per diem money to get people out to meetings? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Testart. Minister Schumann.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. As we believe, this is a great line item. It is meeting its objective, but we also have the client services in the communities that relate to Aboriginal consultation requirements in the GNWT. We believe they do a great job. They are working on passing along the information on legislation and mineral and petroleum rights and exploration and development activities in their regions.
We also work in partnership with other departments, like education, on how we can get the mining industry into the classrooms, that we are presently, that the Minister of Education has been working on, on a trial basis. We continue to proudly help and move that along.
As the Member is well aware, the mining industry, I am not understating the reliance that we have on the mining industry in the Northwest Territories. We need to promote this in all aspects, be it education or through Aboriginal governments, community relations, or through Members of this House, so we will continue to pursue that. We are also working with the IRC, and we have the geoscience survey and a number of other things that help promote mining in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister Schumann. Mr. Testart.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Nothing further at this time.
Thank you, Mr. Testart. Any further questions? Mr. Thompson.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Previously, my honourable colleague from Frame Lake was talking about the geothermal working group. Can the Minister please advise who is on this working group? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister Schumann.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. So from ITI we have the director of petroleum resources on the working group, and, as I said, there are people from -- I would have to get the specifics -- Public Works and Services has an individual; Lands also has someone on there. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister Schumann. Mr. Thompson.
