Thank you. Minister.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. It's specifically for ITI, but it's for all regions in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. Mr. Thompson.
Thank you, and I'd like to applaud the department for doing that. I think it is much needed for the territory, and I think this is a good first step. My last question is: there was a reduction in the policy and legislation communication of about $35,000; what is the reason for this reduction? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. Minister.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. This decrease reflects the sunset portion of the French language services. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. Mr. Thompson.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I guess, just a followup: is this a federally funded program, or is this something from the GNWT that was funded for this? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. Minister.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, that is correct. It was a federally funded program. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. Mr. Thompson.
Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I thank the Minister for that answer. Has the department been working with the federal government for a potential program in this area again, or is that not going to happen again? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. Minister.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. The French language services goes through ECE, so that question would have to be directed to that department if they are going to continue to pursue that. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. Mr. Thompson. Nothing further from Mr. Thompson. Any further comments or questions on corporate management? Seeing none, I will call this activity. Corporate management, operations expenditure summary, activity total, $8,037,000. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Thank you, committee. Moving on, economic diversification and business support. This activity is found on pages 214 to 218, $17,313,000. Questions or comments from committee? Mr. Thompson.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. In regard to business support, trade and economic analysis, and other program costs, we see a reduction of about $503,000 in this area. Could the Minister please expand on why we see this cut in this area? Thank you.
Thank you. Minister.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. $122,000 off the sunset of the Sahtu oil and gas business development administrator position; $123,000 transferred to finance and administration to fund a portion of the occupational health and safety position; and $225,000 for diversification, which got reallocated.
Thank you. Mr. Thompson.
I thank the Minister for the clarification on that. It says, "NWT Business Development and Investment Corporation," it's the $943,000. Is that the BDIC cut? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister.
Yes, Mr. Chair. This is a phase 2 expenditure reduction of $925,000. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister. Mr. Thompson.
Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I thank the Minister for that. For economic diversification, he talked about how there was about $225,000 coming from business support, trade, and economic analysis and other program costs. Could he spend a little further on where the other difference of $325,000 is coming from? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister Schumann.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. It's the new Growing Forward equity that we're going to put forward for $188,000 and $145,000 for South Slave, the new fishery person that we're going to be moving there. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister Schumann. Mr. Thompson.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. On page 216, it says “Growing Forward.” It says “$488,000.” Could the Minister just maybe elaborate a little further on what he talked about with the Economic Diversification in there, the amount? I'm just trying to get that clarified. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister Schumann.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. This is our equity portion for Growing Forward 2, which will be the new CAP program under the Department of Federal Government. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister Schumann. Mr. Thompson.
Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you for the clarification. Maybe I'll just go on to page 216 in this area here and look at the Growing Forward 2 section. It's $488,000 in this area. Where is the additional cost coming from in this area? Because right now my numbers don't match up, so maybe the Minister could just clarify that for me and it would help me. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister Schumann.
Could I get the Member to rephrase the question? I don't totally understand what he's asking.
Thank you, Minister Schumann. Mr. Thompson.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. In Growing Forward, there's $488,000 on page 216. When we talk about the Economic Diversification, a portion of that money was earmarked for that. Where is the difference in that money? Is it a federal program that this money is coming from, or is this an internal transfer? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister Schumann.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. That will be in the schedule for work on behalf of others. That will be the federal portion of the new CAP program. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister Schumann. Mr. Thompson.
No, I'll ask that question in 231. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Mr. Simpson.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have a series of questions. Commercial Fisheries, this is the section to discuss that. I won't go too much into the fish processing plant and that type of stuff. I know there are a lot of activities going on related to the Commercial Fisheries Revitalization Strategy, but there doesn't seem to be any sort of organization to this outside of the fishery strategy. Is there an action plan that the Minister can share with the committee so that we can see what is exactly happening with this strategy and how it's being implemented?
Thank you, Mr. Simpson. Minister Schumann.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. We presently have a project task team who is working on this. At some point, we want to come in front of committee to present. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister Schumann. Mr. Simpson.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. What kind of timeline are we looking at before we can get some sort of definitive action plan or presentation to committee? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Simpson. Minister Schumann.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. As of even today, we're meeting with the Tucho fishery, our staff is, but after March 8th, I think is hopefully when we can get in front of committee to explain where we're at. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
