Thank you, Mr. Chair. The act for the status of women actually was a priority. It was one that I had actually identified when I first began my position as Minister of Status of Women. However, at that time, working with the NWT Status of Women Council, they felt that it was appropriate that it didn't need any changes. Since that time, there has been a total change in administration and chairs. They have looked at it again, and they are in agreement with me that it needs to be changed, but, because it is so late in the day, we have agreed to put it onto the 19th Legislative Assembly. It does definitely need to be changed. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister Cochrane. Mr. O'Reilly.
Thanks, Mr. Chair. I am glad to hear the Minister say that. It is quite an antiquated piece of legislation. I would hope that it makes into transition reports from your side of the House and our side. That is something that needs to be done. That's all I've got, Mr. Chair. Thank you.
Thank you. Next, we have Mr. Thompson.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Going back to Single Window Service Centres, I know that, in the riding, it sort of, kind of, has one. We haven't figured out if they are going to take it or not. What is happening with the community of Wrigley? When are they on the schedule to get a GSO? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. Mr. Aumond.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I think the Member is referring to Sambaa K'e. We are still going to try to establish a Single Window Service Centre there. We are planning on going back into the community one more time.
If that doesn't work out, we are also starting to have some discussions with Wrigley, because if we can't go into Sambaa K'e, then we would probably try to establish a Single Window Service Centre with that funding in Wrigley.
Thank you. Mr. Thompson.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I appreciate that answer and the clarity on that. If Sambaa K'e takes it, will Wrigley be the next one being looked at? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. Premier.
That is correct.
Thank you. Mr. Thompson.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. When we talked about friendship centre funding, could the Premier explain a little bit more about exactly what is happening with this pot of money? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. Premier.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. We had committed to providing $80,000 a year for two years, with a commitment that we would match up to a further $175,000 if they raised the money. It hasn't been brought to my attention, but I do not believe that they have come back and asked for additional matching money yet at this point. I am hopeful that they will be able to come and ask for more money very shortly. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. Mr. Thompson.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I hope they do, too. I think it is a very important organization, the friendship centre. I know that the Premier thinks the same thing. After two years, are we looking to review it and see if there is an opportunity to continue this arrangement, or is it done after these two years? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. Premier.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. As we normally do, we would review how successful or not successful that pilot project was. If we feel that it would be successful and if the friendship centres are still all committed to it, I would hope that we could go forward. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. Next, I have Mr. Blake, I believe.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just under the government Single Window Service Centres, I know that we discussed it in the past, but it is a great program in the communities. In my riding, in communities like Tsiigehtchic with no services in the community, this is a real benefit.
One thing that we were asking about is making these positions full-time. Right now, they are part-time, and they have a big workload, especially at times in the fall and even this time of year, mainly because it seems like every year elders have to fill out these same forms, whether it is home heating subsidies or help with their taxes. Mr. Chair, there is a big demand for help, especially from the elderly.
Will the Premier and the department look at making these full-time positions? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. Premier.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I guess we could look at it from a couple of angles. One is that, if the workload supports the fact that we need full-time positions, then we are prepared to look at it. Secondly, a lot of the service workers are only working half-time because that is their preference. A lot of them would prefer to stay at half-time, because, in some cases, if we change it, then we will probably have to find other people who are willing to work full-time. Certainly, though, we are prepared to look at it if the workload warrants it. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. Mr. Blake.
Well, that sounds promising. I am sure that the larger communities, like, for example, Fort McPherson or Aklavik, would be willing do that. There are a lot more people in the community and a bigger demand with elders and people that need these services. I know that it is a great benefit to the communities, and I look forward to that full-time position in the near future. Thank you very much.
Thank you, Mr. Blake. Anything else on the department or on the activity directorate? Seeing none, I will call the page. Executive and Indigenous Affairs, directorate, operations expenditures summary, $5,725,000. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Thank you, committee. Please turn to the fourth activity, Executive Council offices. This activity begins on page 120. Comments or questions from committee? Mr. O'Reilly.
Thanks, Mr. Chair. There is an increase of $200,000 in Ministers' offices. If you go back to 2017-2018, it is almost $400,000. Can someone help me understand these increases? Thanks, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. Premier.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Over the past three years, there has been a significant increase in ministerial travel, primarily because of the fact that the current federal government operates a lot more out of Ottawa than the previous government. Our Ministers have to travel a lot more to Ottawa to meet with their counterparts and to advance our Federal Engagement Strategy and to promote the priorities of the Government of the Northwest Territories. As well, we have committed to increase public engagement, be it Cabinet meetings in regional centres and so on. That is the reason for the increase. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. Mr. O'Reilly.
Thanks, Mr. Chair. The Minister also talked about increases in travel. The travel budget, if you look further down on page 121, it is almost double back to 2017-2018. It is now $420,000. Even from last year, it was $170,000. That's a huge increase. Is this travel, then, related to trips to Ottawa and Cabinet having these open houses in various communities throughout the Northwest Territories? Is that what's happening here? Thanks, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. Premier.
That is correct, as well as government promotions in different sectors. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. Mr. O'Reilly.
Thanks, Mr. Chair. Is there any kind of a breakdown for how much is for trips to Ottawa versus travel within the NWT? Thanks, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. Premier.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. These are costs that we have been trying to carry for the past three years, and every year we have exceeded the appropriation by an average of $344,000. We expect this to continue, if not increase, hence the addition to the main estimates. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. Mr. O'Reilly.
Thanks, Mr. Chair. If there is that much over, why is there no difference, then, between the main and the revised estimates shown in the two middle columns, 2018-2019, for travel, or is this something that only shows up, then, in the public accounts? Thanks, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. Premier.
Yes. Generally, the overages have been picked up by the departments which, in some cases, could possibly impact on delivering programs and services. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. Mr. O'Reilly.
Thanks, Mr. Chair. I don't have any further questions.
Thank you. Executive and Indigenous Affairs, Executive Council offices, operations expenditures summary, $4,281,000. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Thank you, committee. Please turn to the final activity, Indigenous and intergovernmental affairs. Mr. Beaulieu.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I realize that this is not the budget of the Government of the Northwest Territories, but on the radio today, the NWT Metis Nation was referring to their issue with getting funding for negotiations, money that usually comes from the federal government. I am wondering if our government is involved, in some way, in supporting the Metis to work with the federal government to try to get the money for continued negotiations. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. Premier.
