Thank you, Mr. Chair. They are being allotted a regional way in order to try to help cover off some of the communities that are in need. Right now, to my knowledge, it is the North Slave, Tlicho region, the Deh Cho, and Sahtu that are likely to receive these positions. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister. Member.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Perhaps, can I just speak to how we go and get more RCMP officers under the First Nations Policing Program. Is that a request that Justice has made? Is there a possibility of further federal funding in this area? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Member. Minister.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. This was not an easy negotiation. If I may, I happen to be aware of some of the history on this was and back in February of 2019 was the first round of an attempt. The Department of Justice sought, I believe, nine positions under this program, but they managed to get five, which was, I believe, one of the first increases under the First Nations Policing Program that we've seen in quite some time. I think that's probably all I can say at the moment, Mr. Chair. I have no doubt that the Department of Justice would vastly prefer to see their funding come under this arrangement than having to pay for it under the usual seventy-thirty that otherwise exists. I can't promise what the federal government may or may not do. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister. MLA for Thebacha.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I think we had a briefing on this whole item at one of our meetings. My concern is that there is no enforcement on reserve at the Salt River First Nation reserve. We have to follow all these rules, like the Wildlife Act and some of these other things, and we do not have any way of enforcing but they want us to follow the act. I want to make sure that the Minister knows about this issue. I think I mentioned it to you during the business plans, and then we put these positions in other places. It's a major issue for both reserves. Enforcement on reserve is not -- the Government of the Northwest Territories wants us to follow all the rules, but they say we're a reserve so we're under federal jurisdiction. There is a major issue and gaps there, and those have got to be addressed. I know they're trying to address it in the trilateral in negotiation, but that's not enough for the members of Salt River. I was sitting at that table many times arguing this whole point, even with the Wildlife Act. There were some issues in the Wildlife Act, it was still pushed down our throats as Aboriginal people. I have a real problem when you have to follow the rules, but they won't enforce poachers. They won't enforce anything on reserve. That's a major issue. I think that the Justice Minister and the Minister of Finance have to address this problem and same with the Premier under the executive. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Member. Minister.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Member actually has foreshadowed my response, which is that it is an ongoing issue. It's not a new problem, but it's one that certainly does involve EIA and the Premier as well as the Minister of Justice. To some degree, there may well be a role for the Department of Finance. Certainly, there are funding considerations here. Mr. Chair, perhaps what I'll do is ensure that we take that away and provide a written response to the Member that better reflects the conversation that needs to be had by all the departments. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister. Member.
I have no other comment.
Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 2, 2020-2021, Department of Justice, policing services, not previously authorized, $450,000. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 2, 2020-2021, Department of Justice, total department, not previously authorized, $683,000. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Committee, we will now consider Department of Municipal and Community Affairs on page 13. I will now open the floor to general comments on the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs. If there are no comments, does the committee agree to proceed to the detail contained in the tabled document?
Agreed.
Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 2, 2020-2021, Municipal and Community Affairs, regional operations not previously authorized, $5,728,000. Member for Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Happy to see this money. Happy to see that we can spend some of the safe restart money on our municipalities. Municipalities have a fiscal year end that ends in a calendar year, not in April, such that they are all doing their budgets right now. It's November, they need to know whether they can put this money into their budgets. They're not allowed to run deficits. My question is: I'm glad, and I will happily approve this money. How quickly can we get the cheque to the municipalities and confirmation such that they can put it in their current budget, and we won't see any tax increases for money they know they're getting but can't include? Have we agreed on how it's going to be distributed to those communities? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Member. Minister.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs can speak to the distribution of it. I suggest it go to her, please. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister. Minister of MACA.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. The funding that was allocated, we did get kind of a last-minute response from the federal government to say that this money had to be spent by September 30th, so the money has been distributed to all communities throughout the territory. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister. Member.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I received a letter from the mayor saying that is not the case and that they have not included this money in their current budgets. Is that just perhaps because it actually has to be passed by the Legislature, or can I just confirm that our municipalities have this money and I am mistaken, then? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Member. Minister.
Mr. Chair, I think the money that had to be spent by September 30th might be the next line item under MACA, which is funding for sports and community associations. The Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs was successful in getting us some flexibility on that one. As such, that's the money that had to go out. I apologize. The money that's going to municipalities, if, in fact, the supplementary does move forward then, at that point, we'd be able to formalize the allocation. I know the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs has been engaged with the Northwest Territories Association of Communities and working with them to determine allocation of the funding. If, in fact, this does go through in the next couple of days that should provide the Minister with the ability to formalize that division. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister. Member.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm confident this supplementary will pass. I will hope for it, get a written response a later date that we are confident that we can get this money to our municipalities to include it in their calendar year budget such that they are not making cuts that they will then just get the money for and they're moving things around unnecessarily. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Member. Minister.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Again, the Northwest Territories Association of Communities and Municipal and Community Affairs have had a discussion. There shouldn't be any secrets around what amounts are going to which communities, that division has been agreed to between those parties, so this was a very engaged process, one where, again, the association of municipalities and the Municipal and Community Affairs have, indeed, figured out what an equitable distribution will be between all the different communities. Indeed, if this does go through, as we are certainly hopeful that it will, there should be no delay in getting this to the municipalities as allocated, as agreed to. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister. Member.
No. I am glad to hear that, Mr. Chair. Let's hope Finance can cut that cheque as soon as possible. Thank you.
Thank you. Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 2, 2020-2021, Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, regional operations, not previously authorized, $5,728,000. Does the committee agree?
Agreed.
Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 2, 2020-2021, Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, sport, recreation and youth, not previously authorized, $1,584,000. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 2, 2020-2021, Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, total department not previously authorized, $7,312,000. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Thank you, committee. Do you agree that you have concluded consideration of Tabled Document 217-19(2), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 2, 2020-2021?
Agreed.
Member for Frame Lake.
Thanks, Mr. Chair. You got it right. I move that consideration of Tabled Document 217-19(2), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 2, 2020-2021, be now concluded and that Tabled Document 217-19(2) be reported and recommended as ready for further consideration in formal session through the form of an appropriation bill. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Member. The motion is in order.
Question.
Question has been called. To the motion. All those in favour? All those opposed? Any abstentions? Motion passed.
---Carried
Tabled Document 217-19(2), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 2, 2020-2021, will be reported for consideration in formal session through the form of an appropriation bill. Thank you, Minister, and thank you to the witnesses for appearing before us. Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses from the Chamber. What is the wish of committee?
Marsi cho. I move that the chair rise and report progress.
Thank you. The motion is in order and non-debatable. All those in favour? Motion carried.
---Carried
