Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Your committee would like to report on its consideration of Bill 20, An Act to Amend the Employment Standards Act. Bill 20 received second reading in the Legislative Assembly on November 4, 2020, and was referred to the Standing Committee on Social Development for review. On February 10, 2021, the standing committee held a public hearing with the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment and completed its clause-by-clause review of the bill on March 2, 2021. Mr. Speaker, the committee reports that Bill 20, An Act to Amend the Employment Standards Act, is ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole as amended and reprinted. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document: "Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 572-19(2): Elder Abuse." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Tabling of documents. Minister of Infrastructure.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document: "Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 517-19(2): Incidents Involving Transport Trucks on Highway No. 3." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Tabling of documents. Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation.
Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document: "Updated Policy Documents, April 2021, Northwest Territories Housing Corporation." Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Tabling of documents. Member for Frame Lake.
Merci, Monsieur le President. I wish to table the following document: "Northwest Territories Poverty Report Card, 2020," prepared by Alternatives North, dated November 2020. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I give notice that, on Wednesday, March 10, 2021, I will move the following motion: Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, that this Legislative Assembly calls on the Government of the Northwest Territories to prioritize the review of the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation as part of the government renewal initiative; and further, that the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation update its mission statement and policies to reflect its role in social wellness; and furthermore, that Northwest Territories Housing Corporation must include referrals to appropriate government programs prior to beginning the eviction process; and furthermore, that the Government of the Northwest Territories provide a comprehensive response to this motion within 120 days. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that, on Wednesday, March 10, 2021, I will move that Bill 23, An Act to Amend the Public Utilities Act, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I now call Committee of the Whole to order. What is the wish of committee? Member for Frame Lake.
Thanks, Madam Chair. Committee would like to consider Tabled Document 286-19(2), Main Estimates 2021-2022, with the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment. Thanks, Madam Chair.
Thank you. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Thank you, committee. We will take a short recess and resume with the first item.
---SHORT RECESS
Committee, we have agreed to consider Tabled Document 286-19(2), Main Estimates 2021-2022, in the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment. Does the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment have any opening remarks?
Yes, Madam Chair. I am here to present the 2021-2022 Main Estimates for the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment. Overall, the department's estimates propose an increase of $404,000 or 0.7 percent over the main estimates of 2020-2021. These estimates support the mandate objectives for ITI while continuing to meet the GNWT's fiscal objectives to prioritize responsible and strategic spending.
Highlights of these proposed estimates include:
Initiative funding totalling $2.296 million, which includes:
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$936,000 to continue our support of tourism under Tourism 2025 towards the five-year investment strategy for the tourism sector;
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$400,000 to maintain funding for our Mining Incentive Program to stimulate prospecting and exploration and increase resource exploration and development in our territory;
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$360,000 to support the development of regulations for the Mineral Resources Act and to advance work on the mineral administration and registry system;
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$350,000 to invest in the creation of an action plan to develop the NWT's knowledge economy and establish regional economic development plans; and
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$250,000 to support an ITI position to coordinate and ensure continued development of the fish sector and support the Tu Cho Fishers' Cooperative, a key partner in our ongoing work to revitalize the commercial fishery on Great Slave Lake.
Forced growth funding of $134,000 to support two regional tourism and parks positions;
Other adjustments of $283,000, with $225,000 for the continued implementation of the Northwest Territories petroleum resources strategy; and $58,000 to support the department's continued provision of communications and services in French; and
Sunsets of $2.067 million.
These estimates continue to support the priorities of the 19th Legislative Assembly by:
supporting mandate priorities such as reviews of procurement practices within the GNWT;
the competitiveness of the Northwest Territories royalty regime;
socio-economic agreements; and
the Northern Food Development Program.
That concludes my opening remarks, Madam Chair. I'm happy to answer any questions you may have.
Thank you, Minister. Do you wish to bring any witnesses into the House?
Yes, please, Madam Chair.
Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort the witnesses into the Chamber. Minister, will you please introduce your witnesses for the record?
Thank you, Madam Chair. Today, we have Pamela Strand, deputy minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, and Nina Salvador, director of finance and administration at ITI.
Welcome. Committee has agreed to forego general comments. Does committee agree to proceed to the detail contained in the tabled document?
Agreed.
Committee, we will defer the departmental summary and review the estimates by activity summary, beginning with corporate management starting on page 206, with information items on pages up to 208. Questions? Member for Frame Lake.
Thanks, Madam Chair. On it's page 207, purchased services has shown quite an increase, more than doubling from 2019-2020 to what is proposed for next year, or close to doubling. Can someone explain to me what is happening there? Thanks, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Member. Minister of ITI.
Thank you, Madam Chair. There is an increase there. That's with respect to the Mineral Resources Act implementation and also money to establish the knowledge economy and regional economic development plans.
Thank you. Member.
Thanks, Madam Chair. I do have some questions about those other items. I see that they are covered through the other activities, so I'll wait until we get to those other ones. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Any further questions under corporate management? Seeing none, Industry, Tourism and Investment, corporate management, operations expenditure summary, 2021-2022 Main Estimates, $9,216,000. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Thank you, committee. We will now move on to economic diversification and business support, beginning on page 209, with information items on page 213. Questions? Member for Frame Lake.
Thanks, Madam Chair. In the Minister's opening remarks, she talked about how there was $350,000 to do some work on the knowledge economy, and I see, on page 211, there is a contribution of $200,000 for the knowledge economy. Maybe I can have someone explain to me what the $200,000 is for and where the other $150,000 would be found to total the amount that the Minister mentioned in her opening remarks. Thanks, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Member. Minister of ITI.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I'm going to suggest that that go to Ms. Salvador, please.
Thank you. Ms. Salvador.
Thanks, Madam Chair. The advance knowledge economy funding, $150,000 of that will go to contributions, and the other $150,000 will go for engagement for the knowledge economy action plan. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you. Member for Frame Lake.
Thanks, Madam Chair. Okay, so now I've got a total of $300,000. The Minister, I think, mentioned $350,000 in her opening remarks, and then I got a figure of $200,000 here. Look, I'm not an accountant, but something just doesn't seem to be quite right, there. Can I get a better explanation? Thanks, Madam Chair.
