Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Are there any further questions under fish and wildlife? Seeing none, please go to page 92. Environment and Natural Resources, wildlife and fish, operations expenditure summary, 2021-2022 Main Estimates, $16,156,000. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Thank you. There are additional information items on pages 95 to 103. Do Members have any questions on any of those? Member for Great Slave.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I'm looking at the work performed on behalf of others, starting on page 101, and obviously that would vary over the years dependent on what, say, the federal government needs for us to do, et cetera, et cetera. When you look at it, for the year coming up, it's estimated to be around $7.6 million. Could the Minister speak a little bit to this is $7.6 million that wouldn't necessarily be in the economy of the Northwest Territories? I guess this could be an ITI question, but could the Minister speak to how we can leverage more money under work performed on behalf of others, as it seems like it might be a way to at least keep money flowing through our economy, using it to keep people employed? If we can fund projects under this or pay for things under this, why would we not try to increase this amount? Or maybe I'm completely out to lunch because it's almost eight o'clock on a really long day. Thanks.
Thank you, Member. Minister.
I'll start, and then I'll turn to the deputy minister. These here are projects that, as it says, we are performing on behalf of others. These are things that we work with the federal government or the organization on to get done. To advance it would be a bit of a challenge right now because of our commitments, but I think I got that look, so I'm going to turn to the deputy minister who can clarify that part. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Minister. Deputy Minister.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I think that this is one element where the department is always looking for opportunities to work with others and to work that meets our mandate requirements, and the work that we need done as a territory. I definitely think that this list has been longer in other years, but that's likely the result of not finding as much alignment as we have in other years. I can definitely say that our department does a good job of looking for money from other groups to help support the work that we do in the NWT. There is always room for improvement, and we are definitely engaging at the department in discussions along those lines. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you. Member.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes. I should also say that this is also a department that does lots of science and facts and things, as I said when I had other departments in front of me, so I like what I hear the deputy minister saying. I do understand what the Minister says about capacity at this time and such, but yes, I'm a firm believer that, the more we can get people from the South to pay for us and things that we need, why wouldn't we? More of a comment. I'm done. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Member. I'll take that as a comment. Any further questions under the information items? Member for Frame Lake.
Thanks, Madam Chair. I think I ask this almost every budget: the Inuvialuit Water Board. This is, I know, some kind of artefact of devolution. They do good work; they've got good staff. Why are they kind of on our payroll? I know we get money from the federal government for this, but these folks should be independent of GNWT, like the other land and water boards. I just don't understand why this is here. They should be getting their own money outside of the budget. This is just kind of like the Hay River Health and Social Services Authority. It's another one of these instances where this was a federally funded institution of public government, and now it's for GNWT. What are we doing to make this board really independent and allow them to hire their own staff, look after their own budget, do all their own stuff, instead of us doing it? Thanks, Madam Chair.
Thank you. Minister.
I can honestly say that I've been beside the Member for four years on the other side, and he has asked this question here. We've talked. We've looked at this, trying to find options there. The biggest challenge right now is our benefit package. When we were talking with the staff and that, that's the challenge. They don't want to lose the benefits, which will then have an impact on finding people to hire and that. We've had conversations with the chair. We've looked at it. They have a new chair. My understanding is that we're working with them on it. We would love to be able to do it, but at the same time, we don't want to cause undue stress to the staff who work there. For further clarity on some of the stuff that's being done on a day-to-day basis, or week-to-week or month-to-month, I will turn to the deputy minister. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you. Deputy Minister Kelly.
Thank you, Madam Chair. The IWB doesn't report to the waters group. It reports to the director of finance to make sure that they are as independent as possible. We have committed to the previous chair, and that commitment stands with the chair now, that we will deal with this through the process to amend the Waters Act, because it is going to require an amendment. We will review and discuss the transition of staff to the IWB through attrition and the option of establishing a reporting structure. They have asked us to look at multiple options, and we have said that we will discuss it when we are doing the Waters Act amendments because that's where we would need to make chose changes. There are concerns from a labour relations perspective, and we want to make sure that we are doing it through that process and will be engaging with all those that we need to discuss this item with. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you. Member.
Thanks, Madam Chair. I appreciate the level of detail that has been provided by the deputy minister. I am just worried that this may not happen in my lifetime. Look, I want to get these guys as independent as they possibly can, away from GNWT. I think that's a shared objective, but I really hope that we can make some progress before I pass away. Thanks, Madam Chair.
Thank you. Does the Minister have any comments?
I hope he doesn't pass away for a long, long time. I like the guy. I appreciate his tenacity when it comes to working for the people. Hopefully, we can get it done sooner than later. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you. Any further questions under that information item? Seeing none, I will get Members to please return now to the departmental summary found on page 69. Environment and Natural Resources, operations expenditures, total department, 2021-2022 Main Estimates, $97,874,000. Does committee agree? Mr. Norn.
Madam Chair, I move that this committee defer consideration of the estimates for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources at this time. Marsi cho, Madam Chair.
Thank you. The motion is in order. To the motion.
Question.
Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.
---Carried
Consideration of Department of Environment and Natural Resources, 2021-2022 Main Estimates, operations expenditures, total department, is deferred. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
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? Mr. Norn.
Madam Chair, I move that the chair rise and report progress.
The motion is in order. The motion is non-debatable. All those in favour? Opposed? The motion is carried.
---Carried
I will now rise and report progress. Thank you. Committee is now adjourned.
Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Tabled Document 286-19(2), Main Estimates 2021-2022, and would like to report progress with one motion carried, and Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of the Committee of the Whole be concurred with.
Do we have a seconder? Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.
---Carried
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Orders of the day for Wednesday, March 10, 2021, at 1:30 p.m.:
Prayer
Ministers' Statements
Members' Statements
Returns to Oral Questions
- Question 638-19(2), Medevac Services
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Acknowledgements
Oral Questions
Written Questions
Returns to Written Questions
Replies to Commissioner's Address
Petitions
Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills
Reports of Standing and Special Committees
Tabling of Documents
Notices of Motion
Motions
-
Motion 30-19(2), Actions for Improved Housing Outcomes
Notices of Motion for First Reading of Bills
First Reading of Bills
-
Bill 23, An Act to Amend the Public Utilities Act
Second Reading of Bills
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
-
Bill 3, An Act to Amend the Public Highways Act
-
Bill 12, An Act to Amend the Apprenticeship, Trades and Occupational Certification Act
-
Bill 13, An Act to Amend the Interpretation Act
-
Bill 14, An Act to Amend the Securities Act
-
Bill 16, An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act
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Bill 20, An Act to Amend the Employment Standards Act
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Committee Report 8-19(2), Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures Report on Motion 5-19(2): Referral of Point of Privilege Raised by Member for Monfwi on March 10, 2020
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Committee Report 9-19(2), Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures Report on the Chief Electoral Officer's Report on the Administration of the 2019 Territorial General Election
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Committee Report 10-19(2), Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment Report on Bill 3: An Act to Amend the Public Highways Act
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Minister's Statement 77-19(2), National Housing Co‐Investment Fund
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Tabled Document 165-19(2), Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Committee Report 1-19(2): Report on Long-Term Post-Pandemic Recovery - Recommendations to the GNWT
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Tabled Document 166-19(2), Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Committee Report 2-19(2): Report on Long-Term Post-Pandemic Recovery - Recommendations to the GNWT
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Tabled Document 167-19(2), Government of the Northwest Territories Response to Committee Report 3-19(2): Report on Long-Term Post-Pandemic Recovery - Recommendations to the GNWT
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Tabled Document 286-19(20), Main Estimates 2021-2022
Report of Committee of the Whole
Third Reading of Bills
Orders of the Day
Thank you, Mr. Clerk. This House stands adjourned until Wednesday, March 10, 2021, at 1:30 p.m.
---ADJOURNED
The House adjourned at 7:54 p.m.
