Are there any further questions? All right, so please turn to page 238, Industry, Tourism and Investment, tourism and parks, operations expenditure summary, 20232024 Main Estimates, $16,795,000. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Thank you. There are additional information items on page 242 to 246. Are there any questions on those? Member for Tu NedheWiilideh.
Thank you, Madam Chairman. Anyways, I'm just thinking about the business incentive policies. In the early days when I was the local housing authority manager in the community in N'dilo, we managed all our housing in our community. We had a block funding agreement with the housing corporation where we agreed to build X amount of units in our community. But we had to follow the business incentive policy which means that we had to buy all cabinets from the North, all the windows from the North, all the screw jacks from the North, all the trusses from the North, etcetera. But what's happening now is that, you know, the chief in Fort Resolution made it very clear that they don't want no trailers in the community and yet we know here we are, we're bringing trailers into the community, taking away employment from our people in the communities. And so I'm not really sure in this going forward, your policy, the business incentive policy and working with the housing corporation, I'm not sure how they're going to really fix this problem. We know that high cost of living. We know the high cost of building. We know the high cost of materials in the south and the labour in the North etcetera is high. And so I remember in the early days where we had the business incentive policy, they kind of frown they didn't really like the idea that we were to use buy trailers from the south. And they promote it in the business incentive policy. But yet now we got these trailers that are being purchased from down south with no real benefit to northern BIP suppliers. So I'm not sure how your department is managing that. Can you maybe talk about that a little bit so it's a little bit more clear as to how you're going to deal with this BIP policy on the Industry, Tourism and Investment? Thank you.
Thank you. Minister of ITI.
Thank you, Madam Chair. So there is a procurement review underway, still right now, that was begun some time ago and a fairly detailed set of recommendations received some time ago. It is now at a stage where there are a number of changes that have been made and some more changes coming forward to the public side of the procurement work that the government is doing. Things, for example, around just clarifying, you know, how bids are being received, trying to ensure that it's more that, you know, venders are being monitored for ensuring that they actually follow through with whatever their commitments are. And there's a lot of work happening, particularly through EIA with respect to Indigenous procurement and what Indigenous procurement policy might look like. With respect to the business incentive policy, there's a need to better understand the definition of a "business," of a northern business and of a northern Indigenous business, and that work is actively underway right now to be done in the life of this government. So there's quite a number of things happening.
Specific issues with respect to whether or not to choose a trailer or not a trailer, I'm not familiar with, but I'd be happy to receive the details of that and then could then provide a more detailed and specific response to the Member. Thank you.
Thank you. Member for Tu NedheWiilideh.
Thank you, Madam Chair. So going forward, I guess, I'm just thinking that as claims get done in the North and Indigenous governments want greater control on managing the housing situation in their communities, I guess would your department or are they going to start looking at how they're going to start working with Indigenous governments to fulfilling some of these roles through either agreements that they have either through a block funding agreement or contribution agreements? So sooner or later, this government here has to start recognizing that we are going to have settled claims. And right now in committee that I've been involved, none of the departments are have the foresight to say that in four years or eight years we're going to have these agreements. We're what's happening in committees that they're just going ahead status quo without recognizing that the claims are going to be there. So going forward, do you guys have a vision in how you're going to work with Indigenous governments to look at how we're going to start transferring some of these responsibilities through decentralization? Thank you.
Thank you, Member. Minister of ITI.
Thank you, Madam Chair. So, you know, obviously, Madam Chair, my comments have to be limited to within the scope of what the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment can speak to. EIA is coming next so, you know, heads up to my colleagues who are going to be sitting here shortly. But with respect to what the Department of ITI can do, you know, I can speak, Madam Chair, to the work we've already done with the Intergovernmental Council and more on the development of the Mineral Resources Act regulations. But ITI has been the lead department to enact and to put forward and to work with the Intergovernmental Council at the secretariat level, in particular to really codevelop and what is happening with the Mineral Resource Act regulations. And that process is one that has been very intensive. We've been figuring out and understanding how it will look as its evolved. And, you know, I think that's if I was to point to one thing that speaks to how the Northwest Territories is going to have to evolve the way we govern and do our governance, both as a public government and then visavie Indigenous governments and modern treaty holders, that is a process that, again having now seen and unfold, provides some very, I think, exciting lessons for how things can be done differently. The other one I'd point back to is the procurement review where, again, we've been trying to do that not only as a government led/government run but as one that is inclusive. It takes a little longer to have a more inclusive conversation but the product at the end is hopefully better. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you. Any further questions? Member for Tu NedheWiilideh.
Madam Chair, I note that she touched on the Minerals Act. Right now it's also under review to my understanding. But it's also a concern that was also brought to my attention by a member from my community that, you know, there should still be more Aboriginal and Indigenous engagement on this Act, but right now it's what's happening is that they're working behind the scenes it seems like with industry, etcetera. Is it your hope to start working with Indigenous governments and then Denedeh Diamond Corporation, I guess they changed their name now, but in terms of getting some feedback on what the views are of the Aboriginal people on the amendments of the Mineral Act? Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you. Minister of ITI.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, the Intergovernmental Council has been a codevelopment partner of the Mineral Resources Act regulations. They have sat at the table handinhand with ITI in terms of getting to where we are at this point. And notwithstanding, I know perhaps not the view of every Member in this House, the industry partners out there are often quite critical of the fact that they feel that they haven't had the opportunity to have as much input as they want. So it seems like you can't always make everybody happy. But in this case, we have taken the legislative protocol that was brand new and put that into motion and put that into action, and there's a now codeveloped process through which the modern Mineral Resources Act regulations are ones that have had the Indigenous governments and modern treaty holders, as well as Council of Leaders, but IGC in particular, have been handinhand in developing what that's going to look like and helping us to drive what the policy terms would be before getting to a point of actually drafting those regs. So it's been a very different process. It's been very unique anywhere in Canada. I do think it's going to produce something that we as Canadians can be proud of and as Northerners can be proud of. And I certainly you know, again, the process isn't over by any means. The process is still underway. But it is one that has really enacted that legislative protocol as being something unique and different. So if there are Indigenous governments who, for some reason are not happy with the IGCS process, I mean that's probably a question for EIA. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you. Did you have any further questions under the section? Thank you, Member for Tu NedheWiilideh.
And just going forward on page 242 and 243. Again, regional allocation of funding and positions etcetera. I mentioned a few weeks ago as well that we got to I guess I do have a concern in regards to how North Slave is how we're rolled up into the North Slave region, whether it be N'dilo, Dettah. And then the question is where does Lutselk'e fit in, are they a part of the North Slave or South Slave? And in terms of the South Slave region, again, right now from what I was told last time I was going through this is that South Slave is predominantly in Fort Smith and Hay River but so Fort Resolution, yes, it falls in the South Slave but then in terms of positions and allocation, it's really skewed here because when you take a look at it, 15 fulltime positions for whether it be the North sorry, headquarters, and then other positions we have, it's nothing on here, parttime seasonal. But anyway, I guess what I'm trying to say is that, you know, we may the government's going to have to really take a look at how we're going to go forward with this document because N'dilo and Dettah is rolled into the North Slave, and Fort Resolution and Lutselk'e is also I presume it's part of the South Slave, so. But yet in my Tu NedheWiilideh riding we've got four communities. So I don't know when the government's going to start changing their booklet here to reflect that. So I just want to know what are your plans to fix this problem? Thank you.
Thank you. Minister of ITI.
Thank you, Madam Chair. So, Madam Chair, this is just the Business Development Investment Corporation, and it's just so the 15 staff mentioned here are really just for the BDIC. And they do a lot of their work, while based in headquarters, they support staff, ITI staff who will deliver their frontline work out in communities through the EDO offices that are based in communities around the Northwest Territories. And at this point, there's no intention necessarily to change the fundamental functioning of the BDIC. There is a lot of work underway right now to change well, to change their act for one, which I believe is before the House. There's a new corporate plan out for them. And there's a real drive to try to look at better positioning the range and the scope of business supports for micro lending through to the larger lending, which is what BDIC would be responsible for on a Northwest Territories scale.
As for the reorganization fundamentally of the administrative regions of the Government of the Northwest Territories, that is not something that I'm aware that there's any, you know, effort or initiative underway to fundamentally do that. That would be a fairly significant restructuring that would be fairly costly and would have to involve all the departments. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you. Are there any further questions from Members on these information items? Seeing none, please return now to the departmental summary found on page 221, revenue summary, information items on page 222. Questions?
Committee, I will call the departmental summary. Industry, Tourism and Investment, operations expenditure, total department, 20232024 Main Estimates, $61,476,000. Member for Frame Lake.
Thanks, Madam Chair. I move that we defer further consideration of the estimates for the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment at this time. Merci, Madam la Presidente.
Thank you. The motion is in order. To the motion?
Question.
Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? All those abstaining? The motion is carried. Consideration of the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment, 20232024 Main Estimates, operating expenditures, total department, is deferred.
Carried
Thank you, Minister. Thank you to the witnesses for appearing before us. Sergeantatarms, please escort the witnesses from the Chamber. We will take a short recess.
SHORT RECESS
I now call Committee of the Whole back to order. Committee, we've agreed to consider Tabled Document 81319(2), 20232024 Main Estimates. We will now consider the Department of Executive and Indigenous Affairs. Does the Premier have any opening remarks?
Yes, I do, Madam Chair.
Go ahead.
I am here to present the 20232024 Main Estimates for the Department of Executive and Indigenous Affairs. Overall, the 20232024 Main Estimates continue to support the priorities of the 19th Legislative Assembly and vision of Budget 2023, by:
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Funding the GNWT's negotiation and implementation efforts with respect to the conclusion of selfgovernment, resource and land claims agreements with Indigenous governments; and,
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Providing support for the departmental activities related to the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
The Department’s main estimates propose a one percent decrease from the 20222023 Main Estimates. This is based on a $120,000 reduction to the overall contract services budget to better reflect actual expenditures that the department has incurred year over year as there have historically been surplus amounts in this budget category. These main estimates support the mandate objectives for the Department of Executive and Indigenous Affairs while continuing to meet the government’s fiscal objectives to prioritize responsible and strategic spending. That concludes my opening statements. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you. Do you wish to bring witnesses into the House?
Thank you, I do. Thank you.
Thank you. Sergeantatarms, please escort the witnesses into the Chamber. Madam Premier, please introduce your witnesses.
Thank you, Madam Chair. On my right is Martin Goldney, the deputy minister of Executive and Indigenous Affairs. And on my left is Ms. Lauren Alexandra, the director of shared corporate services. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you. Welcome. Committee has agreed to forego general comments. Does committee agree to proceed to the detail contained in the tabled document?
Agreed.
Okay. Committee, we will defer the departmental summary and review the estimates by activity summary beginning with cabinet support, starting on page 124 with information items on page 125. Questions? Member for Frame Lake.
Thanks, Madam Chair. Can I get an update as to where we're at with an offshore accord? Thanks, Madam Chair.
Thank you. Madam Premier.
Thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair. The last I heard was the federal government was going to be the federal government extended their moratorium on the offshore. There's no doubt about that. They had scientific review that was done. The next steps were to be working with the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation membership to review that scientific review and then process would carry forward with the accord. The accord is three parties. The federal government well, four. The federal government, the Northwest Territories, Yukon, and the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation. So we're still waiting for the scientific review to be reviewed. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you. Member for Frame Lake.
Thanks, Madam Chair. I don't really understand why an offshore accord needs to wait for these other things. Can the Premier shed some light on that for me? Thanks, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Member. Madam Premier.
Thank you, Madam Chair. They don't need to wait. We were working on them all simultaneously. There is a little bit of a trust issue that we're trying to address right now, Madam Chair, with the federal government. And so hopefully when the federal government shares the scientific review, that will regain some of that trust. So it's always a delicate area that we work on when we're trying to work with different parties, different government levels. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you. Member for Frame Lake.
Okay, thanks. I'd like to ask about the scientific review. Is there any public document that's now finished, or is it finished and when is it going to be made public? Thanks, Madam Chair.
Thank you. Madam Premier.
Thank you, Madam Chair. We have asked for that to be made public as well. My understanding from the federal government is they're going to work with the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, their membership first, and then we'll still pressure them to make that report public because I do believe it should be a public document. So thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you. Member for Frame Lake.
Thanks. So I'm just trying to understand this. So scientific review was probably contracted by the federal government and, you know, it's finished. So why does that have to go through some sort of process with IRC before it's actually made public? Like, the work's finished I presume, but can you shed any light on that for me? Thanks, Madam Chair.
Thank you. Madam Premier.
Thank you, Madam Chair. The work on the scientific review was to be done in cooperation with the Inuvialuit, the GNWT, the Yukon government. So that is why that work should be shared with the membership first. There's been no discussion with the four parties on that sciencebased review at this point. So we're asking for a review of that so that we can all sit at the table and discuss it first. And, really, I mean, even if they reached out to the Inuvialuit, it is their land. It's their area. So I think that they to do due diligence, I think that the federal government should share their findings and have that conversation with the people that are affected by it. After that work is done, then our next push is to make that public. But, again, recognizing that that's a federal government document. We took part in it and so all we're asking for is to let's have the conversations first. Thank you, Madam Chair.
