Thank you. I'll go back to the Member from Inuvik Boot Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. And is there -- I'm assuming CIBC, being Wood Gundy, would be the manager of the firm managing the portfolio. And is there a specific, then, oversight committee in the Department of Finance that also oversees the fund? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. I'll go to the Minister.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. No, not as an expressed committee per se.
Thank you. I'll go back to the Member from Inuvik Boot Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm not sure if the Minister's willing to do any commitments here today, but certainly I think it would be a good idea to have an investment committee made up of either Members of obviously the AOC and Members of executive to oversee the function of the fund manager to look at things like rebalancing the fund and how we want to invest that funding. So certainly something I would suggest, Mr. Chair.
Okay, thank you. I'll go to the Minister.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am not going to make a commitment right now on the fly without, you know, a bit more discussion, but, again, happy to take back comments or suggestions that are going to come from the review. Again, I gather that is now underway. The Legislative Assembly's responsible for it. We can bring forward recommendations. It is something that is managed under the fiscal -- or the Department of Finance but is one that I know is of interest, and there are public obligations here, so before any significant changes would be made. So, again, happy to see what committee reports back on and see what we can do to hopefully increase the projections of revenues without undertaking too much risk. That's a long conversation. Again, happy to have it. I probably won't -- can't really say much more sitting here just now. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. And I'll go back to the Member from Inuvik Boot Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. And I appreciate that. I appreciate the response so, Mr. Chair, I look forward to the outcome of this ten-year review and look forward to having an opportunity to participate through committee with recommendations for that review. Nothing further right now, Mr. Chair. Thank you.
Okay, thank you. Next on my list I have is the Member from Monfwi.
Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair. This has to do with human resources. According to the budget here, payroll, payroll tax, it decreased for 2025-2026 from 2024-2025 fiscal year. I just wanted to know because in here with the active positions, all across the regions there's going to be 33 positions that's going to decrease in all the regions, and even for Tlicho region, there's -- we're going to be down four positions. So I just wanted to know because payroll tax is down and it's not just GNWT that's, you know -- it's probably other organizations as well too. But with this, can the Minister tell us are these positions -- are they filled, or are they vacant positions?
Thank you. Before I go to the Minister, this sounds like it's a human resource issue. I'm going to pass it on to the Minister because we passed that already, whether she wants to go ahead and answer this question. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I'm sorry. I pulled up looking at payroll tax revenues that have -- we were getting in over the course of the year. With respect to human resources and active positions, the GNWT -- or sorry, the Department of Finance, we don't have change in the Tlicho region. We did break out Tlicho region this, and there's not changes within the Department of Finance for the Tlicho region. We're sitting at two full-time and we'll -- in the last year and continuing up to full-time next year. So there may be a page that I'm not seeing, and I'm happy to take that up and just go back to the Member to make sure that I'm not missing the connection that she's concerned about. Thank you.
Before I go back to the Member from Monfwi, I just want to point out that we're on page 169 to page 173. Is there other further questions from the Member from Monfwi?
I know I saw that two positions that's with the Department of Finance, but there's going to be 33 positions cut, and I'm sure it's not just with the Department of Finance. It's probably for other departments as well.
The highest that I see here, you know, there's a South Slave and Delta, and Tlicho region is minus four. So it's probably with the other departments as well because South Slave correctional, but -- yeah, for -- so in Tlicho region, there's minus four. You know, every job that comes to our community, our region, it's greatly needed. So I just wanted to ask the Minister so which department and where is this -- these four jobs are located? Because I represent four communities. Thank you.
Okay, thank you. I'll just go to the Minister.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. So, Mr. Chair, there was a number of reductions that are resulting from the impending phasing out of the Fort Smith facility, so that was -- would be the majority of reductions.
Mr. Chair, with respect to any position of reductions, again, there's none in the Department of Finance. There's -- I think there was a program sunsetting that -- some federal dollars up in the Beaufort Delta, not GNWT money. I -- I'm just trying to -- we were just trying to all look for the overall GNWT department change because I don't recall there being a reduction in positions in the Tlicho. Again, I don't -- I have the Department of Finance only in front of me. So if there's a way to come back to the question I'm happy to do it, Mr. Chair, but I don't have any total department reductions for other departments in front of me.
Thank you. Again, before I go back to the Member from Monfwi, I've been reminded that if we could just focus on page 169 to 173 and look at the key activities. I'm going back to the Member from Monfwi.
Thank you. So now since we're talking about jobs in -- or active positions here, and, you know, every position is important to all the regions to sustain the region. So I just wanted to ask the Minister right now, because she's with us here, so what work are they doing to move jobs to support regional employment? Some -- as decentralizations of program and services, is it on their budget for the next fiscal year? Thank you.
Thank you. I'll go to the Minister.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. So with respect to the Department of Finance, Mr. Chair, we are increasing positions in the Beaufort Delta and in the Sahtu to help support the FESS, or Financial and Employee Shared Services. And, you know, again, with respect to the broader GNWT, Mr. Chair, I mean, there's -- that's not an item that necessarily is under the priorities of the Assembly other than obviously wanting to, of course, ensure broadly the opportunity for ongoing economic development and -- but, yes, so I don't have a new priority or a new mandate item that is relating to that.
From the perspective of human resources, lastly, Mr. Chair, there is, again, as I mentioned earlier, the remote work policy is one that we would certainly like to see ongoing and increased uptake of. So, again, employees can, from the point of potential recruitment and certainly early on in the process of considering a position, request to have it considered if they could be under the remote work policy which is -- for Northwest Territories based work allows people to work on a regional position or a headquarters position without leaving a small community. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. I'll go to the Member from Monfwi.
Yeah, that's -- I have no more further questions regarding this topic. Thank you.
Thank you. I'm going to go to the Member from the Deh Cho.
Sorry, Mr. Chair. I didn't have a question.
Thank you. Okay, thank you for that. That was the first round. Is there any Members that want to speak up for the first round that haven't spoken yet? Okay, I got a request now for -- to go to the second round. And I'm going to the Member from Range Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I wanted to ask about the Northwest Territories child benefits. The limits are -- or when a family exceeds $30,000, the benefit is reduced and then it's completely eliminated after $80,000. Why is the limit set so low? Of course, the Canada Child Benefit is much higher and benefits a higher income bracket and has been a key instrument in reducing child poverty in this country, to the lowest it has ever been. And now I acknowledge that this benefit helps greatly. I was pleased to support increasing it in the 18th Assembly. But it still is quite low. And any increases to this, we're going to see direct benefits to reducing poverty in our communities. So what's the rationale for capping it at 80,000 or -- and starting to cap it at 30,000? Thank you.
Thank you. To the Minister.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, that's the first time I've had that question asked of me in any setting. I don't have an answer right now, and I'm happy to certainly take it back and likely confer with ECE who would have a role in ensuring that we are providing that kind of level of service to residents. So, again, happy to take that away and see if there is some room or opportunity to support residents differently or better. Thank you.
Thank you. I'll go to the Member from Range Lake.
Great. Well, I guess we could talk about it a bit more, but it's a very good benefit. You know, like, this is -- yeah, I would encourage the Minister to look at ways to increase it. These things are great. They -- you know, we're -- they -- they're going to benefit people staying in the North, in -- you know, taking the edge off the cost of living, and, you know, in particular in communities, smaller communities as well, that's money that's going in to help people pay for groceries, for school lunches, all that stuff. And this seems like a no-brainer to me because it's a really easy way to get money into people's pockets.
I'll ask about the cost of living tax credit as well. Is this benefit income tested? Thank you. Yes.
Thank you. I'll go to the Minister.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. The cost of living tax credit is a line item available to all Northwest Territories residents. Thank you.
Thank you. I'll go to the Member from Range Lake.
Thank you. So is there a -- same question, I guess, around the calculation. Like, when's the last time we looked at this and to see if it's meeting the needs of northern families? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. I'll go to the Minister.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Again, first time I'm giving -- having received that question and certainly happy to see if there is an opportunity here to go back and look at how it is administered, what cutoffs there might be. You know, again, Mr. Chair, I don't have that level of detail here as being -- as it's under the grants and contributions detail. So, again, can't say a lot to it now. I didn't anticipate that this would be a subject of questions. So, again, happy to look at it if this is an opportunity. Again, certainly can take that away and give it a bit more work. Thank you.
Thank you. I'm going to go to the Member from Range Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, I would be happy to talk tax policy with the Minister of Finance. I am a big fan of how we can find ways to change our tax policy to incentivize investment in the Northwest Territories, to grow the financial services sector, and to keep people in the North. So if she's willing to have that conversation -- I mean, I think -- let me make it a direct question.
Is the Minister willing to look at this as part of her sustainability efforts and her department's efforts to raise revenue -- or sorry, well -- yeah, maybe -- well, yeah, let's say, like, as part of revenue options, as part of sustainability options, because tax policy could be a very powerful tool to, again, encourage investment and economic growth. Thank you.
Thank you. I'm going to go to the Minister.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Tax policy is also a fairly complicated area so I'm not necessarily going to brainstorm here but appreciate the interest in the space. And absolutely, I, you know, had the benefit, a consensus system of sitting, myself and the Premier, with Members of -- all Members of committee last week and it was a positive conversation about these kinds of ideas and issues and would certainly be happy to have that type of conversation continue. Thank you.
Thank you. I'm going to go to the Member from Range Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. How often does the department look at tax rates comparative to other northern -- or other Canadian jurisdictions? And, yeah, how often is that calculation done to make sure we're competitive with other jurisdictions? Thank you.
Thank you. I'll go to the Minister.
That we do regularly, Mr. Chair. So there -- and, again, happy to provide sort of as of January 30th, 2025, I do have a comparison of combined marginal personal income tax rates, retail sales tax, fuel tax, carbon tax, tobacco tax, payroll tax, corporate income tax, and taxes on financial institutions, which we don't have in the North. It's a full chart against all provinces and territories so, Mr. Chair, probably not something that you want me to read out here with four minutes on the clock, but I can provide it to all Members and certainly consider having it put forward. Thank you.
Okay, thank you. I'll go to the Member from Range Lake.
Thank you. No, I appreciate that. Again, I think these are discussions we should be having, and I'm glad we're having them. Brainstorming's probably not what I'm interested in doing on the floor either, but I think we have enough room here to move forward and find ways to work at either the standing committee level or individually as a Member, so I will leave it for that. But thank you for the Minister and her witnesses' time. Nothing further.
Okay, thank you. Were there any other further questions on round 2? I don't see none, I'm going to continue on.
No further questions, please turn to page 170. Finance management board, secretariat, operations expenditure summary, 2025-2026 Main Estimates, $149,795,000. Does the committee agree?
Agreed.
