Caroline Wawzonek

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, "discussion", I think probably better characterizes the process here. So, I mean, again, there has been work being done with the intergovernmental council and the working groups there around the development of all aspects of the Mineral Resources Act. There is an open portal right now for people to express if they have particular concerns or particular questions, and particularly if they want a more technical briefing that is certainly a route by which to request that. And as we obviously get further in on any of these various items, we'll be bringing those to the...

Mr. Speaker, the value and potential of achieving greater economic diversification across the Northwest Territories has been talked about over the course of many years and multiple governments. The need to have that conversation meaningfully has never been greater. Even as we work to support new mineral resource exploration and development, the reality is that our existing economic drivers in the form of the diamond mines are approaching planned closure. We must face that prospect on all fronts, including economic diversification.

The fact that this conversation has been had, and that success...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So, Mr. Chair, determining any associated fees with the new Mineral Resources Act and the various processes therein, then obviously determining the cost associated is part of the development. So point taken, that we could consider if cost recovery is feasible. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I think where we're going with this, Mr. Chair, is with respect to communities within Tu NedheWiilideh, and there are no parks capital projects for 20232024 planned in the community of Lutselk'e or Fort Resolution if that is ultimately where this is going. And if not, I apologize. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, let me I'll certainly take that commitment away and just confirm that I am able to, to the extent to which we can break it down and that there's no running up against any procurement concerns. But subject to that, I will provide that. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, it's probably a response that I'll want to have at some length outside of the House but, yes, the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment has a set amount that it goes towards small capital particularly so for us it would be parks. If that is last, and I don't or carried over, which you know, sometimes there are projects that get carried over but, if anything, it just winds up going to other ITI projects that are then themselves underfunded. I don't know that we tend to carry over a whole lot within the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment...

Mr. Chair, I'd suggest I'll direct it to the director of finance, please.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, so, you know, there were updates that were provided back in, I believe August, when we were preparing for this session. As I said, numbers related to the information that was received through the spring and summer as flood remediation work was ongoing certainly were being updated through the course of time. All of the information does go into the main estimates documents. I can see if we can put some sort of package together, you know, more urgently than that, you know, without having anyone from the department here in front of me and even if they were...

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, let me try and answer it, and I am sure the Member will let me know if we need to bring the witnesses in. There are finance witnesses in the witness room.

Madam Chair, yes, it's 174 I don't have that number in front of me, but it does sound approximately correct from my recollection. But I think the question is really getting at what that does to our fiscal situation. And, yes, having an over hundred unexpectedly over $100 million in costs associated with the floods takes out the surplus that we had been projecting for 20222023 and puts us into a situation...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, subject to there being any legal reason that I can't do that, I would not have a problem doing that on a confidential basis. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.