Thank you, Madam Chair. I'm just looking at the business plan here and similar to what I had mentioned to the Department of Infrastructure as we conclude the budget season in preparation for the summer student employment season, would the Minister provide a summer student plan and appendix to the business plan here in the coming weeks, coming months, so that our students could have something to look forward to within this department? Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. My question within this activity is compensation and benefits from the fiscal year 2023-2024, and it's increased to 11.374. My question to that, compensation and benefits is projected to slightly increase on the RAA overall budget. Are these increases attributed to the new UNW collective agreement, or is there something else such as the consolidation of inspectors and officers into the RAA? Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I just want to thank this department for taking an aggressive role in accessing maximum opportunities of federal access for funds here, and it's very encouraging to see and hear. Particularly in coming from my area, you know, I can really sincerely relate to the aggression taken by this department. You know, I can come around and say well, I got no water, no road, and it's costly to fly, so I'm glad to see this department pursuing 40 agreements. That's complimentary. Mahsi.

Thank you, Madam Chair. And how much is the unspent balance? Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. No, I'm encouraged by those numbers, and we always look forward to try to do our best. But I'm glad to hear the Minister is on student summer hiring. Mahsi.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Excuse me, two minds think alike here. I was going to ask a question on the NWT environmental audit, but the deputy minister beat me to that. I was simply going to ask how is the audit being utilized to leverage additional federal funding in preparation and adaptation in our NWT territory, but I'm satisfied with the answer given earlier by the deputy minister. I'm glad to see they're taking a proactive approach. They're using all the tools in the toolbox to leverage federal funding. I will save my next question for the appropriate activity. Mahsi.

Madam Chair (audio).

Nothing further, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I'm encouraged and we, the GNWT, depend on our federal counterparts, as you know, for many sources of funds for various initiatives. Is there other opportunities that the department is pursuing within the business plan for this fiscal year to access further federal funding?

Take climate adaptation for example, we are the victims of climate change, no doubt, and it's been said by the Minister a number of times that our global environment is warming 4 percent faster. So to address that, there should be ongoing discussions with climate change adaptation. I'm just wondering...

Thank you, Madam Chair. I think this is the appropriate activity to ask this question on the bilateral nature fund agreement with the federal government.

Given the expiry of this current agreement, if so will it be sufficient to cover the GNWT's commitments; how does the ECC anticipate funding future protected areas? I guess there's kind of like two combined questions there, Madam Chair. Number one, is there going to be more efforts being made to renew the bilateral nature fund agreement? Then if so, are we going to have sufficient funds there to pursue protected areas? Mahsi.