Shane Thompson

Thank you. It's 218 equity leases right now. As for the total amount owing, we will have to get that information, because that's pretty detailed. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Madam Chair. There are rights-based cabins. We are working with Indigenous governments to identify the rights-based cabins. If people are out there saying, "Don't pay it," I would strongly encourage their leadership and the residents of the Northwest Territories to pay their lease fees moving forward. Again, if they feel that they have rights-based cabins, please identify that with us, and we are willing to work with them. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Madam Chair. We agree with the Member. We want it done in this Assembly. Right now, our funds allow us the ability to get as much work done as we can. Dealing with this, if everything lines up, yes, we do have enough funds right now to address the workload that we have presently. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Madam Chair. On my left is Brenda Hilderman, our director of finance. On my right is my deputy minister, Sylvia Haener, and one of my assistant deputy ministers, Conrad Baetz. At the appropriate time, we will ask for our other deputy minister, Terry Hall, to come in and replace Assistant Deputy Minister Mr. Baetz.

Thank you. Yes, the Government of the Northwest Territories does manage the Commissioner's and NWT lands, or the amalgamation of it, and we work in consultation with the municipal governments. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Madam Chair. The Financial Management Board has directed us to go back to them if we are not able to renegotiate with the federal government. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Madam Chair. First of all, can I get Acting Assistant Deputy Minister Terry Hall to come sit at the table and switch with Assistant Mr. Baetz?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The honourable Member for Deh Cho has been talking to me about this in December, January, and February. We have had good conversations. We have had communication. I have shared as much information as I can share without getting into privacy and about process. At no point in time as a Minister should you be directing staff who to hire. It is about following fair process. Sorry. I won't be jumping on the bandwagon yet, but no, I won't re-look at the process. We followed the process, and the best candidate was given the RRO III position. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There is the appeal process, and it is all there. It is about trying to get the best person, the best candidate for the position. The honourable Member for the Deh Cho is an advocate for his community about people. I want people to understand he is doing his job. He is working hard to get his residents work and employment. Presently, right now, the RRO3 position went through an open competition, and the best candidate was given that position based on that. There is an appeal process through the mechanism. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The purpose and process and timelines for the environmental audit and the state of the environment reports are different. A state of the environment report is required to be tabled within three years of the revised Environmental Rights Act coming into effect and every four years afterwards. An environmental audit is conducted every five years by an independent body, and the next audit is due to be completed in 2025. The department continues to ensure that it meets reporting requirements in our environmental legislation and that this report is coordinated where appropriate.